Learner Voice and Information

At GC Education and Skills, you can be assured you are in safe hands, and our Ofsted Grade 2: Good is a testament to this. You can view our full report here.

To make sure you’re able to achieve, we have a comprehensive support package delivered by our friendly team. These are just some of the ways in which we can help you to achieve your goals:

• Expert tutors
• Personalised learning programmes
• Excellent progression opportunities
• Assistive technology
• Signposting to specialist services

We understand that sometimes things can be even more challenging, which is why we have a network of specialist support services to help you. Contact your Tutor or Skills Development Tutor for more information.

At GC Education and Skills not only want you to succeed on your current programme, but on any future learning, you may choose to undertake. This is why we have a range of progression opportunities with us and our partner organisations.

Entry level – level 2

• Study programmes and courses
• Apprenticeships
• Pre-access to Higher Education Diploma

Level 3

• Advanced Apprenticeships
• Access to Higher Education

Level 4

• Higher Apprenticeships
• Higher National Certificate
• Certificate in Education

Level 5

• Foundation Degree
• Degree apprenticeship

Level 6

• Degree with honours

For more information about your progression opportunities with GC Education and Skills, please contact your Tutor or Skills Development Tutor.

To help you progress within your chosen programme, all our learners will develop an individual learning plan. It allows you and your tutor or skills coach to plan, monitor and evaluate your progress.

Your individual learning plan will include:

• Your strengths and skills
• What motivates you
• Preferred ways of learning
• What your goals/targets are and how you think you can achieve them
• Areas for development
• Off the job learning and professional standards (apprentices)

Your Tutor or Skills Development Tutor will develop this in partnership with you and will meet you regularly to review progress.

Information for apprentices

As an apprentice you will be employed full-time with an employer where you will undertake both on-the-job training and off-the-job training. Whilst on your apprenticeship, you will be assessed using the following criteria:

• Knowledge
• Skills
• Behaviours

Below is more information about what types of things you will be assessed on within each of these criteria’s:

 Knowledge

Information, technical detail, and know-how that needs to be understood in order to successfully carry out the duties for your job role. Some knowledge will be job role-specific, and some may be more generic such as communication skills.

Skills

This is the practical application of the knowledge needed to undertake your job role. These need to be learned through both off-the-job and on-the-job training or experience.

Behaviours

Mind-sets, attitudes or approaches required to perform your role well. This may include working as part of a team, your professionalism, and how well you are able to adapt within your working environment.

20% off-the-job training

An apprenticeship requires all apprentices and their employers to commit to 20% off the job training. This means that 20% of your normal working hours will be spent gaining further knowledge and skills and behaviours to help you perform your role well. Examples of off-the-job training can include:

• Lectures, role-playing, online learning or training
• Shadowing, mentoring, industry visits and taking part in competitions
• Learning support and time writing assessments/assignments

Off-the-job training does not include:

• Gaining knowledge, skills and behaviours which are not required as part of your apprenticeship
• Progress reviews or on-programme assessments required for your apprenticeship
• The training which takes place outside of your normal working hours, or English and maths (up to level 2)

More information about off-the-job training for apprentices can be found here.

Keeping you safe

Throughout your time with us it is important that you are and feel safe. We take our duty of care very seriously and believe that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

The health and wellbeing of our students is paramount and believe that everyone has a right to protection from abuse, whatever their age, ethnicity, religion, sexual identity or gender identity.

Safeguarding issues

A safeguarding issue is a serious risk of abuse and can include:

• Physical
• Sexual
• Emotional
• Financial
• Extremism
• Forced marriage
• Female genital mutilation

It can also include anything else that can cause significant harm, whether this is online or offline. More information can be found within our Safeguarding Policy.

Reporting a safeguarding issue

We have a team of safeguarding officers who you can report any issues or concerns to. Please contact your Tutor, or if you are an Apprentice, your line Manager or Skills Development Coach.

Prevent Duty explained

The Prevent Duty is a government initiative aimed at stopping people from becoming involved with (radicalised) or supporting violent extremism.

What is Radicalisation?

The government defines radicalisation as a process by which an individual or group comes to adopt an extreme political, social, or religious ideas and aspirations that reject or undermine the status quo or reject and/or undermine contemporary ideas and expressions of freedom of choice.

What is Extremism?

Extremism is defined as “vocal or active opposition to British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs”. We share and promote these values across our community.

British Values

GC Education and Skills follow the governments principles across all our locations, these include:

Liberty

• The freedom to live as you wish and go where you want.
• Helping you to making informed choices.
• Taking responsibility for your choices and exercising them safely.
• Making sure you know your rights.

Justice – Rule of Law

• Fairness in the way people are dealt with.
• Exploring the laws that govern and protect us.
• Understanding the consequences if these rules are broken.
• Considering that these may be different from religious laws.

Democracy

• The belief in freedom and equality between people.
• A broad general knowledge & respect of public institutions and services.
• Helping you to influence decision-making through the democratic process.
• Explaining the advantages and disadvantages of democracy.

Respect – Mutual Respect

• Tolerance of those with different respects and beliefs.
• Understanding how your behaviour has an effect on your own rights and those of others.
• Respecting other people’s differences, other cultures, and ways of life.
• Challenging prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

For more information about the Prevent Duty and British values, click here.

As a learner at GC Education and Skills you will have access to itsLearning, our virtual learning platform which will help you progress on your programme.

What is itsLearning used for?

itsLearning is our virtual learning platform which you will use to complete learning and assessments throughout your programme. You will complete these activities both independently and through collaboratively with other learners on your course.  

Where do I get my login for itsLearning?

Your Tutor or Skills Development Tutor will provide you with your login details when you start your programme, and they will guide you through a short induction on how to use itslearning.

 How will itsLearning benefit my studies?/ What are the main features?

itsLearning will provide you with a variety of features which will help you on your programme, including:

An overview of your learning programme

• Key contact details
• Self-study learning paths
• Interactive learning materials
• Assignments, tests, and tasks to check your understanding and progress
• Message function so you can contact your tutor and other learners.

What should I do if I can’t remember my login details?

Please contact your Tutor or Skills Development Tutor.

At GC Education and Skills, we are committed to continually improving our service to you, which is why we are in constant conversation with our learners to understand what we can do better.

Our learner voice initiative gives you the opportunity to share your thoughts about your time with us and make any suggestions about what we can do to help you achieve your goals. FEEDBACK / SURVEYS / WELLBEING / SAFEGUARDING ETC. THIS DOC!

To have your voice heard, please contact your Centre Manager (SkillCentre / Training Centre) or Skills Development Tutors (Apprenticeships).

Complaints and compliments

If you have a complaint about an experience you have had whilst learning with us, please refer to our Learner Complaints procedure at: https://www.gceducationandskills.ac.uk/policies-and-procedures/

You can also let us know what we are doing well so we can ensure we keep doing it and building on success.

As a learner with GC Education and Skills we are committed to your learning and wellbeing, and in return we expect you to make a commitment to your future.

• Attend all your sessions and on time, which may include your place of work and appointments with your skills coach, study programme including maths and English sessions.
• If you are unable to attend a session, please contact the appropriate person before the start.
• If you are attending a class arrive with the correct equipment, materials.
• Be organised and make good use of private study time
• Approach learning with a positive attitude and take responsibility of your own learning and ask for help when you need it.
• Ensure you meet all your deadlines and ensure the work you submit is your own. Please see plagiarism policy xxxxx
• Observe classroom management practice including turning off mobile phones or putting on silent during teaching-related activities (unless you have permission from the teacher).
• Be polite and treat everyone with respect, both in-person and online.
• Be committed to your own progress and take responsibility for your future

Reporting absence

If you are unable to attend a session, please contact your tutor or skills coach before a scheduled appointment.

We are committed to ensuring a zero-tolerance approach to bullying across GC Education and Skills. We will take decisive action to protect the interests of our students whenever an incident comes to light. Some of the measures we currently have in place:

• Allegations of bullying will be investigated by staff and appropriate action is taken if necessary
• Cyber-bullying will be investigated by staff and appropriate actions taken as above
• Staff and tutors will provide appropriate support to those affected

If you have any concerns about bullying, including in the workplace, please contact your tutor or skills coach.

The internet is a powerful communication and information platform and we encourage the use of it to enhance your learning in order to progress. However, we also understand that the internet can also be a place where risk can be.

• In order to keep you safe you should not:
• Send offensive messages, including those on social media
• Install any software on any GC Education and Skills computers or equipment
• Copy or install any copyright protected software or data from any systems without permission
• Install or run games software, or download any programs from the internet
• Have or publish anything that is obscene, libelous, sexist, incites racial hatred or in any way breaks any UK law relating to published material (including extremism)

If you are concerned about safety online, please contact your tutor or skills coach.

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