Induction
All students will receive an induction to both the college and course so that you know what to expect and how to succeed. We will also make sure we look carefully at your learning needs so that you know how to find any support you may need right from the start.
Tutorial support
If you are a full time student at the College you will be assigned a tutor who will give you personal and academic support during your course. Students find this support invaluable in helping them to understand clearly what they have to do in order to achieve their goals. Your tutor will work with you to help you set realistic goals for yourself and give you clear feedback on how you are progressing.
Group tutorials will help you with study skills, exam techniques, careers guidance, UCAS applications if you are preparing to go to university, job applications, interview techniques and preparation for your work experience, as well as looking at personal, social and health well being.
Please contact Chris Hedges, Head of Tutorial on 0208 301 8074 or christineh@gcc.ac.uk for further details about tutorials.
Learning Resources
The Learning Resources Centre (LRC) at Plumstead provides a welcoming place to study and catch up on your learning. There’s a Library Zone containing over 50,000 books, DVD’s and journals, whilst our Computer Zone has over 80 computers and is available on a drop-in basis. You will have access to the Student Intranet, the Internet and specialist software. A smaller Cyber Cafe is available at our Greenwich Park Centre. The Student Intranet is networked across College sites and contains subject web pages with information about your course and a vast range of useful online learning resources and study skills advice. Many of the online journals, encyclopaedias and databases can also be accessed over the web from home. Ask in the LRC for a username and password for home access. For more information please contact the LRC on 020 8488 4813 or 020 8355 3983.
LEO (Learning online)://leo.gcc.ac.uk/moodle/ lets you access your course via the internet and is an exciting new way to learn while you study with us. Leo lets you study parts of your course via the internet and e-mail your tutor or class to discuss study topics. If any part of your course is available your tutor will give you a user name and password. For more information about LEO contact Leland De Cambra on lelandd@gcc.ac.uk or 020 8355 3933.
The e-Skills Centre at Plumstead also offers drop in access to computers as well as Learndirect courses and online exam facilities. You can contact the e-Skills Centre on 020 8488 4839 or e-mail them.
Childcare
The College has a day nursery at the Plumstead Centre. There is a charge for using the nursery but many students are helped to cover the costs by the Learner Support Fund.
If we cannot offer you a childcare place in our nursery and you are eligible for help from the Learner Support Fund. If you think you may need childcare please contact the Welfare Office on 0208 355 1091 to arrange an interview, as soon as you have been offered a place on a course. We cannot offer childcare support for children under 2 ½ years.
Careers Advice and Guidance
Our student advisers offer a range of services including one-to-one careers guidance, advice on applications for higher education, job search skills and information on fees and grants. They can also help you by:
- Providing information about other courses in the College.
- Talking to you about progression routes available on completion of your course.
- Helping you to make realistic decisions and planning your next steps into education or training.
Work experience
Some courses will require you to have a work experience placement. Your placement will give you an invaluable insight into how your studies fit into real practice. A current Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure is needed if you are applying for courses where you will have a work placement with children or vulnerable adults. This is to ensure that you do not have a criminal record, which would make you unsuitable for work of this nature. This must be applied for before you begin your course and will cost you £44 if you are over 19 and over. The college will support you with this application.
