"I like studying at NHC because it's helped to push me to levels I didn't know I could reach. I love my course, my classmates and the tutors... it is so different to school."
Ellie, Level 3 Travel & Tourism student
Welcome to NHC đź‘‹
Thank you for choosing NHC for your young person! We understand the important role you have in encouraging their learning and study, and we hope the information here will help you provide that much-needed support.
If you have any questions about your young person during their time here, please contact their tutor or contact us using our online form.
We believe in the power of education to enrich lives, raise aspirations, and create prosperity for our students. We provide an inspiring curriculum that develops the skills, knowledge, and behaviours students need to be successful in their lives and future careers.
Read on to find out more about how our students benefit from studying with us.
What our students and their parents/guardians say:
Download the NHC Parent Guide
We’ve put together a parent guide with some key information to know about your young person’s experience at college – click the button below to view or download the pdf.
Here’s what you’ll find in the Parent Guide:
- How you can support your young person
- How we communicate with you throughout the year
- Useful tips for homework and independent study
- Our attendance & behaviour expectations
- Key term dates
- Your contacts at the college
Additional Learning Support at NHC
North Hertfordshire College is proud to work with a team of Additional Learning Support (ALS) coordinators who provide Ofsted-rated Outstanding assistance to learners with SEND. The team are trained in providing support for a range of needs, offering assistance at the right level and at the right time.
For more information about our ALS work, please visit our Additional Learning Support page.
Qualification levels – what do they mean?
North Hertfordshire College runs a number of qualifications at different levels. Understanding what these levels mean allows you to plan for your next steps and help you to find a course that helps you reach your goals.
For more support in understanding our qualifications, please visit our handy guide!
How we work with employers
During their studies at North Hertfordshire College, your young person will have many opportunities to meet and work with a number of employers. This includes guest speaker sessions, trips and visits, and work placements that provide them with the skills and knowledge they need for their future career.
Parents are some of our most valuable industry partners
Many parents have professional expertise, industry knowledge, and connections that can help students explore careers and develop work skills. Whether you work in the same sector as your young person is now studying, or your experience is related to one of the other subjects we teach, we’d value your input to help further shape our curriculum.
To find out how you can be involved in our employer partnerships, please contact our Careers and Work Experience team by emailing wex@nhc.ac.uk
Careers advice for college students
North Hertfordshire College’s team of work experience co-ordinators and careers advisors are available at each of our campuses. They can help your young person with finding practical experience in their chosen industry and plan for what they want to do after they finish their studies – whether that’s a job, a higher level course at NHC, an apprenticeship, or progressing to university.
Your young person will take part in a Personal Development programme to equip them with the core skills for success, as well as helping them create a CV, prepare job applications, or write their UCAS personal statement.
Useful links:
You might also be interested in our Adult Learner courses…
Whether you are interested in upskilling yourself, developing skills for your work, re-training or learning a new skill for fun, we offer many part-time courses that will help you achieve that.
Our part-time courses fit around current commitments and help you to achieve your personal and professional goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
At college, it’s the first step towards your young person’s career.
We encourage our students to take responsibility for their learning. We expect them to be mature and take their learning seriously as they discover more about the industry they’re interested in. Our classes are vocational and focused on careers to help your young person progress into work, an apprenticeship, or a degree.
We provide support, encouragement, and great links with employers to help our students achieve the outcome they dream of.
Qualifications in the UK typically fall into one of nine levels. The basic rule is: the higher the level, the bigger the challenge.
For more information about what our qualifications mean, please visit our handy qualifications guide.
The length of a course depends on the level and qualification type. A typical study programme at North Hertfordshire College lasts for 1 to 2 years.
If your young person starts their pathway on a Level 1 or 2 qualification, they may be invited to progress onto the next level of study (subject to meeting entry requirements) which would extend the length of time they spend studying at the College.
Most full-time courses are free to those aged 16-18 years, as it is a legal requirement for young people to be in education or training until they’re 18 years old.
Our website is a great place to find out more about the courses on offer at North Hertfordshire College. Our 16+ Learners page features links to our curriculum showcase pages, which tell you more about the skills students learn, the work experience they can complete, and the progression opportunities for after college.
We also run regular open events throughout the academic year where you and your young person can take part in a campus tour and meet our tutors.
An apprenticeship combines studying with working on the job. Typically, this looks like one day a week in college studying towards a specific qualification. Apprentices will be paid during their study journey, too.
Many of our students go on to university on completion of a level 3 programme. We have close links with universities and an expert careers team and teaching staff who support with UCAS applications.
You can find out more about progressing to university after college by visiting our university application guide.
Students are taught by our expert tutors, many of whom have a number of years of industry experience, and all of whom are there to support your child or young person to reach their potential.
Your young person will find out who their tutor is closer to enrolment.
The national age for leaving education or training was raised from 16 to 18 in England in 2015. This means that when your young person leaves school at 16, they must do one of the following until they are 18 years old:
- Stay in full-time education, such as enrolling on a college course
- Start an apprenticeship or traineeship
- Spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering whilst also being in part-time training or education
Yes, Child Benefit payments continue when your child is 16-18 if they stay in approved education or training, but you must inform the Child Benefit Office.
You’ll be sent a letter in your child’s last year at school asking you to confirm their plans.
16-18 year olds who are in full-time education or training, like a college course, are entitled to free NHS prescriptions and free NHS dental treatment.
Your young person will also be entitled to student discounts – these can be accessed through programmes like UNiDAYS (free to sign up) and TOTUM (paid subscription).