Student Handbook 2015 - Current.pdf

8/9/2019 Student Handbook 2015 - Current.pdf

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Welcome to A + English and to Sheffield.

We hope you enjoy your induction day!

Times may vary

9:00 Arrival and welcome

9:15 Information about A+ English and Sheffield, where

we are and how to get around. Conduct

Agreement discussed.

9:30 Administration, file check and chat.

Pre-arrival test (for those who have not completed

it)Tour of the school

Tea and coffee

10.00 Academic information on the classes, your level

and progress, homework policy and

recommended books. Information regarding

pathway to University

10.15 Join your first class


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Contents

Welcome to A+

Wi-Fi Code

Members of staff

Floor Plan

Welcome to Sheffield

Conduct

Absence and lateness

Finding your classes

Libraries

Social Activities

Syllabus details and levels

Homework policy

Our courses

Useful contact information

Doctors/NHS

Home stay and accommodation

Holidays & Changing your course

At the end of your course - looking forward

Problems or complaints

Expulsion procedure/abusive behaviour procedure

Maps and Directions

Details of mosques and churches

Letters and forms


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A+ Wi-Fi Code

Regus Net [email protected]

5675948

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Welcome to A+ English

Welcome to A+ English. We are happy

that you chose to study with us. We are

confident that you will enjoy your time

here and that we will help you to improve

your English.

A+ is a privately-run English language

school. We are passionate about

teaching English to a high standard and

committed to taking a personal interest in

each of our students. We pride ourselves

on being flexible and welcoming in our

approach.

All of our teachers are very experienced

and well qualified. Our staff are friendly,

helpful and supportive and we will all do

our very best to make your experience

enjoyable, educational and

unforgettable.

Zoe Graham

Director


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Teaching Staff

Neil – Director of Studies / Student Welfare

Artemis - Assistant Director of Studies / Student Welfare

Angela – Teacher /Social Activities

Michelle – Teacher/Library Officer

Will - Teacher


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Stephanie – TESOL Course Co-ordinator

Marketing and Administration Staff

Jessica – Marketing Manager

Kerrie – Marketing Assistant

Julia – Admin Co-ordinator

Donna – Admin Co-ordinator/Homestay Liaison and Student Welfare

Kerry – Admin Assistant


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Floor Plan

Lift

Entrance and

Reception

A Plus is in this corridor

Toilets


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Welcome to Sheffield

Here are some facts about Sheffield:

Sheffield is the fourth largest city in England.

Over 530,000 people live in the city.

It is one of the safest cities in the UK.

The city became world famous for making steel.

Sheffield is a very green city – there are 83 parks and 2 million trees in the city.

The city has two universities.

Sheffield is home to the oldest football club in the world, Sheffield F.C is an amateur club.

We also have two professional football clubs – Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. Both

clubs have fantastic stadiums.

Sheffield is a centre for the arts with many galleries and museums around the city.

We have great nightlife and shopping within the city.


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Conduct

Please look at the agreement you have signed. Here is a copy of that agreement.

Things you must do

Be on time for all your lessons

Do all your work both in and out of class.

Don’t use your mobile phone for calls, texting or social networking in class.

Treat all students, members of staff and teachers with respect.

Work with anyone of any race, religion, gender, age or sexual orientation.

You must tell A+ if you are sick or going to miss class for any reason

(particularly if you are a sponsored student)

Tel: 0114 209 6292 –

Office Phone


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Things you must not do

Do not speak your own language in the classroom. Only speak English in class.

Do not go into your class if you are more than 10 minutes late.

Do not copy work from other students or the internet.

Do not smoke inside or close to the building.

It is against UK law to smoke inside public buildings.

A+ promises to:

Provide you with high quality tuition by qualified and exceptional tutors.

Weekly timetables for your class are available in the Common Room.

Give you guidance on how to practise outside class.

Record your attendance and lateness accurately and fairly,

both for you and your sponsor (if applicable).

You will get a letter at the end of your course.

You will get a certificate if you have been here 2 weeks or more.

Your teacher will write a report if you have been here 3 weeks or more.

(note, you will not get a report if your attendance is less than 70%)

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.clker.com/cliparts/4/3/3/6/1194984910238730787no_smoking_sign_domas_jo_01.svg.med.png&imgrefurl=http://www.clker.com/clipart-2767.html&usg=__267eAUwCkFWynneWfzxD624PT44=&h=300&w=300&sz=20&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=_7jrOhGzB1YDZM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images?q=no+smoking+sign&hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&itbs=1


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I.D/DISCOUNT

CARD

LOCATIONS

Flora365

The FamousSheffield Sho

Spirals

(Gift shop)

Sweeny 4 (Hairdressers)

http://www.192.com/places/s/s11-8/s11-8nx/http://www.192.com/places/s/s11-8/s11-8nx/http://www.192.com/places/s/s11-8/s11-8nx/http://www.192.com/places/s/s11-8/s11-8pe/


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Flora

Sandwich Division The Famous Sheffield Shop

Ashoka

Spirals

Abduls

Sweeny 4

Mr Potato

Champs

Spirals


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Absence and lateness – guidance for sponsored students

The first class at A+ begins at 9.30am, the second class begins at 11.15am and the afternoon

class begins at 1.30pm.You must be on time for all these lessons.

If you are more than 10 mins late for a lesson, do not go into the classroom.

Go to the office and advise a member of the Admin department (or any

other member of staff) that you have arrived. Then, wait in the common

room until the next lesson starts.

If you tell us that you are in school, you will be marked as late. If you do

not tell us, we will not know that you are here and you will be marked as

absent. This will be an unauthorised absence.

If you are sick or are not going to be at school for some other reason, you

must phone the school.

Our phone number is 0114 209 6292.

If you tell a member of the Admin department where you are, your

absence will be authorised. If they don’t know where you are, your

absence will be unauthorised. If you are ill or miss class, you cannot claim that time back.

Unauthorised absence:

Your supervisor may have their own rules about absence – for example, to report you everytime you are absent or to send a report with your attendance. However, if they don’t have

their own procedures, typically our procedure for absence is this:

Each lesson you miss when you have not phoned the school is 1 unauthorised absence. If

you study with us for 3 lessons a day and miss 1 day, you will have 3 unauthorised absences.

When you have 9 unauthorised absences, Neil (our Director of Studies) will speak to you

about why you have been absent. He will warn you that we may need to contact your

supervisor about this.

If you have 9 more unauthorised absences after Neil has spoken to you, he will send you a

letter with a warning about your unauthorised absences. Your supervisor will be sent a copy.

If you have 9 more unauthorised absences after Neil has sent you the warning, he will send

you a letter with a final warning. Your supervisor will be sent a copy.

If you then have 9 more unauthorised absences after your second written warning, Neil and

Zoe (Director) will send you an expulsion letter and you will have to leave the school. Your

supervisor will be informed and this could have a serious effect for you.

It is very important to phone the school if you are not going to be in class!


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Finding Your Classes

Class times

You will be told on your induction day the name of the class you are in. Look for the signs on the

classroom doors.

Libraries and how to borrow books.

We have some books that you can borrow. There is a catalogue of

books in the office. If you want to borrow a book, come to the office and

ask Michelle. When you want to bring it back, take it to the office again.We also have a catalogue of DVDs which you can borrow for two nights.

You can also use the computers in the common room. If you want to

print, come to the office.

Sheffield has many libraries where you can borrow books. The main library in Sheffield is theCentral Lending Library,

Surrey Street,

Sheffield,

S1 1XZ

Tel: 0114 273 4727Opening hours

Monday - 10am-8pm

Tuesday - 9.30am-5.30pm

Wednesday - 9.30am-8pm

Thursday - 9.30am-5.30pm

Friday - 9.30am-5.30pm

Saturday - 9.30am-5.30pm

Sunday - Closed

To borrow books, you need to join the library. Take your passport or ID card to the library and

fill out a membership form.


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Social events and social clubs

We really want you to enjoy your time at A+. You can meet your fellow students in our

common room and enjoy a coffee. You can make coffee or tea in the kitchen and you canget snacks from the vending machine there. We want you to make friends with other

students and have a fantastic experience. We try extremely hard to welcome you to A+ and

involve you in school life.

We have lots of social activities at A+.

Cinema Library – Every afternoon after class we can project a film on the common room

wall or in a class and watch with English subtitles. Simply pick the film from our DVD selection

and tell someone in the office!

Conversation Club – This takes place at lunch time from Monday to Thursday in the common

room. A teacher sits with you at lunch so you can practise English, learn English idioms and

discuss topics of the day.

Five-a-side Football – We can play any evening at Powerleague on Woodbourn Road. We

even have our own strip. Come along and play or cheer the team on to victory!

Friday evening trips – Some Fridays we may go to a restaurant or another Sheffield based

activity. Sign up in the common room.

Saturday trips – Some Saturdays we go on school trips. We travel to various interesting places

in the surrounding counties. Sign up for a trip in the common room.

Photographs – During your time at A+ English there will be occasions when we take

photographs. These include during social activities and trips and at certificate presentation

days. These photographs will be used on social media sites including Facebook and

Twitter. The photographs may also feature on the A+ website and other marketing materials.

If you do not wish to be in photographs that are used in this way please tell us BEFORE the

photograph is taken.

Here are some photographs of our outings, parties, and sporting triumphs


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What are classes at A + like?

The syllabus is designed by our Director of Studies. Teachers use their own materials for

the lesson. IF YOU want to look at any particular topics, write it down and put it in theSUGGESTION BOX on your noticeboard.

You will learn grammar, vocabulary and skills and but also do authentic ‘real-world’

tasks, fun communicative activities.

Our classes are communicative, we want you to talk to each other as much as

possible (therefore, you might feel the teacher talks less than you expect).

Our school is fun, friendly and supportive but balanced with a serious attitude to

learning and language improvement.

Lessons are student-focussed, which means we encourage you to talk about your

own experiences, knowledge and needs in class.

Class is not a competition and teachers will encourage everyone to talk and answer

questions equally. We encourage students to become more independent and to work things out for

themselves rather than relying on the teacher to explain everything.

As we want students to grow more confident in the English they use, the teacher may

not check or correct everything you say/write.

We want you to continue learning outside of class. To help you with this we give you

homework and you can also practise English on A+ school trips.

Your level and your progress

We always try and match you to the right level and have exams every four weeks tohelp us decide if you are still in the right class for your level or whether you need to

move up into the next class.

Our teachers will do everything they can to help you improve. BUT, in the end, it is up

to you how much you improve – how hard you work, what you do outside class, how

fast you usually learn, etc.

For long-term students: People improve and go up levels at different speeds. At higher

levels, it can take longer to reach the next level. You might find you need to do two

cycles of our syllabus at some levels; this isn’t a bad thing – sometimes we need to

repeat things to remember them.


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Our homework policy

We would like you to complete a homework journal. Here you will write about your

goals, find ways to improve your language outside class, keep records of your workand think about how you use the grammar, vocabulary, etc. you learn outside class.

You are now here in the UK so we think that the best ‘homework’ is to use this

opportunity to speak with people and use what you learn in different places outsidethe class. Remember, that any practice outside class of what you have learnt is

‘homework’ and is helping you improve and so we would like to see you keep a

record – that you can be proud of – of how you’ve improved and what you’ve

achieved both in the school and in the UK. This is important because good learners

are independent in how they learn and can think about their learning. It can also help

you and your teachers meet your personal goals and your teachers can help set extra

work for you.

Recommended books

Grammar - English Grammar in Use – Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced

Oxford Practice Grammar – Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced

Practical Grammar – Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 (Elementary-Intermediate)

Oxford Living Grammar – Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Upper

intermediate

Vocabulary - Oxford Word Skills - Basic, Intermediate, Advanced

English Vocabulary in Use – Elementary – Advanced

Idioms in Use / Idioms Organiser

Pronunciation - English Pronunciation in Use – Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced

IELTS - IELTS Foundation Study Skills

New Insight into IELTS

Tips for IELTS


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Our courses

Exams you can take while in the UK

There are many different exams you can take while you are in the UK.

One of the most popular exams that students take is IELTS. If you want to

go to university or get a job in an English-speaking country, they will

often ask for your IELTS score.

At A+, in the afternoon classes you will sometimes look at skills needed

for the IELTS exam and, also, we occasionally put on extra sessions for

IELTS skills after class.

If you would like to book an IELTS exam at any testing centre in the UK, please see a

member of the Admin department in the common room between 1pm – 1.30pm Monday to

Friday.

There are many other exams you can take whilst in the UK. These include the Cambridge

exams KET, PET, FCE, CAE and CPE. There are also exams like the GESE and PTE. If you would

like any information on any of these exams, please see your teacher or Neil, or if would like to

book a test, please see a member of the Admin department in the common room between

1pm – 1.30pm Monday to Friday.

General English

General English: 15 hours a week, Monday – Friday 9:30 – 12:45.

Intensive English with Exam Focus (IELTS) and Skills: 21 hours per week, mornings and

afternoons 9:30 – 3:00.

Intensive English with Academic Focus: 27 hours per week, mornings and afternoons,

please see sample timetable for academic class times.

General English and Teacher Development: 15 hours per week General English and six

hours per week teaching methodology.

Individual Classes

We are able to provide individual classes (one to one classes) to suit a specific language

need. We are also able to consider exclusive group classes with particular requirements.

Please speak to a member of the Admin department for further details.


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Some more important information for your stay in the UK

Police,Fire,Ambulance service: In an emergency ( where there is a threat to life or

major incident ) call 999 . For non-emergency Police service call 101

Emergency School Out of Hours Phone Number: (please ONLY in an emergency)

Please call the Director of A+ English, Zoe Graham: 07714 014054

Driving in the UK – To drive a car in the UK you need a driving licence, car insurance, car tax,

and the car must have an MOT certificate. If you have a driving licence issued in the EU, you

can use this to drive in the UK. If your license is from a non-EU country, you can drive in the UKfor 12 months. You have to apply for a UK driving licence after this time.

Local facilities – There are many different shops, cafes, pubs, banks and

pharmacies on Ecclesall Rd. There is also a post office on Sharrow Vale Rd

(next to Ecclesall Rd). There is a bus stop right outside the school. You

can catch buses 81, 82, 83 or 88 to go the city centre.

Accommodation and living in Sheffield - If you have any questions about homestay or

renting a house in Sheffield, please speak to Donna in the office and we will help you find

somewhere to live.

The British Council provides a lot of information to help you make the most of your stay in Britain.

You can find advice on their website: http://www.educationuk.org/UK/Life-in-the-UK

Leisure - Try these websites to find out what to do while you are in Sheffield, or ask any member

of staff.

http://www.itchysheffield.co.uk/

http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186364-Activities-Sheffield_South_Yorkshire_England.html

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/yorkshire/sheffield/things-to-do

http://www.itchysheffield.co.uk/http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--abouthttp://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--abouthttp://www.itchysheffield.co.uk/


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Healthcare while you are in the UK

We hope you won’t have any health issues while you’re with us in the UK. But

if you do then our health services are very accessible, and many internationalstudents are entitled to free and subsidised treatment on the NHS (NationalHealth Service). If not and you require international student health insurance,

you can still make use of the UK’s excellent health ser vices.

Doctor (GP) - If you are ill and need a doctor, you can register with a GP

(General Practitioner) near your house. You can also go to the Sheffield NHS Walk-In Centre

at 75 Broad Lane, Sheffield, S1 3PB. Open 8am - 10pm Telephone: 0114 241 2700

Hospitals - If you need emergency care, Sheffield has two hospitals that have accident and

emergency (A&E) departments.

For minor injuries (less serious injuries, such as sprains, cuts and grazes) go to Sheffield MinorInjuries Unit, B Floor, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF Open: 8am -

8pm Tel: 0114 271 2071

For serious injuries, go to Northern General Hospital, Herries Road,

Sheffield, S5 7AU.

Dial 999 only if the problem is life-threatening. All treatment that saves

your life in an emergency is free on the NHS.

These are for adults, but Sheffield has its own children’s hospital if you

have a child who needs emergency medical help. Sheffield Children's

Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TH

Before you travel to the UK If you are undergoing medical treatment, have pre-

existing serious health issues before you travel, or if you

are registered as disabled, we advise you to bring your

current prescriptions and a doctor’s report (translated into

English). This is to ensure you can get the help you need

while in the UK.

Your documents should give details of your condition, all

treatment and medication you require, plus any

assistance you will need while you study in the UK. When you arrive for UK study, you may be

asked to produce health certificates detailing your vaccinations. If you are coming from a

tuberculosis (TB) high-risk area, a chest x-ray report may also be required. It’s a good idea to

carry these documents in your hand luggage, as you may have to show them before

passing through UK immigration.

Ask the British Embassy or High Commission in your home country what inoculations you need

to be admitted to study in the UK. To find your nearest office visit the FCO (Foreign and

Commonwealth Office) website www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-

anembassy

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-an-embassy/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-an-embassy/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-anembassyhttp://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-anembassyhttp://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-anembassyhttp://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-anembassyhttp://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-anembassyhttp://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-anembassyhttp://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-an-embassy/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-an-embassy/


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Health services for UK international students

You may be entitled to free or subsidised treatment in the UK under

the National Health Service (NHS). Your UK course needs to be at least

six months in duration to be eligible, although free emergency

treatment may be available if you are here for less time.

If you’re a national or resident of an EEA (European Economic Area) country, you will receive

these benefits regardless of how long your UK course is. This also applies if you are an

international student studying a full-time course in Scotland.

To find out if you are entitled to NHS services in the UK visit the Department of Health website.

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074379

If you are not entitled to NHS treatment you should take out international student health

insurance before you leave home or as soon as you arrive to study in the UK.

Keeping healthy while you study in the UK

You can keep healthy in the UK the same way you do at home:

eat nutritious foods (so lots of fruit and veg!)

exercise regularly (not just turning pages of your books or surfing

the web!)

get enough sleep (as we say in the UK, “early to bed and early to rise,

makes someone healthy, wealthy and wise!”)

While you’re meeting so many new people as an international student you may be more

likely to catch colds and fevers, so take plenty of vitamin C. Herbal supplements such as

Echinacea, which you can buy from Health shops, are also a safe and effective immune

system booster. Of course, exercise always helps to strengthen your immune system, so why

not join a college gym or sports team? You can meet new people at the same time as

keeping fit.

Remedies for minor illnesses such as headaches and colds are available from high street

chemists, most supermarkets and some other shops. They are available without a doctor’s

prescription. If you are not sure what medication to take, rather than visiting your doctor, you

can get advice from a qualified pharmacist at any chemist.

The nearest pharmacy to the school is:

Lo Pharmacy421 Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S11 8PG, 0114 266 0976

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/index.htmhttp://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/index.htm


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HOMESTAYIf you are aged 18 and above and would like to live in your ownroom in a British home, see Donna in the office. Your homestay

will give you breakfast and an evening meal during the week, andall meals at the weekend. Staying with a British family is an

excellent way to practise English and it will make your time in the

UK more fun. Our homestays come in all shapes and sizes so youmight be staying with a family with children, or you might be

staying with a retired couple. If you need any special food or have

any special dietary requirements, tell us and we will try to place you with a family that can

help you, however we cannot guarantee that every request for accommodation can be met.

If you have any questions about any of these issues, please speak to Donna.

Introduction

A+ homestay families are chosen very carefully. Families are given a set

of guidelines to make sure they know what is expected of them andwhat they are required to provide. All students are treated as a

member of the household and meals are eaten together. The common

living areas of the house are also shared.

Accommodation with families is half board from Mon to Fri (you get

breakfast and dinner) and full board at weekends (you get breakfast,

lunch and dinner). It is polite to offer to help around the house in Britain

e.g. washing up, keeping your room clean. Remember that you are

staying with a family, not in a hotel!

You will not stay in the same homestay as someone else who speaks the same native

language as you (unless you ask us). You must speak English in your homestay.

All our homestay hosts provide:

a clean home in a good state of repair

heating and lighting

a private bedroom with a window

a table so you can study and somewhere to put your clothes

access to a bathroom (this will probably be a shared bathroom)

clean towels and bed linen each week

blankets or duvets

your homestay family will either wash your clothes for you, or teach you how to wash

them yourself

A typical daily routine in Sheffield is:

07.00-08.00 Get up, have breakfast – often cereal, toast and tea/coffee

08.00-08.30 Go to work or school

09.00 Shops, offices and schools open

12.00 Average 1 hour lunch break

15.30-16.00 Schools close

17.00 Offices and shops usually close

18.00-18.30 Evening meal (main meal of the day)

19.00-10.00 Socialising midweek

10.00-12.00 Go to bed


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Host family Rules

Alcohol

You must be18 and over to buy and drink alcohol.

Drugs

It is illegal for anyone to take, buy or sell drugs, e.g. cannabis, cocaine, heroin

Curfew

If you are going to be late for your meal, you must tell your homestay family. You also have

to tell them approximately when you will be home. Your homestay family must be told if youwill be very late home at night.

The door must be locked behind you when you come in at night.

Inviting friends to the homestay

If you want to invite friends home, you must ask the homestay family in advance. You should

also ask where you can entertain visitors.

Keys

The homestay family will give you a key to the house and you must be careful not to lose it.

Don’t keep the key and the address of your homestay family in the same place. If you lose

the key, you must tell your homestay family immediately.

Smoking

You must be 18 or over to buy tobacco in the UK. Smoking is not allowed inmost homestay family houses. The homestay family must ALWAYS be asked.

It is illegal to smoke in public buildings in the UK.

Medical/Health

If you need to go to the doctor or dentist, tell your homestay family. They will then book you

an appointment with their own doctor or dentist.

If you are allergic to anything, please tell the office and your homestay family.

Safety and Personal Valuables

If you lose your wallet, purse or bag, you should tell your homestay familyimmediately.

You must not walk home alone late at night. Even when you are not alone,

you must not hitchhike or accept lifts from strangers.

You must carry identification with you at all times.

Damage

If you damage or break anything in your homestay family’s house, you will have to pay for it

to be repaired or replaced.

Telephones

You must ask your homestay family before using their telephone and followtheir rules about using it in the future.


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Living in rented accommodation

If you would prefer to live in your own house or flat, you can rent these from a private

landlord. You will need to rent a furnished property. There are many things to think about

before deciding to rent.

While living in rented accommodation, you are responsible for

paying rent to your landlord. You have to sign a contract to say

that you will live there for a period of time (usually 6 months or

a year). You may also need to pay a service charge for

maintenance of shared areas, such as the garden and

corridors.

You also need to pay for gas used to heat your home and

electricity to power lights, the fridge etc. Ask your landlord which energy companies supply

gas and electricity to your home and tell them that you live there. The companies will then

send you bills which must be paid by the date in the letter.

You need to pay a monthly charge for water to Yorkshire Water. Call them to tell them you

have moved into the property on 0845 1242424.

You are also responsible for paying any council tax due on the property. However, as youare a student, you might not have to pay. Ask in the office for a council tax letter to prove

you are a student. You can give that letter to the council. If you live with someone else who

is not a student, they will still have to pay council tax.

To watch TV in the UK, you need a licence. Go to http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk

or call 0300 790 6131 to buy a TV license.

Other things to think about are that you will have to cook for

yourself so you need to go shopping for food and allow money for

food in your budget. You need to wash all your clothes yourself sowill need to buy washing powder and know how to work the

washing machine.

Living on your own or with other people who do not speak English

means that you will not be practising English as much as students

who live in homestay accommodation. You might not learn as

much English if you decide to live in rented accommodation as you will not be practising

every day.

If you have any problems with your rented accommodation, please contact Donna foradvice.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/


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Holidays and Changing your Course

If you want to book a holiday or make any alterations to your course, you must fill in a

Change of Course Details form, available from the Admin office.

If you want time off for any religious holidays, ask us in the office.

Holiday leave entitlement depends on the length of time you are studying:

Up to 6 weeks’ study – no holiday entitlement.

7 to 12 weeks’ study – 1 week holiday entitlement (5 days)

13 to 26 weeks’ study – 3 weeks’ holiday entitlement (15 days)

27 to 52 weeks’ study – 6 weeks’ holiday entitlement (30 days)

No more than 2 weeks’ holiday can be taken at any one time. You must give a minimum 2

weeks’ notice if you would like to request a holiday. If you are sponsored by yourgovernment, you must get written permission from your supervisor if you want to take a

holiday of 1 week or more.

If you have any other questions about holidays or absence, or if you want to change your

course, please speak to a member of the Admin department.

If you are sick, late or need to contact the school for any reason please phone the school on

this number:

Telephone: 0114 2096292

If you need to contact us by email: [email protected]

or take a look at our website: www.aplusenglish.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.aplusenglish.co.uk/http://www.aplusenglish.co.uk/http://www.aplusenglish.co.uk/http://www.aplusenglish.co.uk/mailto:[email protected]


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Looking to the Future

Are you are getting to the end of your course here at A+ and are not sure what you are

going to do next? If you want any advice about the next steps in your studies, please speakto anyone in the office. Don’t forget we have pathway partnerships with many universities for

Foundation and Pre-Masters courses.

Problems

If you have any problems with your course:

1) Speak to your teacher.

2) If your teacher cannot help, they will tell Artemis or Neil about your problem.

3) If Artemis or Neil cannot help, they will speak to Zoe about your problem and she will

decide what to do.

If you have any other problems, speak to Neil or Artemis and we will help you find a solution.

Complaints

We are confident that you will love your time at A+ English. However, if you do have a

complaint please follow the following guidelines.

If your complaint is about your class:

* Please don’t make your complaint during class time because it disturbs the c lass. Ask to

speak to your teacher after class and tell them then.

* If you still have a problem after you speak to your teacher, make an appointment to see

Neil, our Director of Studies, who will listen to your problem and tell you his decision.* If you are not happy with Neil’s decision you can talk to our Director, Zoe.

If your complaint is about administration or facilities

* Go to the office and make an appointment to talk about a complaint. The person you

speak to will then tell you later in the week what they can do about your complaint.

* If you are still not happy after this meeting, you can appeal to Zoe (the Director of the

school).

If you would like to put your complaint in writing, there is a complaint form at the back of this

handbook.


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Expulsion policy

If you harass, abuse or bully any student or member of staff at A+, you may be asked to

leave the school. If you destroy any school property or anything belonging to anotherstudent, you might be asked to leave the school.

1) The Director of Studies (Neil) will have a meeting with you to discuss your behaviour.

He will send you a letter saying why your behaviour is unacceptable.

2) If you continue to behave badly, or if your behaviour is very bad, you will have

another meeting with Neil and he will give you a final warning.

3) If your behaviour is very bad, or you behave badly again, you will have a meeting

with Zoe (the Director of the school).

4) If Zoe decides that your behaviour cannot be tolerated, you will be asked to leave

the school and will be sent an expulsion letter.

If you do not agree with the outcome of these meetings, you can appeal by writing to Neil

within 5 working days.

A map of the area around the school

To get to the school from the city centre take the bus. The 81, 82, 83, 83a, 85 or 88 bus

goes from Leopold street and stops outside the school.

Our Address is:

A+ English

@ Regus

The Portergate

257 Ecclesall Road

Sheffield

S11 8NX

Look for the A+ sign in the school windows

and the Regus sign above the entrance.


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A map of the tram routes

A Sheffield CityWide Day ticket gives you unlimited bus and tram travel around Sheffield for 1

day. It can be bought on the bus or tram. You can also get CityWide 7 Day and CityWide 28

Day tickets.

Bus routes and timetables are available on the internet. Ask our staff for help or you can use

the Yorkshire Travel online journey planner: www.travelsouthyorkshire.com

We hope you will enjoy your time at A+ English.

http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/


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Notes for Muslim students

There are prayer mats available in the common room. You can pray

in any spare classroom.

Mosques in Sheffield

The nearest mosque to the school is :

Jamia Al Furqaan – 703 Abbeydale Rd, Sheffield, S7 2BE Tel: 0114 2555336

Prayer space for 100 men and women. Hanafi

Sheffield has many other mosques, including:

Allyah Jame Mosque and Cultural Centre – 9 Roundel St, Sheffield, S9 3LE Tel: 0114 2618162

Prayer space for 100 men only. Hanafi/Jamiyat-Tableegh-ul-Islam

Ar Risala Mosque - 51 Montgomery Terrace Rd, Sheffield S6 3BW Tel: 0114 2729999

Prayer space for 500 men and women. Sunni

Haqqani House Sufi Centre - 142 Machon Bank, Sheffield, S7 1GR Tel: 0114 2589408

Prayer space for 200 men and women. Dhikr and Friday Prayer

Jamia Masjid and Usmania Ed. Centre – 22 Leyburn Rd, Sheffield, S8 0XA Tel: 0114 2582070

Prayer space for 1000 men and women. Deobandi

Jamia Masjid Ghausia – Firth Park Rd, Sheffield, S5 6WN Tel: 0114 2610551

Prayer space for 600 men and 250 women

Jamia Masjid Gulzar-e-Habib – 46 Ribstone Rd, Sheffield, S9 3AY Tel: 0114 2449801

Prayer space for 200 men and 50 women. Hanafi Bareilvi

Quba Mosque and Community Centre – 120 Worksop Rd, Sheffield, S9 3TN Tel: 0114 2440235

Prayer space for 250 men and 50 women.

Sheffield Islamic Centre and Madina Mosque – 24-32 Wolseley Rd, Sheffield, S8 0ZU

Tel: 0114 2585021

Prayer space for 3500 men and women. Hanafi and Shafi’i


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Notes for Catholic Students

The nearest Catholic church to the school is:

Saint William of York

847 Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield

Tel: 0114 266 2034

There is a cathedral in the city centre:

Cathedral Church of St Marie

Cathedral House, Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2JB

Tel: 0114 272 2522

If you would like any information on other Catholic churches in Sheffield, please ask in the

office.

Notes for Christian Students

The nearest church to the school is:

Horizon Methodist Church

Ecclesall Road,

Hunters Bar,

Sheffield S11 8PR

Tel: 0114 266 8228

There are many other Christian churches of all denominations in Sheffield, including:

City Church

The Jubilee Centre, Wilson Rd, Sheffield S11 8RN

Tel: 0114 268 2555

If you would like any more information on other Christian churches in Sheffield, please ask in

the office.

Notes for Jewish students

The synagogue in Sheffield is:

Sheffield Jewish Centre

Kingfield Synagogue/127 Psalter Lane

Sheffield S11 8UX

Tel: 0114 255 2296If you would like any more information about Sheffield, please ask in the office.


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Holiday Form

Please give at least two weeks’ notice

Name………………………………………………………………….

Class…………………………………………………………………. ..

Holiday Start Date:-

Holiday End Date:-

Number of Days you are taking:-

Please fill in and return to the office

Signed ……………………………………….

Date ………………………………………….

Please note holidays are not always given


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Student Complaint Form

Date ____________________________________

Name ____________________________________

Class ____________________________________

Description of complaint:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Action requested:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

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Documents

Student Handbook 2015 - Current.pdf