The Principal's Newsletter

Last updated September 2026

Dear parents and carers,

Now that the new College year has properly begun, I would like to say hello, and share some news and information with you.

You should have already received some communication from College, depending on whether your son/daughter is starting their first or second year. Below, you will find more information, specific to parents of either first or second year students, which I hope you will find useful. But I do also want to share some updates which are relevant to our whole College community.

First of all, I’d like to congratulate this summer’s leavers on their superb exam results. It’s wonderful to see them moving on to university in record numbers, and to apprenticeships, employment and a range of specialist providers, including medical schools, conservatoires and many other destinations. We know that our students do phenomenally well in the next stage of their education – sticking with it and getting great results. We wish them all the best!

Those next steps will be at the forefront of second years’ minds at the moment, as they decide whether to submit an application to study at university, but it’s not too soon for first year students to start looking seriously at their options, too.

In other College news, we were delighted to hear over the summer that we have successfully secured funding for a new building, which will be ready for September 2028 and which will allow us to meet the still growing demand for places here.

In the meantime, we have been creating extra study space, in our newly refurbished library, and around the College, to support students with their independent study. Students will be hearing a lot about independent study this year – it’s a big College focus. Success at this level requires more than just attending lessons and doing homework, so we are working hard to ensure that all students know what proactive independent study looks like in their subjects. This is something that parents and carers can help with, too. “I’ve done my homework” doesn’t mean “I have nothing useful I could be doing!”, so do encourage them to be proactive.

Please note that the final day of this first half-term, Friday 23^rd October, is a non-student day. It follows our two open evenings, on Wednesday 21^st and Thursday 22^nd October, during which we always have an impressive number of current students helping out.

All students at the College attend a weekly Tutorial session as part of their College programme. The Tutorial Programme this half term has focused on welcoming our new students to college, building community within tutor groups, and welcoming back our second years for their final year with us. Initial sessions asked students to consider their vision for life beyond college and set themselves some short and long-term goals to support their success along with advice and guidance on being a successful College student. For second year students, this included support with personal statement and CV writing, and for first years there was a focus on building good routines and habits to support their success here. Looking ahead, students can look forward to sessions relating to Black History Month, keeping themselves safe online and during the festive season, and our long-standing tradition of building Christmas hampers to give to local charitable organisations for those most in need.

Do please have a look at the cohort-specific information below. The year 1 section includes important information about how we support students with SEND.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Cadman

Further Information for Parents of Year 1 Students

Thanks to everyone who came along (virtually) to our parents’ information evening on 25^th September. If you missed it, you can find the recording here - Year 1 Students Parent Talk

There is a Careers and Progression Briefing for parents of year 1 students at College on Tuesday 3^rd November 2026 at 17:00, repeated at 18:30. Further details will be emailed closer to the time. You can find more information on our website about the progression and careers guidance that’s available.

CEDAR

Parents/carers of new students should have received an email this week with details of how to activate their CEDAR account. As next of kin, you can access the CEDAR platform and see the registers and absence. You can also view the attendance marks but do be patient with us as CEDAR updates overnight.

When you log in for the first time, you will be asked to complete a Trips and Visits Consent Form, giving your consent for the student to attend trips in the city during College hours.

We ask either students or a parent/carer to report absence using CEDAR, ensuring they include the reason for the absence. Alternatively, feel free to notify the College via reception. Just like reporting an absence for the workplace, we do need to know a little detail if the student reports ‘unwell’, indicating the nature of the ill health.

Personal Tutors monitor absences and may contact the student’s next of kin if they have questions or concerns about attendance.

Details of how to access Cedar are on our website in the ‘Viewing and Reporting Absences’ section, under the Parents/ Diary tab (here).

AFP Parents Evening

A virtual Parents Evening for students on the Advanced Foundation Programme (Division 4) is taking place on 8^th October, giving the chance for parents/carers to discuss students’ progress with the Personal Tutor. Information will be sent to relevant students and their parents/carers in due course.

SEND Support

You may find that SEND provision and support at sixth form looks a little different from what you experienced during secondary school. The role of the SENCo at post-16 level is also different. While the SENCo oversees SEND provision across the College, they may not work directly with every student who has an identified SEND need. Most students with SEND at College will receive focused support from their class teachers.

If your child has declared a SEND need, this information is recorded on our systems so that subject teachers can access it and plan appropriate support within their lessons. Our teaching staff have a strong understanding of a wide range of SEND needs, including ASD and ADHD, and are experienced in using effective classroom strategies to help students succeed.

Everyday Support

In addition to in class support, students with SEND can access support through their Personal Tutor and Senior Tutor, who are usually the first point of contact. The Personal Tutor can provide guidance, advice, and help students access additional support where needed. The Senior Tutor can assist if the student feels that their SEND needs require further focused support.

As a sixth form college, we place a strong emphasis on developing students' independence and self-advocacy skills in preparation for adulthood and higher education or employment. We therefore encourage students to seek help themselves whenever possible. If they are experiencing difficulties, they can speak with their subject teachers, Personal Tutor, or Senior Tutor, who will be able to discuss appropriate support options with them.

Learning Support

Our Learning Support team offers help with a range of study-related skills, including organisation, revision strategies, time management, and examination techniques.

Students wishing to access this support should contact the College SENCo directly via email. While there can occasionally be a waiting list, we always aim to support students as quickly as possible.

Exam Access Arrangements (EAAs)

Exam Access Arrangements are most often based on the arrangements that were in place during GCSE examinations. Where the information and evidence provided by a student's previous school meets JCQ requirements, we are usually able to continue these arrangements without the need for reassessment.

However, JCQ regulations require colleges to demonstrate that any Exam Access Arrangements awarded remain both necessary and routinely used within the student's normal way of working. This evidence is gathered by subject teachers over time, but with focused evidence gathering in the Autumn Term of year 1.

Our teaching staff are trained to identify students who may have previously masked a specific learning need and who may therefore not have been awarded access arrangements in secondary school. Where concerns arise, teachers will discuss these with the College SENCo, who may recommend further investigation or assessment.

While we will always do our best to support students, we cannot guarantee that all arrangements previously awarded at school will continue at sixth form. As students develop academically and personally, some may no longer meet the criteria for certain arrangements, which can often reflect positive progress and increasing independence. If a student feels they may require Exam Access Arrangements, they should begin by speaking with their Personal Tutor. Working with subject teachers, evidence can be gathered to determine whether there may be an underlying and previously unidentified need. In some cases, the SENCo may authorise a trial arrangement so that sufficient evidence can be collected for the assessment process.

It is important to note that JCQ regulations do not allow Exam Access Arrangements to be awarded solely on the basis of a diagnosis. Having a diagnosis of a condition does not automatically entitle a student to access arrangements; eligibility must be supported by evidence demonstrating a substantial and ongoing impact on learning and examinations.

Keeping Information Up to Date

Students can check the information we hold about their learning needs and any approved Exam Access Arrangements by asking their Personal Tutor.

Mental Health Support Team Workshops for Parents

Please find details below of free online parent workshops provided by the NHS Mental Health Support Team

Further Information for Parents of Year 2 Students

The second year at College goes incredibly quickly! Your son/daughter will have found that there is no gentle introduction to the start of the year: they’ll have an assessment coming up in each of their subjects, and they should now be actively planning their next steps after college. Many students will be making university applications via the UCAS portal. We sent an email to parents and carers about the application process in July; as a reminder the deadlines are as follows:

Application Type	College Internal Deadline	UCAS Deadline / Outcome
Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Science, Dentistry	Friday 18 September	Thursday 15 October
Oxford or Cambridge	Friday 25 September	Thursday 15 October
Recommended deadline (all other applications)	Friday 23 October	Sent to UCAS by half term
End-of-term submission deadline	Friday 6 November	Sent to UCAS by end of term
Final college deadline	Friday 13 November	Final internal deadline
Equal consideration deadline	–	Wednesday 13 January 2027
Late applications deadline	–	Wednesday 30 June 2027 (applications received after this date are held for Clearing)

Please be aware that although the official UCAS deadlines seem a long way away, it takes a minimum of three weeks for an application to be processed by College. The final College deadline is 13^th November in order to process all applications and ensure that they are sent by the official deadline. UCAS provides an excellent guide to supporting your child through the process - Parent, Guardian and Carer Guide | UCAS.

Although they will be busy with college work and applying for higher education or preparing for employment, we hope all our students will still take time to enjoy everything else College has to offer.

Please do remember that there is support available for them, if they are feeling the pressure. And, although your son/daughter will probably be reaching their 18^th birthday and legal adulthood soon, they may still need your involvement or support. You should already have a CEDAR log in where you can check their timetable and attendance, and access progress reports. If you haven’t already signed up, there are instructions on the College website.