Parent Guide

In order for Franklin to do our best for our students we understand the value of working closely with parents/carers.

We like for all parents/carers to be involved in the decision a young person takes to study at Franklin Sixth Form College and to be aware of what their son/daughter will be doing on a day-to-day basis while studying.  

 

---

Our Partnership with you 

As a college, we know that for student's to be successful there needs to be a close partnership between the College, the student and their support network. We aim to empower students to take control of their learning, but will keep you involved at all stages. Always feel free to get in touch with staff if you have any concerns after all...it's good to talk!

 

Our Vision and Values

Franklin Sixth Form College will provide an excellent learning experience in an inclusive and supportive environment which inspires students to achieve their potential. Innovative, outward looking and working in partnership, we will raise aspirations for young people and adults.

To read more about the College's vision and values please click here

 

Keeping informed

Parents/carers are invited to attend a Welcome Evening at the start of their child's time at Franklin followed by, Consultation Evenings throughout the year to meet with staff and talk about student's progress. Parents can also choose to receive regular updates by email relating to attendance. If we have concerns regarding a student's behaviour we will first address it directly with the student but if it continues or we deem it necessary, parents/carers will be informed.

You can also keep up to date with the Principal's termly newsletter on our website by clicking here. 

ASPIRE

All students will attend ASPIRE. This is a collaborative approach between a student's Progress Coach who will act as a mentor to them throughout their time at college; The Careers Team and, our Enrichment Team. ASPIRE supports students to explore options and plan for a future after Franklin. It supports individuals to develop aspirations and the skills and person qualities needed to reach academic goals after Franklin. Students will also learn about real-world issues in-order to become a more aware and active citizen. These sessions are a mixture of groups and one to one. Progress Coaches are a great first point of contact for issues related to subject matter or not.

 

Study Support

Students at Franklin have the opportunity to discuss their support needs at all stages of the application process. If you think additional support would be beneficial we encourage you to talk to any member of the admissions team. Screening tests can be undertaken upon enrolment to help explore needs and support requirements. We support students to be as successful so we will support every learner to achieve their best.

 

Careers 

We have a full time dedicated careers adviser at college who offers one to one guidance sessions to students who wish to explore their career options. Students will work with complete work during ASPIRE with their Progress Coaches where support with applications will be given for progress such as, applying for apprenticeships, university places and employment. Throughout the year we hold a large Progression Evening, universities visits, employer workshops and much more.

You can find out more about our Careers Support here.

Find out about our Centre for Professional Develop and the fantastic opportunities available for your son or daughter here.

Download our fantastic weekly Careers News here.

---

Frequently asked questions

 

Can my son/daughter try out the subjects they have chosen?

They will have been invited to attend their Taster Day before enrolling in the Summer.  This day is a fantastic opportunity for students to try out the subjects they have chosen to ensure they have made the right choices for them. The day also give students a chance to experience everything else at Franklin, from our state-of-the-art facilities to our support staff, social life to enrichment and most importantly our great food!

 

What are the different Levels of study?

You might hear your son or daughter speak about Level 3 study.  Level 3 is the natural progression for many students when they complete Year 11. If students achieve predominantly Grade 4s or above, they will likely progress on to a Level 3 study Programme which will comprise of A Levels or Level 3 BTECs/CTECs or T-Level courses.  Some students may benefit from another year of GCSE/Level 2 study this is for students who don’t quite achieve the grades needed for a Level 3 Study Programme.  For these students we offer a 3 year Study Programme, whereby for the first year they will undertake a Level 2 package alongside their Maths and/or English GCSE if they have not previously achieved a Grade 4 already and move onto Level 3 upon completion.

 

How many subjects will a student take?

Students undertaking a Level 3 Study Programme can take up to 3 courses (in a few exceptional cases, they may take an additional subject).  They may however choose one of the BTEC/CTEC courses that counts as a double option, reducing the amount of different courses they will study but still giving them a full programme.  This will still equate to the same amount of study and UCAS Points. Level 2 students will normally take one BTEC/CTEC option alongside their English and/or Maths GCSE, with a view to moving onto a Level 3 course the year after.

You can view all of our courses here. 

If you have any questions about our Study Programmes please contact our friendly Admissions Team who will be more than happy to advise you! Contact details are:

Email: Admissions@franklin.ac.uk

Phone: 01472 8758000

Can my son/daughter change their mind at any time?

We know that making decisions about courses can be daunting and things can change, however we hope that they will have received a lot of guidance at their interview from our experienced Admissions Team and therefore will have a well-considered plan based on their predicted grades and career aspirations. Should there still be questions about courses, do not hesitate to get in touch and we will be able to offer more guidance or reassurance. Taster Day is a great chance to test course choices and changes can be made at that time.

 

What is the difference between an A Level and a CTEC/BTEC qualification?

For many parents/carers their own time as a student may seem a while ago and changes in education happen all the time, so a quick recap might be useful:

• A Level –these are studied over 2 years and will only constitute one of a student’s 3 options. A Levels are well established qualifications which are examined at the end of a 2 year study period.  A Levels may have elements of course work, but there will be considerably more examination.  A Levels can be taken alongside other A Levels or other Level 3 qualifications.
• BTEC/CTEC – BTECs and CTECs are 2 year programmes that will include some work experience and be a little more practical in their nature. They will often apply learning to real life situations and have more assessments throughout the 2 year course. These courses are a combination of coursework and controlled assessments.

 

Will attendance be monitored?

We know that good attendance is crucial for students to succeed and we seek to work with students and their parents/carers to maintain a high levels of attendance. All students will be made aware of reporting attendance and expectations when they enrol. We will keep you in touch with attendance and with any concerns we may have. We understand that students are sometimes ill or may need time away from college due to special circumstances but we do not authorise time off college during term-time. We understand how important attendance is and the impact this has on learning. If students miss lessons and need to catch up, or generally need some learning support, such as revision techniques, managing time more effectively and much more, we support students daily at our Study Skills Desk. Students can access this support in the Learning Centre.

 

What support is available to support students?

Every student will receive support and guidance from their academic tutors both in and out of the classroom. Parents and Carers are also free to make contact with staff if they have a concern or query.  Every student is allocated a Progress Coach to support them with additional aspects of their Study Programme and in planning for their future.  A Progress Coach can support a student with their applications for university, an apprenticeship or employment alongside tips on supplementing their studies with additional activities and opportunities.  Students also have access to our Study Support Team to help with any specific study needs and access to our Careers Advisor for one to one interviews and guidance sessions.

If as a parent you have any questions, then please do get in touch with us by emailing: admissions@franklin.ac.uk

 

Careers Advice:

There is a lot of information about the Careers Service on our website. All parents/carers of new students receive an email about the career related activities that their son/daughter can take advantage of. Parents/carers are welcome to join a one to one guidance interview with their son or daughter. These can be made outside of the usual times if necessary. Please email Zofia.ciopcinski@franklin.ac.uk if you wish to make an appointment with Zofia, our Level 6 qualified Careers Guidance Officer.

To find out more about our Careers Service please click here

If your son or daughter ask any questions they may find it useful to view our FAQs section here.