The Principal's Newsletter
Last updated March 2026
Dear parents and carers,
As we approach the Easter break, students who are taking exams this summer are focusing more intently on their studies. Second year students are working on the feedback they have received following their mock exams and first year students should be preparing for their summer term assessments. After Easter, students will notice that more areas of College become quiet study zones, and all students are asked to avoid disturbing fellow students at work.
Please do read the year group specific information below, which includes detail about exams, dates to note and invitations to events for parents.
I also want to let you know about an opportunity that has arisen for the College to bid for funding from the government’s national “Post-16 Capacity Fund”. We already have planning permission in place for a building on the College site which would give us 9 extra classrooms, and we are exploring options to make the hoped-for build greener, more economical and faster to complete. This project can only happen if our bid is successful, but it would provide much needed extra space for our students and it would allow us to accommodate some of the demographic growth in 16-17 year olds in the Colchester area. This extra capacity would also put us in a better position to offer some of the new “V levels” when they become available. We are not planning any radical change to our courses, though, and we continue to liaise with Colchester Institute to ensure that our curriculum offer is complementary. We are keen to remain inclusive and to offer an excellent range of courses for our students. If you have any comments about this proposal, please email notices@colchsfc.ac.uk
With best wishes,
Jo Cadman
Further information for parents of year 2 students
Students can already access their exam dates and times on CEDAR and they will receive an exam briefing in Tutorial on 24th March. There is an event for parents on the same day:
Revision and Exam Preparation: Online Advice Evening – Tuesday 24th March, 5.30-6.30pm
We would like to invite all parents and carers to our Revision and Exam Preparation: Online Advice Evening. This evening is designed to offer practical guidance on how you can support your young person in the run up to exams and during the exam period itself. During the evening, we will look at how to access exam timetables and key resources on CEDAR, share effective revision approaches, and explore simple mindset and wellbeing strategies. Additionally, we will also talk through how to help create a positive study environment at home and what to expect on exam days.
This event will be held online, but will be ‘live’, so there will be time at the end for general questions. If you have specific concerns about your young person, please contact their Personal Tutor or Senior Tutor. You can join this online event via the following link:
Parents of second year students who have applied for Higher Education courses are also invited to:
Student Finance For Higher Education And Results Day Briefing - Thursday 16th April 2026, 17:00 in the Drama Studio
Year 2 students who have applied for Higher Education courses starting 2026 need to apply for student finance by the deadline of 15th May. You are warmly invited to an in-person briefing, which will provide key information about student finance. The briefing will also include information about results day and the options for students when they get their grades. The information can also be found on the College’s website.
Your son or daughter is welcome to join you for the presentation; however, they will have already received this information via email. The presentation will be held in the Drama Studio and, including questions, the event will take approximately an hour. (If the venue reaches capacity, students will be asked to wait in another area).
It is worth emphasising that all College students can use the facilities of the Careers Department throughout the year, including arranging individual interviews to discuss options for progression. There will be staff available to help on and after results day (Thursday 13th August). Students and parents can contact the Careers Department via email: careersoffice@colchsfc.ac.uk
If you are attending the event, please note that parking will not be available in College on the evening. (St. Mary’s is probably the most convenient public car park). Visitors with mobility considerations will, of course, be offered onsite parking – please let us know via email (notices@colchsfc.ac.uk) if you have accessibility needs, so we can make arrangements.
Year 2 exam and study leave period begins at 4pm on Thursday 14th May.
Further information for parents of year 1 students
Year 1 internal assessments take place between Tuesday 5th and Friday 8th May. There will be an altered timetable for this week to allow for longer exams. These assessments, along with progress during the year, help inform the predicted grades we are asked to supply to universities and others.
Please also note the following dates:
Friday 15th May Non-student day
Monday 8th June Non-student day
Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th June Induction days for applicants (current
students work from home, unless helping at College)
Tuesday 30th June Year 1 parents’ evening
Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd July Intensive careers and progression programme
Wednesday 15th July Last day of term
Next academic year, the autumn term begins on Tuesday 1st September. Returning students will not be required onsite until Tuesday 8th September but will have work provided to complete remotely from the start of term.