Latest Information Regarding COVID-19

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This page has been created to allow you to keep track of the latest announcements from Blackburn College regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

We’ll keep these pages up to date for you. Please check back regularly for updates in the coming days

Update, Wednesday 29th April 2020 (Further Education Students)

Dear student,

I wanted to thank you for your continued hard work during this time of home and online learning.

I realise that for many this has been a new challenge but I have been pleased with the reports your tutors have given about how you are continuing to complete your qualification remotely.

Half Term

Next week sees the start of the May half-term break. Whilst the College continues to operate remotely during this time, many staff will have booked annual leave in this period and you may therefore find you have to wait a little longer to have an email query answered, for example.

Please note the College is closed on Monday 25th May and Tuesday 26th May.

Your tutors may continue to set you work to complete during this holiday break, but I also ask that you use the holiday period to have a break yourselves. Unless you have been told otherwise, formal online teaching and home learning with Blackburn College tutors will recommence on Monday 1st June 2020.

For Apprentices, you will continue to be contacted directly by your trainer/assessor.

College Re-Opening

You will have seen the Government’s announcements that schools and Colleges are able to open to select groups of Year 12 students.

If you have examinations next year or need to undertake some practical work, you will be contacted directly to explain when the College will open for you. We will continue with our model of home learning for the remaining weeks of the summer term, however, the College anticipates to re-open to small numbers of students in the week commencing 8th June 2020 for catch up sessions and practical assessments. This will however be by invitation.

Exams

We have now received official guidance from Ofqual and the awarding bodies as to how student grades will be calculated for courses.

Some students have asked why we continue to set work and undertake lessons for courses that now will not be assessed in the same way as had been planned. This is because we feel it is important that you continue with your online and home learning for your course as we know that the knowledge you gain from the course will support your progression to future courses and will support you when you start your University course. It’s important we still cover the full syllabus as has been set down by the awarding body for your course to support your future learning.

Progression

When you return to your studies after the half-term break, we will be in touch with you to confirm your next steps for the new academic year or for your next level of study. For those who are unsure of your next steps, online Careers interviews and support will be available to you.

Safeguarding

During the online and home learning period it may be that you require the support of our Safeguarding team. If you require this support you can access information on the College website: https://www.blackburn.ac.uk/safeguarding-services/

Queries

It may be that you have questions. In this case please email thehub@blackburn.ac.uk. Please make clear in the email who you would like the enquiry to be forwarded to.

Applications for 20/21

A question we have been asked a lot concerns making applications for courses starting in September 2020. Applications for courses can be made online at www.blackburn.ac.uk/apply. We are still able to process applications during this period.

We will send further information when it arises, but until then I ask that you follow this advice and the advice coming from central Government. I know I can rely on you as a Blackburn College student to stay alert, work hard but also enjoy your half-term break responsibly.

Finally, can I take this opportunity to Thank You for working with Blackburn College staff through this unprecedented time to complete your studies at the College.

Kind regards,

Dr Fazal Dad

Principal and Chief Executive

Update, Wednesday 22nd May 2020 (University Centre at Blackburn College Students)

Dear student,

I wanted to thank you for your continued hard work during this time of home and online learning.

I realise that for many this has been a new challenge but I have been pleased with the reports your tutors have given about how you are continuing to complete your qualification remotely.

Half Term

Next week sees the start of the May half-term break. Whilst the College continues to operate remotely during this time, many staff will have booked annual leave in this period and you may therefore find you have to wait a little longer to have an email query answered, for example.

Please note the College is closed on Monday 25th May and Tuesday 26th May.

Your tutors may continue to set you work to complete during this holiday break, but I also ask that you use the holiday period to have a break yourselves. Unless you have been told otherwise, formal online teaching and home learning with Blackburn College tutors will recommence on Monday 1st June 2020.

College Re-Opening

You will have seen the Government’s announcements that schools and Colleges are able to open to select groups of Year 12 students from 1st June 2020.

It’s not our intention at this stage that any University Centre at Blackburn College students will return to Blackburn College at this time. Therefore all University Centre students will continue with online and home learning until further notice.

Examinations and Re-Sits

You are currently undertaking a range of alternative assessments. For a small number of students it may be that you have to undertake a re-sit assessment over the summer period. Should this be the case we plan on making arrangements for you to attend revision sessions and one to ones with tutors which may take place face-to-face, following social distancing rules. We are however awaiting further guidance for this.

Queries

It may be that you have questions. In this case please email thehub@blackburn.ac.uk. Please make clear in the email who you would like the enquiry to be forwarded to.

Applications for 20/21

A question we have been asked a lot concerns making applications for courses starting in September 2020. Applications for courses can be made online at www.blackburn.ac.uk/apply. We are still able to process applications during this period.

We will send further information when it arises, but until then I ask that you follow this advice and the advice coming from central Government. I know I can rely on you as a Blackburn College student to stay alert, work hard but also enjoy your half-term break responsibly.

Kind regards,

Dr Fazal Dad

Principal and Chief Executive