New Student Guide

The Job Shop provides both college learners and members of the local community with a free recruitment service to help gain an apprenticeship.  The team offer a wide range of support including pre-employment sessions aimed at preparing individuals for the world of work, CV support, interview skills and helping you search for employment.  The Job Shop colleagues work with a wide-range of local employers, providing varied opportunities across the borough.  As well as, supporting students and members of the community the team also provides employers with comprehensive support, both pre and post-recruitment, and a job-matching service.

The Job Shop is located at the bottom of the stairs in Building A - please go and see any of the staff who will be happy to make you an appointment.

If for any reason you are unable to attend you must phone the Absence Line on 0161 785 4048 at least half an hour before your start time. You will be asked for your name, student number and reason for absence, as well as expected length of absence. Where possible you should make the call yourself.

Should the college need to close for reasons such as bad weather or technical problems, the website and college social media sites will be updated by 7am and all further updates will be issue via these methods.

Oldham College takes bullying and harassment very seriously, and any incidents of this will not be tolerated. If you feel you are worried, or are being bullied/harassed, please do come and speak with any staff member at College. 

Student Hub Refectory

Ground Floor Student Hub

Opening Times:    

Monday to Thursday      0800 – 1500

Friday                                 0800 – 1330

Shop

Ground Floor Student Hub

Opening Times:    

Monday to Thursday      0800 – 1600

Friday                                 0800 – 1400

Viewpoint Cafe

Health & Life Sciences Building 3rd Floor

Opening Times:    

Monday to Thursday      0800 – 1500

Friday                                 0800 – 1430

All our catering outlets have 5 Star Food Hygiene Ratings!

Unfortunately, there is no car parking available on site for students during the day. However, for evening students, there are parking spaces available from 17:30 on the main car park.

There are several local car parks, please visit the Oldham Council webpage for further information.

We want your time with Oldham college to be a happy experience and value your views and opinions, whether they are critical, constructive or complementary, we want to hear from you. Your feedback will help us to improve and highlight things you think we do well!

If you need to make a complaint, have a concern or if you would like to provide some positive feedback, you can do so by visiting our Complaints page.

Alternatively, talk about it with a member of staff or go to speak to one of our advisers in the Student Quarter.

It is important to us that you are happy with the course you have chosen. Sometimes it becomes clear that it wasn’t what you thought it was going to be, it may be too hard or you have changed your mind about your career pathway.

We would encourage you to talk about any concerns regarding the course you have chosen with your tutor in the first instance.

If you really think you want to change your course after talking to your tutor, and you need some advice and guidance on your next steps you can make an appointment with our advisers in the Careers Room which is behind the main reception in Campus Central. They can discuss this with you and together you can plan your next steps.

As part of the College’s sustainability programme it has been working with Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to provide College staff and learners the opportunity to cycle to the College.

As part of the scheme the College has provided Cycle storage in two cycle shed enclosures (one for staff, one for learners) - Free of charge.

For more information, please see the Cycling page.

The student cycle shed enclosure is located on the main path next to Building A.

Access to the cycle shed enclosures is by swipe card access - learners should register their interest in using this facility with Student Services so that access can be provided. 

Cycles can access the main site steps running adjacent to reception and A Building by using the installed wheel troughs

There are overhead storage lockers available you are expected to provide your own padlock.

For more information, please see the Cycling page.

If the course you are on requires a uniform, you will need to wear this as instructed. If you don’t need a uniform, then dress code needs to be smart casual and respectful of your environment.

We have a safe campus ethos so it is important that we can easily identify our students, so our preference is that students do not wear hats whilst on Campus.

When you enter college and the classrooms we ask that you are ready to learn and this includes respecting the dress code and always wearing your college ID badge around your neck.

If you are aged 16-18 and have not yet achieved a Grade 4, or C in Maths and/or English or a Level 2 in Functional Skills Maths and/or English, you will continue to study these subjects whilst at college. All students who are studying English and Maths will have two weekly sessions in each subject and will receive weekly independent learning tasks to support progress. 

If you are over 19 and are interested in studying English and/or Maths at either GCSE or Functional Skills level, please apply online and we will be in touch to discuss the next steps.

At Oldham College, we seek to develop a College environment where we treat all students, staff and stakeholders as individuals, fairly and in a consistent way.

We work within the Equality Act 2010 by promoting a culture of respect and dignity and actively challenging discrimination, should it ever arise.

We will remove unnecessary barriers for all our students and staff through appropriate education, training and development.

In 2019, the College won a National SEND Award for Inclusion in Further and Higher Education.

Oldham College is also a proud representative of the Rainbow Flag award from the Proud Trust, showing that we do not accept any form of discrimination of staff of students.

If you have any concerns around equality and diversity, please contact your tutor.

You will be advised by your tutor when your exam dates are.  They will tell you whether this is going to be written or online and also where it will take place.

Please be on time and bring your College ID.  

You will not be allowed to bring any electronic equipment, watches or revision material into the exam room.  The invigilator of your exam will advise you of where to store your belongings. 

Your commitment to us as a student of Oldham College.

You have come to college to gain qualifications that will ultimately lead to employment. It is also important that we help you prepare to meet an employer’s high expectations once you are an employee.

By enrolling at Oldham College you are committing yourself to treat staff, other learners and the college environment with respect and tolerance by:

• Only using mobile phones and other digital devices in class if the tutor gives permission

• Not bringing food or drink into the classroom or workshop - bottled water may be allowed.

• Not smoking or vaping on site

• Contributing to college life and the community

If it is necessary to exit a building quickly during a fire drill or a real fire event then you should follow the instructions issued by College staff/tutors and use the designated escape routes including stairs and corridors to exit the building immediately. Upon leaving the building students must assemble at the designated assembly point for their area of use.

Fire wardens have been nominated for each building to assist in building evacuation and they will wear a high visibility jacket during any fire event.

Further information including fire instructions are located on the notice board within the safety information cabinet at the entrance to all College buildings.

The College Gym is located at the botton of the Health and Life Science Centre. Students can get a pass for the Gym from a member of the Personal Development team. Fore more info see The Gym page.

Students can also buy an Oldham Community Leisure Monthly Gym pass at a discounted pass at £20 per month.

For students in receipt of the bursary, we can reimburse £10 per month to help you with the costs. If you would like to apply for a pass, please see:

• Ray Gibson

• Adam Farrell

• Jack Wynn

We offer a full range of hair and beauty treatments on site via or hair and beauty salons, Aspie and Salon 7.

Treatments include: Hairdressing & Barbering services, Nails, Facials, Waxing, Massage, and Tanning.

Aspire Hair and Beauty are our training salons within college where we offer treatment at a greatly reduced rate. Appointment times vary depending on times of lessons.

Salon 7 is the commercial hair and beauty salon open to the public where we employ hairdressers and therapists, who provide treatments as well as train our own apprentices. Salon 7 is open Wednesday to Saturday for appointments.

Salon 7 offers 20% discount available for college students and staff, as well as a student offer for beauty treatments 50% off the 1st Wednesday of each month

For more details visit the Salon 7 website, or visit our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages.

Appointment can be made by telephone, or by calling into the commercial salon located on the ground floor of building C

Aspire 0161 785 4160   /  Salon 7 0161 785 5455

It is important you know where the fire exits and toilets are located in your main area of study. Please familiarise yourself with your surroundings and if in doubt ask a member of staff to direct you.

We have fully trained first aiders in college. In the event of an accident or illness please tell the nearest member of staff or go to main reception and the Front of House Team will assist you.  You can also telephone 0161 785 4129 and ask for a first aider, stating your location.

If you notice anything that may be a safety hazard or in need of repair please notify a member of staff immediately.

All details of our college holidays are published on the Oldham College website.

We encourage you to take personal holidays during these dates. Any holidays taken during term will mean you miss important classes and you would need to make sure you catch up on work that has been missed.

If you do find that you need some time off during term time, you must be discuss this with your tutor. Any leave of absence will need to be approved and authorised by your personal tutor, and the circumstances need to be exceptional.

At college we have a Library and a LRC Computer suite, both are located in the upstairs of the Student Hub. The Library is a independant study zone, and is a quite space for revising or doing coursework. For more information please visit the Learning Resources Centre page.

Some buildings have a lift installed.

If you believe that you will have a need to use the lift for reasons of disability we encourage you to discuss this with your tutor or programme coach as part of your student induction who will coordinate with the Safety Engagement Team.

During a fire evacuation the lifts will not be in operation.

Oldham College is a proud representative of the Rainbow Flag award from the Proud Trust, showing that we do not accept any form of discrimination of staff of students.

Oldham College offers an LGBT+ group on Wednesdays

This is a safe space for students wishing to discuss/explore their gender/sexual identity.

To receive more information and join please contact laura.butterworth@oldham.ac.uk

Counter Terrorism and Lockdown Measures:

• In the event of a lockdown you must follow all instructions provided by staff/tutors. Depending on the situation the instructions may vary.

General Instructions:

• Move away from windows

• Be quiet, silence your phone and turn off vibrate

• Wait until instructed to stand – down or evacuate as directed

For more details of the Lockdown porceedure and a fire exit map please see the Health & Safety page.

Bursary – If you need support with the costs of coming to college such as help with paying for your food in the cafe, trips or equipment, please make sure you apply for the Oldham College Bursary by applying online.

In addition, if you have children we may be able to help towards the cost of childcare fees.

Travel costs – Learners age 16-17 who travel by bus can apply for the Greater Manchester Bus Pass known as “Our Pass”. There is a £10 administration fee for this which you may be able to get refunded to you if you are eligible for the Bursary and live over 1 mile away from college.

However, if you are aged 18 as of 31st August then you will not be able to apply for ‘Our Pass’, but if you live over 1 mile away from college we may be able to help towards the costs of travel via the Bursary.

Bursary applications are based on your household income being under £35,000 per year. Please apply and we will notify you if you have been successful.

You can access the Bursary Evidence Guide. 

For more information and full Terms & Conditions, please visit our website.

There are a number of ways to stay up to date with the latest news and events at Oldham College.

• Read the Student News, our monthly newsletter, to stay up-to-date with what is happening at Oldham College. This will be sent to your email each month, and you can read past editions on the Student Hive.

• Follow us on social media, at @OldhamCollegeOC on Instagram and @oldhamcollege on TikTok.

• Talk to the Personal Development team about upcoming events including guest speakers, sports tournaments, trips and more.

Here are some simple steps that you can take to protect yourself from these potential dangers:

• Review your social media privacy settings to ensure they are set to private, not public (public is often the default setting)

• Review your friends list regularly and remove people who you no longer communicate with

• Personal information should be kept to a minimum online

• Don’t add someone to your online profile who you don’t know in real life

• Don’t agree to meet someone who you have only ‘met’ online

• Don’t post or send negative comments as these can be deemed as hurtful or offensive

• Be very careful where you ‘check-in’ as this reveals your location to others

• Don’t try to communicate with staff at the college through social media

• Don’t send indecent pictures via any device as this is illegal

• Change your passwords and pin numbers on a regular basis ensuring they are strong

• Regularly perform backups of your data

• Ensure you have anti-virus and internet protection on your personal devices.

Monday – 

08:00 - 21:00

Tuesday – 

08:00 - 21:00

Wednesday – 

08:00 - 17:00

Thursday – 

08:00 - 21:00

Friday – 

08:00 – 17:00

Our Principalship team are responsible for leading the college and embedding the strategy, mission and values for staff, students and our key stakeholders.

Their offices are located in the Health & Life Sciences building.

There are printers located in every building of the campus. Send your documents to the Followme network, and you can then collect this from any printer on campus.

For wireless printing, please follow the steps here to set up the printing network, and please make sure you are connected to the college BYOD Wi-Fi when doing so.

We also have a Print Room upstairs in the Student Hub who are there to support you with large scale or complicated printing, laminat­ing, and binding of assignment work. You can call in, or you can send your printing attachments to StudentPrinting@oldham.ac.uk. There is a cost for this service, so please enquire before committing. 

During your time at college it is important to have a clear line of sight to your progression aim. Your time with us is part of a journey, to your longer term study or employment plans. Your tutors and assessors will discuss the options with you and we have a range of support available to help you consider your options and take the necessary steps to make them happen. 

For more information on progression options, please visit the Progress to Success page.

Our staff and student’s safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities, and we have a dedicated Safeguarding and Welfare team at college who are here to help support you. We want you to learn in a positive and safe environment, so if you are worried about anything or you know someone at risk of harm, please contact the team on 0161 785 5555, email:  safeguardingandwelfare@oldham.ac.uk, or come and find the team next to the JT library.  

You can also speak with our Safety Engagement team, who are here to help support you, as well as offering First Aid. You can contact them on 0161 785 4129.

As part of our commitment to a healthy environment Oldham College is now a non-smoking campus. Therefore smoking, including vaping, is not allowed on any Oldham College premises, including car parks and open area.  Therefore please do not smoke or vape on campus. 

While at college you will be on an individual Study (16-18) or Learning Programme (19+), that is just for you. This programme will be made up of a range of elements tailored to your individual needs. This will include Maths & English (if applicable), Work Experience, Personal Development, and Tutorials. 

Your previous exam achievements will be used to provide a minimum target grade for you to work towards and exceed during your time at college. This will support your ambition to get the best out of your course and to prepare you for your future career. At the beginning of your course you will have discussions with your tutor around your future plans and long-term learning goals. 

College Main Reception:

0161 785 4000         

College Absence Line (Voicemail):

0161 785 4048

Lead Safeguarding Officer:

0161 785 5555      

Safety Engagement Team/First Aid:

0161 785 4129

Job Shop:

0161 785 4330                                 

Enrichment Team:

0161 785 4191

Advice and Guidance:

0161 785 4054              

Campus Management:

0161 785 4125 

For more support contact numbers please visit the Contacts page.

You will be issued with a timetable which will have details about when your classes are for your course, Maths and English classes (if you are expected to attend), enrichment and self-directed study, which is time allocated for you to complete your work or revise.

You can view your timetable on vital. It is really important that you check this as changes may sometimes be made to the timetable. 

We also encourage you to check your register to ensure the correct marks for each day. If you notice any register marks which you do not agree with, please speak to your tutor.

T-Levels are the  exciting new industry based course for students who like to learn using a combination of traditional  classroom learning and work based learning. T-levels offer you the opportunity to take your learning into the workplace through the inclusive high quality, long term Industry placement, which will last for  a minimum 315 hours on all pathways or 750 hours if you choose the Education and Early years pathway.

The T-Level qualification is equivalent to achieving 3 ‘A’-Levels and completing the Industry placement is an integral part of your course. 

The progression routes from T-Levels range from achieving recognised UCAS points in order to apply for university degrees  of your choice or applying to a Higher level apprenticeship or full time Jobs. 

So you see the T-Level Industry placements  really are the way forward for students who like the mix of both worlds and the opportunity to really get to know the industry, the professionals , the job ,and career lifestyle you are training to go into.

Toilets are based in each building and are clearly signposted. We also have Accessible toilets which can be accessed via a key – if you need a key please ask the Campus Management team who will assist you. 

We offer trips associated with your course and future employment choices e.g. Art trips, Business trips to the Houses of Parliament and University fair visits.

Your tutor will organise the trips - some will have a cost but if you are in receipt of a bursary you can apply for reimbursement of these costs - you can request this by speaking to the Bursary team.

We also offer trips organised by our Personal Development team: previous trips have been to Alton Towers, Blackpool and the zoo.

The team will promote and advertise these trips on Social Media and via your tutors so please go and see them and book them with the team in the Student Hub.

Our higher education courses are delivered at University Campus Oldham (UCO), our dedicated Higher Education Campus, located 10 minutes’ walk away from the Oldham College main campus. If you are interested in studying for a higher education qualification, such as degree, foundation degree, Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ), HNC/HND, or Professional Courses, and want to stay nearer to home and save the costs of travel and accommodation, then higher education at Oldham College may be for you.

All courses at UCO are accredited by fantastic awarding partners, including Sheffield Hallam University, University of Central Lancashire, The Open University, University of Huddersfield, and Pearson, meaning you can get a degree awarded by a great university, all whilst staying local.

UCO students rate the teaching and support offered really highly, with 97% of students saying they would recommend UCO to a friend (2023-24 Induction Survey), and 96% of students agreeing they felt they had developed skills which would be useful for their future (2023-24 UCO Course Evaluation Questionnaire). 

If you’d like to find out more, visit: www.uco.oldham.ac.uk

VITAL is an online system where you can access your own personalised records and check your progress and achievements.  You can access VITAL from the Student Hive or vital.oldham.ac.uk

To access the College Wi-Fi Guide please connect to OC-UCO-BYOD then log in with your college username and password 

Work Experience is your chance to gain a realistic insight into life as an employee in your chosen job.

It will help you develop employability skills, industry knowledge but most importantly provide you with the skills and confidence which employers are looking for. We have a specialist work experience officer allocated to your course, who will help you source a company to work with or you can secure your own work experience.

We want you to leave us with not only an excellent vocational qualification, but with the skills and experience gained through working in the industry of your choice.

A dedicated team of youth workers is here to support you throughout your time at college. They are present on campus daily, instilling college values and ensuring you have the best possible experience. You will see them around the college and in classes, assisting with day-to-day issues. You can also find them in the Student Hub.

So come along and say hi!