College Commitment

As is the case with any establishment, the College has a number of regulations which are necessary for the efficient organisation of its community and the safety of its members.  You will find the details in the Students? Guide which you will be given on your first day in College, and a summary of the regulations will be sent to you just before you join us.  They range from matters such as punctuality and attendance to speed limits for drivers on the campus.  You will doubtless be glad to know that we do not require you to wear a uniform, but we do ask you to dress in a way that is suitable for a place of work.

The College also has certain expectations of all its students.  Because we are committed to equal opportunities, we expect all members of the College community to treat each other fairly, courteously and with consideration.  We believe every member of the College community has the right to work in an environment which is free from any form of bullying or racial or sexual harassment and we will take strong steps against anyone who harasses in any way another member of the College.
When you register at the College, you will be asked to sign the College Commitment, which is in effect, a contract between you and the College specifying our commitment to teach and guide you, and your commitment to meet our expectations and to give of your best to your studies. 

A copy of the Commitment can be found in the College Charter.  Any student who repeatedly fails to keep the regulations and to honour his or her commitments to the College will be asked to leave. 

Study Arrangements

When you arrive at College, you will be given an individual timetable which will include all your examination subjects.  You will probably find that approximately 20% of your lessons in the week left unscheduled.  At least two of these lessons should be spent in one of the College?s study areas.  From our experience of preparing students for Advanced examinations and entry to Higher Education, we can tell you that the successful students spend at least four hours studying outside the classroom for each subject they are taking.  For all subjects you will have assignments to complete, notes to read over and clarify, background reading and revision for tests and modules.  If you want to succeed, you will need to spend most of your unscheduled lessons in College and two to three hours each evening studying.  This means that taking on paid employment for several hours each evening and a large portion of the weekend, or having the sort of social life which requires late nights on weekdays, is not an option for a serious student.  You need to consider very carefully whether you are prepared to make the sort of commitment that successful study at Advanced Level demands.  Of course, you may wish to take on some limited form of paid employment but you will have to give priority to the studies on which your future plans may depend  and this calls for careful time management.

To help you to study in College, the College has a large Study Room and an excellent Library with staff who will advise you in making the best use of the facilities. 

In addition, several subject departments have their own study areas.  There are also two large IT Workshops with networked PCs which you can book to word-process your assignments or to access study packages.