We are always looking for ways to enhance the Patchway Post-16 Centre and are proud of our record of student results and destinations. Additionally, many changes have occurred recently, ready for the new term:

Responding to the raised school leaving age, we have designed a “package” of Level 2 courses for students with fewer than 5 C’s at GCSE: Work Experience, Travel & Tourism BTEC, Maths and English GCSE, Enterprise and Work Skills which provide a clear progression to level 3 or a head-start into employment or training.

• Continued involvement in superb national schemes such as Sutton Trust and Access to Bristol University in order to maximise students’ opportunities in Higher Education – resulting in some students qualifying for a full tuition-fee waiver at top Universities!
• New elected student Officers, who are planning social and sporting events and have already improved the tuck-shop and kitchen area
• Participation in the prestigious Bristol Young Student of the Year competition, in which Patchway Post-16 students were last year nominated for six out of seven categories, winning three of them!
• Full participation within the Concorde Partnership to ensure all five centres – BTEA, Patchway Community College, SGS (Filton College), Abbeywood Community School and Bradley Stoke Community School all share common policies and procedures for assessment, attendance and student support. In 2015 the Concorde Partnership was joined by the Bristol Technial and Engineering Academy, allowing students to mutually access even more courses.
• Full timetable alignment within the Concorde Partnership to ensure ease of travel for students studying at more than one centre. (The transport cont inues to be free to students).
• A new Core Programme featuring guest-speakers and team events that is part of the “Heading Higher Passport plus” scheme, so that students can gain 70 UCAS points (more than a grade A at AS) towards their application at the University of the West of England (UWE).
• A new “Extension Block” packed with choices to extend skills and employability, giving you something extra to stand out from the crowd whether you are applying to university, apprenticeship or full-time employment
• The opportunity for a five-day visit abroad every February half-term.

We are positive these new developments, alongside all the existing strengths of the Post-16 Centre, make this a very exciting time for all. We look forward to seeing you!

From Mr Watkins, Assistant Head of the Post-16 Centre

I am really looking forward to working closely with all of you and helping you on your educational journey. The post-16 pastoral team is second to none - we will all be there for you on the challenges you will face over the next two years.

I want to make your time in Post-16 as memorable and enjoyable as possible. Please feel free to approach me at any time with ideas and suggestions that you would like to see happen. I want to build on the relationships I have developed with you through my teaching classes or House events and take this forward to make your experience in the Post-16 Centre as rewarding and worthwhile as possible.

I want to develop your leadership skills and give you opportunities to participate in the continued development of the Student Council - this is your opportunity to raise your own profile as well as that of the Post-16 Centre. I will continue to work with students to arrange fun activities that have been so successful in the past - we have a real tradition of doing something really special every year at PatchFactor. The Prom is another outstanding evening at the end of the year where we can all come together and celebrate your time in Post-16. It is also important for you to continue to develop your social responsibilities by continuing the great work the Post-16 Centre does in raising money for charity.

We are here to support your dreams and aspirations and to listen to your concerns and worries, to make sure that life in the Post-16 Centre is something you remember with fondness for the rest of your lives.

From Samantha Martin, who has had the role of Executive Officer:

Welcome to the world of Post-16 at Patchway! I’m Samantha and my responsibility has been to discuss and finalise all the events and that add to the experience of being a student here and help to co-ordinate the running of the Post-16 Centre so your needs are established and met. Each year we have scheduled a regular calendar of events including parties (in town) and social and sporting competitions. It has also been my priority to continue to improve our common room and to raise funds for improved facilities and events for the students, such as the Summer Prom.

I found my first year of Post-16 to be a challenging but thoroughly enjoyable experience where I built many strong friendships across the Concorde Partnership (this was greatly helped by mixed social events and the welcoming atmosphere of the Concorde Partnership centres) as well as preparing myself for my future career! I promise that the Patchway Post-16 Centre will go to great lengths to ensure you are prepared for your future both socially and academically - enjoy!

Further information: 

• For news, messages and photo’s follow us on our new Twitter feed: @PatchwayPost16
• It’s never too late to apply! Application forms are also in the post-16 area of the college website
• For details of our off-site courses through the Concorde Partnership please visit www.concordepartnership.com
• Please direct any queries or online applications forms to [email protected]