Runshaw College - Leyland Campus

Decent college, but worryingly it's focused almost entirely on its reputation as a college, and much less on their actual students. Feels like to them you were just another number and if you underperformed you were a discredit to the college. The "help" provided if you were falling behind in subjects was minimal, and whatever "help" was provided was moreso you were brought in on your Study Day, and just sat in a lesson whilst still no real help was provided.

Go here if you're smart, and you can upkeep the reputation of the college, but otherwise don't expect to enjoy it.

Best part of the College was absolutely the food. Those Cookies are delicious. Shoutout to any and all of the staff at the food stations too, they hated being there just as much as the students did. Top quality banter.

My daughter attended this college September 2019 and as we all know only attended for nearly 6 months, only to be told she could not continue with the next level as they thought she would "struggle". She was completing the PPP course to which they decided to get rid of her after 6 months. Do not attend this college if you want to pursue a career you will only get thrown out. Never recommend this college, they will only knock your son or daughters confidence if they attend this college. Discusting!

DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU NEED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. The counselling is basic and counsellors have limited knowledge on mental health issues. I found myself spending the 50 minutes of my session educating the counsellor. As an autistic student i need extra support and despite me having a support plan put in place, Teachers don’t take the time to read it and get it wrong frequently. The head of my studies has also got this wrong and seems to be a lot more concerned about the overall figures of the college than student well-being. I have multiple friends at the college who have also experienced this treatment. The college seem to express concern then give multiple warnings and threaten to kick out disabled and mentally ill students when their symptoms show. There needs to be a lot more teaching given to staff (including head of studies) covering disabilities and mental conditions as there seems to be a very archaic understanding of these issues. They will threaten you when you show symptoms and accuse you of being a risk to yourself or others. Accusing autistic students of “not being fit” to study at college when they need extra time away from class due to issues like sensory overload. Don’t brand yourself as an inclusive college when this is what students with extra needs face.

Don’t get me wrong I have some amazing tutors and have received some good support from the study support department of college. However, what use is this when my place at college is being threatened over things I cannot control. I know i’m not the only student that has experienced this either.

I am going to be very critical of this college as it is after all one of the best colleges on paper in the UK . This is a college for “ most abilities” to thrive . As long as you actually want to do well and spend enough time learning , then you will do reasonably well . The teachers have a very high skill level , And they really know what they’re doing . I can understand my next point isn’t easy to achieve as there’s simply too many students . But these teachers are here because what they do is easy and fun for them . And it is their responsibility to inspire and put the right attention in the right places . It shouldn’t be a case of , if the student is uninterested then there is no point “wasting time” appointing them with attention and help . Some students have aspirations and want to do well just as much as the students that find it easier than them . However some students have external factors in their life that doesn’t make learning as easy and fun as it should be . By definition, a real teacher (anywhere in this world) is someone who is passionate and ABLE to adapt their teachings and methods to inspire absolutely all pupils / visitors / bystanders that have exposed contact time with them . Hence they should be focusing on the weakest people in class and either asking them the right questions or simply providing more support for them . It’s not easy , but I’m sure as most teachers have been selected as they are the best of the best , then this is something that requires small amount of practise and something that is manageable . Don’t waste potential of teens that didn’t receive the right help . The person that actually inspired me most in college was my mentor . I would love to bring more attention to her name as she showed that she truly cared about each and every one of her students, but out of respect I will keep her name anonymous. Her effort and attention towards us as pupils was very respectable .I understand to manage these large amount of students , mentors are a clear necessity . And every year this college will improve further and do better because there is enough care towards the mistakes that are made . I want to finish my statement with saying that I have no hate towards any teachers and I think every single one of them are awesome in their own ways . As an experience and learning opportunity I took away the right lessons . But I want to give a challenge to all teachers that are in the college . “If you could come up with a one minute presentation about the material you love to teach in order to inspire a single person that doesn’t want to be in that room , how would you do it ?”

Indirect discrimination and zero empathy: If you have autism, severe depression or anything similar to bipolar, you will not be accepted at this college; even as an adult.

For the past near enough 8 months, I've been either completely ignored when I've needed help on the course I'm trying to do or patronised. I am struggling with severe depression and it shows with whomever I'm around.

However, instead of being helpful, they just tip toe around me, completely ignoring me; demonstrating just how very rude and uneducated they are.

I'm persevering with the subject that I'm trying to study because it's giving me something productive to focus on. But instead, just when I'm starting to feel more confident, I'm then shunned all over again and made to feel completely inadequate.

Overrated college.During the pandemic they were not well prepared at all unlike other colleges who were well prepared. Teachers only provided students with power point presentations for students to learn by themselves, not even live lessons on ms teams until later in the year. And YouTube videos for maths lessons? Support given to 2nd years was very minimal but Runshaw college seems to only care about their reputation. Too much pressure on students. Their grade boundaries are too high, a 95% for an for A grade? Is this some kind of joke? Why are they doing this when these Children learned almost everything by themselves? As a parent I witnessed my daughter in her breakdowns. It was all very damaging for a child’s mental health. Teacher Assessed Grading wasn’t done smartly at all either. Wouldn’t recommend this college at all.

If you have mental health needs , do not go to this college. The way they discriminated against my mental health was awful. The first year I was fine enjoying college and getting good grades. They accused me of being a risk to myself when I wasn’t. Which therefore, they kicked me out for it. Saying they “couldn’t mitigate my risk” honestly it’s a disgrace. Same goes for disabilities or health needs , do not come here , because I have no doubt about it that it will happen again. Ironic isn’t it, kicking me out for my mental health , on world mental health day! Awful.

If you are thinking of going to Runshaw and grades isn't the only thing you care about don't go find somewhere good the time table is messed up you have 3 or 4 lessons in a row without breaks all 70 minutes long lunch times are different for people free periods are times where all your other friends are in lessons and you walk around doing nothing cause you did your homework at home. The teachers are okay but some are really dull and don't want to be there. The whole place is filled with emos. The food is overpriced, your lunch break is 50 minutes and it takes at least 40 minutes to get served with food so you have 10 minutes to eat then back to lessons there are no other breaks. Most of the people in my experience don't like the college and wish they didn't go there. Overall if you want to be happy there and grades isn't the only thing on your mind I don't recomend going there at all.

You don't have to take this advice but this has been my experience at runshaw but I would never recommend this college to anyone