Coronavirus Guidance: Apprentices

Dear Apprentice,

Following the announcements by the Government, the College Campuses will be closed to all students, including apprentices for face to face delivery of courses from 5pm Friday 20 March 2020.

Apprenticeship programmes have not ended and onsite delivery and assessment will continue either remotely or face to face. We will continue to support you to complete your qualifications and will keep you updated if there are any changes to assessment methods once confirmed by the Government.

I want to assure you that whilst the College buildings are closed for access to students from Monday, we are very much still open for learning, and will continue to provide full teaching support via online, visits to your workplace, email and telephone. 

The arrangements are:

• Apprentices will study via online resources instead of coming into college from Monday 23 March and will be supported by lecturers, assessors and trainers
• College staff will communicate expectations to you and college lecturers are available by email to answer any questions you may have
• You should continue to record your 20% Off the Job hours and 12 weekly reviews with Training Co-ordinators will continue as planned
• On site assessment and delivery will continue and we will liaise closely with you and your employer to arrange visits and if appropriate this may be undertaken remotely

The Government has not specified any time frame for the campus closures, but we will contact you immediately the situation changes.

The Government has not detailed how different qualifications might now be assessed. For some there may be no change. Until this has been announced apprentices should follow the advice below:

Assessments: You should continue to prepare and submit assessments in the normal way and continue to use our electronic portfolio, Ecordia or via the VLE as specified

Exams: We will continue to be guided by the Department of Education, Institute for Apprenticeships and the Exam Boards.  We will share this information as it is confirmed but currently no exams can be taken on campus

It is important that you keep up to date with your studies and assignments, so must complete any activities set by college staff and engage in any ‘Teams’, classes or VLEs being set by course lecturers, including English and maths. Please stay in contact with your lecturers, your training co-ordinator, assessor or trainer by email or telephone. The Government have been clear that whilst schools and colleges are closed learning must continue.

We do appreciate many employers are in the midst of setting up working from home policies for staff, and in this case you must abide by your employer's instructions. We will continue to support you whether you are at home or in your work environment. 

Please remain in close contact with us and please contact us should you have any questions or concerns.

Yours faithfully

Julie Tegg

Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Training

Gloucestershire College

 

Back to Gloucestershire College's central Coronavirus information page

 

FAQ for Apprentices

My place of work is closed due to COVID 19. Can I continue with my training?

Yes, you should continue to study towards your apprenticeship as per the learning plan that has been agreed with your employer. Your lecturers, assessor and training coordinator at Gloucestershire College will make arrangements to contact you and will continue to support you remotely. Reviews and training will be conducted and delivered through Skype calls, visits, telephone or online through Microsoft Teams.

If the College is closed, will my learning sessions continue?

Although the College buildings are closed, we are continuing with all education online and all members of staff are here to help. Apprentices will continue to be supported by their lecturers and assessors online and/or visits to the workplace. Learning and assessment will be delivered through Ecordia, on site assessments and the VLE. Guidance will be provided to apprentices and learning and assessment will continue as planned albeit in the main remotely.

If I attend on day release and the College is closed, how will my learning sessions continue?

You will continue to be supported by your lecturers and assessors. They will be setting work to complete and you will need time to do this. Guidance will be provided to apprentices. Learning and assessment will continue as planned albeit in the main remotely.

What if my lecturer or assessor has COVID-19 and is too ill to provide support online?

Where a lecturer or assessor is unwell, you should continue with the work that has been set. Apprentices will be working to a plan online. The work of the lecturer or assessor will be monitored by a manager. If they are ill, the manager will endeavour to ensure that support is re-allocated from another member of the team.

Who will be monitoring that teaching, learning and support is happening and to the required standard if the College is closed?

Managers will have access to Ecordia and the VLE/Microsoft Team sites and will be monitoring that teaching, learning and assessment that is taking place. You will be able to contact them through the normal channels if you have any concerns.

What if I cannot attend work for an extended period?

It is likely that anyone infected with COVID-19 will recover within two weeks. An official break in learning would only apply if you were absent for a period of four weeks or more. In these circumstances the College would discuss the options with you and your employer and apply any appropriate interventions which might include a break in learning.

How will COVID-19 and College closure affect my End Point Assessment (EPA)?

We are currently waiting on guidance from EPA organisations on their approach. It is likely that we will experience some delays in being able to book assessments. Where it is possible to complete some of the assessed elements remotely then this will take place as normal. Where the EPA requires a ‘face to face’ element then we will wait to see what the requirement will be under these circumstances. We will keep you and your employer notified.

 

Back to Gloucestershire College's central Coronavirus information page

 

Staff contact details

Managers

Julie Tegg - Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Training - Julie.Tegg@gloscol.ac.uk - 07793 365504

Rachel Hall - Partnerships and Operations Manager - Rachel.Hall@gloscol.ac.uk - 07760 991527

Myra Billinghurst - Sales Manager - Myra.Billinghurst@gloscol.ac.uk - 07795 222396

Pauline Connolly - Head of GC Business School - Pauline.Connolly@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 060675

 

Apprenticeships Managers

Glen Taylor - Apprenticeship Manager - Construction and Building Services - Glen.Taylor@gloscol.ac.uk - 07900 930170

Richard Poole - Apprenticeship Manager - Health, Dental, Business Support - Richard.Poole@gloscol.ac.uk - 07557 633398

Miv Harris - Apprenticeship Manager – Electrical, Engineering and Motor - Miv.Harris@gloscol.ac.uk

 

Business Consultants

Shelley White - Business Consultant - Shelley.White@gloscol.ac.uk - 07526 102570

Sophie Burch - Business Consultant - Sophie.Burch@gloscol.ac.uk - 07717 816299

Mark Learwood - Business Consultant - Mark.Learwood@gloscol.ac.uk - 07855 135054

Sarah Jennings - Business Consultant - Sarah.Jennings@gloscol.ac.uk - 07813 350289

Brian Fowler - Business Consultant - Brian.Fowler@gloscol.ac.uk - 07717 816286

Madison Kaiser - Business Sales Support Executive - Madison.Kaiser@gloscol.ac.uk - 07392 190111   

 

Assessor Trainers

Danni Willett - Childcare and STLS - Danni.Willett@gloscol.ac.uk - 07887 722774

Amanda Kavanagh - Childcare and STLS - Amanda.Kavanagh@gloscol.ac.uk - 07790 350271

Cheryl Talbot - Childcare and STLS - Cheryl.Talbot@gloscol.ac.uk - 07786 262844

Sharon Gregory - Childcare - Sharon.Gregory@gloscol.ac.uk - 07717 816293

Jill Churchfield - Hairdressing - Jill.Churchfield@gloscol.ac.uk - 07887 638502

Dawn Morgan - Business Admin / Customer Service / Sales - Dawn.Morgan@gloscol.ac.uk - 07747 461885

Dianne Baker - Business Admin / Customer Service - Dianne.Baker@gloscol.ac.uk - 07554 115646

Sarah Davenport - Business Admin / Customer Service - Sarah.Davenport@gloscol.ac.uk - 07760 991526

Wendy Phillips - Dental Nursing - Wendy.Phillips@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 060695

Helene Cure - Catering and Hospitality - Helene.Cure@gloscol.ac.uk - 07887 638153

Susan Walsh - HR - Susan.Walsh@gloscol.ac.uk - 07760 553533

Linda Campbell - Leadership and Management - Linda.Campbell@gloscol.ac.uk - 07899 817870

 

Training Coordinators

Anita Preest - Accounting - Anita.Preest@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 740922

Adam Beach - Engineering - Adam.Beach@gloscol.ac.uk

Joe Marcer - Engineering - Joe.Marcer@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 740931

Mike Parkin - Engineering - Mike.Parkin@gloscol.ac.uk - 07795 667675

Rebecca Fox - Electrical - Rebecca.Fox@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 740918

Lesley Hipkiss - Electrical - Lesley.Hipkiss@gloscol.ac.uk - 07557 633406

Kim Rackley - Property Maintenance - Kim.Rackley@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 740921

Jan Knight - Plumbing and Heating - Jan.Knight@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 740886

Trudy Seale - Plumbing and Heating - Trudy.Seale@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 740927

Karen Aslett - Motor Vehicle - Karen.Aslett@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 740925

Carol Brown - Civil Engineering / Heating and Ventilation - Carol.Brown@gloscol.ac.uk - 07717 816291

Jonathan Jennings - Accounting / Dental Nursing - Jonathan.Jennings@gloscol.ac.uk - 07920 740916

Charley Robinson - Carpentry - Charley.Robinson@gloscol.ac.uk - 07867 528963

Liz Scott - IT - Liz.Scott@gloscol.ac.uk - 07793 365507

Lorraine Hunt - Brickwork - Lorraine.Hunt@gloscol.ac.uk - 07813350298

Candace Thompson - Carpentry / Painting and Decorating / Plastering / Interior Systems -  Candace.Thompson@gloscol.ac.uk - 07872 882233

 

Assessors

Jim Willett - Motor Vehicle - Jim.Willett@gloscol.ac.uk - 07919 300710

Tom Rossiter - Electrical - Tom.Rossiter@gloscol.ac.uk - 07825 352606

Dave Jones - Electrical - David.Jones@gloscol.ac.uk - 07500 570127

Gary Ridgway - Engineering - Gary.Ridgway@gloscol.ac.uk - 07554 437166

Steven Knight - Engineering - Steven.Knight@gloscol.ac.uk - 07778 046533

Nick Card - Carpentry / Bench Joinery / Construction Maintenance - Nick.Card@gloscol.ac.uk - 07557 633396

Kevin Jarvis - Carpentry and Bench Joinery - Kevin.Jarvis@gloscol.ac.uk - 07917 080435

Peter Homoki - Plumbing and Heating - Peter.Homoki@gloscol.ac.uk - 07595 98466

Paul Webb - Plumbing and Heating - Paul.Webb01@gloscol.ac.uk - 07747 456777

Colin Byrant - Brickwork / Groundwork - Colin.Byrant@gloscol.ac.uk - 07879 435291

Luke Merriman - Brickwork / Maintenance - Luke.Merriman@gloscol.ac.uk - 07747 456781

Len Shand - IT - Len.Shand@gloscol.ac.uk - 07714 437164

Bob Higgie - IT - Bob.Higgie@gloscol.ac.uk

Andrew Cracknell - IT - Andrew.Cracknell@gloscol.ac.uk

Nick Workman - Marketing - Nick.Workman@gloscol.ac.uk - 07795 800212

 

Functional Skills

Geraldine Mccoll - Maths Functional Skills Tutor - Geraldine.Mccoll@gloscol.ac.uk

Sally Cowley - English Functional Skills Tutor - Sally.Cowley@gloscol.ac.uk

Ricky Manders - IT Functional Skills Tutor - Ricky.Manders@gloscol.ac.uk

 

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