I am a Parent or Carer of a student

We believe that your parents or guardians will play a vital role in ensuring your success at the college and we are committed to maintaining a productive and successful relationship with them. We will communicate with them on a regular basis and will always welcome enquiries about your progress or any concerns.

Parents will receive:

• An invitation to an induction progress evening to meet the student’s personal tutor
• Prompt contact in the event of poor attendance or progress
• An invitation to attend progress evenings in each academic year
• A higher education guidance evening during the first year
• Progress updates every half term released via the Communication Portal
• The opportunity to join a parents’ focus group which meets to discuss new developments and any concerns

If your son/daughter/ward is attending Runshaw College, you can access records, top up their credit account and check progression via our secure Parent/Communication Portal.

It is very easy to use, and you can log in here using to your Facebook, Google, Microsoft account or create a new user account.

At Runshaw we believe in building a partnership between the College, its students and their parents. We have a detailed Parents, Careers & Guardians Handbook available for download above.

Runshaw College promises to:

1. Provide your son/daughter with appropriate pre-course guidance and information to ensure they select the right course.
2. In consultation with Partner High Schools, the College will be represented at Parents’ Evenings for Years 9, 10 and 11 pupils.
3. Students who attend Year 10 Sampling Days will receive a letter for their parents explaining the applications process and giving details of the College’s Open Evenings.

iii. At Open Evenings, parents will be able to obtain all the information they require about the college including our courses, results, destinations and transport services.

1. Following application, your son/daughter will be invited to a New Student Day in the summer term before the start of the course.
2. Invite you to an Induction Parents’ Evening to discuss your son/daughter’s initial progress and the support they need to achieve their personal best.
3. You will be able to meet your son/daughter’s personal tutor.
4. You will have the opportunity to discuss how you can best support your son/daughter’s learning.

iii. You will receive information about the college and your son/daughter’s course.

3. Provide on-course information and guidance to enable you to support your daughter/son’s learning and progression.
4. You will receive a College Calendar and information about the support available in college.
5. You will be invited to join the Parents’ Forum

iii. We will provide you with a minimum of one written progress report each year.

1. We will invite you to a minimum of one Parents’ Evening per year.
2. You will receive notification of any significant difficulties your son/daughter faces during their studies.
3. We will organise a Higher Education Progression Evening to inform you of the options available to your son/daughter on leaving college.

We are often asked by parents and guardians what we tell students about work experience; here is a brief outline.

Why should students undertake work experience?

Finding a good job is difficult, lots of applicants will be trying to secure the same position. Employers know they will have to train new staff but they are looking for candidates with knowledge and experience of how a workplace functions. Students develop their employability skills every day that they are on a placement. The more work experience an applicant has the more impressive their job applications will be. With more experience, applicants often also perform better at an interview as they can draw on more examples of real work situations.

What should students do before a work experience placement?

• Make sure they are clear about where and when their placement begins.
• Plan travel arrangements which will get them to their workplace with time to spare.
• Check what clothing and equipment is required for their placement.
• Contact their workplace to confirm the details they have been given regarding start time, location and person to contact.
• If they receive free college meals they should speak to student services before they start their placement.

What should students do during their placement?

• Pay close attention to instructions and safety guidelines.
• Focus on safety at all times and do not undertake tasks they are not trained for.
• Be polite and respectful at all times.
• Be aware that they may have to undertake quite basic tasks but their time in the workplace will allow them to see how a business operates.
• Inform the placement AND college if they are ill and cannot attend their placement.
• Complete any tasks set by teachers or pastoral mentors.
• Contact their pastoral mentor if they have any issues they are concerned about.
• Contact our safeguarding team on 01772 644377 if they feel they are at risk of harm.

What should students do following a placement?

• We ask students to review their placement after they have returned to college, often interviewers ask candidates what they have learnt from their work experience so it is important that students reflect on their placement. Students complete a CV in college; they should add details of their work experience placement to their CV.