Current phased return and full September opening for all students and apprentices
Message from the Principal
I am pleased to confirm that Gloucestershire College invited a small number of students and apprentices to return to study on campus from Monday 15 June, ahead of our planned, wider re-opening for all students and apprentices this September.
This phased opening is primarily for learners who need to develop their practical skills in order to progress in their courses. We have contacted those students directly, so please do not return to campus unless you have been invited to do so by your tutor or Head of School.
We have carried out extensive risk assessments and implemented new procedures to ensure social distancing can be adhered to across our three campuses; ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff and students at all times.
Our teaching teams continue to plan for creative, engaging and innovative learning activities across our courses, so that students can develop and succeed with Gloucestershire College from September, whether they are progressing students or new starters.
From the new academic year, starting this September, students can expect the same expert tuition, personalised support and face-to-face delivery as is standard for GC, with some courses incorporating elements of online, remote or blended learning to ensure the social distancing measures we have implemented can be followed.
We’ll be sending you regular updates to new applicants and students returning next academic year on what they can expect this September, as well as how to enrol. We're asking all applicants to frequently check their inbox so they don’t miss out on this important information.
I look on the past few months with pride in GC staff and students. Pride in how they have risen to unexpected challenges and remained positive and proactive throughout. Pride in how staff have gone the extra mile to support students and our partners; embodying our College Values. Pride in students for adapting to change and continuing to learn and thrive in uncertain times.
And I look to the future with positivity, knowing that the GC community will continue to be a safe and inspiring place for people to achieve and succeed.
Best wishes,
Matthew Burgess
Principal and Chief Executive
Assessment of students and qualifications
The Government wants to make sure that learners due to complete their qualifications in this academic year are not disadvantaged.
The Department of Education, who make the final decision, recognise that with such a wide range of vocational and technical qualifications different approaches for different qualifications will be needed such as:
- Calculated results
- Adapted assessment methods (e.g. coursework instead of exam; remote exams; online assessments)
- Rescheduled assessments to a later date
The majority of qualifications have been confirmed as either calculated results or adapted assessment methods.
Those of you who have delayed/re-scheduled assessments will have been contacted by the teaching teams directly and either invited in for sessions or been provided with updates about assessment windows.
Calculated grades/adapted assessments
The Government and exam boards have requested that colleges submit a predicted or adapted grade for each unit of your qualification not yet completed. This process will be completed by the team of lecturers, managers and the college quality team and will use a wide range of evidence as outlined in the guidance. This information, alongside your completed unit grades, will be used by the Exam Board to generate an overall qualification grade.
Please note that these grades will, however, only form one part of the basis of the calculated grade awarded by the exam board. Exam boards will standardise the judgements once grades have been submitted.
How will centre assessment grades be standardised?
To make sure that grades are fair between schools and colleges, exam boards will put all centre assessment grades through a process of standardisation using a model being developed with Ofqual.
As with other years, the statistical model will consider prior attainment at school or college level, not at individual student level.
In line with Government regulations, the College won’t be sharing provisional grades, nor rank orders, with students or parents and carers. The college and teachers will not enter into discussions with students or parents/carers about the formation of the provisional grades. Once centre assessment grades have been submitted to exam boards, the process to produce the final grades will start and these will be confirmed by the exam boards in August.
Suspected cases of Coronavirus
Students
If you are unable to study because you are unwell or showing symptoms please continue to contact curriculumadministrators@gloscol.ac.uk AND your Course Leader AND Head of School. Please confirm your course and student reference number in your email.
Staff
During this period of working from home, staff should continue to inform us when they are self-isolating due to suspected/confirmed Coronavirus in their household by emailing: HR@gloscol.ac.uk
Safety measures for September
Following the Government’s guidelines, the following safety measures are in place ready for September:
- Enhanced intensive cleaning regimes throughout the day
- One way systems in place and protective screens where required
- Classrooms and workshops have been adapted based on government guidelines
- Hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes available
- Learners will become part of a protective bubble where possible
- Maximum class sizes based on latest government guidelines
- Social distancing will be enforced in shared areas
- Strict policy for staff or students showing symptoms
- Extensive, full risk assessments have been carried out
Wellbeing and Support for Students, Staff and Parents
Please visit: gloscol.ac.uk/wellbeing