To think that "fulltime" courses that are 3 days a week are taking the P

[rightothatsmethen]

This is for met college - FE. Courses are considered full time if they are over 16 hrs or something...so a full time course could be 2 and a half days a week.

How can they say people are enrolled as full time students with those hours?

THAT FULL TIME course enabled me to do a degree, hold down a job and manage three children under the age of 5.

otherwise i wouldnt have afforded it and childcare would have prohibited it

You have done welding Custy?

(I thought you were more on the feminine than the butch side.....)

Kudos to custy.

Can't think why the OP is even bothered about this. A total no interest dilemma. taking the piss? in what way? does it affect you, your life, your job, your family?

Its an administrative construct, relating to benefits etc. bog off and find something else to fret about.

On a vocational course there are 2.5 days taught lessons. Either classroom based or practical hands on classes.

Those lessons will not always be as clear cut as on 2.5 days straight, but with student numbers, time tabling etc, may find that the student hours are spread out over 4 or sometimes even 5 days a week.

Students will also have "homework" assignments to complete. Revision, reading, etc.

I agree with Vera, it is classed as full time, so there are benefits (council tax, bus passes, free prescriptions and nhs dentistry) as it could be 16 hours over two days or due to room/tutor availability 16 hours over 4/5 days and if it is a more than one year course the structure may change in future years. If you had to travel in 5 days a week you would find getting a P/T job harder and would really need the benefits linked to it being full time, I would just be glad your sons college has managed to timetable it over less days.

LRDTheFeministDragonThu 25-Aug-11 20:45:56

"at that age you're too tired with growing, I think"

Aww that has to be one of the most adorbale things I have read on MN!

I just don't understand how it's 'taking the piss'. Are you worried that in some way your son is being ripped off by the terminology used? Is it the cost? Do you not believe that someone with only 17 hours of contact time should be entitled to student discounts? What?

The first thing our lecturers said when we turned up at Uni was when they say "reading" for a degree it means getting down the library and reading! Adult education is self guided - the individual identifies gaps in knowledge and own areas of interest and is expected to address them themselves in addition to attending lectures and classes, that is how you really learn.

No I dont believe they should tortoise. As for benefits, its great from my end as I stand to still receive cb and payments from my ex for the 17 hr course my son is doing.

Thing is I also have a 17 year old who thinks he is in fulltime education and thinks wed-monday are "days off". There is NO study outside this course.

As others have said the 16 hours is for tuition only you are supposed to do independent study too. When I did my degree back in '94 my full time course only had 16 hours a week too.

As a side note in employment terms anything over 16 hours a week is also classified as full time work by the government.

Ah. Well, then it's your son who's taking the piss.

I think I need to repeat that there is NO additional study. This is his second course.

Yes tortoise I'll have to have a word. I think he thinks his college bursary is "it" and he is full time. Cant have a huge 17 year old lolling about the place all year. Its a shame he cant do 2 courses, he would love to do more.

I seem to agree with Torty...

However, do you know for a A FACT there is no theory to read? No material science, metals on molecular levels etc, to read up on?

Absolutely know for a fact

Well then, good luck persuading him to find a part time job to fill his time with!

Its so hard to find anything but my gosh I we will . I think an apprengticeship would be great but so few and far between.!

If it's a level one practical FE course there will be no outside reading etc. 16 hours is fairly standard as full-time in FE, for this level of course. It's all bums on seats. I'd be encouraging him to find an apprenticeships, but they are like hen's teeth. Situations like your son's are why it is such an issue that the English Government are withdrawing funding for Careers Advice for teenagers.

Sorry OP I read too quickly and missed the several times you told us there was no additional reading .

I agree a part time job is needed, maybe you need to cut back on his allowance so he needs to get a job. Tough love might be appropriate here.

I was working part-time all the way through FE from 16-22 because my mum couldn't afford to subsidise me (and I gave her half of everything I earned)

Yes it is whyriskit