How You’ll Learn

What you need to know about how we teach

At The Bournemouth & Poole College, we make sure you get all the skills you need for the world of work

Teaching time

While there are lectures where you’ll be listening and learning, we want to make sure your classroom time is never dull!

In several areas, this involves practical demonstrations. For example in Hospitality, you’ll observe how to cook a particular dish before trying it out for yourself. We often have business people come in to tell their story or share their knowledge. They might even get you working on a live project.

In all areas, teaching extends beyond the confines of the classroom. For example, some of our scientists might take part in a crime scene investigation, or if you’re studying English as a second language you might visit a Crown Court.

Personal study time

Classroom work is just one part of your learning at the College.

We encourage you to spend a lot of time studying outside the classroom, as this is where you can put your knowledge into practice or carry out your own research or projects.

That’s why we’ve invested in giving you access to the best possible online and print resources through our three Learning Resources Centres (LRCs) – great places to study and collaborate on project work with other students. Find out more here.

 

Projects for real clients

You don’t have to wait until you leave The College to try out your new skills, as we work with many businesses on real projects.

Some of our students have worked with Bournemouth tourism to help market a new development on the seafront. Others work directly with the public, serving up fine dining food for paying customers in our own Escoffier restaurant, cutting someone’s hair in our salon, or performing in our Jellicoe theatre.

In May 2014 around 150 of our students took part in South Coast Fashion Week. They got first-hand experience presenting their own fashion creations, displaying dance routines or performing a set.

Backstage our students completed many of the performers’ hair and makeup, while others helped ensure the event ran seamlessly.

Work-focused activities

Most of our students spend time on a work placement or work-focused activity.

Each year several of our areas, including digital design, art, and construction, run public exhibitions to show off their students' work. Our Media students have the opportunity to do a work placement at a radio station, and work at local stations including BBC Radio Solent.