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Support for Parents

Parents/Guardians can always contact their son/daughter's tutor or Head of Faculty (HoF) about any issues they would like to discuss.  In addition, twice a year, there are parents evenings when parents and students can come in to meet your teachers and discuss your progress. They are also welcome to meet your tutor.

Student Progress:
Student Progress is monitored closely and regularly by Palmer's College. The College ensures that its students are nurtured to reach their potential and offer learning support when needed.

Student Progress Updates
Student Progress Updates are produced every half term (except in the summer term) and enables tutors and parents to see how their son/daughter is progressing in each of their subjects. This tells parents the minimum target grade your son/daughter should aim for, your son/daughter's current grade based on recent work, a grade for the amount of effort he/she has shown, and a figure for attendance.

Student Review Days
This is a new inititative that was piloted last year and proved to be extremely valuable in monitoring student progress. Student review days aim to find out how students are progressing as well as setting targets to ensure they achieve the best results possible.

Parents' Evenings
We feel that students interests are best served if teaching staff, tutors and parents work together, but in a way that supports the student's independence as a young adult at Palmer’s College. A number of consultation evenings are arranged - some to discuss student progress, based upon your progress, and others to provide information about careers, Higher Education, financial grants etc. Parents/guardians as well as students, are encouraged to attend these events.

The Tutorial System:
The tutorial system is crucial to your son/daughter's success at College. There are over 100 tutor groups, each with several students from each year. The tutor and tutor group rep will be around to answer student questions.

Tutor:
Your son/daughter will see their tutor every day except Wednesday. They may not teach yor son/daughter, but will give the student all sorts of other support. This is the first person to see if anything goes wrong. Parents/carers can also contact the tutor about any concerns they have and the tutor will certainly contact home if the College has any concerns.

One-to-one Interview:
Your son/daughter will have an individual meeting with their tutor several times each year. This is a chance to review how they are getting on, find out what further support they might need, consider what they can do after leaving Palmer’s, challenge them to work a bit harder and agree sensible targets. The Student Planner issued to all students by the College when they start has spaces to note the targets agreed with the tutor each time.

Tutor Group (TG) Representative:
A TG rep is elected by the tutor group each March. Their job description includes helping new students to settle in and being the voice of the group in passing on ideas and issues. Each half term, they have a meeting with their HoF and members of the Student Executive. They pass on and feedback comments on your behalf. They also help to run group tutorials.

Head of Faculty (HoF):
The HoF supports the tutor in overseeing student progress. The tutor may refer the student to the HoF for a variety of reasons, or the student can make an appointment themselves.

Study Plus Centre
The Study Plus Centre offer a wide range of support from dyslexia testing to examination technique. Advice and individual help is available to students to investigate ways of improving your learning skills. A wide range of assistive technology is also available. The student's personal tutor or one of there subject teachers can arrange for an assessment which will lead to a learning plan being produced for them. Students can call into the Study Plus Centre to make an appointment themselves or discuss any issues that may be affecting your learning.