Parents
Making the move up from Secondary School to Sixth Form College can be challenging for all the family, but don’t worry. From the moment your child joins our college we will work with you to ensure a smooth transition and be on hand to support both our students and their parents/carers throughout your time with us.
Although your child gains more independence when they join us as a student, we still keep you regularly updated with all the key information you need to ensure that they can get the most out of their study programme and stay on track to succeed their goals.
Information for new Parents / Carers
Introductory Emails from Teachers
Each teacher will be sending out an introductory email with key dates for the course and any suggested additional resources they feel would be useful (for example study guides).
VESPA
We refer to the acronym VESPA to help students be successful at college. This framework helps us to have conversations about learning effectively.
- Vision – when students are clear on where they are heading and what they want to achieve, they are more motivated to do well.
- Effort – students should be doing at least 3 hours of independent study per subject per week, and no more than 12 hours of paid part-time work.
- Systems – students are supported to plan their time effectively and to keep organised class notes for revision.
- Practise – It is important that students regularly apply their learning in both formal tests (Key Assessments) but by reading around the subject to gain a wider perspective. Discussing topics at home can be very beneficial.
- Attitude – specifically, this refers to how students respond to setbacks and challenges. We help them to build resilience and to learn from mistakes in order to improve.
Reporting Absence
Students should use the online self-reporting form to let the college know of any short-term absence.
Longer-term absences should be notified to Student Services absences@longroad.ac.uk and the Progress Coach.
Please note the college will not authorise any holidays taken during term time. Good attendance is the single biggest factor determining success, and we will follow up poor attendance.
Parents will be sent a weekly automated email showing attendance for the previous week.
ProPortal
ProPortal is an online platform for parents and students to access academic information including current attendance, timetable, grades from Key Assessments and Predicted Grades for UCAS. Progress Audits (reports) will be available on ProPortal and not posted home. Students are encouraged to record any enrichment activity on ProPortal, so it can be used in supportive references.
Parents will be sent a unique log-in for ProPortal, please click here to log-in.
Moodle
Moodle is our Virtual Learning Environment where teachers post resources and notices. Additionally, there is information on applying to university, apprenticeships, and student support. Students are expected to use this site in their Progression Planning session to prepare for the next steps after leaving college.
Parents can log on as a guest to see a restricted view of the site. Please click here to log-in.
Careers Planning
Details of the Careers Programme and related events are available here.
We are always looking for new links with local employers for visits and work experience. Our Careers & Employability lead, Tariq Sadiq, can be contacted at tsadiq@longroad.ac.uk.
College Policies
Key college policies can be downloaded by clicking here.
Key Dates
Term Dates can be found by clicking here.
Reporting and Assessment Dates (Year 1)
- Key Assessment 1 - Week beginning 11th November.
- Parent Consultation 1 – 10th and 11th December
- Key Assessment 2 - Week beginning 27th January
- Key Assessment 3 WAG - Week beginning 10th March, data released 28th March
- Key Assessment 4 - Week beginning 19th May
- Parent Consultation - 17d and 18th June
If you have concerns about progress, please email the teacher, and/or Progress Coach. You may be able to resolve matters via email, telephone or prefer to arrange a meeting. Where there are significant concerns over progress or attitude to learning, parents will be contacted to come in for a meeting with relevant staff.
Academic Support and Student Welfare
Please click here for information on Academic Support and Student Welfare.
To contact our Academic Support and Student Welfare team, please email support@longroad.ac.uk or call 01223 63 1105.
ALPS Target Grade
We use a national benchmarking scheme called ALPS to calculate a target grade for each student based on the GCSE grades achieved. This is far from an exact science, but gives teachers, students and parents a starting point for discussing expected progress during the course.
Information for Year 2 Parents / Carers
Introductory Emails from Teachers
Each teacher will be sending out an introductory email with key dates for the course and any suggested additional resources they feel would be useful (for example study guides).
VESPA
We refer to the acronym VESPA to help students be successful at college. This framework helps us to have conversations about learning effectively.
- Vision – when students are clear on where they are heading and what they want to achieve, they are more motivated to do well.
- Effort – students should be doing at least 3 hours of independent study per subject per week, and no more than 12 hours of paid part-time work.
- Systems – students are supported to plan their time effectively and to keep organised class notes for revision.
- Practise – It is important that students regularly apply their learning in both formal tests (Key Assessments) but by reading around the subject to gain a wider perspective. Discussing topics at home can be very beneficial.
- Attitude – specifically, this refers to how students respond to set-backs and challenges. We help them to build resilience and to learn from mistakes in order to improve.
Reporting Absence
Students should use the online self-reporting form to let the college know of any short-term absence.
Longer-term absences should be notified to Student Services absences@longroad.ac.uk and the Progress Coach.
Please note the college will not authorise any holidays taken during term time. Good attendance is the single biggest factor determining success, and we will follow up poor attendance.
Parents will be sent a weekly automated email showing attendance for the previous week.
ProPortal
Progress Audits (reports), predicted grades and comments will be available to parents on ProPortal and not posted home. Students are encouraged to record any enrichment activity on ProPortal, so it can be used in supportive references.
Parents will be sent a unique log-in for ProPortal, please click here to log-in.
Moodle
Students are expected to use this site in their Progression Planning session to prepare for next steps after leaving college. Parents can log on as a guest to see a restricted view of the site. Please click here to log-in.
Careers Planning
Details of the Careers Programme and related events are available here.
We are always looking for new links with local employers for visits and work experience. Our Careers & Employability lead, Tariq Sadiq, can be contacted at tsadiq@longroad.ac.uk.
Students who want to use the Pathway CTM service to help secure employment or apprenticeships should register at www.pathwayctm.com using the password path19
UCAS Applications
Students must allow sufficient time for UCAS applications to be checked and processed in order to meet the UCAS deadline. Please click here for UCAS advice for parents and carers.
College Policies
Key college policies can be downloaded by clicking here.
Key Dates
Term Dates can be found by clicking here.
Reporting and Assessment Dates (Year 2)
- Key Assessment 5 - Week beginning 30th September
- Parent Consultation 1 - 12th and 13th November
- Key Assessment 6 - Week beginning 16th December
- Key Assessment 7 mock - Week beginning 24th February
- Parent Consultation 2 - 25th and 26th March
If you have concerns about progress, please email the teacher, and/or Progress Coach. You may be able to resolve matters via email, telephone or prefer to arrange a meeting. Where there are significant concerns over progress or attitude to learning, parents will be contacted to come in for a meeting with relevant staff.
Academic Support and Student Welfare
Please click here for information on Academic Support and Student Welfare.
To contact our Academic Support and Student Welfare team, please email support@longroad.ac.uk or call 01223 63 1105.
Predicted Grades
Predicted Grades for UCAS were set at the end of the first year. There is an opportunity for predicted grades to be changed following Key Assessment 5 for A Levels. The predicted grade is made on the basis of ‘best grade based on evidence seen’.
The full predicted grade policy is available here.
