York College provides informed and impartial advice in schools

As part of national ‘Colleges Week’, York College is celebrating the fact that it offers informed and impartial advice to GCSE students in local schools, ensuring young people feel clued-up on all of the options available to them as they take their GCSEs and after they receive their results.

When Louise Richardson was preparing for GCSEs at York High School she was one of a group of students who had been identified as being particularly apprehensive about leaving school.  Through a bespoke transition programme between York High School and
York College Louise was given help accessing the College prospectus and attended a Post-16 Options presentation in school, by a Schools Liaison Officer from York College.  Following this, Louise attended several tailor-made College events including an Open Evening with her parents, speaking with tutors and seeing the College environment for herself. 

Louise liked the idea of becoming an air hostess, working for a large airline. The Travel and Tourism course captured her interest and after having an advice and guidance interview with a Travel & Tourism tutor, who guided her through the course structure and answered her questions, she was spurred  on to work hard so that she achieved the necessary GSCE grades to enable her to enrol on the course.

On starting the Travel & Tourism course in September, Louise experienced a few doubts and wondered if she would prefer to study Painting and Decorating.  Her tutors were supportive and happily arranged for her to visit the Painting and Decorating department.  After consideration Louise decided to continue studying on the Travel and Tourism course.  Louise now feels comfortable with her choice, she says:  “I felt supported by York College at school and also throughout the College application process.  I did have a few wobbles, but each time I was able to talk to someone about my fears and now I feel happy that I am on the right course for me.  I really do think I can achieve my dreams of becoming a cabin crew member.”

Says Lucy Ogram, Senior Schools and College Liaison Officer at York College: “It is crucial that year 11 pupils make informed decisions about their next steps.  We work closely with local schools to promote an easy transition for them.  We are able to give presentations about post-16 options and offer relevant advice and guidance to individual students.  Students are encouraged to visit open events and participate in taster days at College.  If appropriate individual student visits are helpful. We want students to feel comfortable about the choices they make as they embark on the next phase of their lives, whether that be staying on at school, finding an apprenticeship or starting a college course.” 

Amanda Lane, Assistant Headteacher-inclusion at York High School has seen how effective York College is in providing support for all students.  She says: “Students feel empowered to make important decisions about their future if they are in full possession of the facts.  It is vital that their questions are answered and that all possible career pathways are considered.  In particular,York College goes the extra mile in helping vunerable students who may be struggling with support, so that they feel at ease accessing post-16 options.”
 
Glenn Miller, Head of Student Services at
York College says: “The College provides a GCSE Helpline on GCSE Results Day to advise and support students. Also, every student  who considers a last minute change of course receives an interview with a careers adviser before finalising their decision. Throughout the enrolment period we provide additional advice and guidance including help in identifying and applying for any funding that may be available to support the costs of the course. We are working with City of York Young People’s Services and York College careers staff to ensure there is a comprehensive careers service available in College this year, including one to one advice and group sessions."

York College has gained recognition for the quality of it's impartial information, advice and guidance by achieving accreditation to the national Matrix Standard since 2009 and earlier this year became the first institution to be accredited to the York and North Yorkshire Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance Gold Award.

http://www.collegesweek.org/