Welcome to the first Parent and Carer newsletter for this academic year!
It has been a busy summer at DCG enrolling new students and preparing for the new academic year ahead.
For Year 1 students these first weeks of term are classed as an induction period. Your young person will have received an introduction to their study programme, been given access to an online student handbook , their own DCG email address, and access to our online learning space ‘Moodle’.
They will also have been allocated a personal coach who will work with them throughout their time at College and help ensure they achieve a positive destination after their study programme.
We hope you enjoy reading your monthly e-newsletter from DCG. In this newsletter, we’ll cover:
- Dates for your diary
- Parent and Carer Support
- Careers
- Latest News
- Adult Study Programmes
Dates for your diary
Parent and Carers Consultation Evenings
For information about our Upcoming Open Events for prospective students and our Broomfield Hall Family Events, take a look at the events pages on our website:
Parent and Carer Support
Parent Portal: Attendance and Progress
We have a dedicated online Parents Portal for you to log onto. The Parents Portal lets you view your child’s live attendance, progress reports, and SMART Targets.
Student Experience and Support Teams
There is a wide offer of excellent support services at DCG offering a network of expert advice and guidance.
The SEND and Learning Support Team
Our team supports students with SEND, learning difficulties, autism, ADHD, and physical or sensory needs. They work closely with teaching and support staff to ensure the right support is in place.
Parent/Carer Voice
We value your input and would appreciate your feedback to help us improve the experience for your young person.
You can contact us by email: parentvoice@derby-college.ac.uk
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Hello Yellow
On Friday 9th October, we’re proudly supporting Hello Yellow as part of YoungMinds’ mission to make young people’s mental health a priority.
Explore useful support resources here: Parents Mental Health Support | Advice for Your Child | YoungMinds
Charlie Waller Trust
Resources to help children and young people manage their mental health and build resilience.
Ygam
The UK’s leading charity dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people. Providing parents and carers with the knowledge and resources to safeguard their families.
Derby & Derbyshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing Hub
An emotional health and wellbeing signposting website containing local and national links, and resources.
Exams
For up to date information on exam information and regulations during the exam, please visit the exams page.
Importance of Attendance, Punctuality, and Absence Reporting
If your young person is unable to attend College for any reason, please ensure that they notify the College as soon as possible by completing the online Student Absence Form each day of absence:
Student Absence/Lateness Reporting – DCG
We ask parents and carers to note that minor illnesses should not automatically prevent attendance. Regular attendance is essential for academic success and personal development.
Missing lessons due to mild symptoms, such as a headache or cold, can lead to falling behind in classwork, missing important discussions, and increased stress from catching up.
Attending College, even when slightly unwell, helps students maintain routine, build resilience, and benefit from social interaction and support services.
Consistent attendance and punctuality also prepares young people for future employment, where reliability and commitment are highly valued.
More Information for Parents and Carers
More information for Parents and Carers can be found on our website:
Please take a look at our Parent/Carer Welcome booklet:
Careers Guidance Services
As a new academic year gets into its stride, we would like to raise awareness of the DCG Careers Guidance Service and how students and parents/carers can contact the team.
The team are on hand to support all students with a range of areas, including making decisions about their next step options, ways to identify and develop their strengths, skills, and abilities in relation to their next step and practical help with making applications and preparing CVs.
The team do this via tutorial sessions, bespoke sessions, one to one appointments and events and activities.
If a student is unsure about the course they are on, they are asked to speak to their tutor/academy managers first. They will check on space availability to see if a move is possible. Careers support is available if the student is unsure about the area they wish to move to.
Parental IAG sessions – dates for diaries
The Careers team are working with curriculum teams and internal and external partner organisations to run a session for parents and carers of Level 3 Year 2 students, providing information, advice and guidance around future options.
13th October, 6–7.30pm (TBC)
The session will be held at the new Cavendish Building at the University of Derby and will focus on higher education and apprenticeship opportunities.
Partners and experts from a range of areas will be available to provide information and support, helping parents and carers better understand the options available to students as they plan their next steps.
Further details will be available on the Events page of the DCG website nearer the time.
Get in touch
The DCG Careers team can support all students with a range of areas, including making decisions about their next step options, ways to identify and develop their strengths, skills and abilities in relation to their next step, plus practical help with making applications and preparing CVs.
The team can be contacted by emailing: careers@derby-college.ac.uk
Careers Centre
- The Careers Centre, K101 at the Roundhouse
- G21 or the Library at the Joseph Wright Centre
- Student Experience Hub at Broomfield
- Café area at Ilkeston (by appointment)
Book a 1-1 appointment: Careers Guidance Sessions
Support online
In addition, there are a range of helpful resources on our Careers SharePoint pages, which can be accessed here:
Careers Guidance Services – Home
Students can access the site anywhere, via the Derby College website. They just need to use their log on details to access SharePoint via the College intranet.
The resources can help students explore their options, especially at a set point of the college year, known as the ‘Careers Pitstop’ – which take place within tutorial sessions in November.
Higher Education focus
Towards the end of September, across all sites, Level 3, Year 2 students will be receiving two x tutorial sessions giving information and support about the option of applying for Higher Education (university level study).
Students can access a comprehensive booklet covering areas such as the Higher Education research and application process, key college and national deadline dates and guidance on writing a personal statement. The booklet can be accessed on the Careers’ SharePoint pages and the team also have paper copies available.
In addition, Level 3, Year 2 students who wish to look at alternative, non-Higher Education options such as apprenticeships/employment will soon participate in a tutorial session focussing on those options.
Latest News
DCG celebrates excellent A-level, T Level and BTEC results
This year’s achievements were a testament to the determination, talent and hard work of students and staff alike, with standout successes across all qualifications.
DCG is one of the biggest education providers of A-levels, T Levels and BTECs in the region, and is immensely proud of its students.
Extended Project Qualification Showcase – 14/10/2026
Come along to our Extended Project Qualification Showcase at the Joseph Wright Centre to see our students display their work.
The EPQ Showcase celebrates the curiosity, creativity and commitment of students completing the AQA Extended Project Qualification.
Digital Industries Welcome Event proves a success
Digital Industries recently welcomed 63 parents and carers to a successful Welcome Event for Esports, Media and Fashion Business.
The evening gave attendees the chance to meet staff, learn about College expectations and support available, and hear directly from teaching teams about what learners can expect throughout the year.
Feedback was extremely positive, highlighting the value of the information shared and opportunities to speak with staff.
Halloween themed open day to raise funds for our Animal Unit
Families are invited to a fang-tastic day out at Broomfield Hall this October, as our Animal Unit hosts a Halloween-themed Open Day in aid of the unit’s dedication to animal welfare.
The open day takes place on Sunday 18 October 2026, from 11am to 3pm and is organised and run entirely by our Animal Care students.
Find out more and get your tickets
For all our latest news head over to the DCG website:
Adult Learning at DCG
Ready for your next step?
Whether you’re looking to boost your career, gain a qualification, change direction or learn something new, DCG has a range of courses designed for adult learners.
Explore our part-time Adult and Community courses , or build your confidence with FREE Adult Maths and English courses .
Thinking bigger? You can also study a range of university-level courses at DCG , giving you the opportunity to gain a higher-level qualification while staying local.
Funding is available for adults wanting to continue their studies
19+ Financial Support
Find out more about fees and financial support if you are 19 years old or over.
Childcare help
If you are a parent or carer, you may be able to apply for help with your
childcare costs while you are studying.
Find out more.
