Stow College

Information for parents & guardians

Giving pupils more choices

Colleges offer a wide range of opportunities where people of all ages can learn new skills, advance their knowledge and gain nationally recognised qualifications.

There are over 40 colleges of further and higher education in Scotland. The courses available in Scotland’s colleges range from introductory courses developing basic skills to advanced courses in highly skilled areas comparable to postgraduate degrees.

Virtually all of the courses offered are linked to national qualifications recognised by employers and other education institutions both nationally and internationally. Many are accredited and awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (eg HNCs, HNDs), the same body that administers school qualifications.

Currently about 1 in 10 people of working age in Scotland enrol on a college course each year. Colleges are being encouraged to make that figure 1 in 5 because the skills and qualifications available at college will help ensure that Scotland becomes a nation engaged in lifelong learning.

Colleges have developed a wide range of activities in partnership with schools. These are aimed at:

• broadening the range of learning opportunities available to students to include subjects not normally available in school;
• giving school students access to facilities and equipment not normally available in schools;
• enhancing the work of teachers in raising pupils' employability skills;
• letting school-aged students experience an adult environment.

Here at Stow College we have developed an exciting range of courses specifically for school students. Further details on individual courses can be found in our Schools Prospectus which you can download by clicking here. Copies of the prospectus can also be obtained by contacting Learner Services at the college.

These courses provide students with the opportunity to experience subject areas that may not be available within their school (eg specialist subjects or learning that requires specialised facilities).

Also this means that young people are able to experience a different kind of learning environment, an environment which may capture their interest and imagination and better engage them in the learning process.

What happens now?

As a parent/guardian you will want to ensure that your child is able to explore as many career options as possible. If in discussion with your child you identify a course or courses that they are interested in then please pass this information on to the appropriate teacher at the school.

The school will then discuss the options available and if they consider that the course is appropriate and will fit in with your child’s timetable, then they will get in touch with the college to make a formal application for a place.

Wherever possible we will try to accommodate all applications however some courses can be very popular and we cannot always guarantee that a place will be available.

You may wish to see a copy of the Stow College Prospectus which lists all the courses available at Stow as well as comprehensive background information on the college and the services we provide. If you would like a copy, please contact Learner Services

Scottish Qualifications Authority: www.sqa.org.uk Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework: www.scqf.org.uk Learndirect Scotland: www.learndirectscotland.com Students can take these courses while they are still at school. This means that young people are being given more choice in deciding what subject areas they may wish to explore and develop as possible future career options. The courses are organised to fit around school terms and timetables.

As you would expect, the rights and safety of all young people attending Stow College are our utmost priority. All courses are planned in accordance with health and safety procedures and risk assessments are carried out on all areas where young people are involved.

The college has a detailed Child Protection Policy and a comprehensive set of procedures to ensure the welfare and well-being of young people. These policies and procedures not only satisfy our legal duties towards young and vulnerable people and their parents or other responsible adults, but seek to go beyond that to provide a high standard of care, attention and responsiveness.

A Stow College Learner Charter has been drawn up which states the standards of service that any student can expect to receive as a learner at the college.

You may find further useful information on the following website:

Association of Scotland's Colleges: www.ascol.org.uk

Careers Scotland: www.careers-scotland.org.uk