100 Apprenticeships in 100 Days

This week St Helens College launches its 100 Apprenticeships in 100 days initiative, in conjunction with St Helens Star. This marks another exciting step on the College’s continuing mission to provide high quality education and skills for the people in our local community.

Our aim is to fill 100 Apprenticeships in 100 days. This scheme will demonstrate how businesses can benefit by bringing apprentices into their organisations. Apprentices can be an integral cog in any business and this campaign is designed to develop the talent that will take businesses of all types and size forward. Apprentices can lead to increased productivity, lower training and recruitment costs, skills gaps being filled and grants for employers.

St Helens College is committed to the local region and we are calling on employers to pledge their support to this campaign and in doing so demonstrate their commitment to economic growth, local opportunities and raising the profile of apprenticeships.

All employers and businesses are welcome to join up and show their support including public and private sector organisations, large businesses, smaller enterprises and sole traders. Filling 100 Apprenticeships in 100 days is going to be a tough challenge but the rewards will be great. We believe it can be done – but only with your help!

To pledge your support now, contact the St Helens College Business Unit on 01744 62 34 24 or by email at businessunit@sthelens.ac.uk

St Helens College is number one nationally for student satisfaction

The number of higher education students who have applied to study their degree level courses at local colleges has risen this year. Meanwhile applications to study at universities have fallen.

Universities have been hit after the recent shake up of tuition fees, with applications at Leeds Metropolitan University down by 48%, University of Cumbria down 39% and University of Bradford down 30%. However, applications to study higher education at St Helens College remain buoyant.

A recent HEPI (Higher Education Policy Institute) watchdog reported, “There is no sign that as students pay more they are receiving more for their money, and that is reflected in the proportion of students who feel they are not receiving good value for money.”

The study shows up massive differences between institutions and courses when it comes to the amount of time spent with lecturers. Some students may be paying the same amount for much less contact time.

In contrast, at St Helens College we pride ourselves on the amount of contact hours with tutors our students get, along with small class sizes and the ability to keep fees low. This is reflected in the fact that Which?; one of the largest consumer bodies in the UK, states that colleges are now rivalling universities in the provision of degree level courses. The 2013 Student Academic Experience Survey was produced by HEPI and Which? with thousands of students taking part. St Helens College was rated number one nationally for student satisfaction.

The College is also launching A levels this September, with a guaranteed progression route to the higher education courses.

If you are interested in studying higher education or A levels at St Helens College, visit our website for more details www.sthelens.ac.uk

24+ Advanced Learning Loans are launched

Research suggests that people with the highest education qualifications tend to earn more, proving that getting qualified really pays off.  On average those educated to level 3 earn around 15 per cent more per hour, and those who progress into higher education can earn 45 per cent more per hour, compared to someone with a level 2 qualification. 

The cost of education for adults can often be a barrier to learning but it is a worthwhile investment.  A new initiative from the government is being launched that will help adult learners at St Helens College with the cost of education.

Adults aged 24 or older can apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan, to help with the costs of studying on a course at St Helens College.  The 24+ Advanced Learning Loans are student loans similar to higher education loans, but for individuals studying at level 3 or level 4.  There is no restriction on the type of course you can apply for and qualifications include QCF Certificates and Diplomas, Access to HE, A-Levels and Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships.

Repayments of your loan will not start until April 2016 and you won’t have to pay anything back until you are earning over £21,000 a year.  You can apply for a loan to meet the upfront costs of your qualification, which will be paid directly to the College on your behalf.  If you decide not to take out a loan, you will be expected to meet the course costs yourself.  If you get a loan to cover tuition fees for an Access to HE course and then complete a higher education course, you won’t have to repay the remaining loan for the access course.

Changes to the way adults are funded for college courses mean that even individuals over 24 who were previously entitled to free tuition will have to take out a loan for any level 3 course from September (this means that the old fee remission entitlement doesn’t apply). 

Come along to one of our 24+ Advanced Learning Loan advice sessions:

Wednesday 8th May 4.30pm - 7pm

Wednesday 5th June 4.30pm - 7pm

Visit http://www.sthelens.ac.uk/24-advanced-learning-loans for more information.

League table success for St Helens College

St Helens College continues to build on recent success with the announcement of the most improved league table results in the region, placing the College prominently locally and on Merseyside.

The average point score per student apply to 16-18 year olds studying on a level 3 courses at College.  The College achieved a 7.1 point improvement from the previous year’s results, the highest improvement locally by any school sixth form or college.

The improving points score in the league table is an indication that we are successful in supporting students to maximise their potential.  Whilst most local sixth forms and colleges suffered a decline in the recent published tables, the College continues to climb and is now in a prominent position locally and across Merseyside.

The College enhances the students experience through the use of the latest resources and facilities, and we are placed in the top 10% nationally for maximising students potential, through high quality teaching and learning.  The College has exciting plans to expand the sixth form provision and will be introducing A Level courses in September in Maths, English Language, Law, Business Studies, 3-Design and Chemistry.  The A Levels will also provide students with additional UCAS points and strengthens progression onto the College’s higher education courses.

We are delighted that the College has achieved a significant increase in the league table position and we now occupy a proud place amongst schools, FE colleges and sixth form colleges.  The College continues to improve year on year and we are expecting the introduction of our new A Level provision to enhance the student experience.

If you have a son or daughter leaving school this year, there is still time for them to apply to study at St Helens College in September.  Come along to the open evening on Wednesday 24^th April, 4.30pm – 7pm.  Visit www.sthelens.ac.uk for more information.

Learning Loans will help Adult Learners

 

Research suggests that people with the highest education qualifications tend to earn more, proving that getting qualified really pays off.  On average those educated to level 3 earn around 15 per cent more per hour, and those who progress into higher education can earn 45 per cent more per hour, compared to someone with a level 2 qualification. 

The cost of education for adults can often be a barrier to learning but it is a worthwhile investment.  A new initiative from the government is being launched that will help adult learners at St Helens College with the cost of education.

From April 2013, adults aged 24 or older will be able to apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan, to help with the costs of studying on a course at St Helens College.  The 24+ Advanced Learning Loans are student loans similar to higher education loans, but for individuals studying at level 3 or level 4.  There is no restriction on the type of course you can apply for and qualifications include QCF Certificates and Diplomas, Access to HE, A-Levels and Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships.

Repayments of your loan will not start until April 2016 and you won’t have to pay anything back until you are earning over £21,000 a year.  You can apply for a loan to meet the upfront costs of your qualification, which will be paid directly to the College on your behalf.  If you decide not to take out a loan, you will be expected to meet the course costs yourself.  If you get a loan to cover tuition fees for an Access to HE course and then complete a higher education course, you won’t have to repay the remaining loan for the access course.

Changes to the way adults are funded for college courses mean that even individuals over 24 who were previously entitled to free tuition will have to take out a loan for any level 3 course from September (this means that the old fee remission entitlement doesn’t apply). 

For more information about the 24+ Advanced Learning Loan or to find out what courses are available to study at St Helens College, visit www.sthelens.ac.uk

St Helens College in top 25% Nationally for Maximising Student Potential in Sixth Form Provision

St Helens College is delighted to announce that it is now placed in the top 25% of colleges and schools across the country for maximising students’ potential at sixth form level. 

The ALPS report is the result of 25 years of careful research and development by a team of outstanding educational experts.  The aim of ALPS and the reports that they produce is to help staff in schools and colleges to enhance recruitment, retention and achievements of students studying on A levels, AS levels and BTEC National qualifications.

A 9 point grading system is used to highlight the impact a school or college has on the distance a student has travelled from their qualifications on entry, through their learning experience and the final grades that they achieve.  St Helens College achieved a grade 3 (Excellent), placing it in the top 25% of schools and colleges in the country.  This is an increase from a grade 4 (top 40%) that the College achieved in 2011 and illustrates the College’s continuous drive to improve year on year. 

This excellent news comes just after an independent student survey,  undertaken by the Higher Education Government Agency reported that the College is now placed 11^th nationally for student satisfaction (95%), 4^th nationally for assessment and 6^th nationally for academic support on our Higher Education programmes.

We are very proud of our fast growing reputation for developing students and maximising their potential and this latest ALPS report indicates that students really are fulfilling their true potential at the College.

95% Student Satisfaction at St Helens College

Students thinking about studying higher education in 2013 should consider studying on a foundation degree or honours degree at St Helens College.  For the second year running, we have received an outstanding set of results in the National Student Survey (NSS) for higher education provision.

St Helens College received 95% overall student satisfaction, the College’s highest score ever for students studying on higher education courses.  The results from the 2012 survey confirm that St Helens College is now rated the eleventh highest college or university higher education provider in Great Britain for student satisfaction.

The Teaching on My Course – 94% student satisfaction (11^th highest in Britain)
Assessment and Feedback – 90% student satisfaction (joint 4^th highest in Britain)
Academic Support – 93% student satisfaction (joint 6^th highest in Britain)
Organisation and Management – 92% student satisfaction (joint 6^th highest in Britain)
Personal Development – 93% student satisfaction (joint 10^th highest in Britain)

We continue to receive outstanding results in the NSS league table, proving that the students at College are among the happiest in the country.  The survey is undertaken by final-year students from universities and college across Britain, providing them with the opportunity to rate their satisfaction in key areas of their degree course.

The College has more than 8,300 students of which approximately 1,000 are higher education students studying towards foundation or full honours degree.  We deliver a wide range of foundation degree and honours degree programmes validated by our prestigious university partners.  Our university partners include Edge Hill University, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Central Lancashire and our newest partner University of Chester.

For further information about studying higher education at St Helens College in 2013, visit www.sthelens.ac.uk