We would like to extend a warm welcome to all parents, carers and guardians of young people studying, or hoping to study, at Pembrokeshire College. For many young people, the College means making a new start, meeting new people and facing new challenges. As a College, we are committed to supporting our students throughout their time here, and we value our relationship with their parents, guardians and carers. For more information please have a look at our Parent and Carers Guide.
At the beginning of term, learners met their tutors, support staff and the other learners on their course. They found out more about the course content as well as their timetable and how their course will be assessed. Learners were also shown how to access and use the College’s learning platforms including Moodle and Big Blue Button (BBB). As part of their learning programme learners will need to access these platforms from home. Please encourage your son/daughter to share their timetable with you, alongside, their learner profile which will be kept up to date with their targets and progress.
Learners have been asked to read and agree to the following learner agreement and information pack whilst they’re a student at Pembrokeshire College. If students are under 18, you will have received a letter outlining information and support available to parents/carers and students and will have been asked to countersign this agreement and return it to College by Friday 13th November 2020.
Important information about College arrangements and support for learners for Term 1.
As we approach the half term break, we are delighted that your son/daughter has chosen to study at Pembrokeshire College. They will now be fully into their timetable and the measures that have been put in place for Covid-19. Due to Covid-19, social distancing restrictions are in place. During Term 1 learners timetabled learning are a combination of face-to-face sessions in the College, and live online learning from home. These sessions are being monitored for attendance in the same way as face-to-face sessions and non-attendance would affect any EMA/WGLG payments. In order to maintain social distancing, each course group are in a ‘bubble’. When moving around College learners are expected to maintain a two-metre distance from others and wear a face mask/covering (unless there is an evidenced medical reason not to do so).
If the College needs to communicate with learners any matters of College importance either in or out of hours, they will receive an email from safelearners@pembrokeshire.ac.uk
IMPORTANT: If learners feel unwell, or if anyone in your household is showing Covid-19 symptoms, learners should not attend the College but call the absence line on 01437 753 199 or email absence@pembrokeshire.ac.uk or use the MyDay Learner Hwb, absence should be reported by 9.30am. Likewise, if learners are unwell and are not able to attend an online session, absence should be reported in this way also.
College transport
Learners using College transport, have been issued with a bus pass. From the 1st September 2020 the wearing of a face mask or covering has been mandatory on College transport. Please note that the bus drivers will refuse to take on board any learners not wearing a face mask or covering.
Click for latest bus timetable.
For queries on assistive or special transport please email e.jones@pembrokeshire.ac.uk
Financial Support
There are several funding options available depending on your circumstances. All information and application forms are available to download from the College website.
For further help or advice, please contact our Learner Finance Support team at s.finance@pembrokeshire.ac.uk or telephone 01437 753 134. The Learner Finance office is located on the Haverfordwest Main Campus Room G5.1 and is open during College opening hours.
Additional Learning Needs
If your son/daughter has any additional learning needs that have not been raised with the College during the Admissions or Enrolment process then please contact Sian Thompson, Head of Inclusion at s.thompson@pembrokeshire.ac.uk
Safeguarding, Health Care Plans and Health Survey
The College takes its safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. The College’s Designated Senior Safeguarding Lead is Maxine Thomas. The Safeguarding team can be contacted via safe@pembrokeshire.ac.uk or via the safeguarding mobile 07813 546 695. The College is an Operation Encompass College and as such does receive notifications of domestic abuse.
The College Nurse will be in contact with parents/guardians where a learner has disclosed that they may need a Health Care Plan and all learners entering the College will have completed a Health Survey. If you are contacted by the College Nurse to complete a Health Care Plan this must be done immediately and returned to the College via the safe@pembrokeshire.ac.uk email within 48 hours of receipt. Should a learner feel unwell then the College will contact parents to ask them to collect the learner from the College premises.
Learner Disciplinary Policy
The College has a Learner Disciplinary Policy which is available on the College website. All College learners enrolled at the College have confirmed on enrolment that they agree to abide by this policy. Parents of under 18-year-old learners will be informed of any matters concerning their son/daughter being dealt with under this policy. Please contact the Safeguarding Team on 07813 546 695 if you have any queries or questions regarding this policy, or at any time if you wish to report a concern.
We are delighted that your son/daughter is studying with us, please never hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.
All new students receive an admissions interview, which parents are welcome to attend. Details of past achievements and future aims will be recorded at the interview and is available for the tutor and student at the start of term. During the first week at College, all first year students attend a comprehensive induction programme that will help them become successful learners and make the most of their life at College. The induction programme includes details of the tutorial system, timetable, the College rules and discipline, the library and resource centre, computer facilities, course content and how it is assessed, careers information and routes, the UCAS (university) entrance process and student support.
Students have two tutors: a class tutor and a personal tutor. Each student regularly meets their personal tutor on a one-to-one basis. These meetings monitor attendance and progress, and set targets. A copy of the agreed outcomes are held by both tutor and student and act as a steering and monitoring device prior to the following meeting.
The College is a disciplined environment where staff and students adhere to an agreed code of conduct. The College fosters an atmosphere of continuous personal and professional development. We expect all our staff and students to be treated with respect. All students are aware that discipline is an essential priority and a pre-requisite for high standards of work, behaviour and results. Students are engaged in the process of developing behavioural standards. There is a clear disciplinary procedure with an ultimate sanction of exclusion if this is contravened.
Proof that this policy works can be seen by the absence of graffiti or damage to College property. Staff and students are proud of the College’s modern, clean, well-lit, spacious environment. Students wear appropriate clothing according to the course they are on, and while the College does not enforce a uniform, students are encouraged to develop a mature attitude to their appearance.
We believe parents have a vital part to play in ensuring their children do well at the College. We ask parents to support their children by ensuring that their children remain punctual; regularly discuss College life and work; stay in touch with their tutors and highlight anything they think might be affecting their children’s studies.
We aim to keep the parents of our students as well informed as we can about their progress through parents evenings, letters and regular reports. We are always happy to answer parents’ queries and concerns and parents are welcome to contact their tutors to discuss any concerns at any time. We recognise and welcome the contribution parents can make to their children’s success. We constantly monitor student progress, attendance, motivation and general wellbeing. Based on this monitoring, we periodically produce a detailed report for each subject studied and send it directly to the parent or guardian, not the student. In addition, once a year we organise a Parents’ Evening where parents have the opportunity to speak to tutors. Students over 18 receive their reports directly.
Click here to pay Workshop & Admin fees securely online with credit/debit card.
All full time Further Education students will be charged an annual admin fee of £30. This to register the student as a learner at Pembrokeshire College. This fee includes a £9 print allowance for the academic year, and entitles the student admission onto the College campus, FREE access to all Microsoft packages, internet access and a personal email account as well as use of College learning resources and the refectory.
A workshop fee is applied to courses where materials and consumables are necessary to assist students’ learning. The cost is course dependant.
If you think you may be eligible for financial assistance to help with covering the cost of the workshop fee please complete a Financial Contingency Fund application form and return to the Student Finance office, please call 01437 753 134 if you have any queries. (Please note FCF will not cover any Admin Fee Costs)
We aim to keep the parents of our students as well informed as we can about their progress through parents evenings, letters and regular reports. We are always happy to answer parents’ queries and concerns and parents are welcome to contact their tutors to discuss any concerns at any time. We recognise and welcome the contribution parents can make to their children’s success. We constantly monitor student progress, attendance, motivation and general wellbeing. Based on this monitoring, we periodically produce a detailed report for each subject studied and send it directly to the parent or guardian, not the student. In addition, once a year we organise a Parents’ Evening where parents have the opportunity to speak to tutors. Students over 18 receive their reports directly.
“I feel I know all my daughter’s tutors and have been offered the opportunity to discuss her progress with them regularly. The level of support offered to students is exemplary, which means that issues never become problems and students feel secure in their learning and development.”
Fiona Phillips, mother of a former A-Level student.