Welcome Day
Experience College life
We're inviting school leavers who have applied to join us for our Welcome Days – a chance to experience College life, try out chosen subjects, meet lecturers and take part in StudentFest activities across our campuses. You'll also receive your Welcome Pack which includes key information about Enrolment. Don't worry, we'll give you more info about this at your Welcome Day.
We're also hosting Parent Talks at each Campus giving Parents/Carers the opportunity to learn more about the transition to College and ask any questions they may have.
Students who have applied to join us will recieve an invite to book.
Keep an eye on your emails! 2026 invites will be delivering soon.
What to expect
We can't wait to welcome you!
Welcome Day is all about preparing you for your first steps into College life.
Your Welcome Day will provide you with all the information you'll need for your first day of lessons, including kit lists, reading lists, Flying Start learning materials, and any news about trips that might be running as part of your course. You’ll also be given a Welcome Pack which contains crucial information about Enrolment and supporting you with your next steps.
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Meet lecturers & future classmates
- Explore Campus facilities
- Receive their Welcome Pack
- Experience lessons in their chosen subjects
- Take part in fun activities and competitions
- Enjoy FREE food and entertainment throughout the day
Each Welcome Day will look slightly different depending on the Campus. Attendance is by invitation only, so please keep an eye on your email for further details and booking information.
Get to know our campuses
Take a closer look
With so much to offer, we're on hand to help you know what lives where. Our virtual tour let's you see round our learning spaces from the comfort of your own home.
Virtual tour
Take a closer look at our learning spaces and stand-out facilities with our interactive 360° virtual tour.
What's on at your Campus
Sixth Form Campus
Centre of excellence for academic study
Known as our centre of excellence, with a strong focus on A Levels and vocational pathways in a supportive academic environment.
8th & 9th July (choose ONE day only)
Highbury Campus
Centre of excellence for technical and higher education
A hub for vocational, technical, and higher education, offering a wide range of career-focuses courses.
Thursday 9th July
North Harbour Campus
Centre of excellence for building and construction
A specialist campus for construction and building services training, designed to prepare you for careers in the trades.
Wednesday 8th July
Sixth Form Campus
What's on offer
8th & 9th July | 9.30am - 2.30pm (choose ONE day only)
Students will take part in four lessons throughout the day. The final lesson gives students the opportunity to:
- Try a fourth subject if they are still deciding their options, OR
- Join a Beyond the Classroom session featuring fun activites taking place across the College.
We will also be hosting StudentFest, including:
- FREE food
- Inflatable sweeper
- Photobooth
- Prize giveaways
- And much more
Students will sign up in advance using a form to select:
- Their preferred Welcome Day date
- Their lesson choices and activites for the day
Sixth Form Campus Timetable
Please refer to the Sixth Form Campus Timetable to get an understanding of how your Welcome Day will run at our Sixth Form Campus.
Things to note:
- 40-minute lessons
- 20-minute break
- Parent Talks: 5.30pm–6.30pm & 6.30pm–7.30pm (Wednesday 8th July)
Lesson 4 Welcome Day options
Whilst sessions 1-3 are an opportunity for you to engage with your chosen subjects, session 4 is designed to allow you to try a 4th subject or engage with something extra curricular. We have plenty on offer for you to choose from, so we've put together a list below for you to browse.
Curriculum
- Further Maths
- Core Maths
- Gym Instructor/Personal Trainer
- Criminology
- Sociology
- Psychology & Applied Psychology
- Sport
Extra Curriculum
- Entrepreneur Workshop – Business
- Digital Media and ICT version of Dungeons and Dragons
- Sport – Goals Football
- Practical Leadership Tasks – Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
- Gym Session
- Music Jam
- Debate Society
- Mini Mock Trial
- Quiz
- Treasure Quest
- Apprenticeships
- Mindful Art
- Creating (EDGE) – Badge making, diamond painting, Lego, colouring
- Creating (EDGE) – Nintendo, Warhammer, board games, Uno, Chess, Rubiks Cube, Jenga, short film
- Aspire & Achieve – Oxbridge and Russell Group Support
- Employable Me – where College can take you)
- Origami
North Harbour Campus
What's on offer
Wednesday 8th July
Students will receive a designated timeslot and invitation to attend their course session via email, along with a form to confirm attendance.
Timeslots:
- AM: 9.30am – 12:30pm
- PM: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
Please check your emails regarding your designated timeslot.
FREE food will also be provided, including a BBQ (weather permitting).
Important: If you are not wearing the appropriate clothing, you won't be able to take part. All clothing must meet our Health & Safety regulations. You must wear fully covered shoes and trousers – no shorts or flip flops.
North Harbour Campus Timetable
Please refer to the North Harbour Campus Timetable to get an understanding of how your Welcome Day will run at our North Harbour Campus.
Things to note:
- Tech Truck 10am–3.30pm
- Parent Talks: 6pm–7pm (Wednesday 8th July)
Highbury Campus
What's on offer
Thursday 9th July
Students will receive a designated timeslot and invitation to attend their course session via email, along with a form to confirm attendance.
Timeslots:
- AM: 9.30am – 12:30pm
- PM: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
Please check your emails regarding your designated timeslot.
We will also be hosting StudentFest, including:
- FREE food
- Inflatables
- Activities and games
Students will sign up in advance using a form to select:
- Their preferred Welcome Day date
- Their lesson choices and activites for the day
Highbury Campus Timetable
Please refer to the Highbury Campus Timetable to get an understanding of how your Welcome Day will run at our Highbury Campus.
Things to note:
- Parent Talks: 6pm–7pm (Thursday 9th July)
Parent Talks
We are also hosting evening Parent Talks to support students and families with the transition from school to college.
Sixth Form Campus
Wednesday 8 July
- 5.30pm – 6.30pm
- 6.30pm – 7.30pm
North Harbour Campus
Wednesday 8 July
- 6pm – 7pm
Highbury Campus
Thursday 9 July
- 6pm – 7pm
These talks are a great opportunity to:
- Learn more about the transition to college for school leavers
- Ask questions about student life and support
- Understand the expectations for September
- Find out more about the enrolment process after GCSE's
A booking form will be sent to the email address used on the application. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Flying Start
Get a Flying Start on your studies
Flying Start is designed to help support you on your next steps as you transition from School to College.
These learning materials will provide you with the foundations upon which your you'll build your skills at College. Completing this over the summer before you start with us will ensure you're prepped and ready to hit the ground running on your first day.
Have a question for us?
Welcome Days are designed for students who have applied to study with City of Portsmouth College and are planning to join us in September. They are a chance to experience college life before term starts, meet your future lecturers and classmates, explore campus facilities and take part in activities linked to your chosen course.
As well as subject sessions, students can enjoy StudentFest activities, competitions, entertainment and free food, helping you feel more confident and prepared for your first day as a college student.
Students will receive an invitation by email with a link to a booking form. The process varies slightly depending on the Campus you have applied to.
If you have applied to the Sixth Form Campus, you will be able to choose your preferred Welcome Day date and select your lesson and activity choices. Students attending Highbury Campus or North Harbour Campus will receive a designated timeslot and will be asked to confirm their attendance through the booking form.
As places and activities may be limited, we recommend completing your booking as soon as possible after receiving your invitation.
Each Welcome Day includes course-related activities, opportunities to meet staff and students, and time to explore your Campus. Depending on your chosen Campus, you may take part in several subject lessons, a Campus tour, enrichment activities or StudentFest events.
The aim is to give you a realistic experience of College life and help you feel familiar with your surroundings before starting your course in September.
Students attend Welcome Days independently, but parents and carers are invited to attend one of our dedicated Parent Talks held during the evening.
These sessions provide an opportunity to learn more about the transition from School to College, student support services, expectations for September and the enrolment process following GCSE results. Parents and carers will receive separate booking information via the email address used on the student's application.
Once you have booked your place, we will provide further information about your Welcome Day and any specific requirements. In general, we recommend arriving on time, wearing comfortable clothing and bringing anything requested in your confirmation email.
Most importantly, come ready to get involved, meet new people and ask questions. Welcome Days are designed to help you start your college journey with confidence and get excited about the opportunities ahead.
Want to learn more?
Enrolment
Enrolment takes place in the last two weeks of August. This is your last step before joining the college. You'll receive an Enrolment Passport which will guide you through the entire process so you don't miss any steps. You can read more about Enrolment here.
Learn more about our campuses
Packed full of courses and quality teaching, our campuses are fit to burst! With each Campus offering its own learning focus, we're proud of everything each location has to offer. Read more about our campuses to find out which is right for you.
