Enrich your learning with the Q-XTRA Programme

Information from citizen scientists provides researchers with vital data to support conservation projects. There are lots of projects you can take part in, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ annual Big Garden Birdwatch, UK Ladybird Survey  the Great British Bee Count and the Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count. The Natural History Museum also has lots of information on various projects you can take part in and even guides on how to set up your own

Length: Independent Online – Non Timetabled

Having a good understanding of emergency paediatric first aid is incredibly important for the safety of children and it could mean the difference between life and death.

Successful candidates will learn the roles and responsibilities of the emergency paediatric first aider, and will be equipped with the skills needed to deal with a range of paediatric first aid situations:

• Assessing an emergency situation
• Dealing with an unresponsive infant or child
• Recovery Position
• CPR and defibrillation
• Choking
• Minor Injuries
• Bites and Stings
• Seizures
• External Bleeding
• Hypovolaemic shock

Content is the same as day one of the the Paediatric First Aid (2 day) course.

Length: 6 hours

Cost: £33

A range of First Aid for Mental Health related subjects are covered including:

• What is First Aid for Mental Health?
• Identifying mental health conditions
• Providing advice and starting a conversation
• Stress
• Mental health conditions
• Drugs and alcohol
• First Aid for Mental Health action plan
• First Aid for Mental Health in the workplace

A Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health will be issued to the learner, subject to successful assessment. A range of assessment methods are used, including practical and questioning (open and multiple-choice). This qualification is valid for three years from the date of achievement.

Length: 6 hours

Cost: £32

This course designed by Warwick University, will introduce to key concepts in climate literacy, covering carbon footprints, carbon neutrality, greenhouse gas emissions, and how they contribute to the current climate emergency.

You’ll examine local and international commitments and develop strategies to take proactive climate action. You’ll learn to communicate climate change issues to various audiences, raise awareness, and reduce individual and collective carbon footprints.

You’ll learn practical techniques for educating and engaging different audiences in the fight against climate change.

You’ll finish this course understanding our social responsibility towards reducing carbon emissions and how we, on a local, regional, national, and international level, can each take action towards carbon neutrality.

Length: 3 hours/week for 5 weeks

Students who volunteer in the library will be involved in a range of activities including shelving, reviewing and exploring books and resources for their subjects, and assisting with digital resources and eBooks. Library volunteers will also have the option to work on design and branding with digital tools to create promotional materials and learn skills in this area.

Length: Usually 1 term per year

Would you like to give something back to the school you attended or another primary or secondary school? Acting as a role model – assisting teachers, supporting individuals, helping young children to read, assisting in after school clubs or sporting activities. Sign up for this Qxtra and join the college’s growing number of student ambassadors.

Length: Variable

The Introduction to Coaching Football course replaces the old FA Level 1 and is the start of your journey in football coaching. The course combines practical coaching sessions which help develop your skills and confidence at leading fun-based football sessions to mixed ability groups, with theory sessions designed to improve your underpinning knowledge. The course also includes a compulsory First Aid in Football and Safeguarding workshop.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Cost: Approx. £160 (Payable to FA)

Could you commit to giving something back to society? To make a difference to your local community or environment? You can sign up to the BP Pledge and commit to 25, 50 or 100 hours over an academic year to make a difference in your community. It may be that you already volunteer so could get credit by signing up and using these hours or be prepared to offer more hours or volunteer for something new. Choose to volunteer individually or as part of a group.

Outstanding commitment and contributions are recognised each year through the annual Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Length: 25 – 100 hours total

The Level 2 Award in Counselling Skills aims to teach advanced listening skills that help you explore difficulties and empathise with a range of people who are going through challenging life experiences. The course is an official qualification and the stepping stone to further counselling qualifications that would result in becoming a fully qualified counsellor (usually at Level 4). It is also an excellent qualification to have to resource and prepare you for working with vulnerable people in medicine and healthcare services, the police and probationary services as well as teaching and caring.

Length: June to March, 1.5 hrs/week

Be the start of a revolution at Barton Peveril by designing, creating and establishing the vegetable / fruit plot and growing garden at the College. There is the College greenhouse and patio that will be re-appropriated to grow organic fruit and vegetables for the College Community, encouraging new and inventive ways of growing plants in unconventional areas. We are looking for people with lots of different interests and skills.

Three words sum up the aim of the project: ORGANIC, RECYCLED, COMMUNITY

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Emergency First Aid at Work Qualification recognised by employers (valid for 3 years). Upon successful completion of this qualification, candidates will be equipped with the essential skills needed to give safe, prompt and effective first aid in emergency situations.

Length: 6 hours

Cost: £29

This course is ideal for:

• Registered childminders and assistants who are required to hold a current and full paediatric first aid certificate in order to comply with the EYFS requirements.
• Anyone who has a non-professional involvement with infants and children and want to learn key paediatric first aid skills.

Successful candidates will learn the roles and responsibilities of the paediatric first aider, and will be equipped with the necessary skills to administer safe and effective treatment when dealing with a range of paediatric first aid situations.

Length: 12 hours

Cost: £63

Complete this online OU course independently, in your own time and at your own pace. This course focuses on the substance of environmental responsibility-what matters. The question ‘What should constitute our prime focus of attention’ can prompt different responses. We consider two points of contrast in differing focuses on what matters: 1 a distinction between nature and the environment 2 a distinction between nature/environment and related human interactions. Free statement of participation on completion.

Independent Online – Non Timetabled
Length: 12 hrs

Want to be a Student Leader? A Changemaker? Why not sign up for the Student Leadership Programme? Take part in a day’s Student Leadership UNLOC Bootcamp including: interactive workshops on effective project planning; collecting and representing opinion; confidence and public speaking; designing effective campaigns; communication and working as a team and reporting back. You’ll later help facilitate a learner voice conference where students will openly discuss any issues they are facing, identify what they would like addressed and then be part of finding and supporting the solutions alongside senior managers.

Beyond discussing College life, key foci for the conference could include sustainability, social mobility or social action/community initiatives. Help make a difference!

You will have the opportunity to join the Sustainability Committee or Campaigns Committee and become part of the College’s Student Union.

Students represent the College at Open Evenings, school assemblies and careers events. Individuals gain valuable experience in marketing, public speaking and customer service whilst sharing their experiences and knowledge of Barton Peveril with the wider community.

Length: One off events

Aimed at any student wishing to gain experience to further their progression. Placement experience is essential for students aspiring to be teachers, medics, nurses. Students will be encouraged to keep a log of activities undertaken and reflect on what they saw, what they did and what impact it had on them, the student, and the client or service user- pupil, patient etc. Placements will take place on a regular once per week basis and can be fixed for 1 term or for the academic year.

Length: Variable

Intended for those planning to study Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science at university. An opportunity to work with like minded students developing a host of skills in preparation for the Admissions tests and interviews. This option is a mix of teacher led sessions and independent work.

Length: All year 1.5 hrs per week

Analyse and discuss extracts of novels, short stories, poetry and drama. We look at texts which will improve your personal statements. This includes everything from canonical texts to banned books. It’s lots of fun and it helps students get top grades in any of the English A-Levels. Students who wish to study English at University are strongly advised to attend and all keen readers are welcome. There are no costs attached and first and second years are welcome. This option is a mix of teacher led sessions and independent work.

Length: 1.5 hrs per week

This course is aimed at students whose first language is not English and wanting to improve their knowledge of academic English in a supportive environment. The course will give an overview of several main aspects of academic English, including writing, speaking and reading, which will help support your college studies, and beyond at university.  You will also have the opportunity to work together on a project with other students, and develop your critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Weekly Lessons

Length: 1.5 hours per week

Complete this online option independently in your own time, at your own pace. In this OU course you will learn about the differences between bookkeeping and accounting, practical numeracy skills, the basic concepts that underpin double-entry accounting, how to record transactions in ledger accounts and more.

Independent Online – Non Timetabled
Length: 8 hours

Attenborough, celebrity or icon ? Climate, fact or fiction ? Who really is in control of our planet? Will we run out of water ? Will we ever control the weather ? ‘Scramble for the Arctic? Are you an outsider in your own home ? 

This course is designed to satiate your need to inquire, debate and question the world in which we live in, today, tomorrow and yesterday. Geography extension will nurture and foster compassion and respect from cultures, traditions and policies across the globe. 

You have the opportunity to be a part of a climate change study with Kings’ College London, tracking real time data from the college site that will feed into an international climate change study, and will benefit from the expertise of outside speakers coming into college from a variety of different geographical backgrounds, from universities to the Royal Geographical Society. 

Debate, question, wonder….come to Q extra geography.

Length: 1.5 hrs/week, 6 weeks

Are you aiming to apply for an apprenticeship or job? Do you need to know how to write a great CV and tackle an interview?

Many of the larger employers start advertising their vacancies before Christmas. So, if you want to get the skills to help you stand out, join this online Q-xtra.

The course lasts 6 weeks and will be certificated.

Independent Online – Non Timetabled
Length: 6 weeks

For students who achieved a Grade 5 or above at GCSE. This course will help to develop mathematical reasoning and solving real world problems, and supports courses such as Psychology, Geography, Business and Sciences. This is an examined Level 3 course with an expectation to complete independent work between lessons.

Length: 1 Year 3 hrs per week

‘This course is designed for anyone considering studying at a university.

Learning at a university level requires enhanced critical thinking skills, as well as being able to hold a supported, substantive argument and critically analyse sources or data. On this course, you’ll build the foundations of these skills, so that you can prepare yourself for the challenges of this new learning environment. Develop writing, critical thinking, and analytical skills for university study.

Independent Online – Non Timetabled
Length: Seven weeks, 3 hours a week

Awaiting description…

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Students experience science topics beyond their A-level specifications, including hearing speakers from universities/industries on a range of subjects, conducting their own research into a topic of interest to them, undertaking practicals not covered in lessons, university-style teaching on current research and news, and generally exposing students to studying at a higher level – i.e. great university preparation. This option is a mix of teacher led sessions and independent work.

Length: 1.5 hrs per week

This extension opportunity will allow you to develop your sociological understanding beyond what is covered in the specification in lessons, but also give you a ‘head start’ on some of the topics you will be exploring during your two years of study.

Your online course choices are:

1. Understanding and solving poverty and inequality
2. Religious diversity
3. The Meaning of Crime
4. Children’s rights
5. Understanding gender inequality
6. Thinking ahead to University – An introduction to Anthropology: Understanding societies and cultures

Length: Variable

(Open to all)

… You are never too young to be a leader!

Our 8 week Leadership QXtra course is based on Lead Like Mary, a nationally recognised leadership course focussing on authentic leadership in action that businesses use for their teams developed specifically for 16-18 year olds.. Be ready to explore what real leadership is and how to develop your own leadership potential. Authentic leaders that care and who people really want to support are needed now more than ever, could you lead the way now and in the future? https://www.barrydore.com/LeadLikeMary

Length: September – November, 1.5 hrs/week

Could you be a business owner?

An 8 week QXtra taking students through the steps to start up a new business using business model canvas concepts. Linking to YES society, YES Hampshire and WSX support where appropriate. This course will help students consider what it really means/takes to be an entrepreneur, devise their own start up idea, undertake their market research, identify their target market, decide how to fund the start up, develop their branding and identity, develop their business and marketing plan so they are ready to go!

Length: January – March, 1.5 hrs/week

Critical thinking is a vital skill at university and later in life. University study introduces you to new concepts, ways of learning and requires you to think critically. You need to know how to question information sources and how to evaluate different arguments.

Despite critical thinking being so important, students are often unprepared when they start their studies. This course will show you what critical thinking skills you need at university level, how they can be applied to different disciplines and how to use practical strategies to develop these skills for a successful academic life.

This FutureLearn course has been ranked as one of the best online courses of all time.

Independent Online – Non Timetabled
Length: Two weeks, 4 hours a week

Are you thinking about entering the profession? Are you considering Early Years, Primary, Secondary, College or Special Educational Needs?

Then sign up for this Qxtra. Learn about the different routes into teaching. Hear from practitioners and educationalists. Focus and reflect on teaching and learning approaches whilst supporting education settings across our local area.

Length: Launch in January for 6 Months

Research a subject of your choice, independently: you will decide whether the outcome of your project is an extended written investigation, a performance, a piece of artwork, a film, a report or something else entirely.

Length: Feb to December 1.5 hrs per week

Google Workspace Skills training enables you to learn by doing, interacting with apps like Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, and Meet to complete tasks. As each skill is completed successfully, you can earn digital badges – bronze for beginner, silver for intermediate and gold for advanced!

Each interactive tutorial takes less than 5 minutes to complete. All badges you complete will be shown in your own personal digital skills passport.

Online Independent, non timetabled

The modules are varied and will both introduce you to brand new fields of psychology and maybe reinforce your knowledge of older fields. 

You can choose from: 

1. Virtual and Parasocial Relationships
2. Models of Mental Health 
3. The Impacts of Advertising
4. Gender Development
5. Self Efficacy
6. Sports Psychology – Models and Theories
7. The Stress Response
8. Cognition and Development – Behaviourist Learning Theories
9. Forensic Psychology – Crime Prevention and Investigation
10. Cognition and Development – Autism

Length: Variable

Behaviour is everywhere and everything. It is everything we do and all we think about. It defines us throughout our entire lives. Undertaking this Q-xtra will involve you looking at some of the more fascinating behaviours, ranging from Mental Health in the Media, the Psychology of Paranormal Beliefs and Experiences to How Come We Make Good People Great – the Positive Psychology Approach. 

This Q-XTRA is open to all students and can be taken in first or second year. It looks at behaviours far beyond those taught on A-Level Psychology.   

This Q-XTRA is open to all students and can be taken in first or second year. It looks at behaviours far beyond those taught on A-Level Psychology.   

Length: 1.5 hours/week, 6 weeks (starts January)

This free online course is completed independently. It was designed by the Open University and Martin Lewis the Money Saving Expert. There are 8 online sessions to be completed in your own time and at your own pace. Tools include an App to budget effectively, real life case studies, animations with practical tips, videos and short quizzes. It covers how to choose and manage a bank account, how to budget effectively, how income is taxed, how to borrow money responsibly,

how to finance further and higher education and manage debts and how to plan ahead to make life goals achievable. You will receive a OU Digital Badge on successful completion.

Independent Online – Non Timetabled

Length: 12-16 Hours

For students interested in learning more beyond A-level content. This course would be hugely beneficial for anyone applying for a maths or maths-related degree. Students sign up in May of their first year and begin the course in June. The course runs on two lunchtimes a week – one to learn an additional Further Maths module, the other to prepare for university entrance tests such as MAT, STEP and TMUA. Students can sign up for one lunchtime or both.

Face to Face (Timetabled)

This course will only be open to Sportspeople who meet the set TASS criteria and have a successful interview with Alix Christopher, the College’s TASS Dual Co-ordinator. It is in partnership with TASS and looks to support talented athletes who compete internationally to manage their studies as well as sporting commitments as part of the TASS Dual Career game plan.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

An extension and creative opportunity for ambitious art students to support and enrich progression to the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and competitive university courses. Expect to learn how to construct a portfolio for uni interviews and work experience, create independent projects followed by your own briefs and enter national and local competitions to build upon articulation and presentation skills.

Length: All year, 1.5 hrs/week

Life drawing is an essential and fundamental skill in many of the creative professions. In this Qxtra you will be able to develop your skills in observing, drawing and proportion. You will also be introduced to a variety of media such as traditional media drawing, digital drawing and stop motion animation. This course is perfect for those who are looking to progress onto a career in games design, animation, film concept art, fashion illustration or those who want to enrich their portfolio.

Length: 1.5 hrs per week, after college (Autumn – Priority 2nd Yrs)

The YE Company Programme is a long running nationally recognised, business competition. It empowers young people to set up and run a company under the guidance of a business volunteer. Students work together to make all the decisions about their business, from deciding on the company name, brand, product or service, to managing the company finances, marketing and selling to the public. Participants gain practical business experience and key skills and compete in local rounds, moving on to regional and national finals if successful.

Length: Sept – April, 1.5 hrs/week

Barton Peveril has a distinguished history in supporting young writers to fulfil their potential as imaginative novelists, short story writers, poets and playwrights. Through Creative Writing Qxtra students will get the opportunity to meet and network with other ambitious writers. They will undertake engaging writing exercises, explore a huge variety of stimulus texts, workshop and redraft their compositions and enter competitions. It’s a lot of fun! Please come and find out.

Length: 1.5 hrs/week

Fancy becoming a street food champion? We are offering cooking classes with our award winning head chef where you come along and make it! Cook it! Taste it! You will learn all about flavours, presentation and some serious cooking skills along the way. This course will help you learn skills from basic cooking and knife skills to being confident in and around the kitchen. With a prize for becoming the street food cooking champion.

Length: 6 Weeks, 1.5 hrs/week

Cost: £18

Fancy becoming Barton’s best baker? We are offering cooking classes with our award winning head chef and our CDP who have both worked at Michelin star standard. You come along and make it! Cook it! Taste it! You will learn all about flavours, presentation and some serious cooking skills along the way. This course will help you learn skills from basic baking skills to some skilled pastry making. With a prize for becoming Barton’s best baker

Length: 6 Weeks, 1.5 hrs/week

Cost: £18

Dance Company offers students the opportunity to perform and create exciting dance works for various shows and performances. The company explores a variety of dance styles but mainly focuses on contemporary dance. This year our company became regional champions having competed in the Great Big Dance Off. They have previously performed in top venues such as Sadlers Wells. In addition, every other year our company focuses on an in house ballet. Previous ballets have included Sleeping Beauty & Swan Lake. 

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs

Extra rehearsal time when working towards the practical A-Level Dance exam. Compulsory for 2nd year students and desirable for 1st year students.

Length: All Year (lunchtime)

The Drama company is an exciting opportunity for A level Drama students to gain experience of staging and performing in a full scale production. They will extend and develop understanding of a full theatre production process in action and gain full insight into one of their A level scripts by performing in it as a company made up of students across the course.

Length: All year, 1.5hrs/week

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is internationally recognised as a mark of achievement; respected by universities and employers.

The College supports Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. There are four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and the Expedition. At Gold there is an additional residential section. Each section is of varying increasing length and commitment depending on the award chosen. At Barton other q-xtras can be used alongside D of E for the sections.

Each year you will form a team with others to go on expeditions, so whether you are interested in making friends, more adventure or building your university application Duke of Edinburgh is a great choice.

Students choose their own programme of activities, share experiences with others and get to know themselves. It is possible to complete an award at college or start an award at any level.

For further information: www.dofe.org

Length: Over 2 years non-timetabled

Cost: DoE Registration The cost is now £25.50 for Bronze and Silver, and £32.50 for Gold plus cost of practical and actual expeditions

DVSA Theory Test Kit for Car Drivers Online. No classes just independent access on PC or mobile to all the latest DVSA theory test revision questions and answers, plus over 100 high-quality hazard perception clips and really helpful study section. The cost provides a unique login to the DVSA website valid for a year. Please note this is a online learning package and does not include the actual theory test.

Independent Online (Not Timetabled)

Cost: £21.50

The eSports industry is a growth industry in the UK and many of the major companies are based in the South of England. 

This Qxtra gives students the opportunity to represent the college in the British Esports Student Champs, a series of exciting competitive video gaming competitions for students in schools and colleges across the UK. The British Esports Federation is a national body not-for-profit organisation designed to support and promote grassroots esports in Britain.

As part of a team, students will take part and compete by playing Rocket League, a game where football meets driving.

Independent Online (Not Timetabled)

Length: 4-6pm ever Wednesday, All Year

Grow Your Ambition is the South-East’s National Citizen Service (NCS) Community programme run by Personal Best. The programme is designed to help students (aged 16-17) to have greater confidence, resilience and well-being and become more world-ready and work-ready:
Developing life skills and independent living
Building employability and work-readiness
Providing opportunities for volunteering and social action
Participants will take part in team building activities, cooking workshops, hear from guest speakers and plan and deliver a team project, gain an emergency first aid qualification and complete the MyBnk Money Works accreditation programme.

NCS is for young people aged 16-17 years olds

Length: 1.5 hrs/week, all year

This course is designed for someone considering engineering as a career.  Through the course you will take part in a 6 month group project applying your technical skills from your Maths and Physics A-levels to a real project. Your group could take part in the Industrial Cadets Gold Project and will work with current engineers in industry from companies such as Leonardo and L M WindPower. Alternatively your group project will be entered into appropriate competitions and schemes such as the Big Bang Competition and Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow.  You could also get a Gold CREST Award depending on the project. This is for 1st years only.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Learn basic Italian through Duolingo. Pick from sections on education, culture, family and friends, travel and more.

Online Duolingo Course

Length: Variable

This GCSE course, which follows on from Level 1 Certificate in Practical Japanese, is mainly for second year students. You will learn more grammar, Kanji (200 altogether) and vocabulary to express yourself more fluently through five themes. You will be assessed at the end of the course in four skills (25% each). The Exam board is Pearson / Edexcel.

Length: All Year, 4.5 hrs/week

This course is designed for those with little or no knowledge of Latin. The year’s course leads to a Level One certificate. During the course you will learn how to translate Latin as well as learn more about Roman society in the first century AD. We look at Roman leisure and entertainment. The course is of particular use to those studying Classical Civilisation or anyone interested in the Ancient World or indeed Modern linguists, as Latin forms the basis of many modern languages.

Length: All Year 1.5 hrs/week

This is a local radio station with strong ties to the community of Southampton. You will work in small groups to script, research and plan a number of broadcasts that are aired live, using the industry formatted schedule provided by Unity. You will essentially be a live radio broadcaster for Unity radio.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Aimed at students with existing filmmaking and AV editing experience (perhaps within a Media-centric subject or personal interest). This session is used as a facilitated and supported time for students to work on video commissions to up their filmmaking portfolios and show reels ready for Higher Education and/or industry application. Students are encouraged & aided in searching for their own commissions, however in-college commissions are often provided to get students into the filmmaking workflow.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

This is an exciting opportunity for you to work in a multi-skilled team creating content for the Barton Peveril marketing team. You will be given briefs with set deadlines and tasked with producing content such as articles, reviews, photographs, short promo videos and social media content. Your team and its work will be published alongside official College communication. This is a great opportunity for students aspiring to work in journalism, marketing, photography/video production and social media content production.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

This is an opportunity to meet and work with other instrumental musicians in small ensembles (string quartets, wind quintets, brass ensembles, chamber orchestras etc). We will be working mainly in classical repertoire and you will need to have reached at least Grade 6 standard on your instrument, with good music reading and a willingness to get involved in music making!  The course is highly recommended for A Level Music students who play string, wind and brass instruments, but open to all students across the college.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

This is an opportunity to meet and work with other musicians in a small choir that focuses mainly on classical music. It is both for singers wishing to develop their ensemble skills and broaden their repertoire, but also for instrumental musicians who may want to develop their general musical and aural abilities. These are skills that are essential for musicians intending to apply for music programmes at universities and conservatoires and is therefore highly recommended for all  A Level Music students but is also open to all students across the college with (ideally) the ability to read music, and (certainly) a keenness to be involved in music making.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

This is an exciting, energetic class where students master the fundamentals of part singing, sight-reading, and vocal musicianship. Repertoire will be varied – from musical theatre and pop to classical. Performance and workshop opportunities include collaborations with touring Big Bands, Hampshire Youth Choirs and College ensembles in venues such as Romsey Abbey, New Hall, Winchester and our very own Rose Theatre.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Students rehearse to perform in bands supporting college musical productions. Auditions are held at the start of the year. The ability to read music fluently is essential.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Build your music theory knowledge up to Grade 5 and take the ABRSM exam.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

This six week course will help you prepare for Level 3 study by becoming a more organised student with effective time management skills.
You will use a range of assistive technology, including tools to organise your time and how to prioritise tasks. This will support you to develop the essential skills you need to be an independent learner, now and in the future, and enhance your employability.
You will work in small groups to discuss strategies such as day-to-day organisation skills, as well as reflecting on your progress each week.

Length: 1.5 hrs/week, 6 weeks

This course will introduce you to some of the main areas of research in contemporary philosophy. Topics you’ll learn about will include: 

What our knowledge of the world and ourselves consists in, and how we come to have it; foundational conceptual issues in scientific research and practice;  what it means for something to have a mind, and how minds should be understood and explained; whether we have an obligation to obey the law; the nature of our moral judgements and reactions – whether they aim at some objective moral truth, or are mere personal or cultural preferences, and free will and the nature of reality.

Length: 19 Hours – Non-timetabled

Gamified Intelligent Cyber Aptitude and Skills Training will help you to understand online security and start to protect your digital life. You will learn how to recognise the threats that could harm you online and the steps you can take to reduce the chances that they will happen to you.

With cyber security often in the news today, the course will also frame your online safety in the context of the wider world, introducing you to different types of malware, including viruses and trojans, as well as concepts such as network security, cryptography, identity theft and risk management.

Earn this free Open University digital badge Independent Online – Non-Timetabled

Length – 8 weeks, 3 hrs/Week

An opportunity to further develop your CAD skills with the possibility of using multiple pieces of industry standard software including Solidworks and Sketchup and the support of a specialist tutor. A range of challenges are set, which you can interpret and complete using any appropriate piece of CAD software. Alternatively, a range of tutorials are available to stretch and challenge what you are able to make using CAD software, or individual challenges can be discussed with the tutor to help you develop your abilities. An excellent way of helping manage workload/time-management for students of Product Design or develop a new skill if your an engineer.

Length: 1 term, 1.5 hrs/week (Autumn 2nd Yrs; Spring/Summer 1st yrs)

Students will apply to take part in this programme. It is intended to challenge students to develop their skills in team work, problem solving and presenting based on a ‘brief’ that you must solve. There will be taught sessions for skill development, but processing the brief must be students’ own work.

Interdisciplinary topics might include; AI & ethics in education, climate change, public policy and funding, AI & the future of creativity, biotech & ethics, children’s rights and medicine, the rights of convicted prisoners

The outcome may be a collaborative written piece in any medium – website, google site, academic article, journalistic opinion piece, journalistic feature piece – co-authored by all group members. Followed by a presentation based on their research/findings and evaluation on how successful they have been as a team or a viva style discussion with a panel of experts.

Employers and HE will have a role to play as supervisors and be part of the research network.

Length: September – December or January – March

This online course shows you how to navigate the night sky, and introduces the wide variety of objects it contains. You will develop a hands-on understanding of telescopic observations using the Open University’s own robotic telescope facility COAST sited on the island of Tenerife. Supported by your own measurements we illustrate how stars evolve, and study variable stars. Earn a free Open University digital badge on completion.

Length: 3 hours/week over 8 Weeks

This six week course will help you enhance your attention and concentration skills, preparing you for Level 3 study.
You will use a range of assistive technology, including tools and techniques to support you when working independently, as well as in class. This will support you to develop the essential skills you need to be an independent learner, now and in the future.
You will work in small groups to discuss strategies such as removing distractions and you will reflect weekly on your progress.

Length: 1.5 hrs/week, 6 weeks

Have you ever wondered what happens at a crime scene? Are you interested in solving Criminal cases? Are you thinking of a career as a detective, or maybe a Crime scene Investigator? If you answered yes, then this course is for you. 

Although popular throughout the media the process of Crime Scene Investigation is often distorted, this course will help bust any myths around CSI and forensic science within investigations. We will cover a variety of aspects of the crime scene including the personnel involved and the types of evidence we can find. We will then use this knowledge to solve a variety of cases. From analysis of the crime scene to criminal profiling and lie detection this course will allow you to develop your critical thinking and problem solving skills all whilst learning how to solve a crime. 

The programme consists of a mix of teacher-led sessions and independent study tasks.

Length: 1.5 hrs/week, 6 weeks

By the end of the first year they will have achieved level 1 and level 2 which is the basis of Mandarin Chinese.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Dance Live is a regional Dance Competition that has a similar format to Rock Challenge. It will involve competing against other schools and colleges by creating and performing a 7-minute piece of dance to the backdrop of a giant digital screen. For this Q-XTRA we will require those who are interested in both dance and in being part of the stage crew team. Students showcase a range of skills from dance, performance, off-stage technical skills, and creative design. The heats take place in January/February. This Q-XTRA would be of particular interest to those who love performing arts both on and off stage.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs per week

An opportunity to develop technical and creative skills in the contemporary dance style. Most suitable for dancers with limited experience looking to develop their technique, or accomplished dancers looking to extend their repertoire in the style of Hofesh Shecther. This would support those studying Dance A-Level or Musical Theatre, although not exclusive to students on these courses. It would be suitable to be taken alongside a programme of 3 A Level subjects. In addition, there is also the opportunity to take exam grades in the course, some of which are awarded UCAS points.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hours per week

The Drama Stage Crew offers students the opportunity to learn a range of professional technical skills including but not limited to set design, lighting design and operation, live sound engineering and stage management. The stage crew support a wide range of performing arts events both in house and at local performance spaces and theatres.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Support for working on acting monologues suitable for LAMDA exams and drama school auditions with the option to take the LAMDA exams.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game where a group of players tell a collective story, guiding heroes through dangerous quests to search for treasure, battle deadly foes, and even carry out daring rescues. The adventure itself is only limited by the imagination of the players around the table. DND is great for meeting new people, building confidence and expanding your creativity.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

This six week course will enhance your current literacy skills, preparing you for Level 3 study.
You will use a range of assistive technology, including tools to build your confidence with reading and writing to ensure you can become a confident, independent learner, whilst developing employability skills that will support you now and in the future.
You will interact in small groups to explore and apply strategies such as active reading, effective speaking and presentation skills, and reflect weekly on your progress.

Length: 1.5 hours/week, 6 weeks

Despite advances in forensic science, eyewitness testimony remains a critical component of criminal investigations. Psychological research has revealed the dangers of relying on evidence gained from an eyewitness and also how careful the police need to be when questioning witnesses.

Using videos of real witnesses and from cameras that go behind the scenes of a police investigation, this course explores the psychology of eyewitness testimony. You will get the chance to test your own cognitive skills and to see whether your powers of investigation are as good as a crack squad of police officers, as you try to solve a crime using nothing but evidence from eyewitnesses.

Independent Online – Non-timetabled

Length: 24 hours over 8 weeks

Reading critically is an essential skill at college and university. It means being aware of your own purposes and opinions as you read and being able to recognise the writer’s purposes and opinions in their writing.

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• consider the importance of examining attitudes to texts
• understand the organisation of argument texts
• distinguish between facts and opinions in texts
• examine hedging as a technique used by writers to express opinions and avoid making unsupported generalisations
• consider the importance of reliable evidence to support claims.

Length: 7 hours total – Independent

This course will help you prepare for interviews (dealing with nerves, practical details, making your research count, anticipating key questions); deal with Interviews (Creating a positive first impression, What to wear, Using your voice, Getting to grips with interview questions, Brilliant questions to ask the interviewer) and how to handle different types of interview (telephone and video, presentations, tests and exercises).

Independent Online – Non Timetabled

Length: 3 hours over 3 weeks

You will learn to become a better student by learning to apply the ‘three-step model’ of studying: previewing, summarising and revising. You will consider your use of time and learn how to make a realistic study plan. You will also learn how to tackle procrastination, deal with stress and keep motivated while studying.

Independent Online – Non-Timetable

Length: 4 weeks, 2 hrs/week

You will be provided with the link to a web application which will help you to learn touch typing which means typing through muscle memory without using your eyesight to find the keys. It can improve your typing speed and accuracy dramatically.

Independent Online – Non-Timetable

Length: Variable

From the silver screens of Hollywood to ‘the box’ in our living rooms, films and television programmes have always used historical events as a great source of entertainment. But have you ever wondered whether these portrayals are accurate? History On Screen will explore a variety of films and challenge their representations of events and people.

History On Screen will run for half the year and will help you develop your critical thinking skills. It is open to all first and second year students and does not require you to be studying A Level History.

Length: 1.5 Terms, 1.5 hrs/week

Do you want a little more history in your life? Do you regret giving history up at school? Then this Q-XTRA is definitely for you. On this course we will investigate interesting topics that you may not have explored in depth before. Topics include: Women in power in the Medieval period; Where did it all go wrong for the Romans?; The History of Anti-semitism; Home or Away – The Trials of Witches.

History Through The Ages is all-inclusive – it is not a requirement to be currently studying A Level History and is open to both first and second years. The course will run for half the year and will develop both your academic and employability skills.

Length: 1.5 Terms, 1.5 hrs/week

This course is for those who have no or little prior knowledge of Japanese, and will provide you with a basic understanding of Japanese. This one year course leads to a Level 1 Certificate in Practical Japanese. You will learn how to read and write Hiragana and Katakana alphabets with some Kanji. The assessments are quite flexible and during lesson time.

Length: All Year, 3 hrs/week

Students who are keen on writing, journalism, film and publishing can sign up to create content for the Reviews Team managed by the college library. Every term, students will be asked to write a review of a book, film, event or news piece either based on a theme or chosen independently. Reviews will be published in the ReviewsLetter – a college blog that is read by students and staff. Prior experience is not required – anyone can write an interesting review.

Length: Usually 1 Year

This weekly lesson provides you with support throughout your whole first year at college, fully preparing you for Level 3 study. 

In small groups you will explore a range of strategies and assistive technology to enhance the skills you require for effective study now and in the future, and become a confident independent learner. The lessons will also involve reviewing your report recommendations and how these can be incorporated into your college studies. You will be able to focus on the skills you want to develop, including; organisational skills, concentration, using assistive technology effectively, literacy and presentation skills. 

An achievement plan will be created to track your progress and you will reflect weekly.

Length: 1.5 hours/week, All Year

Students work towards a large-scale musical theatre production. The production is cast via auditions, but anyone from college can get involved.  Previous productions include ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ & ‘Les Miserables’. 

Length: All year, 1.5hrs/week

The Concert Orchestra is a large ensemble aimed at string players, woodwind players, brass players, percussionists. We also have limited spaces available for rhythm section players i.e electric bass players, guitarists, pianists & drummers. An audition is not required for this group and musicians from across the college are welcome. We aim to choose repertoire that is accessible and enjoyable to play e.g. film music / pops orchestra pieces etc. You need to be able to read music and the standard is approximately grades 5/6-8.

Length: All Year, 1.5hrs/week

This auditioned group is aimed at students currently working at Grade 7/8+ on their instrument and is open to rhythm section players (drums, bass, guitar, piano); horn section players (saxophone, trumpet, trombone), and vocalists. The sessions will offer our most aspirational musicians the opportunity to upskill in the areas of ensemble music and jazz improvisation.

Length: All Year, 1.5 hrs/week

You talk, people listen! Presenting & Pitching Skills

A 6 week course developing students presenting and pitching skills (all based on communication skills development). By the end of the course (after lots of practice with the team) students will deliver a presentation to their peers and teacher and receive feedback and further support to be the next level of presenter!

Length: April – June, 1.5 hrs/week  

In the robotics course, we build and program an autonomous robot to compete in the Student Robotics competition.  You will work in a team to design and create the robot. This course is good for those interested in Computer Science, Product design and Engineering. This is a second year only course.

Length: September – April, 1.5 hrs/week. Second Years Only

Our fun and engaging martial art and self defence training will help students learn new skills, enhance physical fitness and improve mental health & wellbeing. Delivered in a safe and positive way by qualified instructors. Students should wear loose fitting leisure wear and bring plenty of water! Optional extras include bag inner gloves and progression along an internationally recognised belt system.

Length: 1.5 hours/week, Minimum 6 weeks