Student Admissions Policy and Process
General Principal
Pinehirst Education is committed to providing a fair, transparent and equitable system for all students accessing its courses. All efforts are made to ensure that the Student Admissions Policy and Process is accessible, clear, inclusive and encourages applicants from all backgrounds.
The purpose of this policy is to outline the various stages of the Admissions process and how each of these is managed. Pinehirst Education practice equal opportunities and treat all applicants with courtesy, respect, consideration and empathy for their Education and well-being throughout the various stages.
The policy also outlines the way in which appeals can be made where an application has been unsuccessful. This policy applies to applicants for all Further Education courses, including Full Time, Part Time, sixteen plus , and Apprenticeships.
Paul Morton, Director of Curriculum ,Pinehirst Education June 2023.
Admission Policy
Equality of Opportunity
Pinehirst Education welcomes applications from all candidates with the potential to succeed and protects individuals from discrimination in line with the Equality Act 2010. It is committed to equality of opportunity and aims to ensure everyone has the right to be treated fairly in accordance with Pinehirst Education Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy.
This policy is comprehensive and identifies positive steps to ensure that all applicants’ needs are fully considered and that reasonable adjustments are put in place to meet individual needs, where appropriate. Pinehirst Education will continue to address barriers that discriminate against people on any grounds.
Information, Advice and Guidance to Applicants
Pinehirst Education aims to provide comprehensive, accurate and timely information, advice, and guidance to prospective students about the opportunities for study available to them.
Pinehirst Education website is designed to direct applicants to a central source supported by an expert Admissions Team; accessible by phone, live chat, email, and face to face. Pinehirst Education holds frequent Advice Mornings on our sites and escorted visit Events. Admissions, staff also support other areas across the team with attendance at career events and other responsibilities.
Safeguarding
Pinehirst Education is committed to safeguarding all applicants, students, staff, volunteers, and partners in accordance with its Safeguarding, Child Protection, Prevent and Missing Policy and Process. Robust procedures are in place to protect and support all individuals. For this reason, applicants and potential students are encouraged to declare any support requirements or issues at the point of application. Appropriate confidentiality will be maintained, and Pinehirst Education will do its upmost to ensure students are fully safeguarded and operate in a protective safeguarding culture backed by a strategic legal and MSP* framework. All personnel at Pinehirst Education carry a current full enhanced DBS clearance before they access students.
MSP Make Safeguarding Personal
Applications/All Further Education
Applicants for all Further Education to complete the appropriate online or paper-based Pinehirst Education application form and submit this to the Admissions Team Manager Franny Smith Franny@pinehirst.net
Where an applicant is transferring to top-up their course when the first year has been completed at another institution, additional information may be requested at the point of application so a record of prior attainment can be reviewed to ensure the top-up course is suitable and will meeting awarding body viability obligations.
Internal Progression
Internal Further Education (part time and full time) applicants wishing to progress onto another FE course can register their interest with their course tutor/job coach directly or during a Personal Tutorial. The expression of interest will be recorded on Pinehirst Education systems for review by the Admissions Team and the director of Curriculum, applicants are strongly advised to speak to a member of teaching or support staff, before making their application. If no further consideration is needed, once an expression of interest has been made and approved, in most cases, applicants will be made a Conditional Offer based on the successful completion of their current course along with a good record of behaviour and attendance.
The process is available in alternative formats upon request. At the discretion of the Student Admissions Manager Franny Smith, applications may be referred to Paul Morton Director of Curriculum at any stage during the Admissions process. Teaching staff may also request that an application be reviewed at any point. It is Interviews/Applicant Days
Applicants may be required to attend an interview or Applicant Day to assess their suitability for the course. Where offers for Further Education courses are made without an interview, applicants will normally be invited to attend a Taster Day or given the opportunity to speak with a Programme Tutor on a specified date or at a Course Advice Morning.
Where a prospective Further Education student submits an application whilst attending a Course Advice Morning after having spoken with a Course Tutor, this application will be logged.
In some cases, Further Education applicants will be required to take initial assessments in Maths and English during their interview. Where this is the case, detailed instructions will be included in the interview invitation this will form part of their overall curriculum including Core subjects Math/English at an appropriate level.
To ensure any available support can be provided when a learner has enrolled, applicants who indicate a disability or learning difficulty upon application, may be interviewed by a member of our SENCO team or speak directly to Cath Harrison to ensure we can shape our services to the Individual student’s needs. Cath@pinehirst.net
In cases where an interview date or Applicant Day is not appropriate, then a telephone or videophone consultation may take place. Interviews/Applicant Days will be arranged by the Admissions team and applicants will be informed in writing, within 10 days of the relevant curriculum team confirming details of the method of delivery, time, and place of the event.
Invitations may be delayed where applicants have not provided any requested supporting documentation or information, which would be essential for the processing of the application form.
Where applicants are invited to an interview the purpose is to:
Enable tutors to decide on an applicant’s ability to complete the course successfully, establish their motivations, ability, appropriateness, and suitability for joining their chosen course and explain alternatives if appropriate.
Enable prospective students/trainees to gain an understanding of the course they are interested in and to form a view on how it will meet their requirements.
Enable tutors to provide more detailed information about the course and facilities
· Enable Inclusive Learning staff (Pinehirst Education Senco) to assess any learning support requirements.
Interviews and information meetings are designed to be a two-way process and applicants are encouraged to ask questions. In the majority of cases, there will be one interview. However, sometimes it may be necessary to request further meetings, for example if applicants have chosen a vocational course and need to demonstrate practical skills. It is the intention of Pinehirst Education to keep interviews to a minimum and only ask candidates to return where it is considered necessary.
Where applicants decide to choose another course after their initial interview, a further interview may be required, particularly if this is in a different subject area.
Following an interview or information meeting, the Programme Leader/Course Tutor (and Inclusive Learning staff member, or speak directly to Cath Harrison where relevant) will make one of the following recommendations:
Offer an Unconditional place
Offer a Conditional place
Offer an alternative course
Refer to the Director of Curriculum (in complex/exceptional cases)
Rejection (unsuccessful application)
Criteria for Entry
The main principles involved in determining the offer of a place on a course are as follows:
· that the applicant is clear that the course meets their aims and aspirations;
· that the applicant has the necessary standard of education to have a good chance of fulfilling the learning outcomes of the course, therefore successful applicants should normally have obtained or expect to obtain the entry requirements specified to study.
Receiving an Offer
Applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of the application/interview within ten working days* of the interview date or receipt of application. If the applicant is accepted onto the course, a Conditional or Unconditional Offer will be issued via the Admissions Team Manager, Franny Smith Franny@pinehirst.net
In exceptional circumstances, offers may be delayed if further time is needed to ensure the offer should be made. For example, Pinehirst Education may need to assess and review the cost and viability of suggested reasonable adjustments. In the event that the applicant has applied after or within 5 days of the course start date, official notification may not be sent, and support information will be covered during the enrolment and induction processes. Applicants will receive log-in details for the Pinehirst Education digital systems via their offer documentation.
Enrolment onto the course cannot proceed until any additional support information and/or ECHP plan, risk assessments and further information has been copied and witnessed, this would usually come from the placing local education authority.
Exceptional Entry
Where applicants do not meet the standard entry requirements, exceptional entry may be considered. Under these circumstances, applicants may be asked to provide evidence of completed work experience, training courses and similar work related activities. In some cases, pre-entry assignments may be set to assist in determining the appropriate course offer for an individual applicant.
Pinehirst Education has FREDIE Policy (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) that encourages applications from students with non-standard entry requirements. All students are recruited with integrity and should be capable of satisfactorily completing the course upon which they are enrolled.
Each student is considered on their own individual merit. Applicants will be identified as exceptional entrants at the time of application, the relevant sections of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) For Further Education applicants: Pinehirst Education’s curriculum is structured such that courses are offered at all levels. Consequently, all applicants for Further Education courses may be made an offer of a place on a course at a level commensurate with their qualifications.
This is not an exhaustive list and other evidence may be considered such as:
age and maturity
students' needs, aspirations, and potential, and how these are compatible
Record of Achievement
employer references and/or College reports
range of work experience
level of numeracy and literacy
Where an applicant is applying for a part-time course of study, employer support may also be a key factor for consideration.
Where approval is given, the standard Admissions Process will then apply.
Equal Opportunities and Failure to Disclose
Further Education application forms request information from applicants in relation to unspent criminal convictions. Pinehirst Education believes in equal opportunities and will not immediately consider a disclosure of a criminal record as a barrier to study.
Where a disclosure is made, Pinehirst Education will contact the applicant for further information in relation to the disclosure. Any additional information that the applicant provides in relation to a conviction will be dealt with confidentially. We may also request references from key support workers or contacts in the probation services.
We would ask for permission from the applicant to contact them for more information for supporting documents. Pinehirst Education will use the information to assess any safeguarding concerns and other potential risks to both the applicant, Pinehirst Education Staff and Students.
The final decision of acceptance will be made by the Director of Curriculum Pinehirst Education and reserves the right to withdraw any offer made, where an applicant has failed to disclose information or who discloses at a late stage, information which may influence the Admissions process and/or decision of an offer.
Appeals and Complaints
Applicants who wish to appeal or complain about an aspect of Pinehirst Education Admissions process should write to The Chairperson Frank Smith frank@pinehirts.netwithin ten working days of notification of the decision. They should clearly indicate the grounds on which the complaint or appeal is based. The Chairperson Frank Smith will record and acknowledge receipt of the complaint or appeal within five working days.
A complaint is a specific concern related to a procedural error, irregularity or maladministration in the Admissions process will be dealt with in accordance with Pinehirst Education Complaints Policy and Process.
Document Version: 1 (June 2023) ( REVIEW DATE June 2024)
Student Admissions Policy and Process
Author PNM
Quality Assurance
This Policy and Procedure maps to the following external quality assurance frameworks
Inspection Framework
QAA
QIA
ESFA
Related content Documents Associated with this Policy:
• Pinehirst Education Application Form (FE Full-time, FE Part-Time, Internal Progression FE)
• UK Quality Code for Higher Education
• Pinehirst Education Complaints Policy and Procedure/ Pinehirst Education Equal Opportunities Policy and Process
• Pinehirst Education FREDIE Policy and Process