The College Charter
The College will provide high quality education and training to meet the needs of the community and the individual. This provision will stem from an environment which nurtures the potential of all.
This Charter explains what Yale College aims to do for you. It is a public expression of our commitment to all our students. We invite you to participate in ensuring that we live up to the standards by which we judge the quality of our work and which are set out in this document.
Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions to make so that we can continually improve our services.
Most of the services referred to are delivered at the two main College campuses – Grove Park Road and Bersham Road, Wrexham. If a course is delivered elsewhere you still have the right to use these services
Further information about the College, its services and courses are available from FREE College publications such as:
- Annual Report
- Prospectus
- Course Directory
- Course detail sheets
Alternatively you can also view the pages of this website. For details about all courses and College services, please contact Admisssions on 01978 311794.
STUDENTS
What you can expect before you become a student:
- Information about the programmes of study available to you
- Main Reception is open Monday and Tuesday 8.00am – 9.00pm, Wed and Thursday 8.00am – 5.30pm and Friday 8.00am – 5.00pm
- The Central Admissions Unit, which processes applications, is open Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5pm, Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm.
- Advice and Guidance events and Open days are held throughout the year.
- Prospectuses, part-time Course Directories and course detail leaflets are available free of charge from Admissions, Yale College, Grove Park Road LL12 7AB. Tel: 01978 311794 Fax: 01978 291569. Email: admissions@yale-wrexham.ac.uk
Information about support for learning difficulties and/or disabilities
- Details of the support services available are detailed in the Disability Statement which is available below. Details are also given in College literature and on the College website
- Confidential interviews can be arranged by ticking the appropriate box on the application form or by contacting Admissions directly
Details of previous students’ achievements
- Each year we publish information about student achievement and destinations. This is available from Careers.
Applications and Enquiries
- The processing of your application to join a course fairly and efficiently
- Application and enrolment arrangements are published in College publications and, at various times, in the press and on local radio
- Normally the College will respond to enquiries within 5 working days and applicants will receive replies to correspondence within 10 working days
Information about costs
- Course fees are listed in the part-time directory. Full time students, who have been resident in the European community for the last three years, are normally entitled to free tuition. There is a £20 registration fee for students on full-time courses.
- Tax relief may be available on certain programmes if students are working towards an NVQ and are paying their own fees
- Part-time students, except for those on Second Chance or Drome courses and those working towards an OCN qualification, also pay examination entry or registration fees. Details are available from Admissions.
- Some students may be expected to contribute to the cost of materials, trips, residential visits etc. These are usually listed on the course detail sheets.
- Information about other sources of funding towards remission of fees for part-time students, for eg, support from the ESF or various government sponsored schemes, is available from Admissions
- International Students should contact the International Office for advice.
What you can expect once you become a student
- Access to information about financial support
- Details of free College transport and a current timetable are available from the Transport Office.
- Limited funds exist to assist those experiencing hardship. Details are available from the Student Financial Team.
- An Induction to the College, your programme of study and details of your rights and responsibilities within the College
- All full-time students have an Induction at the start of their course of study and will also receive a Course Information Pack/Handbook which will give full details of the aims of their course, a summary of its content and timetable of delivery, details of assessment and advice and information on study skills
- All full-time students can access the Student Handbook on Moodle which details rights and responsibilities, College Services and how to access them and a great deal of other useful information
- Part-time students receive a leaflet informing them of College services and facilities and other useful information
- All full-time students complete an Individual Learning Agreement at Induction, which details their rights and responsibilities together with those of the College.
Learner Support
- A Personal Tutor is allocated to all full-time students at the start of their course. Personal tutors meet regularly with their students individually or in a group throughout term time. The role of the Personal Tutor is explained fully in the Student Handbook
- Specialist support is available for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
- The Essential Skills Team are available to help with the development of skills in communication, numeracy and information technology.
- The Learning Resource Centres provide students with access to library facilities, current newspapers and publications, the use of computers and access to the Internet and a collection of software, video, audio and CD-Rom.
High quality teaching and management of the programme of study
- The College aims to provide teaching of a high quality, as a right, to all students. This includes providing an environment suitable for study, teaching by qualified and trained staff, well prepared lessons supported by appropriate resources, course work and assignments constructively assessed and regular verbal or written reports on progress together with the opportunity to discuss the course with staff, make comments and suggestions
- Each programme area is subject to a systematic annual review and evaluation
- Students will be provided with a summary of course content, a time-table of delivery and details of assessment requirements as part of course induction
- Students will have the opportunity to build up a Record of Achievement
- Students will be given the learning support necessary to complete a programme of study
- Work placements and work experience will be appropriate for the course and qualification with a written report available on completion
- Full-time students will have access to an ‘Enrichment Programme’ which provides a range of extra short courses and activities which they may undertake at no extra cost
Access to advice, information and guidance on Careers, further study or personal matters
- Students have an entitlement to careers education and guidance which includes access to qualified independent Careers Advisers
- Students have access to careers guidance interviews which are held at the College
- Students receive help with applications to Higher Education or employment
- A confidential Counselling service is available to students.
- All full-time students have access to information and advice relating to personal welfare and finance
- Nursery facilities are available on the Grove Park Road Campus for the pre-school age children of students
Information about examination procedures and notification about achievements
- Students are responsible for ensuring that they are entered for examinations. Details will be given by Personal Tutors or by class teachers (part-time students)
- Examinations regulations can be obtained from the Examinations Officer
- Students will be informed of arrangements to receive information about their results
Feedback on your progress
- Work will be assessed regularly and marked within a given time
- Students will be given the opportunity to regularly review their progress and talk to their tutor about any learning difficulties or problems they may encounter
- For those aged 16 – 19 years on full time programmes – they and their parents or guardians will receive written progress reports and be invited into College to discuss them
- For those sponsored by an employer – they and their employer will receive written progress and attendance reports
- The College has a formal Disciplinary Code and Appeals Procedure. Copies of these are available on the internet
Making your views known
- Student Liaison Committees meet regularly and, amongst many other activities, provide feedback from the student body to the College Management on a wide range of issues
- Surveys are regularly undertaken to obtain students’ views and recommendations about programmes of study and College Services
- Students have the opportunity to participate in course review activity
- The College has a formal grievance procedure for students
Student Charter – Your rights and Obligations
- an equal opportunity to study regardless of your ability, disability, race, religion or belief, colour, ethnic or national origin, culture, age, marital status, gender or sexual orientation
- work in a comfortable, non-threatening and safe environment
- feel valued
- an induction into the College which enables you to find out about its facilities, range of opportunities and how it works
- clear information about your course, including the types of learning activities you will be involved in, what you will need to succeed in each subject, how you will be assessed and where the course might lead to
- receive non-biased, impartial advice on courses and careers
- regular feedback from the staff who teach you
- work with teaching staff all of whom have been trained in Equal Opportunities
- the opportunity to discuss your course with the staff and make comments and suggestions about it
- work with materials which avoid stereotyping people
- access to a Personal Tutor and/or other staff for personal support and guidance
- access to the College Counsellor and Careers Guidance
Your Obligations -the College expects that you will:
- make full use of the educational opportunities provided and show thorough application to the course
- meet the requirements of the course, i.e. attend sessions regularly and punctually and return assignments on time
- meet with your Personal Tutor at the arranged times to review progress behave in the College in a way which shows respect for other students and staff and recognises the right of all other learners to equality of opportunity
- observe all appropriate Health and Safety regulations which the College will make you aware of
- show respect for the College environment and property
- not bring any alcohol or illegal drugs into the College or consume any on the premises
- take care of your own property. The College does not accept any responsibility for loss or damage which occurs to it familiarise yourself with and abide by the College Disciplinary Procedure (Copies of which available in the Learning Resource Centres on each campus)
- abide by the College Rules and Regulations
If any of these obligations are not adhered to, action may be taken under the Complaints or Disciplinary procedures.
Please note that if any student fails to pay any outstanding debts (e.g. fees, fines, textbook costs etc.) the College will refer the account to the Small Claims Court. If the Court rules against the student he/she may have difficulty obtaining credit facilities including mortgages and credit cards in the future as a result of an adverse credit rating.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF FULL-TIME STUDENTS (16–19 YEARS)
We aim to provide:
- Open evenings when you may visit the College and talk to staff
- Regular feedback on progress
- The opportunity to attend at least one Parents’ Evening each year to meet your daughter’s/son’s tutors. A written report on attendance, progress and attainments will be sent prior to the Parents’ Evening
- The opportunity to attend the Annual Public Meeting and receive a copy of the Annual Report
- Parents and Guardians are welcome to make an appointment to visit the College or to discuss their daughter’s /son’s progress at any time
We ask you to:
- Keep us informed of relevant changes in personal circumstances
- Tell us if you are concerned about your daughter’s/son’s progress
- Attend Parents’ Evenings
- Encourage your daughter/son to meet the expectations set out in this Charter
EMPLOYERS/SPONSORS
We aim to provide:
- Clear and accurate information of your employee’s programme of study including key personnel involved, study time required, teaching methods and assessment procedures used and credits and or qualifications to be gained
- Details of the intended learning outcomes of any work experience placement you provide, together with details of the College’s arrangements for making assessments where appropriate and an opportunity to comment on student performance
- Efficient invoicing procedures
- A written record of student attendance and achievement at least once a year
We ask you to:
- Tell us if you are concerned about your employee’s/trainee’s progress
- Keep us informed of any relevant changes in circumstances
- Encourage your employee/trainee to meet the expectations outlined in this Charter
- Pay invoices promptly
- Support our employer consultative groups
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
We aim to:
- Provide a relevant range of vocational courses
- Organise vocational and non-vocational courses at many different Centres in the community and in partnership with local schools
- Provide a free daytime Return to Learn programme for adults
- Provide a free daytime and evening Basic Skills (English, Numeracy, Communication Skills and English for Speakers of other Languages)
- Operate a concessionary based fee system for part-time students with some free provision
- Let premises and facilities for use by community groups
- Provide information about College courses and services through Course Directories, leaflets, regular advertisements in the local press and on radio
- Provide open evenings and information events at the College
- Enable members of the community, either as individuals or as part of an organisation to influence and shape the College curriculum and its services
COMMENTS AND COMPLAINTS
We welcome your comments and complaints. Whatever you say will be dealt with as efficiently as possible. Written complaints will be passed on to the Principal. You will receive an initial response to your comment or complaint within five working days.
Names of members of the Governing Body are available on request and members may be contacted through the Principal, Yale College, Grove Park Road, Wrexham LL12 7AB.
Keep in touch
Let us know what you are upto and keep up to date with what we are doing.