FSB ensures that students receive accurate and user-friendly information to help them to make appropriate decisions about which courses to apply for, as well as ensuring that prospective students understand the admissions process. FSB delivers advice and guidance in a range of forms, including open days where FSB staff deliver presentations about FSB courses and what to expect as a student. A key part of information and guidance is setting appropriate expectations, so that prospective students understand the demands of the course they are applying for and key policies such as those relating to attendance and engagement.

After that stage applicants are shortlisted and selected individuals are invited to attend an ‘Assessment Day’. Applicants complete the registration form, undertake an Initial Entry Test and an English and Numeracy test. They then complete the required SAPE (Screening for Accreditation of Prior Experience).

After an applicant’s documents are checked and verified, they are then interviewed by an academic staff member. This dialogue between an academic staff member and prospective student is crucial, and during the interview, staff members evaluate the applicant’s suitability for the programme as well as their intention and motivation to successfully complete their targeted qualification.

During the interview, the academic staff member also identifies areas of improvement for an applicant. At that stage, it may also be the case that the interviewer refers the applicant to the Academic Support Centre in order to attend additional workshops. Upon successful completion of the admission process, and once the applicant accepts the offer to study, the form is sent to the Academic Support Centre for further reference. For mature students who have not been part of the formal education process for many years study skills in various aspects including IT invariably need revision and reinforcement

Induction

Induction will typically take place over the first 2-3 weeks of the course.  During this time, our newly enrolled FSB students will be introduced to everything about being a student at FSB.  Students will meet their classmates, academic and support staff and will become familiar with their chosen campus.  They will be introduced to key policies and procedures to ensure that they get the most out of their time at FSB.

Lectures, tutorials, office hours and academic support are all different levels of support to students which take place. Each semester registry monitor students’ academic progression as well as attendance and familiarise themselves with the students. Personal development plans are also linked in the process.

Consequently, a rapport between tutor and student is developed and this also contributes to student engagement at much higher levels. The programme leader is in constant communication with the tutors and any problems identified are dealt with swiftly. When a particular student has been identified as needing further general support, the tutor refers the individual to Academic Support Centre and their study skills seminars.

• The first few weeks of the academic programme is incredibly important and our aim is to build up a good rapport within each classroom to ensure that a community of learners is developed within a supportive environment. All students will be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PATs) who will be a key point of contact for them throughout the semester, providing academic and pastoral support.
• Attendance and engagement will be monitored from the outset to ensure that we can identify students who are struggling and may need more support.
• Students will work with their PATs to complete and maintain a Personal Development Plan – this is something that students revisit throughout their time at FSB, the PDP ensures that students regularly review their objectives and aspirations, and that our support teams can provide the tailored help needed to achieve those aims.

Whilst tutoring continues to play an important role in supporting students the role of the Academic Support Centre becomes increasingly significant. This Centre was specifically set up in recognition that mature students returning to education after many years and with variable experience often find it difficult to readjust to a learning culture. Following the Examination Board at the end of the first semester students who have not successfully completed the required assessments are referred to the Centre where they receive support additional to their concomitant studies in order to retrieve the missed assessments. This support continues, subject to Examination and Progression Board determinations, throughout the course. In this way the College recognises the challenges which can accompany the commitment to widening access particularly in the successful retention of some students.

Throughout the course the College offers pastoral support from staff with relevant experience. It is inevitable that many mature students will encounter problems of a social nature such as those in respect of families and other relationships. Support from Student Support plays an integral part in the retention of students who may be considering withdrawing because of outside factors and where unexpected demands of their course impinge on other commitments.

• Once students progress with their courses beyond the first semester the focus shifts to supporting ongoing participation and academic achievement. The continuing relationship that students build with their lecturers, PATs and other support staff is the key aspect in ensuring that they can continue to engage effectively with their programme and achieve their full potential.
• Most students will encounter challenges during their programme, these may be personal or academic in nature. Through our extensive support network we can help students deal with or overcome a range of challenges. (Link to student support pages)
• Students who engage effectively with our support services are far more likely to progress and achieve than those who wait for challenges to overwhelm them. We aim to be as proactive as we can in offering support, through ongoing monitoring of engagement and attendance as well as academic progress, we ensure that our support is targeted and tailored to each student.

The College recognises the need to prepare for and facilitate student progression after completion of their course. As part of the dedicated Student Support team staff specialise in careers advice. This may take the form of further study or employment. This employment may involve the students own company.

To this end the Support team will operate a number of strategies. These include one to one interviews, seminars on careers often with specialist outside speakers, organisation of visits to employment exhibitions, workshops on CV writing ,interview techniques and university application. These are often run in conjunction with the College Student Union. This Union although set up with a constitution and with elected representatives in the traditional pattern specifically focuses on the needs of the mature student population in particular facilitating a system of self help utilising the varied experiences of its members.

In summary FSB is committed to the policy of widening participation in higher education and its student profile equates totally with this aim. Thus it works to raise aspirations and educational attainment among its students by:

• preparing them for higher education
• ensuring success on their programme of study
• improving their employment prospects
• opening possibilities for postgraduate study
• giving them opportunities to return to learning throughout their lives

• At FSB we recognise the need to prepare for and facilitate student progression after completion of their course.  FSB has a dedicated careers and employability service specialising in careers advice tailored to our demographic. (LINK TO CAREERS PAGE)
• Throughout our programmes we aim to give students the opportunity to hear from experts across a range of relevant professions, this exposure to employers helps students develop an understanding of potential career paths, and what it takes to be successful in their chosen field.
• We are continually developing our network of local employers to ensure that we are able to identify opportunities for our students.

Once your course has finished and you have graduated, your journey with FSB doesn’t end.  We are continually developing our network of past students to ensure that the FSB student and alumni community continues to thrive.