Additional information for parents

Glenda Gardiner, Assistant Principal Students & Safeguarding, is responsible for Student Services and Marketing. Glenda has specific responsibilities for Equal Opportunities within the college, and serious disciplinary issues. If you have any concerns in this regard Glenda Gardiner can be contacted via email at garding@tauntons.ac.uk or by telephoning Student Services.

Liz Lee, Assistant Principal Students & Learning is responsible for Quality Improvement and Community Learning. Liz has specific responsibilities for coordinating the development of the college’s curriculum (including Adult Education) to provide programmes of study appropriate to students’ needs and aspirations and ensure the best possible progression routes within college and/or to employment, H.E. or training. Liz can be contacted via email at leel@tauntons.ac.uk.

Counselling Services
An independent confidential counsellor is available to talk to students and can be accessed via Student Services.

Transport
Unilink, First Bus and Solent Blue Line all run public bus routes which also bring students in from outlying areas. Taunton’s College have arranged with King Edward VI School access to places on their buses. The college offers some students travelling from certain postcodes a subsidy of 40%.

Please contact King Edward VI School direct to access this service. Tel. 023 8070 4561/ 023 8079 9232. Students coming from the Isle of Wight - A complimentary shuttle service from Town Quay for the IOW ferry via Southampton Central Station will run at the beginning and end of each day. Contact Student Services for further information.

Work experience
Work experience is a very valuable activity. The College supports students to arrange placements if their course necessitates work experience. However, work experience is an option for all students and they are free to organise this themselves during college holidays and this will certainly enhance their UCAS application if they wish to apply to University.

Smoking/Alcohol/Drugs
The College is a ‘no smoking’ site but a designated smoking area is provided. Students are prohibited from bringing alcohol onto the premises and must not come into the College under the influence of drink. The College regards the supply or distribution of drugs as a serious offence and as such parents/police will be informed and sanctions imposed if such an event happens.

Enrichment activities
In order that our students have a full experience we encourage them to enrich their time with us by joining a wide range of clubs and societies. Clubs come under the heading of Active, Creative and Personal and may include choices such as belly dancing, creative writing, food hygiene and volunteering. The Enrichment Fair in September provides an opportunity to access all the information about the complete range of activities offered.

College learning Centres
The Library can be found on the ground floor opposite the cafe and is open:

Monday – Thursday 8am – 6pm
Friday 8am – 4.30pm

The Library at Taunton’s has much more than just books. In addition to the well stocked book collection, we also offer:
  • Study Area with computer facilities and internet access
  • Zoned areas for individual quiet study or group work
  • Over 80 magazines and newspapers
  • A wide range of videos and DVDs with viewing facilities
  • CD ROMs
  • Online electronic resources
All students automatically become members of the Library and have full access to computers and study areas. The student ID card is also a Library card. Students can borrow up to 4 books and 2 videos at a time. We ask that items are returned on time as they
may be required by other students. In the event of late return a small fine is payable.
 
An introduction to the Library will be part of the student Induction Programme at the beginning of the year. Library staff provide continuing help and support for students in the use of the Library, the internet, online services, the library catalogue and research skills. The Library is an excellent resource for all to use. For it to be fully effective, it is essential that everyone follows the Code of Conduct.
 
Careers Advice
Annelise Miller is the Learning Area Manager coordinating Careers Advice and Information. With her team of staff and through the Tutorial
Programme you will be able to access a variety of resources/information. You can access these and more detailed links on Moodle.
 
Beyond Taunton’s
Throughout the time that your son or daughter spends at Taunton’s we shall be talking to them regularly about their options when they leave us. We encourage a variety of entry routes into Further and Higher Education and are always happy to discuss these with you too. To help students make decisions about their future we offer a lot of careers education and guidance, not only through the tutorial meetings, but also through our links with Youth Support who provide specialist advice. Parents are also invited into College for evening presentations on applications for Higher Education and how to apply for financial assistance for Higher Education.
 
IT Services
IT help is available from the IT Services helpdesk. You can also borrow video and digital cameras (if required for your course) from the helpdesk.
The helpdesk is open Mon 9.30am – 4.30pm. Tue, Thu & Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm. Wed 8.30am - 2.30pm.
 
All students will be issued with a network username after enrolment. All students are required to sign up to the IT Acceptable Use Policy in order to use the College’s IT facilities.
 
The College intranet contains information about College services and courses, along with day-to-day news and notices. Information is often emailed to students, so please encourage your son/daughter to check their email regularly.
 
Moodle is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). College teachers will be using Moodle to deliver and mark homework, as well as giving students access to handouts, presentations and multimedia files from outside lessons.
 
As well as course materials, you will find other important information about the college under the College menu, and the weekly student bulletin on the home page. Tutors will also be taking a termly progress review. Targets can be viewed by students on the right hand side of the home page.
Mark Johnson is the college’s Web Developer. If you have any problems you can email him on mark.johnson@tauntons.ac.uk or send him a message from the Moodle Help menu.
 
Students can access Moodle from any computer inside or outside college with the URL http://moodle.tauntons.ac.uk.
The username and password that is used to log in to the college Windows PCs can be used to log in to Moodle. This may be different from the details used to log in to the MACs.
 
The Sixth Form Curriculum
We aim to provide a flexible curriculum which meets the learning needs of all our students and prospective students. We put particular emphasis on providing guidance and support to ensure students are on the right programme when they join Taunton’s College. We are also concerned to highlight progression opportunities for those seeking to move on to Higher Education or into work.
The curriculum enables students to:
  • take a wide range of subjects in Year One
  • take longer to make decisions about A Level and HE options
  • combine academic and work-related subjects
  • gain accreditation for Year One courses
  • study for a wide range of Vocational courses at levels 1, 2 or 3
The college day runs from 8.30 am until 4 pm. A full programme at college would be at least 4 blocks of taught time and tutorial. To this would be added enrichment. There will be a minimum of one significant homework task per block per week.

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