Academic Support

IT

At Richard Taunton, we have over 350 desktop computers, 100 macs, and our helpful IT team can also loan laptops and tablets if needed. The college is wireless-enabled via Eduroam which means students are able to study using their own devices. Upon joining RTSFC, all students are given access to an email account, storage space on the college network, and specialist software packages. Staff and students collaborate using Google Classroom and our online Student Hub provides easy access to our useful intranet pages. Students can also track their progress online via MyPortal.

IPAD SCHEME

Some students may qualify for the free loan of an iPad for the duration of their studies through our bursary scheme. Find out more on our Money Matters page.

THE LEARNING CENTRE (FORMERLY THE LIBRARY)

Professionally qualified and experienced teaching and support staff are always available and are happy to assist with student research by helping to find and use the most relevant information sources. Sessions on research and referencing are also offered to help students develop their information skills. We also offer help with printing past papers for exam preparation, have revision aids for English and Maths GCSE papers and are happy to offer 1:1 support if you need a bit of additional help with either of these topics.  We can help with writing professional CVs, job applications, including those tricky psychometric questions, and we can edit your UCAS applications before you submit them to your tutors and have a wealth of experience and expertise in all manner of subjects that you can use.

The learning centre is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 3pm Friday.

Our resources include a few key subject revision textbooks across a number of the most popular subjects, dictionaries (including foreign language ones), thesaurus and so on. Additionally, we have a lot of revision guides and past papers for the English and Maths GCSEs to help you prepare for exams.  We also have access to online resources from respected academic websites, please ask for further details.

The Learning Centre provides two distinct areas for study, with over 50 computers for you to use for research, completing assignments or to produce work documents. A printer is available here too. The quiet zone does not have computers, but is equipped with tables and chairs to allow you to work quietly on your own or with a group of other students. Please respect the need for silence.

There are scheduled classes which take place in part of the Learning Centre each day for Digital Skills & Entrepreneurship, and we respectfully ask you not to use the computers set aside for these.

Our college wireless network, Eduroam, is available in the Learning Centres, and in various spots around campus. This means you can bring your own laptop, netbook, smartphone or iPad to use in college. Please use headphones or ensure that all sounds are turned off.

Upstairs in the Student Common Room there is a wide selection of fiction books of all genres, and these are for you to borrow based on an “honesty” system – we trust you to return the books once you have finished reading them.

STUDY SKILLS COURSES

We believe that every student can benefit from support with their learning – whatever their level of ability – to help them achieve success.  Our Study Skills courses have been designed to help improve your grades and enhance your learning.

Core Study Skills (Foundation mode – Level 1 and Level 2)

  • Time Management and Organisation
  • Learning Styles
  • Note-taking and Research
  • Reading for Meaning
  • Report Writing

Advanced Study Skills (Level 3)

  • Note-taking
  • Research
  • Academic Reading Strategies
  • Essay Planning and Writing
  • Analytical Writing