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Updated Monday 25th May 2020
Hi everyone, I hope you’re having a good bank holiday weekend.
I thought I would give an update regarding what activity will be going on at the College next month.
As you will be aware, the government is encouraging some schools and colleges to return to work, and consider activity for some key groups such as ‘year 12’ who have some key exams next year from June 1st. Following discussions with staff, governors, the unions and further consideration by the senior team I have taken the view that it is too early on balance at this time to reopen the college for large groups of students.
We will, however, be exploring offering some activity from June 8th for those students who are undertaking ‘licence to practice’ courses such as NPTC qualifications, areas where students’ health and safety is paramount prior to employment, or where there are seasonal tasks that could not be done at another time of year (eg horticulture summer tasks). There may be some activity beyond the normal end of term but this will largely be for apprenticeship students.
Students will be contacted individually by academic teams in due course if something is to be run for you.
I would stress that attendance at these is optional; no student is required to attend especially if you are shielding or simply concerned about health issues. The same rule has been applied to staff – we have a strong student and staff family here at the college and we are trying to strike the balance between getting back to some normality, and also looking after each other. There are still a lot of worried people out there and I am determined we work together as a community.
Any activity this summer will be practical, mostly outside, and in small groups. We will not be opening catering and given the government guidance is still to avoid public transport, we will not be expecting buses to operate for the final three weeks of the summer term.
For the most part therefore, we do not expect to see students on site again until September, and online study will continue for those students. For those of you applying for courses in September, you should be receiving updates over the summer including preparatory work. We will contact you later in June regarding how enrolment will operate, and this will apply to second year students on Level 3 as well.
I hope this is helpful – as ever please contact me directly or ask general questions below – more than happy to answer any query you may have.
All the best,
Luke Rake
Principal and Chief Executive
The College campus is closed to students from Monday 23 March 2020. It is also closed to staff with the exception of those who are carrying out ‘essential services’.
However, the ‘virtual’ college is very much open with staff working remotely to provide support and inspiring leaning to all students.
This situation will be continually reviewed and this dedicated page will continue to be updated regularly to keep you informed on our position.
At the College, we are supporting employers, organisations and apprentices to continue with apprenticeships wherever possible and that our decisions are in line with current Government advice.
We’ve had discussions with many smaller employers, who are feeling anxious that they may have to terminate the contract with an apprentice but also don’t want to take that course of action. In these situations, we often advise that furloughing the apprentice is a good option and allows us to continue training the apprentice. We are then able to deliver underpinning subject knowledge matter, in accordance with their apprenticeship and ensuring the apprentice is up-to-date and ready to restart back in the workplace.
For larger employers, the same option may well be discussed but some will not want to furlough staff, particularly those in the health and care industries. In these instances, where employees are struggling to keep up with workload and the commitment to the apprenticeship, a break in learning of at least four weeks is often the right solution. This removes the anxiety of having to complete assignments whilst dealing with a highly stressful environment and situation but allows them to return to the apprenticeship in the near future.
We realise that this is a difficult time for employers and apprentices and we deal with each person on a case-by-case basis to ensure decisions are right for them. The safety and wellbeing of our apprentices, the employers that we work with and our staff is of fundamental importance to us and we are regularly reviewing how we deliver apprenticeships in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For GCSEs, the government have issued the following letter: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/877830/Letter_to_students_-_Summer_2020_grading.pdf
Please follow this link for Ofqual’s blog released Thursday 9thApril 2020 which includes explanation videos for staff and students: https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2020/04/09/arrangements-for-summer-2020/
For BTEC and Technical qualifications awarding bodies are working with Ofqual and other key stakeholders to formulate a process which allows the calculation of an overall qualification grade for each learner which reflects their performance as fairly as possible.
Technical, BTEC and GCSE exams are cancelled and we shall release how grades will be awarded as soon as we are told by the awarding bodies.
RHS exams due to be held in June have been rescheduled for September 2020
For exams such as functional skills, dog grooming, L1 vocational and full time NCFE we are still awaiting information from the awarding bodies as to how they are going to award qualifications. City and Guilds in particular are continuing to investigate other alternatives.
Further information will be shared once received from awarding bodies.
Although both the college and our partners did consider the possibility of conducting on line exams, it was felt that these could not conducted fairly and safely for students. Our students have a range of accessibility to good Wifi, as well as different abilities to gain dedicated space and time to complete exam style assessments in their own home, so the universities and the college have decided that all planned exams will now be by alternative assessment. Module tutors will be issuing alternative tasks to meet the criteria for submission in June.
I am worried my grades will be affected by the lockdown, and this will affect my final degree award.
This will only affect those students in their final or top up year. Both our university partners have enacted ‘no detriment’ policies. This means that your final grade will be based on marks for modules completed up to the point of lockdown (23 March 2020). Marks gained in the remainder of the year for modules will only count towards your final grade if they improve your current overall grade. There will therefore be no affect if your grades are affected in this semester.
You will still need to complete assessments for your remaining modules to ensure you have all the credits you need to be awarded your qualification.
If you are currently up to date with your payments and paying for your college transport by Standing Order or Direct Debit then can we please ask that you cancel the payment that is due on the 1st May 2020.
If you have a revised payment plan and you are unsure whether your payments are up to date for the travel undertaken up to and including 20th March 2020 please contact Jason.Hughes@kmc.ac.uk who will look at these on an individual basis.
Any transport refunds that may be due will be calculated and any actioned in due course.
Yes. Both the Student Welfare team and the Student Support teams are working from home.
Students needing welfare support can email 121@kmc.ac.uk
Students needing academic support can email their tutor directly or the Learning Support team at LearningSupportTutors@kmc.ac.uk
Hope you are all staying home and looking after yourselves and those around you. Remember Student Welfare are available on 121@kmc.ac.uk if you just need a chat, a bit of support or have any concerns.
For any students where households are struggling to financially afford to provide the food required during this difficult time please get in touch and let us know and we will see what we can do.
Also, if you have any concerns at home where you feel unsafe at home, then college is still here to safeguard you. Please email 121@kmc.ac.uk and we will be in touch to help. Or if you feel more comfortable contacting another member of college staff then please do.
The 121 email account is manned Monday to Friday between 9.30am to 4.30pm. Outside of that time please contact Childline or the Samaritans.
College staff are still here working to help all students, even whilst the college site is closed. If your not sure if you are unsafe then get in touch and we can discuss it further.
Schools have been issued an email to activate a voucher system run by Edenred. Guidance was issued to schools by the Department for Education before Easter on how to order e-vouchers for pupils to be sent directly to them. So far Further Education institutions have not been issued guidance. The college is in contact with the local authority to try to rectify this situation. We will update students and their families as soon as we can.
The college has been working closely with the local authority and we expect to have food vouchers imminently. The college will be in touch directly with eligible students via their college email address. Students eligible for free school meals must monitor their email address.
The college are currently writing to families to ask for contributions toward the review. We are also asking for contributions from students, their teachers and anyone else working with the young person. Review paperwork for some students has already been sent to the respective local authorities. If reviews can not be completed they will be held in person as soon as we are able to return to college. Any queries relating to a student with an EHCP please email Senco@kmc.ac.uk
Some courses have been cancelled prior to starting and some courses have started but have not been able to be completed. The college is evaluating each of these courses and looking at the possibility of rescheduling where possible or processing refunds where appropriate. These will be actioned in due course.
You will only be able to continue logging hours for your work placement if your employer has agreed that it is safe for you to do so.
Under no circumstances must you put yourself or others at risk.
If you/your employer have any questions about your placement please contact the relevant member of staff:
– For all industry placement queries Frances.jenkins@kmc.ac.uk
– For all work experience queries please contact your course tutor.
The programme leaders are developing an adapted assessment for this module to meet criteria before starting Level 5 without the need for the placement hours. This will be based on your planned industry experience and skills development. Programme leaders will discuss gaining industry experience during Level 5, although the required hours will not be a full expectation.
No the campus is currently closed. The Learning Resource email address is being manned so students are welcome to contact the library if they would like any academic help at library@kmc.ac.uk
The Government’s dedicated Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage is being kept up-to-date with the latest advice and guidance: gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
For more information about self-isolation, please visit nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/
Any other questions?
Please contact the Marketing Team and we will get back to you as soon as we can – marketing@kmc.ac.uk
