September 2023 starters

Before you are able to begin your course you will need to enrol.

You will need to bring your GCSE results with you to verify that you have achieved the required standard during the enrolment week, and we will help you to get set up with accounts you need and access to any resources that will be part of your studies.

Lakes College can offer a wide range of financial support to learners, from bursaries and bus passes to free meals if you meet certain criteria.

It is worth taking the time to explore these options before you start at the college so that any applications you need to complete can be resolved as quickly as possible.

Find out more information about financial support at Lakes College here.

Students are due to return to the campus from Wednesday, September 6th but your actual first day may vary depending on the course you are studying – this will be communicated with you in advance of that date.

You should be able to access your timetable using the MyLakes app (find out more about downloading the app in the section below) from Monday, September 4th and will know when your classes will begin. If you haven’t, support with downloading and setting up the app will be available.

Members of staff – all wearing red badges displaying their name and picture – will be on hand to point you in the right direction and answer any questions you have.

You will have your picture taken for your own badge, which will be blue or yellow to identify you as a student and will allow you to move around the campus using doors which can only be opened by a pass.

The first day will be an opportunity for you to be inducted into the college, getting to know your tutors and learning about the content of your course, as well as finding your way around the campus.

Lakes College is located just off the A595 at Lillyhall between Workington and Whitehaven and is easily accessible by car, bike or bus.

If you are a cyclist, you are free to use our bike racks and there are cycle paths from both Workington and Whitehaven.

The campus has an extensive free car park which can be used by staff or students, and is on the major number 30 and 31 bus routes from Whitehaven, Maryport and Workington. For timetables, go to the Stagecoach website.

If you are eligible for a Stagecoach bus pass, the pass will be available to collect from the student services office next to reception in the main building.

To find out more about financial support for travel, click here.

The Lakes College campus is made up of four distinct buildings:

The main building, opened in 2001, includes most of our classrooms as well as the ActivZone gym (discounted to students!), canteen, common room and the Learning Resource Centre quiet study area.

The Construction Skills Centre is home to our construction and built environment courses, with a mixture of classrooms and workshops designed to replicate the workplace covering electrical, joinery, brickwork, plumbing, engineering and painting and decorating.

The National College for Nuclear hosts our nuclear and science courses, with nuclear labs, project rooms and a virtual reality suite.

The Civil Engineering Training Centre is the newest addition to our campus and provides a modern space to learn the skills and knowledge required for many roles in the nuclear and civil engineering supply chain.

You can take a virtual tour here to familiarise yourself with our campus before you start.

The MyLakes smartphone app can be at your side throughout your time at Lakes College. Allowing you to view your timetable, communicate with tutors and friends and find useful resources to help with your studies, the app is free to download.

The app can also be used to keep up with college news and find out benefits and offers which are available to staff and students.

You can use the below links to download the app from the Google Play Store or the App Store to your device – and the app can also be accessed using a web browser.

You are never on your own at Lakes College and there is a wealth of both pastoral and financial support available to all students.

Each learner is supported by a progress and welfare coach who is responsible for supporting you on your journey, helping you to record your progress, providing advice and signposting you to other support if needed.

Our careers team also supports students by ensuring that you have a pathway to your desired career and that the course chosen is the right one for you. The team can support you with thinking about next steps after your current course is completed and how to get to where you want to be.

If you feel like you would be better suited to a different course, they can assist with finding options and deciding on the correct move. Your first individual tutorial (the right choice review) will give you the chance to discuss your programme with your progress and welfare coach.

Our counselling service also provides initial counselling to any student who needs it and will make referrals to other agencies where necessary. Many problems are brought to the counsellors such as:

• Anxiety
• Sexual abuse
• Depression
• Anorexia
• Relationship problems
• Course work worries
• Bullying and harassment

A range of hot meals, cold sandwiches, pasta pots, pasties and salad boxes are available to buy in our on-campus canteen, which also offers a free breakfast for every student each day from Monday to Friday.

The canteen also serves delicious Starbucks coffee, as well as tea and cold drinks, while vending machines in the main building, National College for Nuclear and Construction Skills Centre contain snacks and drinks.

Water dispensers can be found across campus to help you to stay hydrated.