Peterborough College

Local Offer

Peterborough College offers education and training to over 7,000 students and businesses every year providing a huge range of courses to suit everyone – GCSEs, vocational career-focused courses, part-time adult courses, Supported Internships, Apprenticeships, higher education and professional training tailored to both individuals and employers.

Levels explained:

Entry Level

Entry level courses help develop your personal and work skills, in preparation for further qualifications and study levels. They are available at three levels and include subjects such as Childcare, Health & Social Care, ESOL and Motor Vehicle.

Level 1 - Foundation Level

Level 1 courses usually last for one year and are ideal for those with little knowledge of the subject area. On successful completion, learners can move onto study a Level 2 course if they meet the entry requirements.

Level 2 - Intermediate Level

Level 2 courses usually last for one year and are equivalent to 4 GCSEs at grade 4 and above (or grade C and above on the previous grading system). A level 2 course will develop your subject knowledge further and build on your practical experience at college and through work experience. On successful completion, learners can move onto study a level 3 course if they meet the entry requirements.

Level 3 – Advanced Level

Level 3 courses generally last two years, depending on the size of qualification. They are equivalent to A Levels and are designed to develop an in-depth knowledge of a particular subject area, essential for progression onto University or into higher level roles in the world of work.

Study Programme

If you are 16-18 and join PRC as a full-time student, you will follow one of our ‘study programmes’. Essentially, this means that you will not simply just study your chosen subject, but a programme tailored to equip you with the essential skills and experience to prepare you for university or the world of work. Study programmes are usually two years in length and are studied at Level 1, 2 and 3, however, these can vary depending on the size of the qualification, the individual’s prior attainment, their age and intended progression or destination route.

Main Qualification

This is the main body of the programme, and where you will gain the experience and skills you will need to progress into your chosen career. We have a wide variety of courses available at all levels.

English and Maths
Achieving a good level of English and maths is important for young people to compete in today’s employment market. If you haven’t achieved your English and maths at grade 4 or above then you will be required to re-take the GCSE.* But don’t worry this will be built into your individual study programme.

Work Placement

This is a key component of our study programmes and aims to give students the opportunity to develop their career choices and develop those critical employability skills needed for real working conditions. It’s mandatory on some courses for work placement hours to be completed. However, all students are encouraged to complete a number of work placement hours to ensure they are fully prepared for their future career.

Employability Skills

All students will learn additional skills throughout the study programme which will directly contribute to their level of employability. These include:
• Health and wellbeing
• Time management
• Communication
• Equality and diversity
• Teamwork
• Problem solving and leadership