Student Support

It is our aim to ensure College is a positive experience for everyone, and we understand sometimes things can get in the way. Our Student Advisors are a really great go-to for any issues you have at College.

student advice guidance support

Internal Support Team

We have dedicated student advice teams at both our Welwyn Garden City and St Albans Campuses. They are there to help you with anything at all, whether it relates to your time at college, such as course difficulties, travel issues, attendance right through to more personal issues such as relationships and health issues. You can also ring or email the advice centre if you prefer - just contact them on info@oaklands.ac.uk or 01727 737000.

Our Student Advice team offer impartial information and advice by telephone, email or drop-in. This could include referring you for a guidance interview with our team of specialists. We can offer advice at a variety of venues in the local area as well as at our College campuses.

If you are struggling with your course, please reach out to our Additional Learning Support team who can help you access the right support whilst on your programme.

Following an assessment of support needs, our team will look at appropriate strategies and resources to assist you with your studies.Our specialist tutors can work either on a 1:1 basis, in small groups or remotely via Microsoft Teams.

If you are eligible for Exam Access Arrangements, please ensure that you have provided us with the required evidence.

ALS Team Leader: please email ALSSupport@oaklands.ac.uk or call 01727 737551

Exam Access Arrangements – please email EAA@oaklands.ac.uk

Thinking about life after College? Our one-to-one career or interview guidance is free, confidential and impartial. This advice is given entirely with your interests and circumstances in mind. It can cover careers information and careers options, help with CV and job applications, information on Apprenticeships, Further & Higher Education, Job searching and interview tips.

A one-to-one career guidance interview, which is free, confidential and impartial, would cover:

  • Help with CVs and job applications
  • Careers information and career options
  • Learning information including Further & Higher Education
  • Job search and interview tips

We also have specialist computer programmes to help you make decisions. You will get a written summary of the interview and, if required, a referral to an organisation more appropriate to your needs. Please ring or email the Advice Center on 01727 737000 for an appointment.

We all experience problems at some time and we want to help you find the early help, information support you may need before a situation becomes a crisis.

You can contact our student advisors for issues inside of college such as:

  • Attendance issues
  • Course difficulties
  • Bullying
  • Childcare
  • Travel
  • Financial assistance
  • Health issues
  • Accommodation
  • Relationship difficulties

Specialist support can come in many forms, we can if needed refer you to specialists or meet your need through one of the team.

We are committed to supporting those of you in care, and care leavers, to achieve your full potential and reach personal goals. Remember whatever your circumstances, our Student Advisors will work closely with you to overcome any barriers to your success.

The first step is always-tell us. Our priority is to ensure every student reaches their full potential and that there are no barriers to success.

For advice on Special Educational Needs please contact our SEN Coordinator:

Name: Roxanne Lowe
Email: Roxanne.Lowe@oaklands.ac.uk

 

At both of our campuses we provide courses to meet the needs of students with a wide range of disabilities and difficulties (SEND). Our courses aim to help students become more independent at home, in the community and in the workplace. Visit our SEN page here.

In our aim to ensure College is a positive experience for everyone, and we understand sometimes things can get in the way. Our Student Advisors based in the main welcome areas at each campus are a really great go-to for any issues you have at College.

These can include:

  • Attendance issues
  • Course difficulties
  • Bullying
  • Childcare
  • Travel
  • Financial assistance
  • Health issues
  • Accommodation
  • Relationship difficulties

They can help with anything - whether it relates to your your time at college, such as course difficulties, travel issues, attendance right through to more personal issues such as relationships and health issues, we can help. You can also ring or email the advice centre if you prefer - just contact them on info@oaklands.ac.uk or 01727 737000.

 

If your child or teenager is feeling low, anxious, or generally struggling, there are lots of services available to help them all year round. Please always encourage them to talk and ask for help if they need it.

The services listed on Just Talk’s webpage are all free and don’t need a professional referral, so they can be contacted directly by young people and/or their parents/carers. Services listed include Hertfordshire’s new With YOUth Digital Wellbeing Service for ages 5-18, parents and carers and many more, so please take a look: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/mentalhealthsupportforhertsyoungpeople

External Support

If you are experiencing mental health difficulties that are significantly interfering with your ability to do the things you normally do, please contact (or ask your parents or carers to) Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust Single Point of Access 0800 6444 101. This line is open 24/7 and can direct your enquiry to a number of specialist services depending on your needs.

The Wellbeing Service offers short term support to people that are 16 or over with mild to moderate mental health issues such as depression and anxiety (so you can let your parents or carers know about it too). You can access this service here.

If you, a friend, or family member are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call: 0800 6444101. This line is open 24/7.

If you need physical health treatment in an emergency, go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Childline: If you're under 19 you can confidentially call, email or chat online about any problem big or small Freephone 24h helpline: 08001111.

YoungMinds Crisis Messenger provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. If you need urgent help text YM to 85258.

You can also contact our student advisors for personal issues outside of college such as:

  • Relationship problems
  • Health issues
  • Home life

Getting help to overcome problems before they get worse can :

- Enable you to live and thrive in a family environment
- Contribute actively to finding solutions to the issues you face
- Give you choices to find the right kind of support for your needs in the local area
- Recognise and build on your strengths and  improve your situation with support

Course Progression

If you've completed your first year at college and are wondering what to do next, take a look at our course progression page to see your options.

94%

of students would recommend the college to a friend

10,000

hours of work experience by students last year

600+

trained staff work at college

70%

of students travel to college using our discounted bus service

800

local companies Oakland College have supported with work experience

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