Parents & Carers

We expect all students to have 100% attendance. There is clear evidence that students who attend all of their lessons have the best chance of achieving their full potential. Attendance data is also used to inform HE applications and employment references.

There is a requirement for students in receipt of support regarding Bus Passes and Bursaries to have at least 90% attendance during the preceding term. This will be based on the actual attendance in class.

However, for students who fall below this threshold the reasons for absence, as reported by parent/carers, will be taken into account when any judgment is made regarding continuing support for the following term. It is therefore very important that parents/carers report the reason for any absence.

The parent/guardian should phone in on each day of absence to the relevant Programme Team Administrator before 9.15 am. If the student is ill this will be reported as “sickness” (S).

Students aged 18 or over can phone in to report their absence. If a student is on a college trip or visit or taking an exam, this is recorded with a ‘V’. Absence for other reasons will be recorded as ‘I’ (Informed absence) and the reason recorded.

Parents/carers/next of kin of students who are under 18 years of age will receive an automated text message alerting you to unauthorised absence to the first lesson of the day, asking you to confirm the absence or encourage the young person in your care to proceed to their lesson.

‘Advance-notice-of-absence’ forms can be downloaded from the intranet or collected in College.

Advance notice-of-absence forms are only intended for college related activities and exceptional circumstances. Authorisation of advance leave is entirely at the discretion of the College and will need to be authorised by the personal tutor or Programme Team Leader.

Parents can make payments on the College’s Online Store.

Students are asked to pay a College deposit online at the start of term. This is refundable if all texts and materials are returned at the end of the course.

Lockers are available to students who require them and can be purchased via refundable deposit on the Online Store. It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that books, personal belongings etc. are reasonably secure. The College can accept no liability for losses.

Students are asked not to bring valuable items or large sums of money into the College; if this is absolutely necessary, ask the Finance Office to lock any such items in the College safe. (NB: this facility is available only in exceptional circumstances).

At the end of each academic year, students must clear their locker, return the key and reclaim the deposit. All lockers will be emptied by a member of staff at the end of each summer term.

The College holds parent and carer progress evenings throughout the academic year. Students and parents will be made aware of these dates, usually via email.

We use School Cloud for online meetings and have created a Parents’ Guide for Booking Appointments.

We would advise following the College’s official social media accounts to keep abreast of College events and to check regularly on the Events page.

You can also read more about our Learner Progress Reports.

Complaints are rare but we understand that at times you may have concerns or questions about something that has occurred while your son/daughter or young person has been at College.

In the first instance we recommend that you contact your son/daughter or young person’s Programme Team Leader (PTL). This is the person who is in charge of curriculum and pastoral needs within the department. Each PTL also has at least one Deputy Team Leader (DTL) to assist them.

General enquiries can be made to the Enquiries office at Truro College via enquiry@truro-penwith.ac.uk and at Penwith College via penwithenquiries@truro-penwith.ac.uk

Please read our College Complaints Policy on the Policies and Procedures page for further information on how the College handles complaints.