Creating independent learners through academic challenge

Students undertaking their Level 3 qualifications at HNC can expect teachers who are passionate about their subjects and specialist post-16 educators. Your teachers will challenge you to become your best self through a programme of study which will see you develop your independence, expand your academic knowledge, and build on work based skills. Underpinned by the College’s VESPA (vision, effort, systems, practice, attitude) and OPTICS (organisation, problem solving, teamwork, initiative, communication, self development) framework, your lessons will focus on developing your academic knowledge and challenging you to build on the key skills you will need as you progress through HNC and prepare for your next steps. Throughout your lessons you will be given the tools and resources to develop your independence, ensuring you leave HNC not only with life-changing qualifications, you’ll also be ready for the wider world and the challenges you can expect as you take your next steps, whatever they may be.

Managing your studies and working independently is a key part of your HNC journey. We support you in a number of ways, including:

Using time wisely

Your timetable is designed to ensure that you can maximise the amount of support you can access during the College day – when you are not in lessons, your independent study periods offer time where you can complete your Directed Independent Learning (DIL) tasks and seek support from your teachers, as needed. Across the College campus, students can study in any one of our designated Independent Learning Hubs (ILH). Open throughout the college day, the ILHs are staffed, quiet working spaces. Students are encouraged to use these during study periods, whether they need to seek further academic support or support for key skills such as organisation, or whether they just wish to use the space to keep up to date with work.

Challenge yourself

All students at HNC can access bespoke support that will support them to access the tools needed to achieve their full potential. The College’s Learning Support team, located in the Learning Support Centre (LSC), are available for one to one appointments to review academic progress and work with you to develop your skills. This support is fully tailored to your individual needs and learning style, ensuring you are in a position to exceed in your studies. The LSC can help with areas such as:

• Organisation
• Time management
• Academic skills, for example, correct referencing
• Revision guides
• Personalised study programmes

Online resources

You can access a range of online resources to enhance your studies. From a wide range of online resources, including our online library, to our Microsoft 365 suite, which you can access on any device from any location, meaning that it is simple to pick up your work where you left off, and can easily collaborate on group projects both in College and at home. All our online resources are free to use, too.

Independent Learning Hubs

Located in each of the five campus buildings, HNC Independent Learning Hubs (ILH) are specially designed study areas that have been created to allow you to study independently. These staffed hubs are fully resourced and are also a point of support – here you can seek additional help with study and revision techniques, as well as seeking further academic support with regards to your subjects. These spaces are open throughout the College day.

“The study support and independent learning hubs at HNC are there to help you build skills and achieve your very best. During my time at College I have developed my confidence and independence, skills I know will help me in the future, especially at university”

Grace Adamson
Studied: A Level Photography, A Level Spanish, Applied Travel and Tourism
Destination: International Tourism Management, University of Chester