SGS College | Be Outstanding

Covid Update

On Tuesday 29 March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1 April.

Updated guidance advises:

  • Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and no longer have a high temperature.
  • Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can return to college when they no longer have a high temperature, and are well enough to attend.
  • Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice is 3 days.

For education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April:

  • Regular asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended in any education or childcare setting, including in SEND, alternative provision and children’s social care settings. Therefore, we will no longer be able to order test kits .

Early College Placement

14-16 Provision

At SGS we recognise that everyone's needs are different and our 14 – 16 pathways provide the opportunity for young people to study with us as a pre-16, if eligible.

Are you currently on-roll with a school?

SGS Flex (Filton Campus only)

An Early College Placement (ECP) for learners on-roll with a school. This is a part-time provision alongside attending school. This is the only option for pre-16s currently on-roll with school and in statutory education (unless eligible for SGS Create). You must discuss this with your school and they will apply on your behalf. A pre-16 cannot apply for this directly. Please refer to the 'Information for Parents' in the Useful Resources section below. Your school will need to read the 'Information for Schools' and 'SGS Flex'.

SGS Create (Stroud Campus only)

A separate full-time, statutory KS4 school provision based at the Stroud Campus. Current year 9 learners can apply directly. Year 10 intake only. This is a 2-year provision at Level 2/GCSEs. The deadline to apply is the end of March, but late applicants will be considered, if spaces are still available.

Explore SGS Create

Are you currently elected home educated (EHE) and have been EHE for at least 6 months?

14+ (Year 10 & 11) learners who have elected to home educate (EHE) and are not on-roll at a school can apply directly to college and infill into either wider college courses with post-16s, or the part-time SGS Flex. To check eligibility and for more details, please refer to the 'Information for Parents' in the Useful Resources section and the list of courses by campus below.

Course Options for Elected Home Educated:

The courses on offer vary per campus and each learner's start point is different. Further advice, discussions and initial assessments will be used to help ensure learners apply for the right course at the right level:

Stroud Campus

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GCSE Plus Provision

  • 1-year course - mostly 16+ learners who have already studied the curriculum and sat exams, so an intense brush-up aimed at improving grades to a grade 4+. 15-year-olds can be considered, if ready. The course studies GCSE English Language, Maths, Biology & Citizenship with the optional extra of History (although subject to change)
  • 2-year course - mostly 14- and 15-year-old home educated learners. Covers the whole curriculum. Currently studies GCSE English Language, Maths, History & Double Science (trilogy of biology, physics and chemistry)

L1 Vocational Provision, including English & Maths (3-4 days per week):

  • BTEC in Vocational Studies (with half-a-day in specialist subject area, such as animal care)
  • Art & design
  • Construction (age 15+ only)
  • Aspire

L2 Vocational Provision (age 15+ only)

  • Most learners will start on L1, but could be considered for a Level 2 vocational course if they meet entry requirements. A majority of departments offer L2, although awarding body restrictions could mean a pre-16 is unable to apply.

The Foundation Department (3-4 days per week):

  • Offers L1 and entry level 'In-Gear' courses for those learners who are not yet ready or able to access a vocational course in the wider college or who may require more support as a transition year into college. There are a variety of pathways and courses include English & Maths.

Filton & WISE Campus

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GCSE Plus Provision - Filton Campus A-Block

  • Up to 5 GCSEs in 1-year. Pre-16s are advised to split these over two years, for example 2-3 subjects in Year 1 and another 3-4 in Year 2.
  • Choose from a selection of subjects (see GCSE webpage)
  • Each subject is 2 x half-days per week

L1 Vocational Provision, including English & Maths (3-4 days per week):

-- Filton Campus

  • BTEC in Vocational Studies (with half-a-day in specialist subject area, such as animal care)
  • Construction (age 15+ only – limited spaces available)
  • Enterprise
  • Childcare (age 15+ only)
  • Hair & Beauty (age 15+ only – limited spaces available

-- WISE Campus

  • Art & Design
  • Media
  • Performing Arts
  • Sport

The Foundation Department (3-days per week):

  • Offers L1 and entry level 'In-Gear' courses for those learners who are not yet ready or able to access a vocational course in the wider college or who may require more support as a transition year into college. There are a variety of pathways and courses include English & Maths.

Part-time Increased Flex - half-day a week L1 Awards

  • Animal Care
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Construction

How to Apply

All pre-16 enquiries and applications must be made through the 14-16 Manager:

14-16 applicants can be admitted onto courses if this is deemed appropriate by the school/LEA/parent/carer and if, in the judgement of SGS College, the student would benefit from the learning opportunity, has the necessary resilience and can meet college safeguarding requirements.

"Sarah* (age 14) tells us she is very happy and really enjoying the course. We can see she is really engaged, and we are happy she seems to be settling well. (...) she suffered terrible bullying at secondary school, so it is so great for us to know that all is going so well."