Life At Private Colleges Of Further Education: Facilities, Extra Activities
GCSE and A-level students who choose to study at a private college of further education are usually offered a range of high-quality facilities as well as a choice of socialisation and leisure activities. Independent colleges also take responsibility for their students’ accommodation.
Equipment and facilities at independent colleges of further education are usually state-of-the-art. For example, in addition to teaching rooms, private colleges usually have libraries with computer and Internet access, computer suites with wireless broadband access, as well as specialist laboratories for sciences and ICT. The Art and Media and Film departments are usually equipped with a comprehensive range of resources and materials for students’ use.
Independent colleges generally promote their students’ wellbeing by encouraging them to be physically active. An afternoon a week is typically dedicated to sports: these may range from football to table tennis, badminton, karate or even rock-climbing. External facilities that are close to the private college may be used by A-level or GCSE students to practice these sports. Additionally, students may have the possibility to practice other sports in their leisure time, such as ice-skating or go-karting.
GCSE and A-level students at private colleges have the opportunity to take part in a variety of other extracurricular activities at their college. For example, students may join chess clubs or contribute to the college newspaper; drama students may take part in plays, etc.
Independent colleges of further education may also offer trips abroad to their GCSE and sixth-form/A-level students during half-term, usually to European destinations. They may also organise regular cultural visits within the UK: for example, private colleges based in London may take their students to the opera or to concerts, to the theatre or to visit other cultural attractions that are relevant to the course of studies at GCSE or sixth-form level. Private colleges may also offer advice on other activities in town that GCSE or A-level students may wish to pursue on their own.
Both GCSE and A-level students at independent colleges of further education usually have a choice of accommodation options available to them. The most popular ones are host families and student hostels.
An accommodation officer from the college usually contacts GCSE or A-level students, offering them a series of options based on the student’s age, sex, budget, etc. The choice is then up to the student and their family, which the independent college will usually do its best to accommodate. Private colleges regularly monitor all premises and are always aware of where their students are staying. Students can also talk to their personal tutor and to college staff about any issues with their accommodation.
GCSE or A-level students who choose to stay with host families may opt for this type of accommodation in order feel less alone away from home. Staying with host families is usually recommended to overseas GCSE or sixth-form students who wish to improve their spoken English. Also, the same family may host more than one student from the same private college, which may make it easier for overseas students to socialise and interact with a different culture. All host families’ homes are regularly inspected by the independent college before they are offered to students, and are usually located at a convenient distance from the college.
Alternatively, students at independent colleges of further education may stay at student hostels. The distance of the hostel from the GCSE or sixth-form college is usually assessed by the college: only hostels at a reasonable distance are offered as an accommodation option for pupils studying at the institution.
A choice of room sizes is usually available to A-levels or GCSE students staying at hostels. Rooms may be single or shared, with up to four people per room; bathrooms may be either en-suite or shared. Laundry facilities are usually available at the hostel for a small fee, whereas cleaning services are usually free. There is usually a choice between catered and self-catered hostels and meal options range from bed and breakfast only to half board or full board. There are usually communal areas for GCSE or A-level students to socialise outside the college, such as TV rooms, lounges, or even a gym or music room.
So, private colleges of further education offer their students a wide choice of educational activities and actively encourage them to take part in sports for their wellbeing. Independent colleges also take responsibility regarding their GCSE and A-level students’ accommodation. It is a major concern of private colleges that their pupils’ accommodation is high-standard and safe, in order to offer them a high-quality all-round experience.
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