For the biggest majority of students finding part time work is a necessary fact of college life, there is the privileged few who don't need to work. The morbid fact is the majority of students leave College or Uni with a shed full of debt, but a part time job will help to keep it to a scary level and help to pay for those little extras and drink tokens somehow. (crime doesn't pay and we would never advise it)
Work doesn't have to be a slog if you shop around for a position that you'll feel comfortable in it will make working that much easier to contend with. Not all employers stand over you with a big stick waiting to beat you with it the when your late because things over ran.
Listed in each area is a part time work link which lists employers who are sympathetic to students and offer reasonable rates of pay and decent working conditions. You can of course contact local employment centres and agencies but do remember that they are business people and they can be very demanding.
You are a student first and work comes second, there's no point having a pocket full of ready's only to find out you're about to be booted out of college for not attending.
So things to remember find a job that is suited to you and a work environment you can live with, establish your work schedule from the outset that way you will both know when and what is expected of you.
Your time at college should be interesting and fun as well as full of stress and graft!

Now for the nasty Bit.

Income Tax is a tax on income.
Not all income is taxable - and you're only taxed on 'taxable income' above a certain level. Even then, there are other reliefs and allowances that can reduce your Income Tax bill - and in some cases mean you have no tax to pay.
Everyone who is resident in the UK for tax purposes has a 'personal allowance', which is an amount of taxable income you are allowed to earn or receive each year tax-free.This tax year (2008-2009), the basic personal allowance - or tax-free amount - is £6140. You may be entitled to a higher personal allowance if you are 65 or over.If you are registered blind, or are unable to perform any work for which eyesight is essential, you can also claim the tax-free blind person's allowance.Income Tax is only due on taxable income that's above your tax-free allowances.

If you're a student working in the holidays

If you're a student and working over the holidays, your earnings over the whole year may be low enough that you don't need to pay any Income Tax.  Ask your employer for form P38S if you think it applies to you - to prevent paying Income Tax from the outset. But you'll still pay National Insurance if your earnings are £100 or more a week.If you don't complete form P38S you may start off by paying tax and then have to claim it back at the end of the tax year.