Support for students

When you join us, you will be assigned a personal development teacher, who will teach your weekly personal development lessons. The College Personal Development curriculum is designed to prepare students for independent adulthood, higher education, and successful entry into the professional world of performing arts and beyond. You will learn how to make informed, responsible choices in high-pressure contexts. You will develop resilience, self-awareness, and coping strategies to thrive in your artistic and personal lives.  

Also linked to personal development, each student will be assigned a member of the inclusion team who will meet you regularly for a target-setting meeting, to monitor attendance and punctuality and to signpost you to any people across college who may be able to support your individual needs.

Your teachers and visiting industry professionals will be important contacts and sources of support and guidance during your studies. They will provide you with regular feedback on your progress, and teach and guide you towards achieving the vocational and professional goals you identify. They are also important sources of information about careers and degree courses.

We provide our students with a comprehensive programme of careers guidance.

This includes:

• Support with applying to universities via UCAS
• Support with applying to conservatoires through CUCAS
• Guidance with the application and decision making process
• Support with reflective tasks such as personal statements and CV building
• The opportunity to attend relevant higher education fairs
• Work experience opportunities
• independent careers advice

Our careers and university support is delivered through regular, in-house drop-in sessions for students. Progress tutors also spend time with students outside of tutorials, offering support on applications and on personal statements.

As well as attending large-scale events such as ‘UCAS Create your Future’, we also run our own careers event on site. These events are attended by leading higher education institutions giving students the chance to speak directly with universities and conservatoires.

Our emphasis on progression means students are encouraged to seek out opportunities to improve their employability skills within the safe environment of the college. This involves responding to live briefs, often set by external organisations, such as music gigs, dance performances or design competitions.

At the beginning of your course, you will receive more information on how to join our elected Student Council, who are actively involved in decision-making, organising social action events, and to bring a student perspective to the overall organisation and daily life of the college. Our Assistant Principal for Curriculum & Quality will meet with student reps from each course and facilitate 'Learner Voice' focus groups where students can speak openly about their experience of LIPA Sixth Form College as well as how it could be improved even further. 

We welcome applications from everyone with a passion for the creative and performing arts. If you have additional needs, a disability or medical needs, we would advise you to let us know about these early in the application cycle. We would encourage you to come and meet Lyndsey Healey, Assistant Principal (SENDCO) at one of our open days or to reach out to her by telephone or by email at l.healey@lipasixthformcollege.org to discuss how we can support at the pre-application stage.

Early contact with our Inclusion staff helps us to work proactively with you and parents before your interview / audition to ensure that the right personalised adjustments are put in place to help you show your full potential and aptitude for the course you are interested in. If you have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), please share a copy of this at the point of applying, so that we can use it to support us to consider possible reasonable adjustments at the interview / audition to help you perform at your best in the interview/audition.

Once you have been offered a place with us, if you have declared a support need, please expect our SENDCO or Inclusion team to contact you early in the summer term before you start college to help plan for transition and to develop plans for your support. College has a dedicated Cubbie, a sensory and emotional regulation space, for students with sensory and emotional needs; a team of highly Learning Support Assistants (HLTAs) who support across the different departments. Inclusion is a key focus and strength on the college leadership team, with two qualified SENDCOs among the four senior leaders.

You will enjoy a wide range of opportunities to enrich your learning and professional development beyond your study programme. For example, past enrichment activities have included directing, scriptwriting, choir, ukulele club, events management, drama and improvisation, poetry, gospel choir, cookery classes and meditation and relaxation. While studying at LIPA Sixth Form College, you will have the chance to:

• contribute to the production of performances on various scales, such as internal performances in our own Willy Russell Studio Theatre or at an external performing arts venue or event
• participate in masterclasses, seminars and workshops led by leading professionals who may also provide extended teaching for performance projects. This might involve you taking direction from a commercial dance choreographer or a West End director
• engage in community arts productions, social action projects and be involved with the wider community as an integral part of our activities
• attend performances and masterclasses at LIPA and at other creative and performing venues across Liverpool and further afield
• participate in activities which help you develop morally, culturally, and spiritually

In addition to your studies, you will also be offered the opportunity to carry out work experience both in college and outside. Placements can be arranged to complement areas related to your studies and/or career ambitions. These opportunities will give you valuable experience across a range of activities both within and outside your chosen pathway. We will also provide ongoing information and support to help you decide what to do when you leave us.