A PLACE TO STUDY

Notre Dame offers courses at foundation level 1, level 2 and 3.
With over thirty A-level subjects, GCSEs, and a variety of vocational
courses, there is real choice and great flexibility when it comes to
choosing the course that will suit you best.

The college takes a great deal of pride in its examination results.
The pass rate in the majority of A level subjects has been over 90%
each year since we opened. Our latest results show 36 of 37 A level
subjects with a pass rate in excess of 90% and in 29 subjects,
no failures at all! We have an average of 51% grades A and B at
advanced level. The excellent pass rate in vocational subjects has
never fallen below 90% and has been 100% for the past three years.
Notre Dame has figured in the national newspapers as one of the
top colleges in the country for examination results for several years
and was named by the Chief Inspector of Schools in his annual
report as “a particularly successful college”. We are particularly
pleased that our “value added” score over the past three years puts
us in the top 10% of all schools and colleges in the country.
The vast majority of our students go on to study for a degree at
university, including a number each year who go to Oxford and
Cambridge. Much time is spent in advising students personally. An
Open Day and individual interviews make it easier for you to choose
the right course at the outset. There is no doubt that Notre Dame
will give you a good education and enhance your chances of going
to university or finding employment. But it is far more than that...

A PLACE WHERE YOU WILL BE LOOKED AFTER
Notre Dame is a Catholic college with a strong tradition of pastoral
care for students. There is a weekly tutorial programme, and a daily
tutorial session when tutors are available to give out important
information about what is happening in college.

Topics covered include study and revision tips, careers advice, and
going to university. The General Studies programme is also delivered
via the Tutorial Programme. The college employs full-time Careers
and Educational Advisors so Careers advice is available throughout
the day. Extensive guidance is offered by staff and outside speakers
to lead you through the complicated process of university
application.

Tutorial time part-way through Upper Sixth is given over to revision
classes for students who want to go over parts of the course that
they may have found difficult. This is on a one-to-one basis and
can be invaluable in the run-up to the final exams.
The college is committed to supporting the study needs of all
students. Students wishing to develop their study skills e.g. time
management, literacy and numeracy can do so by accessing Study
Link. Trained staff will help you to design an individual programme
of learning that you will then work through together. You can
arrange sessions yourself or through discussion with any of your
teachers.

A PLACE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND DISCOVER NEW INTERESTS
Our students come from a wide range of schools throughout the
region, and we have a number of international students from as far
away as China, Vietnam or South America. They bring a wealth of
different backgrounds, culture and traditions, and so at Notre Dame
there is a wonderful opportunity to meet different people and make
new friends.

Outside of the classroom, there is a vast range of sports and leisure
activities to get involved in. Our “Enhancement” programme offers
weekly activities such as drama, rock climbing, women’s football,
and rock guitar school as well as end of year residential trips to, for
instance, France, Dublin, Greece and the coast-to-coast cycling trip.

A PLACE TO RELAX
College life is far different from anything you have been used to.
Your day is split into subject classes and free periods. Each day is
different. Sometimes you may have a free lesson first in the
morning, in which case you need not arrive until later, or a free last
period for an early finish. Free time may be spent in the large
college Library, the drop-in IT Centre (email and internet access)
the dining room/coffee bar, or the new student common room, or
you may wish to go to the local shops or even slip into town which
is only a ten minute walk away.