Information for PUPILS
What it's like starting at PiPeLine
You'll be feeling nervous about starting at a new place, that's a fact. Every single pupil who has come to PiPeLine has felt the same way. All of them have been in the EXACT same position you're in. Most of them are fine after the first hour, others are fine after the first day. We will introduce you to staff and pupils, and tell you all the things you need to know about how things work and you'll see very quickly, those nerves will disappear, just like they did for everyone else.
Some things worth knowing
We'll tell you all of this stuff anyway but here it is: there is no uniform, you just have to dress appropriately. Breakfast, snacks and lunch are all provided so you don't need to bring food or money, though you can if you like. You can bring your mobile but it has to be handed in during lessons - you get it back at the end of each lesson. It's a short day - we start at 10am and finish at 2.45pm.
You've not been kicked out of your school
Sometimes it feels a little like that. But you're still a pupil of your school and you will still see some of the staff from your school who will visit you to check how you're doing and that you're happy. Some pupils can focus better and get what they need from education without the distraction of hundreds of other pupils. Your school feels that you'd do better in a smaller setting like PiPeLine - this is about helping you to do the best you can.
How long will I be here?
That's a difficult question. For some pupils, they come to PiPeLine for a term or two to help them refocus, get on the right track, and then return to school. For other pupils, that isn't enough so some pupils remain at PiPeLine for the rest of their education, taking advantage of the great setting and great qualification we have to offer. Whatever the situation, you can speak to your school at any time and talk about your future and how you would like your education to be.
What do you do here?
We do a smaller timetable with a great selection of qualifications. Some are optional - some you have to do. All qualifications matter and help you to achieve a great future. Below, we'll show in a bit more detail some of the qualifications you may do.
Music Technology (NCFE Technical Award) - Delivered at PiPeLine Bradford
This is basically using a studio to make music and sounds. The course takes you through how to make beats, sound effects for films, how to use recording kit, sometimes how to DJ.
You'll use the same software studios use to make whatever kind of music you like. Our Music Tech instructor, who is an industry professional actively working in the industry with the likes of the BBC, CBS, will teach you everything you need to know.
Music Technology isn't only about music. If you're not that into making music, the same technology is also used to make the sounds effects for movies, TV shows, computer games, even devices and websites. On top of this, Music Tech teaches excellent ICT and problem solving skills.
Business & Enterprise (NCFE Technical Award) - Delivered at PiPeLine Bradford
Money is important and what better way to earn money than to run your own business? This qualification helps you understand how businesses are put together and how they are run. From starting up, through to managing cash and the legal steps, you'll get to learn it all.
You'll learn the different types of business and the different types of business people. You'll look at famous entrepreneurs and try to understand how they became successful.
You may never become an entrepreneur but by understanding how business works, you'll have a better understanding of how to take advantage of opportunities in life. And you never know; the stuff you learn on this course might resurface when you're older and you might just become the next big thing.
Health & Fitness (NCFE Technical Award) - Delivered at PiPeLine Keighley
Health is wealth they say! We all need to look after ourselves and understanding how Health & Fitness works is an amazing life skill to have. It's even better if you want to get into being a personal trainer or just want to step up your own fitness goals.
As well as understanding how the body works when it comes to fitness, you'll work to understand the key role nutrition plays in health and fitness. This fits in well with the Food & Cookery qualification when you go even deeper into understanding food.
Some young people prefer to get stuck in. With visits to sports centres, playing fields, and in-house fitness activities, if you want you'll be able to put all that learning into practice and get involved in some actual fitness sessions.
Food & Cookery(NCFE Technical Award) - Delivered at PiPeLine Keighley
The dish in the picture was made by one of our pupils for their qualification. You'll have the opportunity to understand what goes behind the scenes in a restaurant kitchen and have a go at making quality food.
Another pupil's dish - but we don't only cook desserts. You'll learn about the different food groups and how balanced meals are put together. If you want to be a chef, this is great. But if you ever need to cook at home, these skills are essential.
Yes, you'll learn how to make restaurant quality dishes. Yes, you'll learn how to make food you can easily make at home. Yes, you'll make a variety of different dishes, some healthy, some not so much. And yes, you'll get to eat it after you've cooked it!
GCSE English
Literature & Language
GCSE Maths
Foundation or Higher
GCSE Biology NEW
Foundation
Functional Skills English & Maths
L1 & L2
Other Subjects PSHE, Artificial Intelligence, Life Skills
Additional Learning
Pupils should arrive between 9.30am and 9.50am. Staff wait outside the building and bring you in either as a group or on your own when you arrive.
The manager/Safeguarding Lead at the provision will provide your parents/carers with a mobile number so you can easily text us to let us know you're on your way but will be a little later or they can call to let us know you won't be in. If we don't hear from you, the manager will contact home to find out where you are. If we don't see you for a few days, a member of the team will visit your home to see you.
Yes! Not quite as many as you may have at school but everywhere has rules and we have our rules for good reasons. Firstly, no uniform but you do need to dress appropriately. You should dress so you'll be comfortable with the weather but keep away from clothes that are too revealing. You can bring your mobile phone but it is handed in at the start of each session - you get it back at the end of the session. You cannot consume energy drinks at our provisions - these will be put in the fridge and you can have it at the end of the day. And then we have a load of just general rules around internet safety, bullying, being polite, getting on with work, and just overall making sure you're paying attention to staff.
We expect all pupils to do all the qualifications we have to offer. This is the best way to ensure you successfully achieve 5 GCSEs including Maths and English. But, sometimes a subject just doesn't gel for you. We can have a conversation; if we think it's in your best interests to drop a subject and you have good reasons, chances are we will let that happen. If you don't want to do Business because you can't be bothered, well, that's not really a good reason is it?!
As a general rule, we remain at all times within our provision. Lunch is brought to us and we all eat in the communal area. We have another space called the Listening Room where pupils will often relax during breaks and play the Playstation. We also have other activities on the go as well as other classic gaming machines.
We're understanding and we work with you. We have a room called the "Listening Room" where pupils can spend some time to recharge, relax, and regulate themselves. It's a pretty chilled space. But yeah, we will work with you to help you feel ok again.
We have a variety of different meals available which are bought in from surrounding food places. A lot of people choose to have food from Greggs while some will order meals from the cafe in the building. We provide pupils with a bottle of water, a packet of crisps, and a cereal bar each day. Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate is also available. If you arrive early enough, we provide toast and cereal.
Most of our pupils are really nice and as a rule, everybody gets on really well. Sometimes people do fall out but this is rare and we're pretty good at dealing with things. All the pupils remember what it was like to be the new pupil and so they usually go out of their way to make new pupils feel welcome.
The maximum number of pupils we have at our KS4 Bradford provision is 25 though usually it's quite a lot fewer than this. Generally, it's around 15 pupils with each lesson having between 4 and 6 pupils in it. But it can vary from day to day and at different times of the year.
Yes though it does depend on a lot of things such as how many pupils we have and how everyone is conducting themselves. This last year, we went bowling twice and out for a few meals at restaurants. In the past we have done activities such as paint-balling or visiting theme-parks. We'll usually ask the pupils as a group what it is they would like to do and then we see if we can make it happen - no promises!