Principal’s Update – 05/11/2020

The new academic year and term has started well. We have welcomed students back to our campuses, returning and new. During this uncertain time, I would like to reassure you that we remain open and are following Government guidance regarding safety measures for both our students and staff.

Life around campus may feel a little different; we don’t have large groups of students around our buildings and we now have smaller classes to allow for socially distanced and safe practical sessions.

We would like to remind everyone to social distance and to wear face coverings when in public spaces within our buildings (unless exempt).

Students are embracing the new ways of working and are following guidance regarding social distancing, in and out of the classroom. We have all adapted to blended learning which is a mix of classroom-based learning, online sessions, tutorials and practical sessions.

We have some exciting new developments so far this new academic year. We are delighted to announce we have joined the World Skills UK Centre of Excellence, providing a great opportunity for our students and staff to enhance their teaching and learning.

The Government also recently announced that additional funding will be made available to fund adult learning in 2021. We wait for more details to be able to share with you what opportunities will be available.

We have recently added a bus service to our offer this year to enable students better access to a wide range of courses and apprenticeships in their local area. We are running three routes across the Rotherham area to support our students getting to College easily.

For those who are thinking of joining us in 2021, we are running our Open Days online and I encourage you to take a look at the fantastic facilities and courses that we have on offer – it’s simple to sign up and can be accessed from the comfort of your own home. We have courses for school leavers, those thinking of gaining a degree, adult and community learning, and if you prefer to earn while you learn, apprenticeships.

We are proud of our continued commitment to education during challenging times and endeavour to keep our students at the heart of everything we do.

Jason Austin

CEO and Principal