Enrichment Activities
There's More To Life.....
There's more to life at South Cheshire College than just getting your qualifications. We want you to achieve your potential and flourish both academically and personally. So we encourage you to get involved and complement your academic studies by taking advantage of the many opportunities that are available at College. We offer a varied programme of additional activities, some of which can lead to a qualification or College certificate, so you will be required to be committed and dedicated right through the programme. Students can take part in activities that complement their academic course options or try something different and develop new skills or improve existing ones. Extended study courses are useful for supporting career choices by gaining relevant experience in a particular area but are also a means of realising your potential.
Ten Reasons To Take Part In The College Enrichment Programme
- Impress University Admissions Tutors by demonstrating not only your academic ability but also your social and personal development;
- Stand out from the crowd and enhance your job applications by showing potential employers that you have developed personal skills such as the ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team;
- Try something new, learn a skill or develop an existing hobby;
- Take a break from your studies to do something different;
- Gain valuable work experience to suit your career aspirations, which is essential if you want to follow a vocational career like teaching or nursing;
- Feel part of the wider community and make a positive contribution to your local area;
- Get an additional qualification - some enrichment activities, like the First Aid Certificate, provide the opportunity to gain a valuable recognised qualification;
- Go on subject trips to enhance your studies and experience different cultures;
- Build your confidence and get a sense of achievement;
- Meet people with similar interests and make new friends.
You can choose from over 60 cross college activities as part of South Cheshire College's Enrichment Programme such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Skiing, Snowboarding, Team Sports, Creative writing, Introduction to Nail Art, Polish, Spanish or French speaking to name but a few. Some activities will support your career or university applications; others will allow you to broaden your horizons; and some may introduce you to a new hobby.
During induction, you will be given information about the Enrichment Programme and be invited to sign up for your chosen activities - you'll be spoilt for choice! See the table below for the current list of Enrichment programmes available to choose from. [BACK TO TOP]
Current Activities
There's also a very active Student Executive which represents students' views and organises a range of social events. Through the wide-ranging enrichment programme we hope you'll find our College a friendly and fun environment. [BACK TO TOP]
Sport
The College offers a wide range of sport and other physical activities and lots of our students choose to participate in one or more of them. Many take part for exercise and enjoyment alone, whilst others are members of one or more of our College teams, competing in league matches, which could give you the opportunity to compete at national level and be selected for British Colleges' national squads. There is also the opportunity to gain various governing body coaching awards. Whilst promoting sporting excellence, there are numerous opportunities to play just for fun, e.g. 5-a-side football, badminton, basketball, trampolining, volleyball, table tennis and climbing.
We have in the College a dedicated Sports Co-ordinator who organises clubs, groups, projects, and other activities. This will provide opportunities for you to meet like-minded people and develop a wide range of skills and interests. [BACK TO TOP]
Honours Programme
The Honours programme is unique to South Cheshire College, offering our students high quality A-Levels and vocational courses and much more. Our primary goal is to ensure that each student achieves their full academic potential.
The Honours Programme offers young people a distinctive set of opportunities for academic achievement and personal development and is specially designed to bring out the very best in students, to maximise course success and develop the skills needed for life after college, as well as providing enriching and inspiring experiences throughout the two years of the course.
Many of our students find that signing up for extra programmes and support schemes has been invaluable and it has given them a head start on other university applicants. The additional qualifications and range of university seminars and residentials which are available to students mean they can leave college fully prepared to face university head-on.
Honours programme students typically undertake an extra qualification alongside their main studies - for A-Level students this will be AS-Level Critical Thinking and for Vocational students this will be an A-Level alongside your main Level 3 Extended Diploma.
You will also receive an individualised package of support to help you with applications to the more selective university courses such as Oxbridge and Medical courses. There are specific tutor groups for Honours Programme students to ensure that you benefit from spending time with other very high ability students.
Specific Honours Programme elements can include:
- YASS Modules - Universities Young Applicants in Schools and Colleges Scheme (or YASS for short) enables academically gifted students during their AS year to study a wide range of undergraduate modules at first-year level alongside their AS-Levels. YASS modules are usually studied during your 1st year at College.
- Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) - usually studied in your second year, you choose your own topic, plan and research the project, carry out the project and then prepare a presentation on the outcome. Completing an EPQ adds UCAS points to your overall score and can help you on the way to the university of your choice.
- The Sutton Trust Summer Schools - to give students a taste of life at a leading university.
- Cambridge Shadowing scheme - two days and nights with a student at Cambridge, to get a real feel for student life there.
- Academic Support Tutorials.
- Mock Interviews.
- Conferences and Guest speakers
More information on all these elements of the Honours Programme can be found in the booklet we have produced, which you can download. [BACK TO TOP]
Talented
If you are part of the College's 'talented' cohort you have high potential in a creative or expressive art, music or sport. We want to make sure you have additional learning opportunities to develop and enhance your skills and achieve your full potential.
The College's Further Education Sports Co-ordinator (FESCo) can also help to support the provision for Gifted and Talented students. Individuals may be talented as performers, leaders, coaches and officials. FESCos ensure that the College supports and complements the player pathways and is endorsed by the relevant National Governing Bodies. [BACK TO TOP]
V Scheme
Vinspired is a national programme designed to recognise the contribution that young people, aged 16 - 25, make to their local communities through voluntary work.
The college has close links with the Youth Federation and acts as a host organisation for vinspired in the area. We can help you to find the type of placement you are looking for. Alternatively, if you are already doing some voluntary work we can help you to record these activities for use within the scheme.
If you want to know more, you can drop in to see us. We are located in the Student Council area next to the Crescent Café within the college. We are open:
Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Alternatively, you can e-mail us with a message or you can phone us on +44 (0)1270 654654 (ext. 570). More general information can be found at the official website, vinspired.com. [BACK TO TOP]
