JLC

This Charter is addressed to all those who may use the services of John Leggott College: prospective and current students, parents/guardians, staff and also members of the wider community.

The College offers a wide range of opportunities. We hope they will be of interest to you and that you will wish to find out more about them. This Charter summarises the ways in which we are attempting to respond to your needs and explains how you may help us to do so.

Although this Charter sets out overall standards for the services we intend to provide, we would like to begin by emphasising that we will, as far as possible, try to respect your individual needs and respond accordingly.

Different sections of the Charter are intended for different groups of people.  So, depending on your particular interests in the College, some sections of this Charter will be more relevant than others. Successive sections are directed at:

1       Full-time students
2       Parents/guardians of full-time students
3       Part-time adult learners
4       Staff
5       The wider community

Safeguarding

The college is committed to safeguarding its students and staff.  Alison Burtle the Deputy Principal (Student Services and Recruitment) is Child Protection Officer. Staff have a duty to ensure the safety and protection of students who are likely to suffer significant harm.

Equality and Diversity

The college has a basic philosophy that every member of the college is a valued person in their own right, regardless of gender, race, religious belief, age, sexual orientation or disability. The college therefore aims to provide and promote equal opportunities and experiences to all members. More information on the college’s Single Equality Scheme is available on the college website. If anybody feels that they have been treated unfairly or suffered discriminatory treatment they should follow the relevant complaint procedure.

Whatever your interests, you are likely to find it useful to read this Charter alongside one or more of the following documents, each of which contains detailed information about different aspects of the life of the College. Copies of these documents are available from the College website or in the form of a:

College Prospectus containing:

• full range of courses
• arrangements for students with learning difficulties or disabilities
• pastoral support and guidance
• examination results
• student destinations

Inspection Report

• Full report of Inspection in May 2007

Student Planner containing:

• The Student Agreement
• College Organisation
• College Guidelines
• Complaints Procedures

Much of this information is available on the College website at www.leggott.ac.uk which we will endeavour to keep updated. Other information is also available here in line with the College’s commitment under ‘Freedom of Information’. The website has sections for prospective students, current students, parents and the community.

We wish to improve our services continually and always welcome the views of students and the wider public in helping us to do this. However, if you are unhappy or not satisfied with the standard of service we offer, this Charter also tells you how to let us know. There is also a College Complaints Policy and Procedure.

Whether you are a student, parent, guardian, employer, member of staff or member of the local community, we would want to know about your concern as early as possible. Occasionally things do go wrong at College, so we hope that you will find this Charter helpful in the event of you being unsure what to do.

Before you come to the College we provide:

• Open Evenings in November and January for you to visit the College and meet staff and current students
• the opportunity for an individual visit if you cannot attend the Open Evenings
• clear and accurate information about:
  • the courses on offer, the qualifications they lead to, and the learning facilities within each course
  • how courses will be taught and addressed, and how your learning will be managed
  • the College's policies and arrangements for students with learning difficulties or disabilities
  • financial help and, if needed, access to accommodation
  • how well the College is doing, including published reports on the quality of what it provides
  • your likely success in each subject, bearing in mind your particular skills and abilities
  • the likely costs in each course [eg buying a calculator, residential field trips]
• an interview to discuss your course with reliable and impartial advice about the choices available and guidance in making your decisions
• an offer of a place if John Leggott College has an appropriate course for you and a space is available
• fair and unbiased handling of your application to College

When you become a student at the College we will help your learning and development by providing:

• systematic induction to the College including its facilities, study skills and College procedures
• a timetable arranged so that the maximum number of students are able to study their preferred choices
• free tuition if you are aged 16-18 years at the start of your course and you fulfil the residency requirements
• guidance from your Personal Tutor or Senior Tutor, as appropriate
• a well balanced and structured tutorial programme offering support and guidance on a wide range of issues
• high quality teaching and effective management of your learning, including:
  • guidance and support from tutors
  • both formal and informal progress reviews at regular intervals
  • well-planned and varied lessons which make optimum use of the time available
• normally a maximum of 22 students in examination classes
• regular assessment of your work, normally marked within ten College days
• entry to appropriate and recognised examinations
• thorough preparation for all external assessment and the payment of examination entries for all courses completed satisfactorily in regard to your attendance and commitment [excluding re-sit examinations]
• access to the College's Library, IT Study Centre, the Study Zone and photocopying facilities
• access to higher education and employment information and resources
• reliable and unbiased careers advice and guidance about job applications and further or higher education.
• opportunities for Experience of Work
• help and guidance after you leave College, including references whenever you need them, until at least five years after you leave us
• opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities and experiences
• a clean, healthy, safe environment with pleasant social areas
• representation for you through the Student Union and the Governing Body
• financial advice on grants and the possibility of modest financial help in certain circumstances
• access to the Child Protection Co-ordinator, Health Officer, Chaplain, Welfare Officer and referral to specialist counselling, for personal, educational or social issues, from outside agencies if needed
• fair and equal opportunities in line with the College’s Single Equality Scheme
• the chance for your legitimate complaints and criticisms being taken seriously and acted upon in a prompt and efficient manner

Fulfilling our aims:

Clearly we are keen to live up to the standards set out above. John Leggott has a strong reputation locally, nationally and internationally. At regular intervals we will be asking students their opinions about how successful we have been. The findings from these surveys and the action which the College intends to take in response, will be summarised and made available to students.

Should you feel dissatisfied with any aspect of the College you should discuss the matter with your Personal Tutor, Course Tutor or another member of staff as appropriate [eg Head of Subject, Senior Tutor etc], and they will help you try to resolve the problem.

In the event that you wish to make a formal complaint, please follow the College procedure for complaints outlined in the Student Planner. We hope that it will never be necessary but if you remain unhappy with our response to your complaint you may refer the matter to the Principal or the YPLA in that order.

Many of the standards to which we aspire rely on our College Community functioning smoothly and effectively. This is only possible if all members of the community abide by the agreed codes of behaviour. Therefore, we need your help as set out overleaf.

The College expects you to:

• take responsibility for your own learning by:
  • attending all timetabled activities punctually
  • reporting any absence using published guidelines
  • working to the best of your ability
  • completing work by the stated deadlines
  • asking for help, advice or learning support if you find difficulties
  • concentrating on your studies and not undertaking paid employment during the College day. (You are enrolling as a full-time student)
  • attending College in a suitably fit state for learning to take place
  • following assessment and examination regulations and procedures
  • submitting only your work for assessment and not copying work from other students, the internet or other sources
  • reviewing your progress regularly with the help of your tutor

• maintain high standards of behaviour whilst engaged in College activities, both on and off College premises, by:
  • showing consideration and respect for students, staff and others in your use of all the services provided by the College
  • using appropriate and courteous language at all times
  • respecting differences between students and between staff in gender, race, marital status, age, belief, colour, nationality, class, sexual orientation or disability
  • treating all the College Staff, facilities and environment with respect
  • following policies and guidelines for the use of College equipment and learning resources [for example, Library and IT Study Centre]
  • complying with all formal procedures, including the return of College books and property, when you end your course
  • respecting the No Smoking policy by not smoking on college activities, on the college site or in the immediate vicinity of the college
  • eating and drinking only in the Cafeteria, Hall, Margaret Mason Centre and designated areas
  • using mobile phones only in the Cafeteria, Margaret Mason Centre and outside areas
  • avoiding alcohol and illegal substances while on College activities and ensuring they are not brought on to College premises
  • following all Health and Safety guidelines relating to yourself and others
  • respecting the need for security at the College by not allowing friends who are not John Leggott College members on to the College site
  • abiding by the law at all times
  • carrying your Student ID Card and producing it if requested by a member of staff, without question.
  • paying for a replacement student ID Card immediately should you lose it
  • telling your Personal Tutor of any legitimate complaint you have about the College and following the College procedure for complaints
  • understanding and complying with the College’s anti-bullying and anti‑harassment policies
  • accepting any reasonable action by the College if you do not fulfil these responsibilities

In order to benefit from our services students need to play their part. When you enrol on one of our programmes you will therefore be asked to agree to the terms set out in the Learning Agreement.

The person responsible for monitoring this part of the College Charter is Ian Yems [Vice Principal]

The college wishes to work in co-operation with parents/guardians

To encourage your involvement we will provide:

• a Parents’/Guardians’ Information Booklet explaining how the College functions,
• regular newsletters
• a calendar of College events and other general communications as necessary
• an ‘information for parents’ section on the College website at www.leggott.ac.uk
• regular summaries of progress grades and attendance plus weekly emails showing attendance if requested
• regular consultation evenings for parents/guardians with College tutors and information issuing meetings about higher education/careers each year
• prompt consultation with you if we need to discuss an aspect of your daughter's or son's progress [normally within one working day]
• representation on the Corporate Governing Body through the two Parent Governors [names available on the College website]
• a procedure for addressing any complaints that you or the students may have which is available from the College website and contained in the Student Planner

To help us, we ask you to:

• encourage your daughter or son to meet our expectations of them
• inform us if you become concerned about any aspect of your daughter's or son's progress
• inform us of changes in personal circumstances, such as a change of address or domestic circumstances
• notify us about absence on the day of occurrence or beforehand if possible
• avoid taking holidays in term-time
• respond promptly to College communications
• attend Parents' Evenings, including regular consultation evenings for parents/ guardians with College tutors and information issuing meetings about higher education/careers matters each year

Should you feel dissatisfied with any aspect of the College you should discuss the matter with the Personal Tutor, Course Tutor or another member of staff as appropriate [eg Head of Subject, Senior Tutor etc] and they will help you to try to resolve the problem. 

The person responsible for monitoring this part of the College Charter is

Janice Gibson [Assistant Principal]

To help you enjoy successful courses we will:

• respond within three working days during term time to enquiries about part-time courses, explaining when further details will be available [if appropriate]
• provide full details of each course offered [including content, how it will be delivered and assessed, entry requirements, progression routes, exam board [if appropriate], and resources/materials required, eg purchase of any text books etc].
• hold Enrolment, Information and Advice Sessions on afternoons/evenings [between 12 noon and 7 pm] and Saturdays [between 10 am and 1 pm] in autumn, spring and summer terms
• provide information on fees
• inform students before the first scheduled lesson if a non-viable course has had to be closed
• provide an induction to the College and course on the first session
• give access to appropriate College facilities through the relevant course tutor
• give access to careers guidance and resources
• give access to the Library on request
• process quickly any complaints that you need to make

To help us, we expect you to:

• complete the published enrolment procedures by the specified deadline, including payment of fees and presenting of fee remission evidence [if appropriate]
• notify us as soon as possible if you wish to withdraw from a course [this is particularly important at the beginning of a course because there may be a waiting list for places]
• inform us of any change in financial circumstances affecting payment of fees
• abide by the same expectations that we have described previously for our full-time students

A Handbook is also made available to all students, which provides further detail on what can be expected from the College and what is expected of the student throughout their studies.

Should you feel dissatisfied with any aspect of the College you should discuss the matter with Cheryl Riley, the Adult Learning Co-ordinator, or contact Julia Pollock [Assistant Principal].

To help you to give a high quality service the College will provide:

• role descriptions
• effective and sensitive individual support through Heads of Subjects, Senior Tutors, line managers and other Senior Staff
• a confidential appraisal process to support individual development and recognise achievement
• thorough and effective organisation based on clear communications and advanced planning
• consultation on major issues
• a carefully balanced allocation of financial and other resources
• representation on the Corporate Governing Body through two Staff Governors
• an efficient and sensitive personnel service
• a formal grievance procedure [set out in the Staff Planner and Intranet] to deal with serious problems when other avenues have been exhausted
• recognition for specified trades unions [ATL, NAS, NUT, UNISON, SHA]

To ensure a high quality service we expect you to:

• adhere to the College policies on safeguarding
• understand the College's mission and its broad aims as set out in the Strategic Plan
• monitor and promote equality and diversity issues
• help achieve the standards set out in the other sections of this Charter
• set a good example to students in all aspects of conduct and treat students and colleagues with consideration and respect
• follow the College procedures set out in the Staff Planner and Intranet
• respond appropriately to College communications
• inform the most appropriate colleague if you need support with a task or deadline
• contribute to the enrichment programme and act as a Personal Tutor in the College if appropriate
• have a commitment to your own professional development and take responsibility for your own career development
• be committed to the College's Quality Assurance strategies for continuous improvement

The  person responsible for monitoring this part of the College Charter is

Julia Pollock [Assistant Principal]

The College seeks to make a positive contribution in partnership with the surrounding community, particularly:

• associated schools
• local residents
• local councils
• local media

To help this partnership we intend to:

• publish and make freely available clear information about the College's activities [through this Charter and the documents listed in the introduction]
• minimise inconvenience to others caused by College activities
• encourage our students to make a contribution in their community, for example through community work or work experience placements
• provide an initial response to any written enquiry within ten working days, including formal complaints

We would like to encourage you to:

• consider how you, or any organisation to which you belong, could contribute to the College, for example:
  • providing opportunities for work experience
  • providing sponsorship
  • developing partnerships
  • telling us how we may improve current services and develop new ones

3 Staff (Principal, Teaching and Support)
2 Student
2 Parent
13 External (one is linked to Local Authority, one is representative of local schools and one is linked with local churches)

Full details on the work of the Governing Body are available on the college website.

This information was correct at the time of printing in June 2010, but may change during the 2010-2011 academic year