Case Studies
Newcastle College
Newcastle College is one of the UK's largest further and higher education institutions, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. It offers a broad range of vocational courses, apprenticeships and degree programmes to a diverse student body, with a strong focus on skills development, employability and community engagement, playing a key role in preparing learners for careers across industries and supporting regional economic growth. Semester Student Planner is now entering its fourth year of partnership with Newcastle College, a reflection of the trust built between our teams and a shared commitment to helping students build the habits they need to thrive.
The Challenge
Newcastle College's vision is to develop the skills and talents of its students to succeed in modern enterprise and contribute to the prosperity of the region, a mission it delivers across an unusually broad range of provision, spanning young people, adult learners, apprenticeships and high needs learners. That breadth brought a specific challenge:
- Helping students from many different courses and starting points build the time management and organisation skills to stay on top of their studies
- Finding one solution that felt genuinely relevant whether a student was on a vocational programme, an apprenticeship, or a degree course
- Making a strong, authentic impression from day one, so new students felt inspired and supported before term had even properly begun
Newcastle College wanted something that would sit alongside its own vision for student progression, while giving every learner a practical tool to hold onto from their very first week, which is why the partnership also includes in-person group coaching workshops delivered during welcome week.
The Approach
Since the partnership began, Semester Student Planner has worked with Newcastle College to produce a bespoke planner that evolves every year. The process includes:
- Surveying students and staff at the start of the year, during the group coaching workshops, and again at the end of the year, to understand what worked and what needs to change
- Refreshing the planner's content annually based on that feedback, so it reflects the college's most relevant priorities and focus points at the time
- Producing between 1,500 and 2,000 custom planners each year for Newcastle College students
- Delivering a full week of in-person group coaching workshops, reaching over 500 students across the week
This continuous cycle of feedback and refinement means the planner has grown alongside Newcastle College, staying closely aligned to what students actually need year after year.
What We Delivered
A snapshopt of what was provided:
- Number of planners produced: 1,500
- Student population: Full-time on campus students
- Academic year: 2022–2027
- Delivery format: Physical planners (bespoke student success planners)
- Keynotes included: Yes
- In-person or virtual coaching: Yes
What They Said
What the Institution Said
Impact
Through the partnership, Newcastle College has seen:
- Students describing the planner as an everyday essential, with some calling it "their bible" for staying organised throughout the year
- Every group coaching and keynote session rated above 9 out of 10 by students, both on whether they'd recommend it to others and on how useful it was to their success in the year ahead
- A relationship that has grown over four years, with the planner and workshop content refined and renewed annually based on direct student and staff feedback
The result is a partnership that has moved beyond a one-off product into a trusted part of how Newcastle College supports its students from day one.
Location
Institution Location
- Newcastle, United Kingdom
The Result
- Provide students with a tangible, structured support tool
- Reinforce wellbeing, reflection, and proactive planning
- Create a shared framework that aligned students, staff, and support services
- Strengthen the institution’s approach to student engagement and success
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