WHAT HAPPENS AT RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL ?

The first thing to do when you arrive at the School site is to register and get your room key. Try to arrive early enough to find your way around and have a rest. Your room will probably be in ordinary student accommodation, so don't expect too much luxury -possibly not even en-suite toilet facilities. Many schools allow you to arrive on the Friday night or finish on the Saturday if you make arrangements beforehand with them.

At most Residential Schools the OUSA Representatives try to greet you and, if you want any questions answered don’t hesitate to ask them, the tutors or the OU Residential School office staff – they are all very helpful.

Academic activities
The first formal event of the School will probably be the School Director's welcome followed by the Course Director's introduction. In addition, the OUSA representatives may give a brief overview of their activities. These are all pretty short and you'll soon find yourself in your first group meeting - usually of about a dozen people. You'll probably be with this same group of people most of the week and soon get to know them. You'll find that you have a great deal in common with them - not just your course but your background, hopes, ambitions and concerns.

Your group will be undertaking various activities during the week. In Arts, Social Science and Business Schools you'll be discussing various topics with your tutor, writing essays and reports.

At Maths Schools you'll be working on problems of various kinds: at Science and Technology Schools you'll be conducting experiments in and out of the laboratory.

At all schools there'll be optional activities such as tutorials, lectures, demonstrations, performances and visits. Check with the designated noticeboards for these additional lectures. Many will be course related and some may deal with revision and/or exams.

Social Activities
Most schools offer a modest social programme of films, quizzes, karaoke, discos and so on usually organised by OUSA. There are bars, of course, but there will also be quiet areas. After your academic exertions you can de-stress by attending these events. Usually these start at 9:00 after your academic day has finished but check the timetable.

Meals
Schools usually provide breakfast, dinner and lunch at set times. At some campuses, there may be cafes, etc. where you can obtain additional food but you will have to pay for that. There will probably be shops and banks as well.

Pacing yourself
So, you could keep going from 9am to midnight or later if you wished. Life at Residential School can be quite exhausting, and it's very important to pace yourself.

Most Schools have an afternoon free mid-week but no-one will mind if you need to take some time out to rest, go for a walk and generally de-stress at other times. However, if you do that, do inform your tutor - the Residential School Office does follow up unnotified absences, primarily for security and medical reasons. And obviously if you miss too much of the programme you won't qualify for attendance at the School.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AT YOUR SCHOOL
No, Residential Schools aren't always plain sailing, but the Residential School Office and the Counsellors are there to make sure you have the best possible experience and most problems can be sorted out if you take them up as soon as they occur.

Accommodation
The OU has standards of service specified in its contracts with host institutions - don't hesitate to complain if there's a problem with any aspect of the accommodation or catering.

Harassment
The OU has a code about harassment which is posted around the School. Don't hesitate to talk to the School Counsellors if there's a problem.

Noise
Perhaps the most common problem at a School is late night noise keeping people awake. Don't be thoughtless yourself and don't let one disturbed night become two: tell the School Office or Counsellors immediately. They take such problems very seriously, and will ensure they don't re-occur.

Special Needs at Residential School
If you're disabled in any way then you will be contacted by the OU beforehand to see what special needs you may have. But even if you're not disabled Residential School can be particularly tiring; do contact the Host Regional Centre before you go for advice about the campus, help available and so on. And if you experience any problems during the School talk to the School Office or Counsellors.

Equal Opportunities
One of the strengths of the OU is the diversity of its students and staff. The aim of the
University's Equal Opportunities Policy is that no-one, staff or students, should
experience discrimination. If you have any difficulty in this area, talk to the School
Counsellors immediately.

EMERGENCIES
At the School.
Every school has its own emergency procedures. Do please read your Residential
School booklet when you get it. Generally in office hours the School Office or
Counsellors will help; outside office hours the Host University Security Service are
briefed to deal with any problems such as calling for medical assistance.

At home
Obviously we hope nothing goes wrong at home, but every School has a contact number to leave with your family or friends. Do tell them that ifs generally a message-taking service - it's not usually possible to bring you to the phone whilst they wait, because of the scattered nature of most Host campuses.

If you do have to go home as the result of an emergency, do try to leave a message saying you've gone or phone in as soon as you can. If you're not able to return to the School then contact your own Regional Centre to ask about reallocation to a later week if appropriate or excusal.

THE SCHOOL COUNSELLING SERVICE
At nearly every School there is a Counselling Service, and where there is no Counsellor, the School Director will act. The School Counsellors are there to help you in any way they can - information and advice on Course and Career Choice, administrative problems, study issues, exams and assignments, or whatever you want to discuss with them. This may be the easiest chance you get to talk in confidence to a sympathetic and knowledgeable ear about any aspect of your studies and life.

Information on how to contact the Counsellors will be available at the School.

LEAVING YOUR RESIDENTlAL SCHOOL
Week-long Residential Schools usually finish by 3pm on Friday. If you discover that you need to leave earlier than that for travel or other reasons then that's possible. But do check with the School Office or Counsellors as there are qualifying attendance requirements to be met. You may well have to pack and move out of your room before 9:00 or 10:00 am.

You can also stay until the Saturday as long as you speak to the Residential School Office as soon in the week as possible. This may be beneficial if you have been enjoying the social aspects of the Residential School and require extra sleep. If you are driving on the Friday and have stayed up late for the OUSA events then please drive carefully – this is when it can catch up with you.

We hope you'll enjoy your Residential School. Some 30,000 students go each year and the overwhelming majority rate it as the highlight of their studies - even students who were apprehensive beforehand.
 

Going to Residential School was written by Ormond Simpson at the Open University East Anglian Region but has been subject to minor alteration and additions by Trev White.
 

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