HNC (Huddersfield New College)

"if anyone who knows me sees this, no you didnt"

"Rented the court for 2 hours to play volleyball. Played around 2.30 hours, staff wasn't happy. Nice court, would be better if there were more drinking water sprays."

"Teachers were supportive and engaging. I’d give 5 stars for them! I had a horrible interaction with Admin and office staff there though. I’d give 0 stars for them as it genuinely impacted my life there after. If you need any support and information regarding mental health and finances do all your own research and demand your needs. I was told “we only give that to students who are actually struggling” after this member of staff looked me up and down. No meeting. No name taken. Literally just told no in a corridor, I didn’t even get through the door. I eventually dropped out due to those very issues a few months later. Transitional support wasn’t really there and there was no communication between any services or the prior place of education. I sorted my education out myself some years after and took myself to uni. But I still look back and feel truly let down when I think of this place. I was a young person needing support, possibly even flagged up as vulnerable on the system. But I wasn’t taken seriously. The trust had been broken. Only saving grace was a teacher in Religious Studies Mr O’Keefe (can’t remember his first name) excellent excellent teacher. I went on to study philosophy with applied psychology and I still have a keen interest in all the topics he taught! He’ll never see this but I feel bad for never having thanked him before I left. It was always a good day when I had his classes. If you are a parent or a young person who is a young carer, from a care background, needing mental health support or financial advise try tell a friend or adult and book an appointment with the service you need and make sure this person attends with you. Take any and all paperwork to support. Don’t let them deny, demand it. It’s literally their job. In my experience outside of this institute, you get taken much more seriously with a witness or advocate. Try do this within the first month of attending and do this even if you don’t immediately require support. Flagging yourself up should help if and when you do need the support. And it’s best to express this at a time when you’re able to. If you are struggling it can be more difficult to clearly express your needs and rectify a situation. Unfortunately if you’ve experienced any of the issues I’ve mentioned you’ll understand trusted trained professionals who are meant to know more than you regarding said issues, sometimes just don’t. And if they deny or simply don’t offer the correct support you may be inclined to accept the situation believing they are meant to be the informed party advising you correctly. So do take these steps as soon as you join so you will have more clarity to tackle and organise it all first yourself. Inform your form tutor of your situations and past situations. If they leave make sure you inform your next tutor. It’s a lot of work for a young person having to repeat themselves but even if you don’t need any support it’s best to future proof it all yourself. Friends, family, carers and service staff maybe helping a young person with their further education make sure you genuinely support your young people! They seem like mini adults but it’s a complicated world and do as much as you can for them while you can! It’ll change lives."

"Back in college I had mixed feelings about being here. First I was enrolled wrong and put onto 2 A-level and when they finally figured it out, after me saying something was wrong, they made me do another year because they didn't think I could handle it in one year. I was bullied and when I brought it up, my amazing tutor argued my point, as she had seen proof, but in the end the matter was brought to the bullies tutor who had interviewed them together and came to the conclusion I was lying without even talking to me. So they continued to bully me and nothing could be done. When looking for my final year A- levels, they told me to pick another module. But the woman, who was very rude, told me I wasn't smart enough to do what I wanted. Now a 1st Class graduate and a Master's Distinction student in Business Intelligence. She was obviously wrong. Teachers should encourage students but this whole time they were obsessed with beating Greenhead College. Not about the wellfair of their students."

"Best college around. Alhamdulillah the teachers helped me get three distinctions in my studies, which was the highest grade at the time."