Our Prospectus
Why do experiences we have in youth shape our lives? The music, the people, the places?
That’s not the title of a doctoral thesis, but an appeal to you to celebrate the memories and the rewards of your time at West Suffolk College.
We’d like to invite to you join our very special alumni. West Suffolk College is in the top 5% of Colleges in the country and your story is part of that success.
Nearly 11,000 people come to West Suffolk College each year. As a member of our alumni you will have access to that growing and exceptionally skilled network.
Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, and no matter how many years have passed since you left us, we would love to hear from you.
We like to keep in touch with you and make sure you're aware of how West Suffolk College could still offer help or enrichment in your life.
Hearsay, rumour, fake news… Who knows how or why people come to think the way they do. Let it be stated right here, that the following popular beliefs are phonus balonus...
Nope. Coming to college is very different. Ask anyone. For one, you don’t have to wear a uniform and for another you can call your lecturers by their first names, which they will like.
There are many other distinctions but the key one is that college offers a much more varied range of courses. Instead of A-Levels we offer Diplomas, Apprenticeships, degrees, HNC courses, NVQs, professional qualifications. Whether you’re practically minded or academic or like a bit of both in your studies, we have the course for you.
Happy days… College allows you to focus on just one subject you love. So if you want to be a forensic scientist, you can study forensic science; if you want to be a bricklayer, you can study that too, and if you want to work on the west end stage, our musical theatre course is just the ticket.
Alongside that lot you will pick up other qualifications like maths and English GCSEs which practically every job anywhere demands.
...And there you have the greatest myth of them all.
The truth of course is that the only people who come to college are those who want to. And among them are very many people who in fact chose not to do A-Levels.
Why is that so? The courses we offer enable you to immerse yourself in depth in the subject you love, rather than studying a more general programme. That’s a good alternative to A-Levels because it gives you a head start, if say you want to go straight into work on an Apprenticeship or higher Apprenticeship, equally it gives you an advantage in many other subjects if you’ve already achieved a great deal more, or built up a portfolio of work.
Even if you didn’t get the grades to do A-Levels at school or sixth form, college gives you a chance to start a diploma at a level that suits you – before you know it you’ll have progressed onto a higher level possibly equivalent to an A-Level programme.
Absolutely not. A level 3 Diploma is worth up to 420 UCAS points, which is the equivalent to 3 A* A-Levels. And universities like college students.
Last year nearly 400 of our students went to leading universities including Cambridge, Durham and York. Not surprising, as Universities love students from West Suffolk College – the work is impressive, the people are more experienced, more confident and better able to adapt to university study having been through college.
You couldn’t be more wrong. The time you spend here will in fact save you time by preparing you for work better than starting the job unqualified. It will also enable you to progress further and faster than unqualified people, whatever their experience.
Apprenticeships have also been shown to give you an advantage over graduate trainees – you spend more time in the business so learn more quickly how business works.
If you're interested in any of the vacancies available, please submit an application using the links below. If you have any questions, please email apprenticeships@wsc.ac.uk or call 01284 716 235.
Join our Sports Academy for professional football, rugby, netball or basketball coaching alongside studying a full-time course.
The Academy will give you the opportunity to join the first high quality Academy in the region focussed on academic qualifications as well as elite sport. You will have a structured timetable dedicated to training, matches, well-being and health and academic studies.
You can enrol on a number of partner courses at varying levels. Courses will include: Sports Science, Sport, Business and Public Services (other subject areas may be available). Additional Qualifications may include FA Football Coaching and Sports Leaders Award. And you'll build your confidence, communication, team-working and leadership skills.
The Sports Academy training programme is very thorough but fun. There are two-hour coaching sessions everyday that include all technical aspects of the game and fitness. You'll be given an individual fitness programme that focuses on building your speed, agility and strength, in addition to advice on diet and nutrition, along with comprehensive sports injury back-up. Although not compulsory, we suggest that you take out your own private medical insurance policy.
From our Sports Academy, you could continue to Higher Education or employment as well as guidance on further playing opportunities and sports scholarships. Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope developed his skills at our Sports Academy.
“I went to West Suffolk College and played over 100 games for a number of College teams, so to do that for a goalkeeper at that age was the best thing that could have happened. I was really fortunate.”
Nick Pope, Burnley FC, former student
If you had these in school, then you can ask for a form known as “Form8” and bring this to college to be processed so we can ensure you get the right support.
If you have an EHCP, then you do not need to do this, and the college will assess what needs to be in place.
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