Parents & Carers Hub
Teenagers must now stay in education or training until they are 18. So why should your young person choose college over sixth form or any other options? As an entrepreneurial college, our students are supported to develop the real skills needed to be successful in today’s workplace.
We offer engaging, interesting and project-driven courses and recognise that while academic knowledge and technical skills are important, we also need to develop young people who know how to be part of a team, are effective communicators and who can demonstrate leadership.
Dudley College of Technology is one of the highest performing colleges in terms of success rates, progression into employment or higher education, and offers some of the best facilities in the region.
Our approach with learners aged 16-18 is to treat them as adults and for the majority of the time we focus our relationship with them directly. We are however aware of the vital ongoing role you play in supporting your young person and are sure you will be interested in hearing how we feel we can work together to support them and make their transition to college as smooth as possible.
Get your Parent & Carer Guide
We value the contribution that parents and carers make towards their young person’s education, and the vital role they play in supporting them. That’s why we’ve put together a helpful guide, to make the transition to college as smooth as possible.
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Parent & Carer Guide 2024-25
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How we support you
From the moment your young person embarks on their career journey with us, they’ll feel supported and valued. We have a wide range of support services in place to help all students reach their full potential.
If you have any specific questions, please use this opportunity to talk to us. Our subject specialists are available at our open events and throughout the year to talk to you about your course options.
Careers Guidance
Whatever choice your young person makes about their future, we want you to be assured that Dudley College of Technology is an excellent place to study.
If your young person is unsure of what career path to follow, our qualified Career Advisers can help them plan their next steps, apply to university, pursue their dream career, or explore their options. You can book an appointment with our expert staff,
Making the most of college
We provide a range of recreational and enrichment activities for your young person to get involved with. Throughout their time at college they’ll be able to hear from guest speakers, undertake work experience and participate in activities that will enhance their time with us.
They also have the opportunity to be involved with our Dudley Students’ Union. They improve the student experience, ensure the voice of students is heard and embrace the diversity and vitality of the student body.
Staying in touch with Dudley College of Technology
As a parent or carer of a young learner we know you will want to know about their progress on their course and receive important updates from us.
To help you stay in touch please take a look at our very first parent/carer newsletter.
We hope you think it is useful. If you want to let us know what you would like to see in future editions email your suggestions to marketing@dudleycol.ac.uk.
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Parent/Carer Newsletter
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If you have any questions, please email learner.services@dudleycol.ac.uk. You can also read our FAQs below.
Parents’ Frequently Asked Questions
Entry requirements are stated within each course description. However, it is important to note the entry requirements are intended to act as a guide only. If they aren’t sure what grades they’ll get, it is always worth talking to our staff about the options available. Every application is treated individually with other factors such as coursework, references and experience being taken into consideration.
If your son/daughter doesn’t meet the entry requirements for their chosen course, it is possible to enter at a lower level and progress this way. The college also provides Education Support Assistants for those students who require additional help during their course.
English and maths qualifications are vitally important for future employers and universities, so the government has made it a priority for students to improve these skills. We’re here to help your son or daughter on their journey, so if they do not achieve grade A*-C in GCSE English and/or maths, then they will study English and/or maths as part of their full-time college course.
Young people need to stay in education until they are 18. They can choose to study at a college, stay on at school sixth form or attend another training provider. They must be enrolled on either a full-time course, a training programme or an Apprenticeship course in September. The college has open events throughout the year or you can book an appointment to have a look around the college and its campuses.
All staff at the college undertake safeguarding training and are aware of their obligations by law.
The college has comprehensive procedures related to the protection of vulnerable adults and children who are under 18 years of age. We work closely with the police, Local Authorities and other agencies as appropriate.
We have a Safeguarding / Prevent Officer who is responsible for supporting students at college and can be contacted on 01384 363 940.
If you would like to find out more about protection issues or would like an informal chat about any concerns that you might have then you can also contact the Safeguarding / Prevent & Student Conduct Coordinator, on the contact number 01384 363 037.
A typical full-time student will study approximately sixteen hours per week plus homework.
If your son/daughter is on an Apprenticeship they will be expected to work approximately 37 hours, including time at college.
We have excellent libraries, computer centres and learning hubs which can be used by all students.
Don’t worry. Throughout years 10 and 11 there will be plenty of opportunities for you to visit the college and explore the options available to your child. We have open events throughout the year or you can book an appointment to have a look around the college and its campuses. Alternatively, our Student Services department is available to all prospective students and their parents. They offer support with career planning and choosing the appropriate courses.
In conjunction with schools, we also offer activity days for students to have a taste of college life and to try different courses out before making a decision about which course to apply for.
No. There are no tuition fees for full-time students aged 16-18 as they are subsidised by the Government. Students may be expected to pay for their own equipment, uniform (if required), travel costs to work placements and residential trips visits where necessary. However, there are various sources of financial support available to assist with these extra costs.
At Dudley College we place great emphasis on the tutorial support we believe will help your son/daughter to achieve their full potential.
During regular tutorials, staff will review their performance and ensure that they do not fall behind with their studies. You will be issued with reports and we also hold annual parents evenings.
Further additional support can be provided if needed to ensure your child’s success.
If your child wants to go to university we offer a range of routes to help them. They can follow the traditional A level route, or choose a more vocational course. They can even stay with us to study for a degree level qualification as we offer a range of degree level courses. If university is the best route for your child, we will support your son or daughter through the selection process and help them with their UCAS application.
Designed to give your child a head start towards the future they want, T Levels are a brand new qualification following GCSEs. They will combine classroom theory, practical learning and an industry placement to make sure learners have real experience of the workplace. You can find out more about T Levels and read our FAQs here.
