Each student has a different timetable, depending on what they’ve chosen to study. You might find your first lesson of the week is actually Monday afternoon and one of your friends might have no lessons at all on a Monday! Most students will be taught for around 15 hours per week and will have some mornings or afternoons that are ‘free’ for independent study. Morning lessons start at 9.30am. Afternoon lessons start at 1.30pm and end at 4pm.

As a student, you are free to come and go from the building as you choose - as long as you are on time for lessons. Some students may make use of the gym or pool across the road in their free times. Some students will go out for lunch. It’s all up to you - you are in charge of your own time and your responsibility to stay on top of your studies and make the most of college life.

College is open from 8am-5pm. Activities take place throughout the day, and you can always find somewhere to study quietly or somewhere to be with friends.

Further details

• All of our students are full-time (meaning they are in college for at least 15 hours per week). 

• We do not offer ‘distance learning’ and all students need to be in college to attend their lessons. 

• Students will be expected to complete around 15 hours of further study at home each week, and we use a variety of online learning applications to support this. Students can take on part-time employment, but this should be limited to eight hours per week.

• Our entry requirements mean all students meet the conditions of funding for 16-19 education. Any students who have international qualifications (or do not have the required qualifications for another reason) will be enroled in GCSE English and Maths to ensure that they can easily transition into further education and employment in the UK. 

Values and ethos

We’re part of the Co-op Academies Trust, and we believe in co-operative values:

• Self-help 

• Self-responsibility

• Democracy

• Equality

• Equity

• Solidarity

We use the Co-op’s Ways of Being to guide our interactions with each other, ensuring that Connell is a happy and productive place to work and study. These are:

• Do what matters most

• Be yourself, always

• Show you care

• Succeed together

We expect all students and employees to take responsibility for our individual and collective success - we are all responsible. We ask staff and students to speak up and speak out if something isn’t right.

We recognise that in order to succeed, students need a careful balance of support and challenge, and this approach runs through everything we do. For more information, see our policies page.