Support
Find out more
Help with costs
Choosing a course
Learning Support & EHCP
We promise you a top quality education with real world skills that will help you in life as well as in work. We call this education with employment edge.
SUPPORT
Care experienced supportOur dedicated health, wellbeing and safeguarding team are here to help and support students who are care experienced.
We understand that those who are or have previously been in the care of the Local Authority or family members, may have had life experiences which have been difficult before coming to college.
The Safeguarding, Welfare and Wellbeing Team will support students on a one to one basis, will attend any external meetings and will be an advocate for them while in college to ensure they reach their full potential.
For help and advice please get in touch with our Safeguarding, Welfare and Wellbeing Team.
The Safeguarding, Welfare and Wellbeing Team aim to create a safe and inclusive environment where all learners feel supported and can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We are here to improve the overall wellbeing of students by providing proactive safeguarding and comprehensive wellbeing support.
Young CarersA young carer is any young person under the age of 18 who has caring responsibilities for a relative or friend. We have a dedicated team available to help and support any student who considers themselves a young carer. The Safeguarding, Welfare and Wellbeing Team can support emotional wellbeing and provide any additional help needed around academic studies.
If you consider yourself as a Young Carer please get in touch.
Young ParentsWe are committed to supporting young parents as we understand this can be difficult at times. There is a dedicated wellbeing team available who can support any student who is finding it difficult to juggle parenting and alongside studying.
If you’d like some support, get in touch.
For help or advice please contact our Safeguarding, Welfare and Wellbeing Team.
Keeping your child and our staff safe is one of the most important things we do and we pride ourselves on creating happy spaces for everyone to enjoy. We will always listen to your child and take any concerns they have seriously . If they are unhappy, worried or frightened by anything that happens in or outside of college, our dedicated team of professionals are here to help.
Here are some of the things we do:
As part of our work on safeguarding, we follow the Prevent Duty Guidance to help people who may be at risk of being radicalised, supporting a terrorist organisation or becoming terrorists. There is no place for extremist views of any kind at our college and our priority is to keep students, staff and visitors safe, by working together with key partner agencies and all our communities to tackle any extremism.
For help and advice please contact our Safeguarding, Welfare and Wellbeing Team.
When choosing what to study, our independent Careers Advisers can help you and your child understand the options available so you can make the best choice. You can have a one-to-one appointment with them at our Enrolment Events. Once on their course, we start career planning with your child from day one. We’ll help them to map out their ambitions and then match experiences, placements and activities to their career goals. Regular check ins will help keep them on track or we’ll adjust the plan if they what to go in a different direction.
For advice or to make an appointment, please contact the Careers Team.
HELP WITH COSTS
We have grants and bursaries available to help cover some of the costs of coming to college such as travel, food and equipment. This funding is provided to us by the Government and is available to people who need it the most. We encourage everyone who is eligible to apply so we can make best use of this money.
The bursaries available are Higher Rate and Discretionary Bursaries as well as alongside Free College Meals.
These are available to those aged between 16-18 years old or 19-24 years old with Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). All are subject to eligibility criteria.
For more information please see our Finance & Funding page or 16-18 Info Booklet & Terms & Conditions.
You’ll normally still qualify for Child Benefit if your child is under 20 and they stay in approved education or training. You can make a claim online, by post or by phone. Please see here for more information.
If you claim any of the various benefits you may get asked to provide evidence that your child is still in education and we can provide you with a letter to confirm this.
If you require confirmation of course details then please contact us to make a request.
Contact our Support Funds Team on 0191 490 4627, email [email protected] or students can request in person from Student Services.
A financial support fund unique to us, we can offer you grants on top of the other financial bursaries available, to help you get the most out of your studies.
For help or advice with finance or funding support please contact our Support Funds Team on 0191 490 4627.
CHOOSING A COURSE
There are lots of different ways your child can study with us.
Choose three or four A Level subjects or combine an A Level subject with a vocational study programme, such as business. A Levels tend to be more academic and a traditional way of learning, similar to school.
More practical and hands on, vocational study programmes will equip your child with skills in a specific industry or trade. Progress is assessed through projects, portfolios and practical work, with some courses including exams.
They’ll have lots of contact with our network of employers to help them prepare for the world of work. This will include work experience, competitions and live commissions set by employers and attending guest speaker lectures and conferences.
T levels or technical levels, are a two year course in one subject and are equivalent to 3 A Levels. They combine classroom learning, practical activities and a 45-day work experience placement. They are practical and include lots of experience with employers in a workplace. T Levels are at Level 3, the same as three A Levels or a Level 3 vocational study programme.
Apprenticeships are a mix of working and practical training. Apprentices usually spend four days in work and one day at college. They get paid a weekly wage and complete a collection of qualifications including a vocational qualification and a technical certificate relevant to the industry, as well as English, maths and ICT. Apprenticeships are ideal for anyone who is ready for a job and keen to earn a wage, whilst still learning new skills and knowledge.
As a fully inclusive college, we pride ourselves on offering the very best quality of education to our whole community, which includes those with learning difficulties, physical and sensory disabilities and those with a specific learning difficulty. Part of our offer includes Project Choice, an award-winning programme which gives young people with learning difficulties and disabilities the employment edge and the skills and experience needed to get into work.
LEARNING SUPPORT & EHCP
We have a dedicated team to offer extra learning support to anyone who needs it including those with learning difficulties, physical and sensory disabilities and those with a specific learning difficulty. You can let us know if you need extra support when you apply for a course by filling in the relevant part of the application form.
Extra support can include:
Gateshead Council’s Local Offer page can be viewed by clicking here. It provides information for children and young people with special educational needs and their parents or carers.
For help and advice please contact John Chambers, Head of Department for SEN Curriculum and Learning Support.
An EHCP, which stands for Education, Health, and Care Plan, is a legal document that outlines the special educational needs (SEN) of a young person and the support they require to meet those needs. It serves as a comprehensive roadmap for ensuring that the individual receives appropriate support across education, health, and social care.
In college, EHCPs play a crucial role in ensuring that your child will have access to appropriate support and resources to achieve their educational goals.
The first step in the EHCP process is determining whether a young person is eligible for an assessment. The local authority, in our case Gateshead Council, must conduct an assessment if they think a young person has special educational needs that will require more support than what is typically available in mainstream education.
They gather evidence to be able to assess the young person’s needs and to put a plan in place that will give the young person the best chance of achieving success.
We will review the EHCP to understand if we have the skills, equipment, resources and staff to be able to support the young person in college.
If it’s agreed that your child will study with us, we will work with you, Gateshead Council, their current school and any other involved professionals to make the move to college as easy as possible.
Our Governors
Term Dates
Contact Information
Say Hello to Women’s Football
Monday 6 January 2025
Rail Track Maintenance Information Session
Tuesday 7 January 2025
UPCOMING EVENTS.
Find out about all our upcoming events here. Simply sign up and come along.