News: 6 Open Day tips for parents

If you are wanting to attend one of our Open Evenings there is still time to book a space. Our next round of events are taking place throughout January and February.

Whether you choose to go along with your teenager, or they prefer to visit on their own (as some no doubt will), here are six tips to success:

September may still seem a long way away to many young people, but applications for courses starting in 2022 are open now. Places can fill up fast so it is best to apply as soon as possible. 

Coming along to an Open Evening can really help young people make an informed decision about their future. It’s a chance to ask questions and look around, but also to get a feel for the place and get advice from our knowledgeable staff and meet current students.

Booking your space in advance is essential as we need to know how many people will be there on the evening so that we can plan and manage numbers accordingly. 

Our Open Evenings are taking place across our different campuses on different dates. Please ensure you choose the correct event for the course/​s your teenager is interested in and know which campus the Open Evening is taking place at. You can find full campus information and a list of frequently asked questions for our events on our Open Evening page.

On arrival at the event you’ll need to register — just show one of our friendly team your confirmation email. Once you’ve registered you’ll be able to pick up an information guide or scan a QR code to access our Open Evening website which will tell you where everything is.

Taking a few minutes to plan your visit will ensure you don’t miss anything. It’s also a good idea to attend one of the welcome talks on offer, as this will give you a good introduction to life at Nottingham College.

Our staff have a wealth of knowledge and will be very happy to answer your questions about their courses.

We usually have specialist staff on hand to talk about finance, student support, apprenticeships and more, so feel free to bring a list of questions along with you! Where possible, encourage your son or daughter to chat directly to staff.

You’ll also get chance to meet current students – the insight they can give is priceless. They’ll give a good idea of what life at college is really like and this can make potential students feel at home before they’ve even applied. 

Make sure to have walk around our campuses — there will be lots of help on hand to direct you. Depending on the campus you visit you’ll have the opportunity to explore our facilities — including libraries, salons, kitchens, workshops, labs, studios, our state-of-the-art theatre and much more. Having specialist facilities like these means we are able to provide a different experience to school, allowing our students to gain the industry experience they need for their future studies or careers. 

For example, at Nottingham College we have professional-standard facilities for creative arts; theatres and performance spaces for performing arts; practical workshops for a wide range of courses including: construction, motor vehicle and engineering; hair and beauty salons, and even a working restaurant for our catering students!

Our High Pavement Sixth Form offers a purpose-built campus especially for A Levels, right on the doorstep of Nottingham Trent University. 

There’s much more to studying at Nottingham College than the classroom and our Open Evenings are a great chance to find out what else is on offer. 

We’re proud of our diverse student body and we have an active Students’ Union. The college experience means all of our students have the opportunity to get involved with a wealth of extra curricular activities. From sports teams, clubs and societies to a weekly enrichment timetable which includes activities such as yoga and ice skating, we offer plenty of opportunities to try something new. 

Regular trips, including the newly launched Turing Scheme (which will see over 100 of our Further Education students take part in a fully funded work experience opportunity abroad) plus an annual programme of welcome events mean we are able to offer a rich and diverse experience, no matter what course your teenager chooses to study. 

Did you know that we have dedicated areas where your teenager can apply on the day for a course that interests them? The great thing about this is that any questions you have can be answered there and then, and staff are on hand to help.

At Nottingham College we encourage potential students to apply early – there is no obligation to take up the place at this stage of course, but it means they can get the ball rolling and prepare nice and early.