Frequently Asked Questions - for adults aged 25+ interested in applying to RNC

A: We encourage all potential new students to visit us informally and learn more about our outstanding facilities, academic and vocational courses, residential living, resources, support and the assessment process. We also talk through the funding process with you and give you the contact details of your funding provider if you do not already have them. We have a schedule of planned visit days and offer other dates if you are unable to come on the scheduled days, although we encourage you to come then as you will meet other potential students who may end up being your new best friend!

 

Contact us on 01432 376621 or e-mail our Student Enquiries via info@rnc.ac.uk.

We will send you the latest copy of our prospectus and an application form before you come or give them to you when you visit. 

 

A: Please contact us on 01432 376621 or e-mail our Student Enquiries via info@rnc.ac.uk and we will send our prospectus and an application form to you in your preferred format. We have standard and enlarged print, Braille, audio and electronic versions – tell us which you prefer. 

 

A: You have to visit your local Jobcentre or JobCentre Plus and arrange to meet your Disability Employment Advisor [DEA] to discuss your training and employment plans. The outcome of the discussion may be a referral for residential training at RNC. If that is the case, your DEA will complete a referral and send it to the Residential Training Unit [RTU] for approval. They will also work with you to complete our application form.

 

If the funding referral is approved by the RTU, you will receive a copy of the funding letter. This will tell you that that we will be in touch with you shortly to arrange for you to come to RNC for your pre-entry assessment.

A: Assessment at RNC is a two-way process. It gives us an opportunity to get to know your strengths, interests and support needs and determine whether this is the right place for you. It gives you an opportunity to meet staff and students and ask any questions you might have about RNC to help you decide whether it is the right place too!

Assessment candidates arrive on Monday afternoon, there is an informal welcome session on Monday evening and you will have an overnight stay in our beautiful new assessment centre, Gardner Hall. 

Assessment programmes are based in the Gardner Hall Assessment Centre and include an assessment of:

as well as individual interviews with our assessment team to discuss

A: The assessment programme will end at approximately 5.00pm on Tuesday after we have completed an evaluation form with you.

 

A: Please remember to provide us with copies of documents outlined in your assessment invitation letter. If you have any problems, please let us know. Please bring anything else you might like us to see, for example your Art portfolio. If you are considering the RNC Football Academy programme, please ensure you have appropriate football kit for a fitness assessment. In addition, please bring any portable low vision aids that you use and let us know beforehand if you are a guide dog user. 

 

A: You may wish to come with a partner, parent or carer. Person(s) accompanying you will be able to spend a day at their leisure in Hereford whilst you have your assessment.

A: You will stay in our newly purpose designed assessment centre, Gardner Hall. All accommodation is en-suite. We do not charge our assessment candidates anything and ask only for a contribution of £35 per person per night for anyone else accompanying you. We take payments by cash, cheque [made payable to RNC] or by debit/credit card. Please let us know who will be coming with you and whether any of you have any additional needs we will need to know about when you arrive.

 

A: Meals and refreshments will be provided for on campus from your arrival until the end of your assessment. A packed meal for your return journey can be provided if you wish. Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements and particular likes or dislikes!

 

A: All of our accommodation in Gardner Hall is accessible. Please let us know if you have any mobility difficulties and we will ensure that you have an appropriate bedroom and that your interviews and assessment tasks take place in accessible rooms.

A: Yes, you need to arrange your own travel to and from RNC. You may wish to discuss this with your DEA. Railway and bus stations are located within walking distance and cost of a single taxi fare from both stations is approximately £4. If you have any queries about best routes to Hereford, we may be able to advise you.

 

A: All students aged 18 and over on entry must have a Criminal Records Bureau [CRB] Enhanced Disclosure check. We will complete the CRB form with you during your assessment so please bring all the documents we ask for on the sheet provided before your assessment. Please bring the original documents with you as we will not be able to proceed with your application until we have seen the original. We will take a photocopy of the original documents which are treated confidentially and are subsequently destroyed. Please note that you will not be able to enrol at the College unless a satisfactory CRB check is in place.

 

A: We will let you know the outcome of your assessment by telephone or email within 10 working days of you assessment and confirm this in writing shortly afterwards. We will ask you to confirm whether you wish to accept our offer. 

 

A: Please note that we will continue to provide copies of any communication with you to your DEA. If we offer you a place and you accept it, we will contact you again to discuss your travel/start day and induction.

 

 

A: Members of the Assessment and Review team will be able to help you with your queries. Please contact us on 01432 376397/376342 or via e-mail assessmentandreview@rnc.ac.uk.

 

Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have a query.