mick1967

System

Hi

just a question about Salisbury as you have had experience of them ( looking at previous thread )

I phoned them just last week and left a msg hoping to find out about tech level however nobody got back to me :-( anyway looking on their site it says its a roll on roll off course picking up where and when you want does this mean no definative structure - I too have just moved - to sunny Bulford however have decided to go back to Abingdon and Witney college they are fantastic and as you said I would rather travel and be confortable with tutors and an environment I know especially as the tech stage scares the pants off me just thnking about it :-) however I was just wondering if I had been a bit hasty in my decision

thanks - good luck with your exam results

System

Re:mick1967

Hiya mate,

There is a structure to the Tech Level at Salisbury, but you can as you say roll on and roll off where you feel comfortable - but only to a point of course. We are given a scheme of work telling us what part of the syllabus will be covered on a particular day and the tutors try to keep to the original plan if possible.

Course starts in Sept, and I ran with PEV and Business Tax. The DFS syllabus is quite large and so there really wasnt suffcient time to cover it in the 10 weeks (incl half term), but we always had lessons in DFS. We had 09:00 - 10:30 DFS, then 10:45 - 12:15 PEV, break for lunch until 1:00 then the class split up: Business Tax 1:00 - 2:45 or Cash Management at same time. At 3:00 we had Project work until 4:00 then after that your time was your own (a lot of our class would stay behind to about 6 or so to do homework/project whilst your brain was in that mind-set). If you never turned up for a lesson or left early, then that was your own call and the tutors never had a problem with that on account they could see evidence that you were not falling behind.

Alternatively, you could start at 1:00 with Business Tax or Cash Management, then Project 3:00 until 4:00, then PEV 4:00 - 5:30 and finally DFS 6:00 until 7:15/7:30. Trying to do DFS at that time of day after all the number crunching you've already had, just wasn't for me I'm afraid, but it was an option if I had struggled with the mornings DFS lesson (which happened a few times).

Insofar as changing college, well to be honest mate, that is your own call. If the need arises, I'll go back to Salisbury and travel from South London (despite having an AAT Approved Centre about 3 miles away in Croydon). I feel comfortable with the tutors (Kizito and Alan), the class, the ambiance of the whole thing in fact - even the tea ladies in the canteen. But like I said mate, it's not really for me to sway your decision in any way - Salisbury is good for me but maybe not for others.

Oh and you shouldn't be scared of the Tech level either mate. To get this far says you clearly have some grey cells up there, its just a natural progression to keep on going. Challenging - yes, hard work - yes, dedication to your studies - all of the above, but the satisfaction you'll get from doing what your doing mate is tremendous. You can even call yourself an AAT Finalist !

Oh and finanally, dont leave your project to the last minute - I did and it very nearly cost me which was not a smart thing to do.

Here my email - mickhay@aol.com, and I am happy to answer any questions or concerns you have, I keep in touch with Kizito (the main tutor) quite well, so if you want me to give him a tinkle, then I can do. Otherwise, take care mate and hope to have been of help.

Mick

System

Re:mick1967

Hi Ya Mick

Thanks for the reply it did explain a lot I actually got a call from Kizito ( in reply to my left msg ) he had been on holiday so hence the delay - anyway he was really nice as you said and he explained the structure of the course to me however I have made my decision to stay with abingdon its a bit of a trek 120 mile round trip but its only once a week and its not only what you know its who you know ( if you get my meaning ) I feel comfortable starting tech with some old faces and knowing the style of tutoring so roll on Sept 7th here I come - everyone is talking about the project on here so thanks to this forum I am already looking and getting geared up
thanks for your email address I will certainly keep it and who knows you might here from me again in the next few months screaming for advice :shock:

good luck and thanks again

System

Re:mick1967

Nice one mate, good luck with your studies and take care

Mick