Sunderland College provides a wide range of academic and vocational courses for school leavers and adults ranging from Foundation Learning, BTEC to A-Level's. The college offers a range of higher education qualifications, some in partnership with Universities of Sunderland and Teeside.
Sunderland College also offer Apprenticeships and information is available from the Apprenticeship Team on 0191 511 6000 or email apprenticeships@sunderlandcollege.ac.uk
Sunderland College is dispersed over the city by four campuses:
- Bede Campus, Durham Road, Sunderland SR3 4AH
- Hylton Campus, North Hylton Road, Sunderland SR5 5DB
- Washington Campus, Stone Cellar Road, Washington NE37 2NH
- St Peter's Campus, Charles Street, Sunderland SR6 0AH
Criteria for access
Sunderland College welcomes learners who have a disability and / or learning difficulty and will ensure, in line with its commitment to the Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010 and the new (Special Educational Needs) Code of Practice 2014, that there is suitable access and appropriate and adequate support for individual students where necessary.
Many students need additional help so they can succeed in their chosen courses of study.
In many cases under the new Code of Practice, recommendations for support strategies will be outlined in Individual (0-25yrs) Education and Health Care Plans (EHCPs). The college working in partnership with relevant agencies (e.g. Local Authorities) is proud to fulfil its statutory duties to make extra provision for those individuals with more complex learning needs and disabilities.
Sunderland College is therefore committed to developing a unique learning plan for all of its learners in order that each individual gets the most out of their college experience.
Universal services
Sunderland college is a universal service but entry requirements and criteria apply for come courses and applicants are advised to contact the college directly.
Targeted services
Sunderland College offers a Foundation Learning Programme which is a flexible learning programme designed around your needs. The College will plan your learning and give you the support you need to gain the skills and qualifications you need to progress to your identified positive destination. This could be a Level 1 or Level 2 vocational course, an Apprenticeship or Internship or to gain employment.
The Foundation Study Programme is made up of the following elements:
- Personal Social Development
- Functional Maths, Functional English and Functional ICT
- A range of vocational choices at Entry 2, Entry 3 or Level 1 including Catering, ICT, Recycling, Motor Vehicle, Retail, Looking After Children, Looking after the Elderly, Land and Environment, Enterprise and Starting Your Own Business
Some students will also follow a programme designed to develop the following:
- Communication Skills
- Independent Living skills
- Volunteering skills
- Peer Mentoring skills
- Community Awareness and Travel Training
Teaching groups are small in order to ensure all students receive appropriate levels of support in the classroom. Where there is an identified support need, Learning Mentors will work alongside teaching staff and support students both in and out of the classroom.
We also work closely with Connexions, The Future's Team and a range of employers in order to prepare students for employment after college.
Specialist services - The College Learning Support Service
Under the co-ordination of the college Learning Support Service a range of specialist support is also available for students with more complex support needs including those with:
- Learning Difficulties and / or Disabilities
- Physical Difficulties and / or Mobility problems
- Medical Conditions
- Sensory Impairments
- Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. Dyslexia, Mental Health, Autism Spectrum, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
The Learning Support Service will continue to collate information on disability and / or learning difficulties via EHCPs or from individual learner declarations and distribute relevant information accordingly and within an appropriate timescale for adjustments to be made.
All full time and part time students are entitled to (additional) learning support and there is a wide range of specialist support available including:
- Access arrangements for exams
- Learning Mentor support
- Personal Care
- Teaching materials in alternative formats (E.g. Braille, large print, audio, coloured overlays, specialist software
- Support from Communicators / Readers
- Help with access and mobility
- Educational Psychology
- Specialist tutorial
- Group support in class
- 1 : 1 support outside of classroom
- Independent travel training.