Access to Higher Education

Access to Higher Education

• Venue:
  Church Street, Wellingborough
• Duration:
  One year if studied full time or two years if studied part time.
• Start At:
  September 2010

Access to Higher Education
Content
Core Modules
Communications
All students take 4 units covering a wide range of skills. Students are taught how to produce essays, reports and letters to a standard appropriate to Higher Education and to use a range of other communication skills. The units also cover the role of the media in communication and the part played by literature in our culture. Completion of the 4 units gives a GCSE equivalence in English.

Numeracy
There are 2 compulsory Numeracy Units covering all aspects of basic number work such as decimals, fractions, percentages and ratio together with the basic concepts of analysing statistical data. Two further units covering the general concepts in Algebra and topics in Geometry and Trigonometry give a GCSE equivalence in Maths for those who need it.

Science
All students take a unit covering the basic concepts of Science. There are a further 3 units available to extend the basic principles for students who want to obtain a GCSE equivalence.

Information Technology
All students are expected to produce a folder by the end of the course to demonstrate that they can use a computer package to produce work of a high quality of presentation. In addition, all students are taught to use the Internet and e-mail efficiently and effectively. There is also an opportunity to learn to use other software packages such as spreadsheets and databases.

Study Skills
The study skills needed for the course and higher education are mostly delivered through the Tutorial programme. This includes reading for a purpose, research skills, presentation skills and working in groups.

Optional Study Modules
You will choose 3 subjects from the main study modules. These subjects cover a wide range of topics and are designed to give maximum flexibility and to fit in with a variety of Higher Education choices. Subjects are chosen at the end of a "Taster Week" with the guidance of tutors. The availability of Main Study subjects depends on the campus and the mode of attendance being used.

English Literature
Four units which cover a wide range of literature in English. Plays, poetry and prose are used to demonstrate the wide variety of work that has been written from the time of Shakespeare to the present day.

Education
The units cover the history and methods of education in the UK. Learners look at teaching and learning styles used in education from nursery to adult work. The units also cover the changes in curriculum over the years and the variety of education initiatives that have been introduced.

Social History
The period covered is from the end of the 18th Century to the early part of the 20th. Learners study the Industrial Revolution and its effects, political movements of the 19th Century and the origins of the First World War. Throughout the course the role of women in the social changes of the period is emphasised.

Human Anatomy
These 3 units cover the human body and its structure from the single cell to the systems of the body. The organs of the body and their functions are covered in detail. One unit covers reproduction and inheritance and the problems of genetic defects.

Sociology and Psychology
Four units are used to cover the role of the individual in society and the way in which people relate to each other. The consequences of disadvantage and prejudice are examined in the light of provision of basic rights such as health and education.

Health and Social Care
Two units examine the history of the welfare state and the present state of the health and care services. Another unit concentrates on the responsibility of society and of the individual for their health and well being. There is also a unit in which the students carry out an in depth study of a particular illness or condition with tutor support.

Politics
This covers the British political system from pressure groups to parliament and the role of the monarchy in four units. Comparisons are made with other political systems and there is an emphasis on the role of the individual and the ways in which computer systems are used in our modern society. One unit also covers the background in Mathematics which is basic to computer design.

Assessment Course assessment is carried out through a mixture of essays and projects ranging from 500 words to 3000 words and timed examinations. The precise method used varies from unit to unit. Students are also expected to take part in group and individual presentations linked to their subject choices.The weekly tutorials are used to deliver Study Skills and to support and guide students through the process of researching and applying to Higher Education as well as for personal support. This is done via a mixture of group sessions and individual interviews. The course tutors also provide extensive support to students outside formal sessions. Progression Students from Access courses have gone onto degrees and diploma in many areas including Teacher Training, Nursing, Midwifery, History, Business Studies, Computing, Speech Therapy, Asian Studies, English, Social Work, Archaeology, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Horticulture and American Studies.