ESOL PRIORITIES

Have the actions you raised previously been addressed? Have you been directed to the You Said We Did on My Student Life so you can see the actions that were taken based on your feedback?

• All Ss were directed to (and given) the updated previous minutes, and the My Student Life link.

• Most actions have been addressed. Only outstanding issue is the suggested Speaking Club idea, which OH passed on to Dan Glover, and Course

• Rep Masud has also asked Dan about. Response from OH: Previously, Dan Glover said he thought this was an interesting idea. OH has passed this on again, requesting an updated response.

• ·The library is quieter than before – thank you!

• Student parking was raised and addressed last time. Ss asked if the college can negotiate a discount rate at Priory Meadow car park. .

What is going well? / Who needs praise?

• Everyone agreed that everything has gone well since Nov. Ss still very much appreciate the free breakfast and soup for lunch. Ss are very happy!

• Teacher (OH) for great class trips and arrangements.

• Everything is going well and Ss are generally very happy, esp. with facilities, expanded menu in the cafeteria, free breakfast and soup.

• Teacher (FB) deserves praise because she is a great teacher and a great person!

• Tony on reception is very approachable and helpful.

• Teachers (AB & KB) because they teach everything the Ss want and need.

What could we do better?

You Said: Ss would like one lesson outside the classroom every week (park/café/picnic)

We Will: Explained to Ss that class trips need an educational benefit. Trips to the park, a café or a picnic don’t necessarily fit the criteria, but they could be arranged if Ss really want them. They are also weather-dependent. We can do more outdoor activity in the summer term and Otto will discuss this with the class to arrange more trips.

You Said: Ss requested trips to Dover Castle, Canterbury, The Houses of Parliament, Salisbury, Edinburgh and France.

We Will: Discuss destinations for class trips and vote democratically. Edinburgh and France are unlikely due to the cost for Ss (including covering staff costs). Many students would also need a visa for France. Unfortunately, this and the cost, would make this trip prohibitive for most ESOL Ss.

You Said: Some Ss requested that Reading and Writing are in one term (instead of two), then Speaking & Listening could be over two terms (instead of one).

We Have: Each module is one term because there are 3 terms and 3 modules (3 exams). Speaking & Listening can’t be separated, and it would be challenging to squeeze 2 modules - Reading and Writing – into one term. The Course Rep agreed. Curriculum Planning is also usually done about a year in advance.

You Said: You would like a Speaking Club again – please! Overall, Ss really want more Speaking & Listening.

We Have: Planned for small group Speaking Support courses for under-19s. This year, the S&L term was extended from 11 to 12 weeks. Maybe for 24/25 this could be extended further, if Ss would like it.

You Said: For Adult Math is there a possibility of doing Functional Skills?

We Have: Responded to students that Yes this is possible and we will ensure clear information is given. Otto has arranged for Sara Keightley to come as a guest speaker to promote opportunities for adults.

What is going well? / Who needs praise?

• The teaching is good and the classroom is clean.

• The manager (OH) because he shows Ss respect and makes Ss happy (he’s funny). HB because she’s very good at making Ss understand.

• The Ss like contact with the English Ss. They like being in a college.

• HB because she is a really good teacher and she helped Ss a lot to improve.

• Ss feel that they’re getting a good education. Good exam preparation – Ss understand everything. The college has good facilities. Free soup for all Ss.

• FB & TW (class Ts). FB is very helpful & kind. Classmate, Gatgov, and the class Course Rep are really friendly & helpful.

• College facilities are all very good. The courses are well-timetabled. All Ts are very friendly and very good.

• OH (class T) for his class trips and class teaching, and for raising the voices of refugees, and helping Ss to get free breakfast every morning.

What could we do better?

You Said: Ss would like more feedback from homework, and they would like more homework. Ss would like to study more hours (currently 12.5 p/w over 5 days). Some Ss would like a longer break. 16-18 Ss want to know when Maths is starting.

We Will: Ask the class teacher to set more homework and to give more feedback from homework.

We Will: Ask the class teacher to take a vote on how long Ss would like for their break (democracy), but Ss must then respect the time given and return on time.

We Have: Arranged for Maths for 16-18s to start on Fri 8th Dec (1st week of the new ESOL term). Unfortunately, at the moment we cannot offer more course hours. However, we already offer more hours than most other colleges.

• Update from the teacher: The students are given spelling lists on Monday to learn as homework for the Friday spelling test, and regular writing homework (all of which they get feedback for). We had a vote on break times and they also get 30 minutes on Fridays.

You Said: Ss would like more coat hooks in the classroom. Ss would like more class trips. Ss would like to study more about British culture and life in the UK (laws, etc.).

We Will: Request more coat hooks from Facilities.

We Will: Pass on requests about class trips and lesson content to the class teachers.

• Update from the teacher: New coat hooks have been put up. ESOL courses usually have one class trip per term: the class went to Bodiam Castle in term 1 and went to Rye on 12th March (term 2). The class regularly covers topics connected to Britain and British culture. They have now had a lesson on the law.

You Said: Ss would like Halal food in the canteen. Ss would like swimming and a football club.

We Have: Taken the Course Rep to speak to the Chef. The Chef showed him the daily menu with the Halal symbol next to the Halal food. The Course Rep took a photo to show his class.

We Have: Introduced the Course Rep to Dan, who arranges the college clubs. He showed the Course Rep the wall of club posters with QR codes, and he explained about the free swimming and the football club, and showed him the information on My Student Life. The Course Rep will explain to the class.

You Said: Ss would like an English Speaking Club, or maybe a language club to share their languages with native English speakers. Ss would like free gym sessions in the mornings if possible. Ss would like the college to make connections with a job agency to help Ss to get work.

We Will: Pass on the club and job agency requests to the relevant staff, and we will update the Course Rep when we have a response.

• Update (gym): There are gym sessions for students 3 times per week (Mon/Weds/Fri afternoons), which cost 50p per session. Unfortunately, the gym is used as a classroom in the mornings. Details are on My Student Life

• Update (jobs): We now have an ESOL ‘Getting a Job’ board, and a guest speaker came on 12th March to talk about jobs in Care.

You Said: Ss would like college parking. Ss struggle to login to the college WI-FI. Ss would like more options/variety of pastries (bakery) at the canteen, and at Costa. Ss have complained that the library can be quite loud, esp. when it rains and Ss come to the library talking, laughing, etc. Ss who are studying cannot concentrate.

We Have: Explained that Station Plaza was built next to the train station and the bus station in the centre of town to make travel to college easy, and to avoid the need for Ss to be dependent on car transport. The car park below the college is for railway staff, health centre staff, college staff and visitors, and there is not enough space for student parking as well.

We Have: Explained that Ss need to go to their settings at the start of each week to ‘forget’ the network, then login again. This should solve the problem. However, we have offered to arrange a visit from IT to the class.

We Have: Passed on comments about the canteen and library to their managers.

• Update from the Library Manager: We have made quite a few changes this term to tackle the noise and it is much improved. However, there will always be periods of noisiness (especially at break times or in bad weather) – we are still working on it. I have raised the fact that students need somewhere to go outside of lesson to just ‘hang out’ with the Assistant Principal. She acknowledges that it is a problem. We do have silent spaces along the windows that should remain silent even when the rest of the library is busy.

• Update from the Canteen Manager: We already off 5 different varieties of pastries but would welcome suggestions for more.

You Said: Ss would like more class trips. Ss would like trips to a jobs fair and the degree (UCAS) fair, and to Dover Castle. We will do all of these things during the academic year.

• Update from the teacher: L2 students have had trips to Pevensey Castle, Battle Abbey, Rye, the University of Sussex and Brighton University, and to Bexhill Jobs Fair on 15th March. A trip to the UCAS Fair in Brighton on 30th April is planned. The Dover Castle visit will be in term 3.