We pride ourselves on providing every student with the best support possible. Focusing on your individual needs, we provide you with a wealth of support to assist you throughout your time at college. This support will always be available when you want or need it - our dedicated staff are here to help you from day one.
HNC has also received funding under the ESFA 16-19 tuition fund. This helps us to offer personalised support to students such as additional small classes. This is focussed on students who have not yet achieved a grade 4 in GCSE Maths and/or English. To read our fuller statement regarding use of this funding, please click here.
To unlock your academic potential, we offer a range of specialist support, led by our experienced staff, that is designed to support your learning:
- Bespoke and tailored lessons to support your academic success
- Passionate and experienced subject specialists
- Independent learning hubs
Our XL Programme is your opportunity to enhance your future applications to the most competitive universities:
- The programme will broaden your horizons and your awareness of the wider world. Through both developing your academic potential and cultural awareness, you will shine at those all important interviews, including Oxbridge interviews and develop life-long skills. Click here to find out more about XL
Every student will work closely with a Progress Tutor who they will meet on a weekly basis either in an Aspire group tutorial session or a one-to-one session. Together, you will monitor your progress. This will allow you to identify your academic strengths and areas for further academic development, to ensure that you achieve your potential. Your Progress Tutor will also help you to make important decisions about life after College. In Aspire tutorial sessions you will complete your UCAS application or research suitable employment opportunities (including apprenticeships), dependent on your personal future goals.
The Aspire Programme has been developed to make sure you excel during your HNC experience and beyond.
Your dedicated Progress Tutor will be your key point of contact through this progression journey, there to support your academic and personal progress and signpost you to our Well-being and Careers teams when you need them.
The Aspire programme will support and challenge you to become the best possible version of yourself: healthy, confident, resilient in the face of adversity and ready to progress to university, an apprenticeship or the world of work and we will cover a range of topics including :
· Tips on a successful transition to College life and higher level study
· Advice on productive study habits, a positive attitude to your studies and the self-motivation to excel to ensure you leave HNC with the best possible set of results
· Support on how best to research your progression options and proactively develop key employability skills through the UniFrog platform
· Advice about how to stay physically and mentally healthy and how to foster healthy relationships. We will support you to develop positive coping strategies for difficult times which we hope you can use for many years after you leave us
· Step-by step guidance on financial well-being through the completion of a financial programme designed for young people
· Advice on how to make a happy and stress-free transition to your chosen next steps and independent living
Life is not always easy but we will support you to confront setbacks with a resilient attitude.
We will do all this and more through weekly tutorial sessions as well as half-termly 1-1 meetings when we will work together to identify suitable targets to help you achieve your full potential.
Although you are a young adult, part of our role is to communicate with your parents, who remain an important part of your academic journey. We’ll share updates with them, and if you do need extra support, we’ll work with them too .
If you require additional learning support, our dedicated Learning Support team will work closely with you, your family, your school, relevant external agencies and College staff to ensure you receive the support that is exactly right for you.
Our Learning Support team is based in the Learning Support Centre.
The Learning Support Centre is a hub of activity providing additional learning support including:
- One-to-one support from an experienced team of Student Support Assistants
- Support for specific learning needs. These include, but are not limited to:
- Students with learning difficulties, including dyspraxia and dyslexia
- Students with sensory impairments
- Students with physical disabilities
- English for speakers of another language (EAL)
- Special examination arrangement assessments
Students who may need special examination arrangements will be assessed internally by our specialist assessors. Special examination arrangements may include provision of:
- a reader
- a scribe
- a separate room
- extra time
- rest breaks
- the loan of equipment, such as laptops
- Access to 20 PCs and specialist learning software such as Texthelp and assistive technology
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of our students.
Safeguarding Team
We have an experienced and qualified safeguarding team at the College who you can contact at any time about any safeguarding concerns. This team work hard to establish a safe and supportive environment for students in which they can learn and develop. Click here to read more about our safeguarding team.
Student Wellbeing service
Student Wellbeing is a confidential, person-centred, service for students within College; empowering students to develop resilience, draw their own conclusions and find solutions. Every student is welcome to access the service to discuss any personal wellbeing concerns including mental, emotional and physical health. Just some of the services on offer include:
- 30 minute bookable 1:1 appointments to talk through anything that’s on your mind
- Drop-ins for quick questions and product collections (subject to staff availability)
- A Student Wellbeing Moodle resource sharing an abundance of self-help information, downloadable resources and links
- Monthly LIVE Student Wellbeing Webinars led by our Student Wellbeing Champions
- LGBTQ+ weekly support group facilitated in a safe and confidential space
- FREE period products
- FREE contraception & sexual health advice service
- Referrals to external support where appropriate
Your mental wellbeing is a priority at HNC and whilst our provision is comprehensive, we also have a focus upon maintaining and enhancing positive mental well-being, and building resilience for the future. As well as an empathetic, counselling style approach, you can expect realistic guidance to enable you to manage independently long-term, as well as special events like external service pop-up stands, along with informal drop-ins led by our specially trained Student Wellbeing Champions and Student Wellbeing Manager.
We are proud to have been awarded the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools (Further Education) Award at Silver standard. This reflects how as a College we are working hard to ensure that good mental health & wellbeing is promoted.
LSC Enlighten
Not everyone finds the transition from school to College easy. If you struggle to make new friends or to settle into new environments, this group may be for you. The group meets regularly for lunch and arranges regular social activities for members, both inside and outside College.
To find out about our Careers and Higher Education support, please visit our dedicated Careers section.
All essential costs, such as course printing, textbooks and equipment are covered by the College. However additional financial support is available for students who need it and who qualify. Depending on your household income, you may qualify for a 16-18 Bursary or Free School Meals. If you don't qualify for either of these national schemes, you can apply for financial support from the College's own Hardship Fund. This fund is for those who experience exceptional financial hardship during their time studying at the College. Applications for support from the Hardship Fund are considered on an individual basis.
Click here for more information about financial support at HNC.
