Teaching will be in-person with lectures workshops and tutorials.

You have enrolled on a full-time study programme, and you will be issued with your timetable once you meet your tutors. We are currently planning for the majority of teaching and learning to take place onsite, to provide you with access to our specialist resources. Your course has been planned to include the essential knowledge, skills, and behaviours to help you towards your next steps such as further studying or employment. We expect you to attend all lessons (onsite, remote based, and any field trips etc) unless there is a prior appointment / reason that you have informed your tutors of.

Please appreciate whilst we attempt to keep any timetable changes to a minimum, they can be subject to change for a variety of reasons and therefore we ask that you prioritise your learning over other commitments such as part time jobs

Face coverings are no longer advised in teaching or communal areas. Government advice is that they should be worn in enclosed crowded areas. Face covering is a personal choice and we ask everyone to respect individual choices.

When travelling to and from campus please respect the requirements of the transport operator and wear a face covering if asked to do so.

We will maintain enhanced cleaning and hand sanitisation

We have Outbreak Control plans in place if a student or staff member reports symptoms or tests positive.

We will offer all students two LFD tests at the start of term. After this we ask students and staff to test twice weekly with a freely available LFD kit and report the result using the NHS Test and Trace website (https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result)

We strongly encourage students to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible – this will help to minimise risk and the possibility of you being asked to self-isolate.

Tuition Fund Statement
The Education and Skills Funding Agency 16 to 19 tuition fund has been allocated to colleges in 2021/22 in addition to the primary college funding. The funding is being provided to support small group tuition for 16 to 19 students in English, maths and other courses where learning has been disrupted due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Find out more here: 16-19 Tuition Fund Statement

New Starters!

We look forward to meeting you at the Art Café at No 1 Church Street, Hartlepool, at 10am. Further information will be included in your starter information.

Returning students!

We look forward to seeing you again w/c 27th September.

The safety of our students and staff is our priority – we have operated safely throughout the pandemic. Staff and our Student Union have worked together to respond dynamically to the pandemic and will continue to do so.

We are operating as normal in a COVID secure environment, to help this all staff and students should be taking an LFD test twice each week. Before you come to campus in September we ask that you use the freely available LFD test kits twice in the week before your start date – if you test positive please don’t come on to campus – let us know and follow NHS advice.

You should continue to use LFD tests twice a week after this. (Kits can be ordered online or collected from the local Test and Collect Centre in Middleton Grange shopping centre open 9-5, visit https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20081/health_and_well_being/1050/new_covid_test_and_collect_centre_opens_in_hartlepool/1).

If you have symptoms please take a test. If your LFD test is positive please do not come to campus, self-isolate and book a PCR test (www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119). Please report your test results using the NHS Test and Trace website (https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result), please use the new post code for the school which is TS1 1LA (this appears an a drop down option in the app. Please change to this postcode if you are already using the reporting app. We are, as ever, working closely with our accommodation provider, Thirteen, to ensure your safety in compliance with government guidance.

Your COVID secure environment
• When you arrive in the morning you will need to check your temperature at one of the infrared thermometers in reception

• There are hand sanitisers installed throughout the campus – please observe good hand sanitising and washing practises

• We have additional cleaning staff on site all day every day to ensure that areas of hand contact are clean and to respond to any issues

• We have CO2 monitors to assess air quality and circulation and we will have enhanced ventilation where appropriate (including open windows and doors in some places)

• We have plans in place to deal with any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID, including a dedicated isolation room. Whilst you should of course use NHS Test and Trace as the route to report a positive test we ask that you also notify us as this helps us respond quickly identifying close contacts and minimising the risk of transmission.

• In IT suites and areas where equipment may be shared there will be supplies of disinfectant wipes for you to use to wipe down keyboards before and after use.

• Hand sanitisers are available in the library – please use them before you handle any books/periodicals/journals.

Finally, face-coverings – in line with Government guidance these are no longer advised for students, staff and visitors in teaching and communal areas. Wearing a face covering is of course a personal choice, based upon your own assessment of risk. In areas of close proximity and during some technical demonstrations you may be encouraged to wear a mask (unless exempt). In the past 18 months we have worked hard to ensure that students have not and will not be disadvantaged educationally, this is reflected in the very positive results of our 2021 Student Perception Survey.

As we move into a new phase we want to keep you informed – so please refer to this web page and make sure you are following @TheNorthernArt for social updates

We strongly encourage students to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible – this will help to minimise risk and the possibility of you being asked to self-isolate.