Foundation Learning
Northampton College is pleased to offer a wide choice of qualifications and training known as Foundation Learning designed for those students with few or no qualifications. If your GCSEs haven’t gone very well or you’re not currently in education, employment or training, this could be the opportunity you need to get on the ladder towards achieving your potential. We will help you to decide on a suitable work-related pathway and/or help you move into employment or further training.
If you want to try out a range of different options, or if you do not have any qualifications, then our general Foundation Learning programme is the best place to start.
Enrichment programme
As well as the main academic programme, you'll also be expected to take part in the College Enrichment Programme, which offers a wide range of activities such as sign language, sports, drumming, driving test theory and many more.
For more information please see our Enrichment area.
Success stories
Joe Harris
Joe didn’t get the GCSE grades he had hoped for at school and wanted to retake his exams. When he found out about the Foundation Learning programme at Northampton College he knew that would give him the stepping stone he needed to get on.
“I didn’t do very well at school. I don’t think there was a particular reason I just wasn’t suited to school life. I knew I wanted to become a journalist or work in the media industry though and I knew I would need to gain qualifications for that so the Foundation Learning programme was a great start. The course was great and the teachers were really friendly and helpful. I preferred learning at college, particularly English. I’d previously found that quite hard to understand but at college I actually started enjoying it. We had introductions to lots of different career options too like the hair industry, hospitality, sport so I was able to think about where I wanted to go in life. I have even started to think that university is an option in the future and that’s something I never thought was going to be possible before.”
Joe is progressing on to a media course at the College and is looking forward to becoming a successful journalist in the future.
Personal tutor
During your time at College, you'll be assigned a personal tutor, who will be responsible for monitoring your academic progress. You'll attend a tutorial meeting every week and part of this time will be allocated to group activities, such as recognising your best learning style, study skills, revision skills, careers education, financial matters and much more. The other part will be dedicated to an individual progress review, enabling your tutor to make sure you're on track to get the best grades possible.
