FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Below are a list of common questions which young people and their families ask us – if you have any other questions please give our friendly student enquiries team a call on 01432 376 621 or email info@rnc.ac.uk

• What courses do RNC do?

At RNC we have a range of academic and vocational courses. View the full range of courses on offer at RNC

No two students at RNC have the same timetable. As well as your main course area(s), you may also have additional sessions in mobility, independent living skills, IT skills, transition support, literacy, numeracy and braille. These additional sessions are individualised and will be based on your needs identified at your Pre-Entry Assessment.

• Will I have a Teaching Assistant at RNC?

No. At RNC we ensure that class sizes are kept small so that teachers can provide effective support for everyone in the class. You will typically be in a class with one teacher and three other students.

• Are there any computers on campus that I can use?

Every computer on campus is connected to the RNC network and has assistive technology to suit your needs. Computers are available in all the classrooms and in the student hub area outside of lesson time, in the evenings and on weekends. All students have compulsory IT lessons so you will learn to touch type and gain basic skills in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel, accessing them via the assistive technology that best suits your needs.

• Where will I live?

The majority of our students live in our halls of residence – Campbell Hall is for those under the age of 18 and Stephens Hall is for those aged 18-25. You will have your own room with ensuite bathroom, sharing a kitchen and living area with up to five other students.

There are members of staff available 24/7 in the halls of residence so there will always be assistance when you need it and someone to chat to.

• Will I make any friends?

You will be surrounded by 80-90 other young people who will have similar hobbies and interests to you. As you will most likely be living in halls of residence and spending your evenings and weekends here, you will get to know lots of different people quickly.

• Am I allowed out?

Yes! You will have mobility lessons which help you safely navigate the campus and you will move on to local shops, Hereford city centre, bus and train travel, progressing at a rate that is comfortable for you. During the evenings and weekends if you wish to leave campus you can do so either by yourself or with friends but we ask that you let us know where you’re going and when you expect to return. If you are under the age of 18, you will also have a curfew where you will need to sign in and be back in your halls of residence.

• What will I do at weekends?

You will have free time during the weekends. There are always some staff-run activities; however, we would encourage you to start making plans with your own friendship groups when you start to feel more confident. You are also welcome to go home, or have family and friends come and visit you.

• What will I eat?

Breakfast is provided in your halls of residence and you may have staff support with this until you can do this on your own. Lunch and dinner is provided in the RNC Kitchen which offers a variety of meals – your individual dietary requirements can be discussed with the catering manager before you start. You will have independent living skills lessons on your programme, so if you feel that you would like to self-cater some, or all, of your meals you will be assessed by the team and be allocated a budget for this.

• How much money do I need at RNC?

Your accommodation, meals and tuition fees will be covered by your local authority. However, it will be necessary for you to have a budget for personal spend on things such as toiletries, snacks and social activities.

• What happens when I leave RNC?

When you start at RNC, everything is geared towards your future. Throughout your time with us we will work with you on preparing for your transition to life after RNC, whether that be going on to university, employment and/or independent living.