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Study Programme

Students at BCA receive a personalised study programme which helps students to achieve their ambitions beyond successfully completing their college course.

 

We like to do things differently and tailor our whole approach around you. Whatever your starting point, you’ll discover that BCA gives you much more than a qualification.

 

We encourage our students to look beyond their course with us and prepare for their future. We want you to have the best chance you can of fulfilling your ambitions whether that’s getting a job, setting up a business or going onto further study at college or university, especially during the tough economic times facing young people.

 

Functional Skills

Key Skills are being replaced by Functional Skills. These are the essential skills for personal development for all learners. BCA’s important Functional Skills programme will enable you to practise and acquire qualifications in English and Maths.

Employers value these skills, and universities expect students to be fully competent in them. Functional Skills are not only about knowledge – they are about the use and application of English and Maths in real contexts. Using work from your main programme of study and guidance from staff in additional sessions, you will gain a Functional Skills qualification at a level, and in subjects, which suit your needs.

Functional Skills are an integral part of all full-time courses.

Tutorial

Each student has a Personal Tutor whose role it is to provide you with support and guidance throughout your time at college. You will meet with your tutor once a week and your tutorials will consist of group discussions about what is happening in the College, setting progress targets and one-to-one meetings.

Matters of general importance and interest are discussed during group tutorials. Personal Tutors will also keep in touch with your parents or guardians to keep them informed of your progress. This is to help deal with any issues that may arise and if required, offer additional support during your time as a student.

Support and guidance is available from the Student Services team. Student Services offers each student a variety of support to help enhance the learning experience and aid personal development, not just relating to College matters.

Your study programme at BCA

Main qualification

This will be the course(s) you choose to study with us (e.g. Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management).

 

If you haven’t achieved a grade 4 in Maths or English at GCSE, you’ll be able to retake these with us, or alternatively undertake Functional Skills in these and other areas to learn vital skills for work and Further or Higher Education.

 

You’ll have an individual and group tutorials with your personal tutor. Your individual meetings focus on your personal and professional development; your progress will be monitored, you’ll set targets and identify any personal support needs or issues you may have. Group meetings are about developing employability and skills such as working in teams, enterprise and engaging with the local and wider community.

 

We want to make sure you are as prepared for your career as possible, so you’ll have opportunities to undertake tasters in the working world.

 

A variety of activities and events will be on offer to you throughout your course. These might include trips, visits, group speakers, competitions, performances and showcases.

 

Our students receive comprehensive support to enable them to succeed to the best of their potential. You’ll have access to expert careers advice to help you move on to work or university; excellent resources in our Learning Resource Centre; additional learning support; personal support and mentoring