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FAQs - construction and building services courses
The following information will hopefully give you a little bit more of an insight into what it will be like to be a student with us.
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Where will I study?
All of our construction and building Services courses are based at our Construction Centre campus, based in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Our specialist facilities include fully functional workshops, a CAD suite and a gas assessment centre.
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What is it like?
The college is an adult, professional environment intended to prepare you to work in your chosen industry. As such, we expect students’ behaviour to reflect the world of work. Attendance and punctuality are very important. One of our main focuses is health and safety, which is a key driver in all aspects of construction. Therefore, we have very high expectations in terms of behaviour and attitude.
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What will I study?
The courses are a mix of practical sessions, within our specialist workshops and traditional theory sessions in a classroom. The higher the level of programme, the more theory-based work you will be expected to do. It is important you understand that you will not be in a workshop all the time. Your practical work will be assessed but you will also have to submit written assignments as part of your course.
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What about English and maths?
If you start at college and you haven’t yet achieved your English and maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above, then you will continue to study these alongside your chosen course. At the end of your first year you will take a re-sit GCSE exam. It is important you attend your English and maths lessons alongside your chosen course.
Take a look at our fact sheets to find out why English and maths is important within this industry.
English and maths in bricklaying
English and maths in carpentry and joinery
English and maths in electrical
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What will I have to wear?
You will be expected to wear the designated coloured t-shirt for your area at all times whilst in the workshops including safety steel toe capped boots and work trousers (at a small cost). In the classroom environment you are expected to wear the coloured t-shirt and a choice of suitable footwear and trousers.
We recommend each learner has two t-shirts.
- Apprentices – Purple
- BTEC – Orange. No jogging bottoms or sport attire allowed, we recommend jeans or chino style trousers
- Brickwork – Navy
- Carpentry and Joinery – Heather Grey
- Electrical - Yellow
- Foundation studies – Red
- Painting and decorating – White
- Plastering – Bottle Green
- Plumbing – Light Blue
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Will I have to do a work placement?
At levels 2 and 3 you will be expected to complete a work placement and the central work placement team will help you find one. This will be on a construction site or workshop linked to your chosen area and is a great way for you to get your foot in the door, impress an employer and potentially move into a job or apprenticeship as a result. We have great links with local employers and have a lot of apprentices studying on-site with us.
All of our students will be able to also get engaged with our learning companies, which provide in-house opportunities to gain real-world experience. This year students have worked within our workshops and across various industry places to establish good links and captivate their studies even further, from renovation to picnic benches and animal holdings.
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Will there be somewhere for me to safely secure my belongings?
Yes. You will have access to lockers, on a first come first serve basis. It's just a £5 deposit for the year.
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