BTECs starting 2015 - General support thread

I did call the college yesterday to speak to someone to find out what is going on/who he should speak to. Took 3 attempts to get someone to answer the phone and then got put through to a voicemail where I left a message but still haven't been called back.

DS won't do anything about it unless nudged, I know him, he'll just stay quiet and carry on. He's still spending non-lesson time out with his friends,who are apparently all planning on quitting college as soon as they reach 18.

That is very encouraging Kez

Thunderbird can hr talk to course tutor after a lesson? DD is meant to have a personal tutor but claims she hasn't. The course tutors habe been responsible for swapping her onto the other course .

She had to go on a waiting list but has swapped today. N9 lessons on a Friday but full day Wednesday. Is doing catch up on Tuesday and had to take photos of a pier - good thing we aren't too far from one. She says the class are nice which is good as she didn't like the media class.

I'm hoping as she did GCSE photography it won't be as hard to catch up as as could be. Assumably the assignments will appear very shortly. She is tired and I'm encouraging her to use her frees.

He hasn't been given any books or handouts or anything.
The college prospectus does say that students get a personal tutor but he hasn't been told who his is or where to find them! (it seems a bit of a shambles TBH)

He definitely needs to talk to someone thunderbird - tell him to ask any of his teachers where the staff room for his course is and that he needs to talk to his course leader.

Can he email the course tutor? There may be a list of contacts in the course handbook if he was given one during induction. Does he have a pastoral tutor? They usually hang out around student services - that would be another place to ask as they will be able to tell him how best to get hold of his course tutor and talk through any issues he has with being in college.

At our college there are people in the library who read assignments through for students prior to submission. Might be worth popping in there to see if his college offer the same. Any of his teachers should be able to direct him to the course tutor or at least pass on a message

Oh dear, DS has now said he's not happy with doing his course as he doesn't understand any of it (sure that's not quite true). He has said that for his 1st assignment, they haven't covered what is required for the extra distinction part of it. He only has each tutor once a week so doesn't have any opportunity to ask them about it until it is due in. He's now got another 2 assignments set and I think he is starting to panic.
I have told him he needs to speak to someone at college if he is unhappy, he says he will try to but doesn't know who...

My DD did photography extended diploma - loved it. She and her peers have gone on to do : degrees in commercial photography, fine art photography, media, event management, fashion photography, something to do with psychology, photography with a year in Europe, one went abroad to work as an au pair with a family, a few went into general retail or office work and a few haven't done anything. (Well, that was what was on their end of course show artists statements!)

DD sat in a photography class as not enough computers in media and has decided she wants to swap. Should find out today apparently.

Kez

But the assignment should say which it covers, eg P1 and P2 or P1 and M1

That's the criteria for the whole unit. Often many assignments make up a whole unit - this assignment might only cover one or two of them.

Thanks - I've got him the textbook now so hopefully that will help.

He has been given his first assignment, but says they have been given limited information and he doesn't know what the marking criteria are

They are n the public domain, if he goes on the Pearson website and looks up the course and the unit it wii give him the grading criteria.

He may have already been given a copy of the unit spec, the grading criteria is in there too.

DD has been told much the same as T&T's DD (not surprising as same College! )

They are having quite an intensive time during lessons getting to grips with new terminology etc and the teaching is quite a fast pace.

It's just a matter of getting used to less parental involvement. Has your DS got the email address for the teacher? On my DSs course they have to email if they have any questions about the assignment and they can find the marking guides on their intranet. They are expected to self study using the material on it as a basis a day doing their own research. I think it's good for them to get used to how it is in uni.

Maybe it's just a starter for ten? So they've set something for him to research? It's difficult to guess knowing so little. I'm sure they arent trying to catch him out at all - that's in no one's best interests.

What is the subject of his course?

No he doesn't have any SEN, he is just rather quiet and shy! I don't know if he sees the lecturer who set the work again, before it is due in, he hasn't shown me what he got given - but said it was just 1 sentence

My other DS is still at school and I see how their support and parent communication carries on into the 6th form, plus extra-curricular activities/trips etc. and it is so much different to college. I know it is only early days, but I'm quite disappointed so far.

As this is sixth form/college - call it what you will - this is the start of independence. He can ask the lecturer who set the work where he can find the assignment marking criteria. On my Dss assignments they were on the sheet with the work set. On my DD s they were at the back of the written brief. The work he needs to do should be listed in the handout/electronic worksheet.

He probably won't be told he has to work in frees, he just needs to if he is to do his best in his assignments. It's his call. My DSs mates who failed AS exams this summer weren't told either, never put the extra study in, and failed. It's the students choice as to how they want to perform now they are post 16. It's good skills to learn as they need them for work or for uni.

Now the assignment - if he thinks he hasn't covered the work, he should ask if it's being covered in any lessons and, if it is, good but, if not, he can ask what resources he needs to use to help him complete it.

Re: parents - they are likely to have a report and parents evening system but otherwise, yes, parents are rarely involved now post 16. If he has any SEN which means he might struggle with this then speak to the college as it might be different in that case.

I'm waiting for DS to enter the sensible and practical stage, he is still too concerned about how he looks!

I'm now concerned after him saying to me that he doesn't think the teachers on his course are any good and he's not learning anything. He has been given his first assignment, but says they have been given limited information and he doesn't know what the marking criteria are. He also doesn't think he has to work all the time when he's not at college (which is half the week!) he says he hasn't been told to do that. It's all so vague and there is no contact with parents.

I have now ordered him the text book for the course to see if that is any more help. I really hope he hasn't made a bad decision, choosing college over 6th form

DD bought herself a rucksack for sixth form, but I suspect she'll be trading it in for a larger one soon.

Does cool matter now they are 16/17? DS just wanted something practical that would work for him when he bought his bag last year. I think they tend to grow out of that sort of concern.

DD is taking Btec dance alongside her A levels. She is beyond excited about not having an end of year exam. We have talked about how important each assignment is.

DD also using a rucksack. I thnk cool is a local thing, I noticed a difference with what the girls were using last year between two local schools.

I'm really pleased your DD had a good day T&T. Good she has made some friends, sorry she finds it hard. We've had issues on that front over the years. She doesn't seem to be particularly making friends in her classes but has 3 friends from school she has gone up with. She was taking selfish wih a donkey in her frees today so fair play to your DD for working !