Our friendly School Liaison Team may already be familiar faces to you from their time spent in your school, running informative, fun-packed sessions to help you make crucial decisions about your future and stand out from the crowd.
Need Advice and Guidance?
Our School Liaison Team is here to offer you independent advice and guidance – they won’t push you down a certain route after GCSEs or insist you come to Burnley College Sixth Form Centre (although we hope that you’ll share our vision for your future and recognise just why we’re the number one College in the country).
They can offer you individual support and can work with you over weeks or months – however long it takes to make a decision on your future options.
Now, as you make your post-GCSE choices, they’re right by your side, supporting you every step of the way with advice and guidance on:
Our amazing Admissions Team have all the answers for any question you might have about careers, enrolment, timetables, travel, places to eat, places to chill and so much more!
We’ve put just a few of the most commonly asked questions and answers below.
If you can’t find the answer here – don’t worry – email us at admissions@burnley.ac.uk
You would usually choose either the vocational (BTEC) or A Level pathway, not both. If you do have any questions, we can look into whether you could take one A Level alongside a vocational course. Email us.
It’s impossible to say as your timetable would differ depending on the subject/level and pathway that you take. In most cases you can be sure that your timetable will run Monday to Friday.
We would advise having a plan B, this could be a vocational, T level or A Level course. You can still work with the apprenticeship team to seek an employer while on your full-time college course.
You can apply from September onwards in Year 11. School will ask that you apply for college before your Christmas break. This means you can focus on your GCSEs when you return in the new year. The college’s application deadline is 31 March.
You can apply to three different courses in one pathway. If you apply to more than three courses and they are very different from one another you may be contacted by our friendly Careers Team to help explore courses with you.
There is the option to change your course or courses within the first two to three weeks in September. We advise speaking to a Careers Advisor and your tutors as soon as possible so that we can make this happen.
Yes. You need to let us know that you will not be here for Enrolment Day. Once you are back, you should come to college to enrol.
We work with different employers who may support you on your placement. If you do have your own employer in mind, speak to your tutors.
Yes, however some courses require a uniform. There are some restrictions on wearing hats inside the building and other items of clothing for security purposes. If you’re unsure, ask your tutor.
There are lots of communal spaces to spend time with friends as well as cafes and the refectory for lunch and snacks. You can get involved in enrichment clubs and societies or use our learning zones to revise, complete work or prepare for your next class.
If you are currently a Year 10 or Year 11 pupil at high school, this section is for you.
We have a range of resources available to help you discover your next steps, from skills based, subject focussed right through to application.
We understand that making the step from School to College is both an exciting and, at the same time, slightly scary prospect for many of you: that’s why we have created this pack to help you make the transition and prepare for College life.
Are you looking to apply for a course with Burnley College or a Themis Apprenticeship?
This step-by-step video will direct you through the application process and answer any queries you may have.
Open Events
These are the perfect opportunity to explore the options available to you at Burnley College, including:
There is an Apprenticeship focussed event every January, where you can meet potential employers, hand in your CV and show you have got what it takes to be a #futureboss
Applications
Our priority application period runs from 1 September to 31 March. This means that, subject to achieving the required grades, you will be offered a place on your preferred programme (no courses will be full).
Interviews
These usually happen one month after you apply, and are traditionally on-site. However this year, interviews have taken place over the telephone and video conferencing call as well. This will usually take place with a subject specialist from within your chosen programme, and is your opportunity to ask all of your specific course questions.
If you do not have your interview before the priority deadline of 31 March, don’t panic. As long as we have received your application, the same rules apply.
Once you have completed your interview, and have been offered a place, you can accept this place in preparation for becoming a Burnley College student in September!
Preview Day
If you’ve accepted your place at Burnley College, you will be invited to Preview Day in late June – this is an opportunity to experience the life of a Burnley College student, with subject workshops and extra-curricular opportunities, as well as the chance to meet new friends and people on your course.
GCSE Results & Enrolment
Once you receive your GCSE results from your school on Thursday 22 August 2024, you are ready to enrol at Burnley College. Your personalised appointment time will be sent out prior, for you to come and confirm your programme.
If you haven’t done as well as you’d hoped, please don’t panic. We in the School Liaison Team, as well as our team of advisers, are available to help you find an appropriate programme to allow you to progress to your dream career.
We have put together some handy tips to help you power through the exam season and succeed in your GCSE exams.
Get started on revision now so that it becomes a habit
Create a revision timetable so you have a visual reference and not just a mental one
Start with the goal and work backwards to create your plan
Eat well as food is fuel
Stop using your phone an hour before bed
Unwind using one of the many free mindfulness guides on YouTube
Celebrate your achievements and reward yourself
Collect past exam scripts and exemplar work so you can measure your responses and answers
Explain to someone else how you would tackle each question
Share what you have learned with your family and friends
Spend time outdoors with family and friends
A CV or Curriculum-Vitae, is an important document that will be expected at almost every job interview you go to. It is particularly important to consider if you are looking to undertake a Themis Apprenticeship once you leave school.
The resources below have been designed to aid you in creating a compelling CV. If you would like a member of the School Liaison Team to assist you in writing one, please get in touch.
Interviews will happen when applying for any job. For some of you, your Burnley College interview will be your first experience of one. If you are applying to be a Themis Apprentice, you will have interviews with employers, as well as Burnley College staff.
The resources below have been designed to aid you in answering interview questions. If you would like a member of the School Liaison Team to assist you in preparing for an interview, please get in touch.
Use the resources below to assist you in preparing for interviews.
If you are currently a Year 7, Year 8 or Year 9 pupil at high school, this section is for you.
We have a range of resources available to help you discover the options available to you at college, as well as things you could be doing now to prepare you for the transition into Further Education.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECTS?
Do you love English or Science? Is PE or Art the best part of the week? Why do you like these subjects?
Do you like to:
Your answers could help you decide what you’d like to study at GCSE alongside the important subjects of English, Maths and Science. They may also give a clue to a future career that suits you.
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING YOUR GCSEs
Whether you already know what career you want or are still deciding, here are some things to consider when choosing your GCSEs.
There is still time to think about your future career and make important decisions and there are people to help you, at home and at school.
Talk to your parents/guardians, your school careers adviser or contact us through the Enquiry Form on this page.
Our Open Evenings are the perfect opportunity to discover more about our wide range of A Levels, Vocational Courses, Apprenticeships and T Levels.
Talk to our expert Tutors, Students and Advice and Guidance experts.
Are you passionate about education and supporting your community?
We are looking for a motivated person with further education experience to join our Board of Governors
