Bilborough College

good course selection and the teachers in the biology department are excellent. too much homework is often set across classes - some teachers seem to forget that students have other classes they have to do work for too and set 6 hours+ of work in a single class for a week. i haven’t really used many of the college’s social spaces but they seem good for big groups of friends. the building itself is very modern with no damage, and it has an amazing library. the college bus is overpriced for the service you get - i paid for it in my first year and the bus was regularly really late in the mornings and broke down often. apparently the counsellor waiting list is extremely long too, but i haven’t looked into the service at all. however there are helplines for mental health services in the bathrooms and the staff seem very into helping relieve stress. i haven’t tried much of the food but costa is quite expensive so be careful if you’re planning on buying your lunches.

This is a brilliant college from what I have experienced.

The choice of courses is very broad and there is definitely something for everyone here. Compared to other local colleges and sixth forms, I think it is easily the best.

The building layout is also something to talk about. It’s simple to understand and so much easier to navigate compared to some others I went to before selecting my college. There is a clear one way system that most students seem to obey, and elevators should you need them.

The classes themselves - or the ones I take - are very informative and the way they are presented makes it easy to understand new concepts and ideas. Some teachers are especially helpful, giving trigger warnings before showing disturbing content (domestic violence campaign advertisements) and making sure students are comfortable in class.

I cant comment on the food as I don’t eat on site, but I’m sure you can look at @bilborough_chips on Instagram to get an idea.

The majority of the students are friendly and nice, and I have yet to see any discrimination within the college.

The college is also great with getting students access to learning support, counselling, and wellbeing. They are quick to offer things such as extra time for students who may need it - even without a prior assessment. Tutors also regularly check up on you, should you need support.

The only negative thing I can name is the counsellor. It’s a bit of a joke at times, and seems like a bunch of ‘try to think about the good things’ crap. Some students need actual help and solutions to their problems, so I wouldn’t recommend it if that’s what your after. They should definitely start something similar that will offer advice though.