Author: Emma Wilde

Wakefield College welcomed Further Education (FE) Commissioner Shelagh Legrave CBE to its campus last week, showcasing the College’s commitment to delivering high-quality education for its local communities.

Shelagh was greeted by the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s Chair of Governors, Andrew McConnell OBE and Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Sam Wright and other members of the Executive Team, who provided her with a guided tour of its state-of-the-art campus.

During her visit, Shelagh had the chance to visit several areas of the College including the Seacole Building, home of the College’s University Centre.

Shelagh spoke to Higher Education Performing Arts students about their experience at the College and the progression opportunities which were available to them after completing their FE qualifications.

Amongst the facilities which Shelagh visited was the College’s training restaurant, where Hospitality & Catering students from Level 1 up to Level 3 were preparing for lunch service.

Shelagh’s tour concluded at the College’s Care & Early Years Department, where she spoke to T Level students about what they enjoy about their course and their career aspirations.

Sam Wright, Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s Principal and Chief Executive Officer, said: “We were delighted to welcome Shelagh to the College and for the opportunity to demonstrate the fantastic work our colleagues do to create a safe, positive and thriving learning environment for our students. We are continuously developing our curriculum and investing in our facilities to ensure our learners develop valuable skills and experiences which will shape them personally and their career aspirations – and it was great to be able to showcase this.”

The FE Commissioner works with local authorities delivering further education to improve the quality of education for learners, strengthen financial resilience, improve the quality of leadership and reduce the risk of intervention.

Wakefield College offers a range of FE programmes, including A Levels, T Levels, Vocational courses, Apprenticeships and Adult Learning.

These programmes are delivered across a range of subjects, including Animal Care, Art & Design and Media, Business & Management, Health & Social Care and Care & Early Years, Computing, Construction, Foundation Learning, Sport, Public Services and more.

Stoke on Trent College is delighted to announce the appointment of a new CEO and Principal.

Hassan Rizvi will join the College from 13 January, from Waltham Forest College – where he worked as Deputy Principal for Curriculum and Quality.

Born in Pakistan and later moving to the UK, he has a career spanning the Further Education sector for over 18 years and has worked through various quality and curriculum focused management roles.

Before joining the education profession, Hassan proudly served in the Military providing him with a host of transferable skills.

Initially adapting his industry expertise to teach Public Services, he has also taught a range of subjects across various levels including Higher Education courses. Hassan also holds a PHD in Politics.

Hassan’s passion to create opportunities for both young people and adults, offering the chance to learn new skills and knowledge for the future aligns perfectly to the Stoke on Trent College mission and vision.

“I enjoy seeing the progression of learners to further or higher education, employment or apprenticeships. For me, FE is about supporting learners to succeed, regardless of their starting point. I passionately believe that if the right environment is offered, every individual can excel within their chosen pursuit and contribute to their personal wellbeing and the wider community,” Hassan Rizvi said.

Having followed the journey of Stoke on Trent College in recent years, he is now looking forward to taking the college to the next level.

“The opportunity to contribute to the ongoing success and to support the wider College team really appealed to me. I’m eager to ensure Stoke on Trent College remains the technical and professional college of choice across Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area,”

“I’m really excited to work with the dedicated and motivated team here at the College, who are committed in their work, supporting learners, meeting skills needs for employers and contributing towards the wellbeing of the local community.” said Hassan.

He has also spoken about the vast potential of Stoke-on-Trent, especially as the city enters its centenary year in 2025 and the opportunities this brings for the city and College community.

“I’m looking forward to meeting with key partners and stakeholders to maximise opportunities for our learners and work in partnership to achieve a thriving and prosperous city for the wider community,” he said.

Jeremy Cartwright, Chair of Stoke on Trent College Corporation Board said:

“We are really looking forward to welcoming Hassan to Stoke on Trent College. The College has been on a strongly positive trajectory in recent years, and under Hassan’s leadership we look forward to further success and progress for the College as we continue to deliver skills and opportunity for learners in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.”

Hassan will replace outgoing Stoke on Trent College CEO & Principal Lisa Capper MBE, who has moved to Sandwell Colleges as CEO and Principal.

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Notes to Editor

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Megan Lee headlined the latest Culture Collective event, held at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi, near Ruthin.

A graduate of Cambria Yale in Wrexham, Megan began performing at the age of 11 with her family and is now a skilled multi-instrumentalist set to appear at major festivals next summer, including Roadhouse Weekender and in It Together.

She joined students and staff for an evening of music, food and language, following the news her album Origin has been nominated for a British CMA (Country Music Association) Award.

The Culture Collective has gone from strength to strength, and organisers Tim Feak, Lead Chaplain at the college, and Judith Alexander, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Coordinator, say they have even more planned in the months ahead.

Judith said: “We are committed to further enhancing our previous achievements and student-led initiatives with an added emphasis on celebrating Welsh culture.

“This focus acknowledges the National Eisteddfod, the largest cultural festival in Europe, which will take place in Wrexham next August.  

“Megan exemplifies the spirit of a young Welsh entrepreneur, passionately pursuing her dreams while forging her own career path. She effectively utilises her Welsh language skills to highlight the rich tradition of Welsh song writing and performance – it was a pleasure to have her with us.”

Chef Gavin Williams designed a Welsh themed feast of Welsh Lamb stew, mash and Welsh rarebit dippers with a homemade bara brith for dessert, and learners enjoyed a selection of songs and activities on the night.

Tim added: “It’s been great to see the Culture Collective grow over the last few years and it was fun to kick off this year’s programme with some tasty food and brilliant music. 

“We have so much depth and riches in Wales within food, culture and the arts and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these events.”

For a full list of events, email judith.alexander@cambria.ac.uk or tim.feak@cambria.ac.uk.

Visit www.cambria.ac.uk for the latest news and information from Coleg Cambria.

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has announced a range of brand-new adult courses starting in January, providing learners with the opportunity to upskill, learn something new or retrain.

With over 120 courses on offer, adults can train in a range of areas including Automotive, Business, Childcare & Early Years, Construction, Dental, Engineering, English Health & Social Care, Hospitality & Catering, Maths, Sport, Teacher Training and much more.

This includes brand-new free Skills Connect courses which will be delivered in Women’s Basic Automotive Maintenance, Welding, Mechanical Engineering & Machining, PLC & Automation and Digital Marketing.

The programmes, which will be delivered at Castleford College, have been developed with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and will help adults to build their confidence and skills in a range of subjects.

The Group is also expanding its Skills Bootcamp offer to include new courses in Pipelaying & Groundworks and Glass & Glazing Fenestration.

These short -courses are available for the unemployed, people wanting a career change or are perfect for those already working in the construction industry who want to upskill and offer new services to their customers, such as window fitting. 

Those wanting to gain the qualifications to progress to a university degree but don’t want to attend college are also in luck, with the Group offering new Online Access to Higher Education courses in Computing, Engineering and Science.

To ensure the Group delivers the right courses for adults across the region, the Group has appointed a brand-new Group Director of Adult Skills, Laurent Berges.

Prior to starting in his role, Laurent was the Principal at Doncaster Communication Specialist College and has 28 years of experience working in further education, including 15 years at Wakefield College.

Laurent said: “I’m a strong believer in that it’s never too late to learn and there shouldn’t be any barriers for adults wanting to return to education. That’s why we are continuing to develop new and innovative part-time and full-time courses, which are widely accessible and delivered flexibly, ensuring that adults can enhance their skills, knowledge and career prospects, no matter what their situation is. This includes expanding our online learning offer to include Access to Higher Education qualifications, meaning learners can gain recognised qualifications without even leaving their homes.”

Laurent Burgess

The Group’s vast range of Online Learning courses cover Business & Management, Childcare, Early Years & Childhood Studies, Digital and Health, Social Care & Wellbeing.

The newest addition to its Online Learning offer is a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Environmental Sustainability, which aims to provide learners with knowledge in environmental sustainability including control of global warming, reducing carbon emissions, alternative energy sources, conservation, environmental monitoring and energy management.

To support the growing demands from local schools and colleges to recruit new teachers and teaching assistants, the Group has also launched online Level 2 and Level 3 Teacher Training programmes, with funding options available for learners.

For those seeking to start a new hobby or try something fun, the Group also offers a range of short courses in garment making, floristry, photography, music production and more.

All part-time and short courses are delivered at the Group’s three campuses in Castleford, Selby and Wakefield.

Find out more about the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s adult offer, by reading its brand-new 2024/2025 Adult Guide: www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/new-year

The hard work and achievements of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s students were recognised as part of its Annual Student Awards Ceremony.

Held on Wednesday 11^th December at Castleford College, the event was attended by students from Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College alongside their family members, staff and Governors from the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, and distinguished guests from award sponsors including the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Supply Me and Waystone.

46 awards were presented throughout the evening across the Group’s vast range of subject areas, including Animal Care & Horticulture, Applied Science & Sixth Form, Automotive & Engineering, Business and Travel & Tourism, Care & Early Years, Computing & Digital Industries, Construction & Civil Engineering, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Foundation Learning, Hair & Beauty and Hospitality & Catering.

The awards were generously sponsored by The Walshaw Fund, the IET, Navigate, Supply Me, Waystone, Dearne Valley Pet Centre and We are Wakefield.

Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “Our students have demonstrated exceptional growth, commitment and excellence towards their learning, so it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate these remarkable achievements alongside their loved ones, staff across the Group and our employer partners. Many of our student winners have now moved on to some of the UK’s top universities, employment or higher levels of study with us here at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, highlighting their significant development and progression.”

Andrew McConnell OBE, Chair of Governors at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, presented a number of awards throughout the evening, including the Public Services Student of the Year accolade, which was awarded to Isla Ramsey from Selby College.

Isla said: “I didn’t expect to be nominated for this award, so it’s really nice to be recognised by my tutors. I have now progressed on to the Public Services degree at the College and hope to work in the Police Force in the future, which my course will help me to achieve.”

Business student from Wakefield College, George Kilner, was also praised for the excellence he has shown in his academic studies and the leadership skills he’s demonstrated in his role as the Group’s Students’ Union President, working tirelessly to improve the student experience.

George said: “I’m incredibly proud to have won the Business Student of the Year award, which I feel is a testament to the hard work and commitment I put into my studies. I’ve learned about all aspects of business through my course and I plan to put this into practice whilst studying a foundation degree in Leadership & Management at the College’s University Centre, and when I start my own business one day.”

Acknowledging the dedication they demonstrated to their studies, Oliwia Loc from Castleford College, Xander Norrie from Selby College and Zak Newton from Wakefield College, were presented with the Gideon Schreier Bursary Award in Construction & Civil Engineering.

On hand to deliver the Construction Student of the Year awards was Alistair McLoughlin, Joint Managing Director at Waystone Ltd, who said: “It’s an honour to be able to present these awards in memory of Gideon Schreier and to continue his work in inspiring the next generation of construction workers. Seeing the exceptional talent of Oliwia, Xander and Zak, makes me incredibly excited for the future of the construction industry.”

Jeffrey Utley MBE from the IET also presented the Engineering Prize for Student Excellence to Luke Ayr from Castleford College, who was praised for his exceptional academic performance and critical thinking skills.

Learners from Stoke on Trent College have raised almost £400 for the Dunelm ‘Delivering Joy’ Christmas Parcel appeal.

The learners have worked together to find innovative fundraising ideas and have sold raffle tickets across both college campuses; with donated prizes including a Ring indoor camera, love2shop voucher, 2 tickets for Stoke City FC, 4 tickets for Waterworld, 2 tickets for Mini Golf Adventure Land and a Christmas chocolate hamper.

As part of the fundraising activity, the college netball team also competed in a staff vs students Netball game at the Cauldon campus’ Sports Academy on Thursday 5 December. The match was highly competitive and saw the staff team triumph 10-9.

Olivia Brookes, Level 3 Sports Student and college netball Captain, who helped organise the appeal and the netball game said:

“Netball is an enrichment where all of us come together and have fun. The staff vs student game is always a great laugh and extra amazing as we do it for charity. As soon as we heard the date for the game, the team decided on the Dunelm ‘Delivering Joy’ Christmas appeal.

“As a team, we decided this would be a special one for this time of year. Over the past couple of years, many individuals and families have struggled with the cost-of-living crisis, so raising money and buying what they have asked for from the Dunelm Christmas tree gift tags, makes us as a team all the more determined to try our best to raise the money needed to give them a magical Christmas.”

The money raised has been used to buy gifts that have been added to Dunelm’s Christmas tree at their branch on Victoria Road in Fenton. The gifts will be distributed to those who are less fortunate in the run up to the festive period.

 Rachel Jones, Manager at Dunelm Fenton said:

“We would just like to thank all of the students and staff for the amazing efforts they have gone to and imaginative ways they have come up with to raise the amount of money they have.

“The donations will make a huge difference to so many who are struggling not only at this time of year but throughout the year with the cost of living crisis, and also animals shelters who struggling with in the same way.  All the donations will really help make it a Christmas for them to remember and make it that little special for them all.”

Antoinette Lythgoe, Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“Stoke on Trent College is delighted to support the Dunelm ‘Delivering Joy’ Christmas Parcel Appeal. Our learners have led on this initiative and have fully embraced all the fundraising activity, including sourcing raffle prizes and selling tickets across both campuses, organising the netball game between staff and students and purchasing the gifts, ensuring their safe delivery to Dunelm ready for distribution”

Find out more about the Dunelm Delivering Joy Christmas Parcel Appeal at – https://www.dunelm.com/info/delivering-joy-at-christmas.

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Notes to Editor

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Community learning leaders from across Stoke-on-Trent have come together to collaborate and help shape adult and community learning delivered by Stoke on Trent College.

Hosted in the award-winning Hammersley restaurant on the Cauldon campus, partners from the Shaw Trust, the Department for Work & Pensions, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Thrive at Five, NHS and Talking Therapies came together to meet the college’s new Community Learning team and to discuss ways they can work together going forward.

The forum is part of a larger piece of working at Stoke on Trent College to expand their outward facing approach to adult and community learning.

As part of the event, visitors were given a tour of the ESOL department before heading to the recently opened Health & Social Care Ward, an industry standard facility providing learners with the opportunity to learn in a realistic hospital ward environment. Guests also enjoyed festive treats produced by Catering and Hospitality students.

As part of the session, groups also talked through the referral process for adult learners and how collaborative working with partners is key.

Elliot White, Director of Lifelong Learning at Stoke on Trent College said:

“This is the first of a series of events with our adult learning and community partners. Having everyone in the same room, has helped us to talk through our approach to community learning and to share ideas which we feel could be implemented by the wider group to reach as many people as possible.

“By showing partners the ESOL department and the Health and Social Care ward, we gave them a glimpse of the facilities learners can access when they enrol with us here at the College.”

Antoinette Lythgoe, Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“Every year Stoke on Trent College has around 7,000 adult learners enrolling on a variety of different courses, which could be upskilling for their current job, reskilling for a new career or helping build their confidence to help them back into employment.

“It’s vital we continue to work collaboratively with community learning partners across the city to ensure that we are meeting needs and skills gaps.”

Find out more about community courses at Stoke on Trent College here – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/course-areas/community-courses/

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Notes to Editor

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

To mark national T Levels Week 2024, Wakefield College has opened the doors to its hospital simulation teaching ward.

Helping to train the next-generation of healthcare professionals, the state-of-the-art suite enables T Level Health students to be immersed into real-life scenarios and simulations which they would experience when working in a healthcare setting.

It models a two-bed hospital ward, where students can practice on and treat realistic mannequins using industry-standard equipment.

With a full-sized mannequin at their disposal, students can test their clinical skills by taking blood samples, removing catheter tubes from the bladder, treating wounds, inserting feeding tubes and more.

Carla Cantrell, Head of Curriculum for Leadership Care & Early Years at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “The simulation ward provides the students with a risk-free environment where they can apply what they are learning in the classroom and refine their skills, which will help them seamlessly transition into their industry placements and their chosen careers further down the line. In addition to providing innovative learning spaces for our students, we are committed to further enhancing their learning through additional enrichment activities, including external visits, trips and guest talks.”

Most recently, T Level Education & Early Years students have enjoyed days out at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Leeds City Museum, MathsCity and Leeds Christmas Market.

Yorkshire Ambulance also recently visited the College to provide students with insight into what it’s like working in the healthcare field and could ask questions about the role of an ambulance driver.

Taking to the outdoors, the learners also hosted their own teddy bear picnic which modelled activities that would be delivered to early years children, including games, making friendship bracelets and face painting.

During T Levels Week, Wakefield College hosted a roundtable with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to evaluate the education landscape in the region.

As part of the session, leaders spoke to the College’s T Level students about their experience and what their expectations are of studying a T Level.

T Levels are two-year qualifications which aim to give students a head-start towards their chosen career path. They have been designed alongside employers to ensure learners have the skills and knowledge that are in demand.

Students spend 80% of their time in the classroom and 20% on a 45-day placement with an employer, providing them with the chance to build skills and knowledge highly sought after by employers, whilst gaining a qualification.

In addition to T Level courses in Health and Education & Early Years, Wakefield College also offers T Levels in Business & Management, Construction and Digital.

Selby College is reinforcing its position as a leading training in the area, providing opportunities for learners aged 15 right up to 70+ for 40 years.

Today, Selby College is continuously developing and expanding its curriculum in line with future skills demands and the sustainability agenda to ensure it’s delivering the right skills for the region.

This includes the launch of brand-new Skills Bootcamps in Carbon Capture and Heat Recovery which are designed to provide learners with the training to operate climate-saving technologies, as well as new Vocational programmes such as Performing and Production Arts (Acting).

Providing a well-rounded education for learners of all abilities, the College’s recent expansion of its Level 1 programmes allows learners with no formal entry requirements a route to gain skills and knowledge in their chosen area, whilst teaching them employability skills.

Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, which Selby College is part of, said: “Ever since Selby College opened its doors, it’s played a pivotal role in educating our local community – with generations of learners carrying out their qualifications with us. Over the years, the College has grown and evolved to become a state-of-the-art training facility which is responsive to the needs of employers and local skills demands. This has enabled us to create learning opportunities for students of all ages, ensuring that they can successfully progress onto their next steps – whether that be further studies, employment or into a higher role. We look forward to continuing to build on this success for 40 more years and beyond, working closely with our school and employer partners and governing bodies.

“We would love to hear from the College’s first cohort of students who attended in 1984, so that we can invite them in to hear about their experiences and to showcase how the College has evolved. We encourage them to get in touch with the College,” added Sam.

To mark the occasion, the College has appointed a brand-new Local College Director to implement its vision for the College.

James Pennington, Local College Director for Selby College, said: “My appointment comes at an exciting time, as we embark on the College’s 40^th year of delivering high-quality education to our local communities. I plan to build strong external relationships, particularly with schools and community groups, to create an environment where our students truly thrive, both academically and personally. We’re also committed to transforming learning, raising attainment and achievement and encouraging progression across the district through our work with our local feeder schools and learning providers.”

James’ has worked at the organisation for over 17 years, leading on the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s Schools Partnerships offer.

The College hosts a range of School Liaison activities throughout the academic year, including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related workshops and taster events where school pupils can try a variety of subjects and get a taste of what college life is like.

This includes the recent launch of Selby Children’s University, which works with schools and families to encourage children aged 5-11 to take part in learning activities outside their normal school hours.

Children are able to collect stamp codes in their Passport to Learning for attending lunchtime and after school clubs, as well as at Learning Destinations in the local area such as The Painting Pot, Goole Gymnastics Club, Perfect Pitch Stars Performing Arts and more.

Although it was established in 1984, Selby College now boasts a state-of-the-art campus following a £35 million investment. This includes an automated Engineering facility which boasts the latest industry 4.0 equipment, state-of-the-art construction facilities, a high-tech IT laboratory and industry-standard beauty salons and kitchen.  

If you are an alumni from 1984, please get in touch with the College’s Marketing Team at marketing@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk

Stoke on Trent College is launching a brand-new Broadcast Media Suite to take digital & creative learning opportunities to the next level.

The custom-built studio, based in the Cauldon Campus’ Digital & Creative Hub, will have a state-of-the-art studio encompassing a broadcasting desk space, a moveable rig for cameras plus a green screen backdrop.

The studio features broadcast equipment from leading brands Blackmagic and Rode and is also accompanied by a fully-equipped control room where students can work on sound, lighting and vision mixing. A custom-built recording booth gives students the chance to record Foley sounds and Additional Dialogue Recording (ADR).

The brand-new space will help grow the College’s provision for the newly launched T Level in Media & Broadcast Production as well as offering unique industry facilities for other Level 3 Media learners.

Antoinette Lythgoe, Chief Financial Officer & Interim CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“Our Skills Hubs have a focused curriculum to drive opportunities in the priority sectors for our City and region, including Creative and Digital. We’re delighted to launch this incredible Broadcast Media Suite, which will provide our T Level Media and Broadcast Production students with the equipment to learn new skills to become future broadcasters and have successful careers in whatever creative field they choose.

Andrew Davenne, Head of Learning Digital & Creative at Stoke on Trent College said:

“This bespoke broadcasting space has all the tools for our T Level students to create amazing and innovative content. Whether that is a short video, record a podcast or social media content; the sky is the limit!”

Lydia Scott, T-Level Media & Broadcast Production student said:

“I’m really looking forward to using the Broadcast Media Suite. Having this sort of facility available will only make the T Level course better and get all of us ready for working in this environment in the future.”

Find out more about the T Level in Media & Broadcast Production at Stoke on Trent College here – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/course/t-level-in-broadcast/

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Notes to Editor

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk