Discover Your Future: What to Look Out For at an RNN Group Open Event
Choosing the right college is an exciting step towards your young person’s future, but with so many courses, career paths and opportunities to consider, knowing where to start can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Whether they’re finishing school, thinking about a career change, exploring apprenticeships or looking to develop new skills, attending an open event at RNN Group is a fantastic way to discover what’s possible.
RNN Group holds open events across its College campuses (Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College) throughout November, January, March and June, giving prospective students the opportunity to explore facilities, meet tutors, speak to current learners and find out more about the courses available.
But what should you look out for when you visit? Here’s our guide to making the most of your open event!
1. Explore the Facilities and Get a Feel for College Life
One of the biggest benefits of attending an open event is getting to see the college environment for yourself.
Take the opportunity to explore the classrooms, workshops, studios, specialist training areas and social spaces. Depending on your young person’s chosen subject, they could discover industry-standard equipment, practical learning environments and facilities designed to help them develop real-world skills.
Think about whether they can picture studying there. Is it somewhere you and they feel comfortable with? Does the environment inspire them? Are the facilities suited to the career they’re interested in?
Remember, choosing a college is about more than just picking a course. It’s about finding somewhere your young person can grow, develop confidence and enjoy their learning experience.
Take a look at the facilities available at North Notts College.
2. Speak to Tutors and Discover Course Options
An open event is the perfect opportunity to speak directly to the people who will be supporting their learning.
RNN Group’s industry-experienced tutors can help you understand what’s involved in different courses, what skills you’ll develop and where your qualification could take you.
Make the most of these conversations by ensuring your young person asks questions such as:
- What will I learn as part of this course?
- How much of the course is practical, and how much is classroom-based?
- Are there opportunities for work experience or industry placements?
- What qualifications or grades will I need?
- What career opportunities could this course lead to?
- Can I progress onto further study or higher-level qualifications?
Don’t worry if they’re still unsure about what they want to do. Tutors can help you explore interests and identify options they may not have considered.
Take a look at the courses we offer at North Notts College.
3. Find Out About Apprenticeships and Career Opportunities
College isn’t just about gaining qualifications. It’s also about preparing for the world of work.
If your young person is interested in gaining practical experience while earning, make sure you find out more about apprenticeship opportunities.
Apprenticeships combine employment with structured learning, allowing your young person to develop valuable workplace skills while working towards a recognised qualification.
Ask about the different apprenticeship pathways available, how they work and what opportunities there might be to progress into a chosen industry.
Even if your young person hasn’t made up their mind about their future career, exploring different routes can help make a more informed decision.
Find out more about apprenticeships.
4. Talk to Current Students
Who better to tell you what college life is really like than the people already experiencing it?
If current learners are available during your visit, take the opportunity to chat with them.
Ask them what they enjoy most about their course, what a typical day looks like and what advice they would give someone thinking about applying.
You could also ask about the support available, social activities and how they balance studying with other commitments.
Hearing first-hand experiences can give you a much better understanding of what to expect and help your young person imagine yourself as part of the college community.
5. Look Beyond the Classroom – What Support is Available?
Starting college is a big step, and knowing that support is available can make all the difference.
During your visit, find out about the support services available to learners. This could include help with additional learning needs, careers guidance, wellbeing, personal development and advice on progressing into employment or further education.
It’s also worth asking about the wider student experience, including enrichment activities and opportunities to develop confidence, independence and new friendships.
A great college experience should help your young person grow both academically and personally.
Find out more about student support.
6. Think About Your Future Opportunities
As you and your young person explore the different courses and facilities, try to think about where each opportunity could take them.
Whether their ambition is to work in construction, engineering, health and social care, sport, creative industries, business, animal care or another exciting sector, consider how the courses available could help your young person take the next step.
Ask about progression routes, further qualifications, links with employers and opportunities to gain experience in a chosen industry.
You might arrive at an open event with one career in mind and leave with an entirely new idea of what could be achieved!
7. Bring Your Questions – and Don’t Be Afraid to Ask!
It’s easy to get caught up in looking around, but remember that an open event is your opportunity to find out everything you need to know.
Before visiting, make a quick list of questions you want answered. If you’re attending as a parent, carer or friend, you may have questions of your own.
You may want to ask about:
- Entry requirements and application deadlines.
- Course structure and assessment methods.
- Financial support and travel options.
- Work experience and employer connections.
- Student support and wellbeing.
- Progression into employment or university.
No question is too small, and the more you find out, the more confident you and your young person will feel about making your decision.
Make RNN Group Your Next Step
An open event is about discovering opportunities, asking questions and getting a real feel for what your future could look like.
At RNN Group, you’ll have the chance to explore our College campuses, discover a wide range of courses and apprenticeships, meet our industry-experienced tutors and start thinking about the next stage of the educational journey.
Whether your young person already knows exactly what they want to study or they’re still exploring options, our open events are a great place to begin.
Unable to attend an open event?
Don’t worry! If you can’t make one of our scheduled events or would prefer a personal visit, you can contact the RNN Group team at schoolevents@rnngroup.ac.uk to discuss arranging a visit.
Ready to discover what’s next?
Find out more about upcoming open events, choose the campus you’d like to visit and take your first step towards an exciting future.
Your future starts with exploring the possibilities. We look forward to welcoming you!