Student Services
How we can help you:
- Accommodation
- Careers Advice - moving on
- Emotional support - adjusting to college
- Get involved and make a difference - the Student Union and NUS Card
- Health and Welfare matters
- Help with travel to college
- Sexual health and relationship matters
Plus much more...
Accommodation
Our Student Support Officers will try to help students with any accommodation difficulties they might experience. These can range from emergencies where a student needs somewhere to stay overnight at short notice to longer term accommodation arrangements with host family providers (available to students aged 18-25 years only). The Student Support Officers can be contacted between 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday.
Careers
The College Careers Advisor, working closely with our Connexions Personal Advisor, ensures that students have access to private and confidential careers interviews. Interviews can be booked at the Student Services Reception. The Careers Library is based on the 1st floor of Weald in the LRC, and has a wide range of careers resources. These include books, leaflets, videos and careers software. The Careers team visit tutor groups throughout the year, covering a variety of subjects: options at the end of your courses, university entrance, gap year activities and job search skills.
Counselling
We are all faced with painful situations, difficult decisions and changes at all stages of our lives and sometimes we feel unable to cope on our own. Counselling gives the opportunity to talk in confidence with a trained counsellor who is not personally involved. The college counsellor offers a free confidential service to all students. To book an appointment ring 01732 376580. You can also ask your tutor or any other member of staff to make an appointment for you. Appointments are available between 9.30am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday during term time.
Admissions, Information, Advice and Guidance
The Admissions team provide pre-entry advice and guidance to prospective students wanting to study at West Kent College. The team play an important part in the start of programme reviews. During the first four weeks of term new students will have the opportunity to discuss with their tutors and others the progress of their programme so far and if necessary to look at moving to another programme in the College. Students coming to end of their programme of study will have the opportunity to discuss and research options available to them when they complete their chosen programme of study, this could include moving on to a higher education.
Student Support
The Student Support Officers are available to help you with any situation that may arise during your time of study at West Kent College, including health matters, welfare and housing issues. They hold useful information, including lists of local doctors, dentists and Family Planning Clinics. Sexual Health Clinics are run weekly at both the Brook Street and North Farm campuses. If they don't know the answer to your question, they will try and put you in touch with somebody who does. The Student Support Officers are available 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday. A member of the Student Services team is also available at North Farm campus Monday to Thursday 9-12 am term-time in the Retreat.
Student Union
Part of college life is about having your say in the way the College is run, and with this in mind students are encouraged to join the Student Union and/or become Course Representatives on the Student Council. Participating in any of these activities will help you make new friends and your ideas and suggestions could make a difference. Application forms and more information can be obtained from the Student Services Reception in Goudhurst.
Student Finance
Our Student Finance Advisors are here to offer advice and information on all aspects of student finance. They administer the Learner Support Fund and authorise the weekly EMA and ALG payments. They are able to assist with many issues surrounding financial support including form filling, short term loans and money management. Members of the team are available 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday, including during College holiday time. At North Farm Monday - Thursday 9-12 am term-time in the Retreat.
Student Welfare
The Welfare Team are available to help you with any situation that may arise during your time of study at West Kent College, including health matters, personal and emotional support, welfare and housing issues. They hold useful information, including lists of local doctors, dentists and Family Planning Clinics. Sexual Health Clinics are run weekly at both the Brook Street and North Farm campuses. If they don't know the answer to your question, they will try and put you in touch with somebody who does. The Student Support Officers are available 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday.
If things don't go to plan
As a student you will be issued with a Student Diary. The front section of this diary has been designed as a student handbook. The information contained within these pages is intended as a guide to direct you if you are unhappy about something or if things go wrong. There is a range of official documents available from Student Services explaining the procedure for different events; these include the College Charter, the Complaints Procedure, the Disciplinary Procedure and the Code of Conduct. If there is something you are concerned about or unhappy with please see the Student Services Manager in the first instance. She will be happy to discuss your situation and advise on the next course of action you should take. You can contact the Student Services Manager via the Student Services Reception desk between 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday.
Confidentiality
We are very aware that some of the situations you find yourself in, and issues around your studies, are private. We pride ourselves on the level of professionalism we are able to offer and we can assure all students that any matters discussed with a member of the Student Services team will be treated in the strictest confidence. If a situation arises that does require us involving a third party we would ask your permission before any contact is made. All College staff are required to abide by the Data Protection Act 1998 and as such we are unable to divulge any information about you to anyone else without your permission.
How to contact us...
You can contact members of the team in person via the reception areas in Goudhurst . You can email Admissions at
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and Student Support and Welfare at
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You can also find out more from our pages on Moodle.
How are we doing?
We really value your comments so let us know how we are doing. You can fill in one of our smiley face cards available from reception or the Retreat at North Farm or just drop us an email.
