Starting somewhere new, at whatever age, will always seem a bit daunting, but you don’t need to worry.
We’ve got a whole team of people on hand from Personal Tutors, Wellbeing Mentors, to staff in Learning Support and Careers, to guide you every step of the way.
Have a quick look through the student support and welfare page on the Reigate College Portal to get an idea of the huge range of support available, and then please return to this page!
Please take a look at our Tips for Success video
Remember, it’s good for your personal development to step out of your comfort zone!
We’re confident that when you look back, after the first week or so of being at Reigate, you’ll realise that coming to College was definitely the right step to take!
As a Reigate College student you’ll soon discover there’s an excellent system of pastoral support, in which your Personal Tutor plays a lead role.
All students become part of a Tutor Group and are allocated a Personal Tutor, who will normally be one of your key subject teachers. In the Lower Sixth, your Tutorial periods will be on a Tuesday or Thursday lunchtime.
Student wellbeing is at the very heart of the Reigate College community.
Please take a look at the College’s Wellbeing video.
If you’re concerned you’re going to find the transition from school to College particularly difficult, there’s a mentoring scheme in place to help you.
You can request to have a Peer Mentor, who will be one of our Upper Sixth students who knows exactly what it’s like to make the transition, or you can make an appointment with one of the College’s staff Wellbeing Mentors.
See the Mentoring and Peer Mentoring section.
One of the things you can do to help with your own wellbeing is get involved in some of the many extra-curricular activities offered at College. These include lunchtime or after-College clubs and activities, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Scheme, Competitive Sports teams and a variety of Performing Arts productions and Music events.
Watch the College’s Activities Programme video.
Find out more about the range of extra-curricular opportunities available to Reigate College students.
All teachers and support staff at the College have a responsibility to ensure your transition from school to College is a seamless one. See Settling In leaflet.
You’ll be sent a letter from the College’s Admissions Department inviting you to some important days – see Admissions Calendar for specific dates:
Introductory Day: You will be invited into College (for one morning or afternoon session, on one of these two days) and will have the opportunity to try out three of your possible course choices.
Choices Day. This is when you’ll come in to College to try out your subjects and firm up your study programme.
Enrolment. You will be given a 20-30 minute interview with a specialist interviewer, who will help you firm up your final Study Programme, in the light of your GCSE grades.
You will then be expected to go through the College’s enrolment process, which involves you having your photo taken for your Reigate College student ID.
Lower Sixth Induction. This is the day you’ll meet your Personal Tutor and the rest of your Tutor Group, complete some tasks to help you settle in and receive your College timetable.
You will also have a lesson for each of your chosen subjects. These will be introductory lessons, during which you’ll be set some work to do at home, to complete before your next lessons.
Lower Sixth Community Afternoon. This gives you a break from timetabled lessons to help you get to know your Tutor and members of your Tutor Group. Take a look at some recent photos https://www.reigate.ac.uk/photo-galleries/community-day/
Freshers’ Party. This is an event organised by the College’s Students’ Union. Tickets will be available for sale in the run up to it.
If, on the rare occasion you have serious doubts about a course you’re on, and want to change it, you can do so within the first couple of weeks by reporting to Reception.
As at school, the College has a Safeguarding Team (see Safeguarding section within the link below to find out which staff are in the team).
https://www.reigate.ac.uk/reigate-portal/student-support-welfare/
If you have any concerns about yourself or another student while at College, you can speak to your Tutor or anyone in the safeguarding team.
