3 steps to becoming a student at Blackpool and The Fylde College

• Step 1: Application
• Step 2: Interview / Offer
• Step 3: Enrolment

Step 1: Applying for a course in Further Education

As soon as you know what course you want to do, complete our application form in full and return to us as early as possible to avoid disappointment. You can get an application form by:

• Download a printable version here
• Phone our Course Enquiries Team on 01253 504343
• Email your request to info@blackpool.ac.uk (please include your full name, address and date of birth in your email)
• Collect a form from our Admissions Office, located in the Customer Services Hub at Bispham Campus

It is important that you give us as much clear information as you can when completing the application form so that we can provide an efficient service for you. Please check that you have included the following information:

• Your full name, address and a contact number
• The full name of the course you are applying for
• The code of the course you are applying for
• The qualifications you have and/or are currently studying

It is a good idea to keep a copy of your application form in case you need to refer to it later. Please return your completed application form to:

Admissions, Blackpool and The Fylde College, FREEPOST SCE 15559, Bispham Campus, Blackpool, FY2 0UR

If you do not hear from us within 14 days, then please call Admissions on 01253 504342, 01253 504335 or 01253 504195.

If you are unsure about what course to take then please contact our Careers Advice Office, on 01253 504351

The Admissions team will allocate an interview date for you. We will send this to you by post two weeks before.

Application Deadline

The advisory application deadlines for full-time, Further Education courses are:-

• 22 April - for all Construction courses
• 31 May - for all other courses

Don’t worry if you miss the above deadline, you can still apply. It just means that we cannot guarantee you an interview date (or an assessment, if required for your course) before enrolment. Applications for Health and Social Care Cadetships received after 31 May will not be considered for Sept 2011. However, applications for Sept 2012, can be submitted from October 2011 onwards.

Step 2: Interviews / Offer

Most applicants that apply for full time courses are invited to attend an interview at the College. The interviews are an informal meeting with our course tutors. They will give you more detailed information about the course and further options so you know if the course you have chosen is the right one.

Our interviews start early November to end of June each year and take place on a Tuesday usually on a fortnightly basis.

It is most important that you attend the interview and we will send you a reminder by text message the day before your interview.

The interview is for you:

• to discuss your reasons for applying and what you hope to do after completing the course
• to demonstrate your knowledge, interest and enthusiasm (show us what we can expect of you if you get a place)

Interview procedures can vary for some courses if you have an interview with;

• Art and Design - please bring a portfolio of your artwork to your interview
• Photography - please bring a portfolio of photographic images to your interview
• Performing Arts - you will be attend an audition, which includes an interview. Please select and learn a piece from the list below;
  • After Juliet
  • A Small Dragon
  • Can you keep a secret
  • Jim Who Ran away from his Nurse and was Eaten by a Lion
  • The Way through the Woods
  You will need to prepare and perform this at the audition. We ask you to bring loose clothing (trousers or track suit pants but no skirts) and indoor footwear for your audition.
• Music – the interview includes an audition so please prepare a 2-minute audition piece of your own choice and bring your musical instrument with you. If you play drums, you will only need to bring sticks and if you are a piano/keyboard player, you can use of the College’s keyboards
• Media – if possible please bring a film portfolio, photographs and any written film ideas or work that you have
• Most of our courses –require you to be interviewed first and then you will be asked to take an initial assessment during the first week in June. Further information will be given at interview

Your parent(s),guardian(s),teacher or carer (if applicable) are welcome to join you at the interview if you wish but the course tutor will want time to speak to you on your own. For any assessments the person with you will not be able to accompany you.

If you have booked an interview on-line and then find later you are unable to attend then please phone the Admissions Office so we can cancel it. Then just book another suitable date again on-line.

During your interview the tutor will make a decision on your application and you will be informed of this at the end and given a white copy of the Interview Form IV1 stating the details.

The Admissions Office will then confirm this decision in writing and inform you of the dates during August for you to come in to College to enrol.

Types of Offer or alternative decision

• Unconditional Offer – although this means a definite offer of a place, you must still come and enrol with us at your pre-arranged enrolment time to guarantee your place.
• Conditional Offer - means an offer of a place providing you achieve or exceed the required qualifications stated on your copy of the Interview Form. These conditions may include you taking an assessment and/or practical tasks after your interview. You must also come and enrol with us at your pre-arranged enrolment session in August to guarantee your place.
• Referred - means the course tutor does not think the course is right for you and has suggested an alternative. We will try to sort this for you on the same day, however if it is at one of our other campuses, please book another interview or taster session on-line.

After the interview if you are still unsure if the course is the right one for you, we suggest you contact your careers teacher at school, Connexions or our own careers team on 01253 504351.

Step 3: Enrolment

Important: All offer letters have a reply slip on the bottom. Please complete this slip and return in the prepaid envelope to accept your place. You can also phone us on 01253 5043-42/35/22 or email us at admissions@blackpool.ac.uk (including your full name, date of birth and the name of the course).

Important: For those with Conditional Offers, enrolment normally starts in the third week of August when GCSE results are released. Please be available during this time to come in to College to enrol as we cannot reserve places and we don’t want you to lose out. Please remember this if booking any holidays during August.

We will send you an invitation to attend enrolment at the beginning of August. This will show a specific time and date to come in to the College to enrol. You must let the admissions office know immediately if you cannot attend your pre-arranged time and an alternative may be available but this is not guaranteed.

Please familiarise yourself with our admissions terms and conditions before beginning your application