At Hills Road, we aim to provide an excellent sixth form education experience distinguished by opportunity, quality and achievement for all our students within a caring community.
While we will be supporting our students towards increased independence and adulthood, we very much value and encourage the involvement of parents and carers in helping us to achieve that. While we expect students to accept responsibility for their own learning and academic progress, we recognise that a successful partnership with parents and carers is vital to the success of our students.
We encourage your support of the following:
For more information about your young person's transition to Hills Road, please download our Parents and Carers guide.
The College subscribes to a national online system called WisePay, which allows the College to accept electronic payments for items of expenditure. Payments can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a debit/credit card through a secure online account.
Using WisePay, you are able to top-up your young person's account, ensuring they can then use their card with our Cashless Catering service and you can also make payments for trips, events, course fees, resource packs and many other important expenses.
The Bursary Fund aims to help students who need financial support, any young person can apply providing they meet the eligibility criteria. The funding can cover a range of needs and resources such as:
23/24 Term information | Academic year 2023 to 2024 |
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Dates | 4 September to 16 July 2024 |
23/24 Term information | Autumn term 2023 |
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Dates | Monday 4 September to Wednesday 20 December 2023 |
23/24 Term information | Autumn half term break 2023 |
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Dates | Monday 23 October to Friday 27 October 2023 |
23/24 Term information | Spring term 2024 |
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Dates | Thursday 4 January to Thursday 28 March 2024 |
23/24 Term information | Spring half term break |
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Dates | Monday 19 February to Friday 23 February |
23/24 Term information | Summer term 2024 |
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Dates | Monday 15 April to Tuesday 16 July |
23/24 Term information | Summer half term break |
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Dates | Monday 27 May to Friday 31 May |
24/25 Term information | Academic year 2024 to 2025 |
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Dates | 2 September 2024 to 22 July 2025 |
24/25 Term information | Autumn term 2024 |
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Dates | Monday 2 September to Friday 20 December 2024 |
24/25 Term information | Autumn term (Staff) |
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Dates | Tuesday 31 August to Friday 20 December |
24/25 Term information | Autumn half term break 2024 |
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Dates | Monday 21 October to Friday 1 November (two weeks)* |
24/25 Term information | Spring term 2025 |
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Dates | Monday 6 January to Friday 4 April 2025 |
24/25 Term information | Spring half term break |
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Dates | Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February 2025 |
24/25 Term information | Summer term 2025 |
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Dates | Monday 22 April to Tuesday 22 July 2025 |
24/25 Term information | Summer half term break |
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Dates | Monday 26 May to Friday 30 May 2025 |
*Please note the two-week October half-term in 2024. Students will likely need to take an in-college admissions test if they are applying to study medicine or dentistry, some maths courses or for courses at Oxford and Cambridge. These university admissions tests may be scheduled during this half-term holiday, so Year 13 applicants and their families should avoid making plans to be away on holiday until these details are confirmed.
Course resources are payable for both Year 12 and 13 students, depending on the course being studied.
Yes. Tutors are the main point of contact between the College and parents/carers and you should not hesitate to get in touch. The easiest way to make contact will be by e-mail. Tutors will always endeavour to reply to email contact as quickly as possible, but this may not be within 24 hours, owing to other commitments. Tutors will also be pleased to arrange a meeting with you, if appropriate.
The College uses an electronic system for the recording of attendance and this information is sent home to parents/carers via a weekly email. The Student Services Team use this data to monitor attendance. If a student is absent from College they must enter the appropriate absence code in the electronic register. It is expected that this is done on the day of absence. Full instructions are given to students at induction. An acceptable reason must be given for all absences, otherwise the absence will be considered unauthorised.
Attendance and punctuality data are displayed on the student’s ProPortal home page which parents/carers can ask to see at any time.
If problems are minor, students often put matters right in a short period of time. For issues regarding attendance and punctuality you will be contacted by the Student Services Team. If problems persist, or are more serious, then the tutor will contact you.
The College normally continues to liaise with parents/carers up until the end of students’ study programmes, including any period after students have reached the age of 18. Students who are 18 or over have the right to ask the College not to release information to parents/carers; nevertheless, this right has rarely been exercised.
This would only apply if the student, through their own actions, made it impossible for a grade to be awarded by the examination board – for example by failing to complete coursework or by missing an examination. The College can also require the payment of fees where a student fails to observe the Code of Conduct, for example by not attending lessons. Parents/carers would be invited to discuss the situation before any such action were taken. If a student re-sits an examination, then the fees are paid by the student.