Frequently Asked Questions

Deciding to come to college can often leave you and your parents and carers with lots of questions. We've put together some of the most frequently asked questions from both parents and students to hopefully put your mind at ease.

If your question still can't be answered feel free to email: info@oaklands.ac.uk or call:  01727 737000

FAQ

Student FAQs

The LRCs at both campuses are open from 8am – 8pm from Monday to Thursday, and from 8am – 4:30pm on Friday.

All term dates can be found by clicking here

To report an absence, please call 01727 737000 at any time after 8am. To contact us before 8am, please email contactcentre.absence@oaklands.ac.uk.

After we’ve received your application, we will be in touch via email to confirm your interview date. The interview gives you the chance to meet our tutors and see our facilities too.

Here at Oaklands, we make the application process as straightforward as possible for you. We guarantee you’ll hear from a member of our admissions team within seven days of making your application.

We encourage you to accept an offer on your course as soon as possible to reserve your space on the course. You do not need to wait until you receive your exam results as you are not committed to the course until you enrol. If you would like to decline your offer, we also ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can offer the space to another student.

Please contact the college and our curriculum staff, who will be able to assist you and answer any queries regarding the course that you are interested in. You can contact them via 01727 737000 or email info@oaklands.ac.uk who will be able to assist you further. 

You can contact our Student Support Team by emailing safe@oaklands.ac.uk during term time, or you can contact our help team via info@oaklands.ac.uk or call our Contact Centre via 01727 737000. 

Parent FAQs

College provides a safe, secure, adult learning environment where your son/daughter can meet new people and study a wide range of academic and vocational subjects leading to higher education or employment.

Learning support is available to help with students’ learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Student Advisers are on hand to support students with any worries.

We have a dedicated pastoral team that will offer support and advice to your son/daughter in all areas of their life, including money worries, attendance issues and relationship problems. You will find that the support we offer is much more extensive than that offered by other education providers.

Full and part-time students aged 16–18 on 31st August 2021 and resident in the EU for the last three years are exempt from all tuition fees. In some cases materials charges will apply, these are to cover items such as equipment, protective clothing and art materials.

If your son/daughter is attending college full-time your Child Benefit and Family Tax Credit should not be affected. You will need to ensure the appropriate authorities are informed of the transition from school to college.

A subsidised Uno bus service is provided to our main campuses.

Other options include:

Hertfordshire SaverCard

If you are under 19, in full-time education and live in Hertfordshire you can get half price fares on Hertfordshire public buses. The card costs £20 from Hertfordshire County Council and forms are available at college advice centres and receptions but if your family is on a low income you could get one free of charge.

For more information and to apply for a Hertfordshire SaverCard please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/savercard

By car

As a college we like to encourage you to think about the environment and the ways in which you can help reduce the carbon footprint by opting for public transport. If, however, you do decide to travel by car then there is limited parking at all of, or near, our campuses. There is pay and display at our St. Albans Campus and at our Welwyn Garden City Campus you will need to use one of the nearby public car parks where daily rates will apply.

By train

There are train links to our main campus towns via ThamesLink. To find out more visit www.thameslinkrailway.com 

Student Connect

The Student Connect card offers discounted rail travel to all students aged between  16 and 18 years in full time  education. It entitles the card holder to purchase reduced rate season tickets for journeys on the Thameslink to your college.  For more information visit  https://www.thameslinkrailway.com

Hertfordshire Student TrainCard

A Hertfordshire Student TrainCard entitles you to a 1/3 discount on the adult season ticket fare for train journeys between home and college at all times of the day. To be eligible you must be between 16 and 18 years on the date of application, or be completing a course started before your 19th birthday. There is a £20 charge per application. However, if your family is on a low income,  you could get one free of charge.  Call 0300 1234 050 for further information

We have a dedicated team of vocational specialists and tutors who have worked in the industries they are now teaching in, and have real experience and knowledge of the skills that your son/daughter will need to succeed in their chosen course, and ultimately, their chosen career.

Each student will be assigned a Personal Tutor to support their development and progress. Your son/ daughter will meet regularly with their Personal Tutor to discuss how they are getting on at college and provide any information and advice they require. You will also have access to your son’s/daughter’s targets and progress meetings via the Parent Portal.

It is usually possible to change to another course within the first few weeks.

Yes, but fees will apply.

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