At BLC we are here to support you in your studies and help you on the path to the future you want. With our dedicated support staff and services we will be there to help you at every step of your BLC experience. The information below is relevant for all of our students; young people, adults and apprentices.
Buxton and Leek College recognises that technology and the use of ICT equipment, which includes desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones and smart technology (watches, fitbits etc), is part of everyday life and that it is an essential part of learning and employment.
While using this technology to access online portals is one of the fastest and most effective ways of finding information, sharing ideas, socialising, learning and working, there is also the opportunity for risks to occur.
Online safety is categorised into four areas of risk:
- Content: being exposed to illegal, inappropriate, or harmful content, for example, pornography, fake news, racism, misogyny, self-harm, suicide, radicalisation, and extremism.
- Contact: being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users, for example peer to peer pressure, commercial advertising and adults posing as children or young adults with the intention to groom or exploit them for sexual, criminal, financial or other purposes.
- Conduct: personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes harm, for example, making, sending and receiving explicit images (e.g. consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nudes and/or pornography), sharing other explicit images and online bullying.
- Commerce: risks such as online gambling, inappropriate advertising, phishing and or financial scams.
Keeping students safe online is one of our highest priorities. As part of our BLC Safeguarding responsibility, we aim to protect all students and staff against risks associated with using the internet, sharing information online, social media, emails, chat rooms, online forums, and mobile and desktop applications.
Keeping safe online – advice for parents
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) is a law enforcement agency that helps to keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. They offer advice such as Advice to parents and carers from the National Crime Agency regarding financially motivated sexual extortion.
If you want to learn more about the agency, get advice or make a report please see their website.
We advise all our students to follow the “Golden Rules for Online Safety”:
The following links are for websites with useful resources for parents and carers regarding online safety:
Parents and Carers – UK Safer Internet Centre
Teaching Your Child about Internet & Online Safety | NSPCC
Safeguarding Children – Get Safe Online
Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organisation that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children and young people. Use the search facilities on the Common Sense Media website to find an online app or game for example, that you want to know more about. The website will give you an overview of the content, age rating and age appropriateness of the app / game as well as a parent guide / review. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/search
Parentsafe.lgfl.net Home (lgfl.net)
We want to provide a positive environment for all, so please be respectful towards all students, staff and visitors. We’re committed to promoting equality and will challenge discrimination. We expect you to attend all of your lessons on time and to come prepared with your study resources. During classes make sure your mobiles are turned off and out of sight.
It is important that you understand clearly what joining our college community means for you. There are both benefits and responsibilities. This statement will help you understand the spirit of the relationship between you, the college and the other members of our learning community – your fellow students and our staff.
In that sense this statement forms a Learning Agreement. The areas of support and responsibility detailed here are also areas that from our research our students have told us are important for their success.
Here at Buxton & Leek College we are committed to helping you make the most of your time studying with us. We want to challenge you intellectually and help you maximise your performance, enjoy your experience and achieve to your full academic potential.
There is also a range of support we pledge to offer, because being a student at Buxton & Leek College is demanding. We know this support is important to help you meet that challenge and succeed. This is support that we believe:
- You have an entitlement to
- You should expect to make use of
- Actively using it will benefit you in your studies with us
We want you to use this support as you need to, and we want you to tell us about your experience to help us improve still further.
Being a member of the college community also gives you some responsibilities. These responsibilities are important in assisting you and other students to get the most from your time at college. Taking these responsibilities seriously and acting upon them will help to provide the right kind of environment for you and others to study, learn & grow.
BLC Invest
BLC Invest in YOU!
Safeguarding is the term given to the College’s responsibilities to promote your wellbeing and make sure that you feel secure and safe.
We’ve particular responsibilities relating to our learners aged 18 years and under and learners with learning difficulties and disabilities, but we’re also responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of all our adult learners. The College has a child protection and vulnerable adults policy and a Safeguarding Team.
We review whether we’re promoting your safety and wellbeing and would like to hear from you if you’ve any comments or suggestions about this.
If you have a general concern about your own security, safety and wellbeing then please let your tutor or one of your lecturers know.
If you have a particular concern then please contact one of our Safeguarding Team and let them know that you have a concern about safeguarding so that you get a prompt response.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (BLC): Angela Bradley, Operations Manager, Learner Journey
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (BLC): Emma Kilbane, Student Support Manager
Student Mentors: Sarah Mahoney (Buxton) & Amy Wray (Leek)
College Nurse: Ann Goodwin
Please see the below documents for more information regarding our Safeguarding policies and procedures:
Safeguarding Policy and Procedure
Student Guidance for Peer on Peer Abuse
Safeguarding
01538 322100
Buxton and Leek College is part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools, colleges and police forces.
Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools and colleges, prior to the start of the next school / college day, when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse.
As a college we have ensured that a member of our staff, (Designated Safeguarding Lead) known as a Key Adult, has been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures allowing us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren / young people in our care.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our students and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
PREVENT
The Prevent duty is to ensure that the College safeguards students from becoming radicalised, which is the process of when a person comes to support terrorism and is drawn into violent extremism and the holding of extremist views, which refers to vocal or active opposition to the fundamental British Values.
Buxton & Leek College enables all students to:
• acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures to further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions
• respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.
There is a duty to ensure that those identified with vulnerabilities are given appropriate advice and support. Some of the signs that a student could become radicalised are as follows:
• Isolating themselves from friends and family
• Talking as if from a scripted speech
• Unwillingness or inability to discuss their views
• A sudden disrespectful attitude toward others
• Increased levels of anger
• Increased secretiveness, especially around internet use
Safeguarding our students, staff and visitors is important to us. If students need support or there are concerns that someone is being radicalised you can report and access support through our Safeguarding Co-ordinators at the College.
First Aid
There are first aid points and trained first aiders at all sites; any member of staff will be able to find them for you. If you have even a minor accident make sure you report it so that it can be recorded and action taken to prevent it happening in the future.
Security
How can we help?
We are a dedicated team employed by the University of Derby. We will typically deal with things like: access control, incident management, lost and found property, and University policy compliance.
We can offer advice and guidance on personal and group safety and crime prevention among other things.
How to get in touch
Tel: 01298 330415
Email: security@derby.ac.uk
Fire Information
It’s essential that everyone does their best to prevent fires and, in the event of a fire, knows what action to take. If you’re a disabled student with mobility restrictions you will need a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) which your ALS Tutor can put in place for you. Please make sure you become familiar with the fire exit signs in all your classrooms, around the building and in your workplace. If you have any concerns let your tutor or assessor know.
Click the links below to view our policies and procedures
Meet the Team
Your student Money and Welfare Adviser
Meet your Student Money and Welfare Admin Assistant
How can we help?
You’ve enrolled on your Full/ Part Time College Course and discovered there are some additional things you need to pay for to directly engage with your course, or you may have fallen into hardship and don’t know what to do.
If it is affecting your ability to participate then speak with our Student Money and Welfare Adviser/ Bursary Team.
We have a range of Bursaries/ schemes to help support learners on eligible courses pay for the items mentioned or to support you if you fall into hardship.
Alternatively if you need help filling out any forms or referring for external finance advice, we are happy to help.
How to get in touch
Contact: The Bursary Team
Learners across all 3 sites can contact the team on:
E: Studentmoneyadviceblc@derby.ac.uk
T: 01298 330955
Or you can pop in to see us Face to Face at one of our drop in’s:
Buxton – DO/117
Contact us for Days and Times
Leek – The Hub
Contact us for Days and Times
Derby – Access and DCCT – We work alongside your progress coach to provide support, please link with them in the first instance.
Alternatively to request an Bursary application appointment, please fill out our Appointment Request Form.
To ensure that finance is not a barrier to participation there are plenty of schemes available to help fund your study or cover the additional costs of study if you need it.
Click here to find out more.
BLC Invest
We want all students and apprentices across the college to be the best they can be, aim high and have a positive experience.
This ties in with the University of Derby’s core values which are:
- To be brilliant
- To be bold
- To be future focussed
- To value people
We will invest in all students and apprentices, but equally expect all students and apprentices to invest in themselves.
At Buxton & Leek College, we want all students and apprentices to participate in our personal development programme, Future Focus, to help develop their skills, behaviours and attitudes to help make successful futures. These include activities to support:
- Being Successful in College Life
- Looking after your Health and Wellbeing
- Developing Healthy Professional and Personal Relationships
- Preparation for Living in the Wider World
We will run a range of activities across programmes to help students and apprentices develop and enhance their skills in these areas.
- Future Focus activities are the parts of a Buxton & Leek College study programme or apprenticeship that sit outside the qualification and assessment as part of your course. They relate to developing you as an individual, to equip you with the skills you need to succeed as well as your final qualification.
- With a programme or apprenticeship at Buxton & Leek College, you’ll take part in a range of activities aimed at helping you to gain employability skills and life skills such as:
- Regular Future Focus sessions in relevant subjects such as study skills, online safety, resilience, relationships, mental health awareness, nutrition, recycling, road safety, mindfulness and finance
- Enrichment activities such as volunteering opportunities, skills-based sessions, certificates such as emergency first aid, debate club and upskilling courses like cookery and finance – these can enhance your CV, develop your skills and help you to meet new people
- Digital Skills modules developed inline with the UK Government’s Essential Digital Skills Framework, to ensure you learn to be safe, legal and confident online.
- Work experience and Industry placements
- Sharing your student voice and your opinion on the college
- Relevant external trips and visits
- External speakers and presenters to deliver sessions
- Careers and employability sessions on CV writing, interview skills, career pathways, presentation skills, progression opportunities and more
- Community events, projects and activities
To find out more about the study programmes, T-levels and apprenticeships we offer, and how Buxton & Leek College can help you to build the best version of you, take a look at subjects areas.
Please visit this page for further information.
