Keighley College receives funding for green skills investment

Written by Jim Jack on October 3, 2022. Posted in Environment, News

Keighley College is one of six further education providers across the region that will receive £140,000 to invest in specialist equipment to deliver electric vehicle and retrofit training, grow and embed green knowledge within the curriculum and improve links with businesses to develop and enhance their green skills.

As part of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges (WYCC), the college will be involved in government plans to boost the nation’s skills and make sure more people can secure good, well-paid jobs that are closer to where they live.

A great opportunity to ‘level up’ for sustainability

Kevin O’Hare, Principal at Keighley College, said: “We are delighted to be working with partners across the region to help our young people develop green skills and learn about sustainability.

“Our Industrial Centre of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering provides students with the opportunity to gain real world industry experience and this project will allow us to explore more green opportunities available in these areas.

“It is our aim to ensure that we successfully embed sustainable development goals into our curriculum and prepare our learners for futures in a greener world.”

The Department for Education has announced that it will invest £2.6m in West Yorkshire’s colleges through the Strategic Development Fund. 

The fund was launched in 2021 to help colleges and further education providers to transform their facilities and offer high quality technical training that better meet the needs of local employers and boost job opportunities for their communities.

This would mean that local businesses have access to the home-grown talent they need for the jobs of tomorrow and more people don’t need to leave their hometowns to get a good job.

Preparing a workforce for the future

Project Director of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges, Joanne Patrickson said: “This funding will make a big difference to our colleges and in turn, the businesses and communities in West Yorkshire. 

“Part of the funding will be a capital investment into equipment and machinery to allow our colleges to train the workforce in electric vehicle maintenance and retrofitting buildings.

“Colleges will be employing dedicated teams to work closely with businesses in the region to understand what help they need to become more sustainable, and the WYCC The Green Skills Service to help employers access the training and resources they need to take action.”

The £2.6m is contracted to be spent by 31 March 2023, but this initial investment will allow these new initiatives to establish and offer training that will prepare the workforce for a sustainable future.

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Leeds Sixth Form College introduces new branding to reflect renewed set of values

Written by craig on September 21, 2022. Posted in News

Our member, Leeds Sixth Form College, has launched its new branding, to reflect a renewed set of values and vision for the future.

In 2019, we officially announced Leeds Sixth Form College as a member of the group in its own right, highlighting its commitment to invest in quality A levels and academic study, adding to Leeds City College’s offer.

The re-brand coincides with the development of Pudsey Sixth Form College, signifying our investment in Level 3 provision, particularly increasing capacity for the growing demographic among 16-year-olds in Leeds.

It also provides a stronger connection between the two sixth forms as well as better reflecting who Leeds Sixth Form College is, what it does and where it’s going.

We want the sixth form to be known for providing young people in Leeds with ‘limitless futures’. With more choice and more opportunities, the experiences learners could have are endless.

With this in mind, they have committed to three key values:

Confident – encourage learners to be independent and resilient, so that they have the confidence to set their aspirations high.

Straightforward – provide students with a clear and direct pathway to the next step in their futures, whether this is higher education, apprenticeships or employment.

Forward thinking – inspire all learners to be innovative and progressive, and in turn celebrate student success in all forms.

For more information about Leeds Sixth Form College, visit leedssixthform.ac.uk

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Open day offers a first glimpse at brand new Pudsey Sixth Form College

Written by craig on September 22, 2022. Posted in News

Students have been given an early taste of what Pudsey Sixth Form College will have to offer when it opens.

The new sixth form held its first open day to introduce potential students to the all-new further education establishment, which is set to open in September 2024. 

Pudsey Sixth Form College is being developed through a partnership between Crawshaw Academy, Co-op Academy Priesthorpe, Leeds West Academy and Leeds Sixth Form College.  

By creating this dedicated post-16 provision, future Pudsey students will benefit from an educational experience that builds confidence, raises aspirations and hope to inspire generations to come

The event took place at Leeds Sixth Form College, where the first cohort of Pudsey Sixth Form College students will initially be based next year, until the new college building is complete.

This gave prospective students a first glimpse at the exclusive classrooms, study zones and dedicated spaces they will have access to, as well as an opportunity to meet the architects, designers and builders who are involved in developing the new Sixth Form College in Pudsey. 

Parents and prospective students had the chance to view the designs and ask questions.

Students also took the opportunity to speak to teachers about the sixth form’s broad subject and enrichment offer, and have their questions answered by members of the management team.

Leeds Sixth Form College and Pudsey Sixth Form College Principal, Rachael Booth, said: “We are delighted to be sharing our vision for Pudsey Sixth Form College in person for the first time.

“This event has allowed us to showcase our ambitious offer of subjects and qualifications as a specialist sixth form, as well as our commitment to preparing our students for a future without limits.

“This is an exciting new chapter for education in the area, and it’s great to see so many people joining us to find out more.”

The Pudsey story

There has long been a history of partnership and collaboration amongst the local schools in Pudsey, but this new venture was born out of a need for a dedicated sixth form for students in Pudsey. 

As part of Luminate Education Group, Pudsey Sixth Form College aims to become the natural destination for further education in the area.

In 2024, the sixth form will take up residence in an all-new, multi-million pound campus located in the heart of the Pudsey district. 

Designed with community needs in mind, the new building will feature 26 classrooms as well as art studios, design and technology workshops and laboratories to give students access to unparalleled educational opportunities.

What’s on offer?

Pudsey Sixth Form College’s academic provision will centre primarily around A levels, offering a range of subjects that will act as a springboard to university and beyond.

But as one learning style will not suit every student, the sixth form will also offer practical courses and hybrid pathways for those looking to undertake a different type of vocational qualification alongside their A level studies.

Rachael Booth added: “We will provide choice for students in Pudsey, with unparalleled opportunities both in terms of course choices, but also the breadth of extra and super curricular on offer.Broadening choices at this critical stage in their education means young people can make an informed decision about their chosen path.

“We want our students to enjoy learning and to acquire the skills they need to succeed – no matter their destination.”

If you would like to find out more about Pudsey Sixth Form College, please visit the website.

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Statement from Luminate Education Group following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Written by craig on September 8, 2022. Posted in News

Our sincerest condolences go out to the royal family following the announcement of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

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Next Gen Choices Fair is coming to Leeds

Written by craig on September 21, 2022. Posted in News

Luminate Education Group have taken the lead in organising a one-day choices fair for 14-16 year olds across North and West Yorkshire.

Taking place on Tuesday 18 October at Elland Road’s Centenary Pavilion, the group have developed the event to showcase the wealth of opportunities open to young people following their GCSEs.

With an increasing number of post-16 options available to students, choosing what to do next can seem like a daunting prospect.

By hosting further education colleges, sixth form colleges and apprenticeship providers, plus training companies and employers all under one roof, this event will provide young people with the information they’ll need when considering their next steps.

The occasion will also provide an opportunity for employers to meet students from across the region, inspire the next generation of talent and promote their organisation

If you would like more information about the choices fair, please visit luminate.ac.uk/nextgen or click here to book your place. School groups can book here.

If you or your organisation would like to reserve a space as an exhibitor, then please complete this booking form, or contact sibh.megson@luminate.ac.uk for more information.

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Independent board marks a new chapter for University Centre Leeds

Written by craig on September 2, 2022. Posted in Members

We are pleased to announce that, from September 2022, University Centre Leeds (UC Leeds) will have its own stand-alone board to oversee decision-making on statutory, financial, quality and curriculum matters.

The creation of an independent board symbolises a new chapter for UC Leeds and is a reflection of the ongoing commitment to higher education from Leeds City College and Luminate Education Group.

With 1,400 students and 58 courses, the curriculum teams at UC Leeds have dedicated significant time and effort to ensure they are meeting the needs of learners. In response to this, Luminate has won a bid to invest £12m for a new HE space at Magbate, which will further improve student and staff experiences, as well as allow for growing capacity.

Earlier this year, UC Leeds’ ongoing commitment to creating and providing quality learning experiences was recognised by the National Student Survey results, in which they once again achieved the highest overall student satisfaction level of all of the city’s higher education providers.

Such successes, alongside what is happening in the sector in relation to the Office for Students’ (OfS) requirements, means that now is the perfect time to invest in a dedicated board. This will enable more focus and resources to be committed towards helping UC Leeds achieve its goals, which include becoming a higher education institution with awarding body powers, as it forges ahead.

Governance in education is incredibly important as it not only holds UC Leeds to account, but also helps them be even more strategic and forward-thinking within the communities they serve. It enables them to more closely scrutinise the quality of the education that they offer to students, so they can be more competitive and outcome-focused. At the centre of this decision is ensuring that the university centre continues to offer quality educational experiences for students.

Having a specialist board is an exciting development for UC Leeds that will result in governors contributing to strategic planning and decision-making, as well as advising on curriculum to ensure they maintain the highest standards.

The independent board will be responsible for oversight of quality and standards, as well as overseeing a strategy for continuous improvement. A Chair of Governors has already been appointed – Mark Garratt, who has over 11 years’ experience in senior roles at a number of UK universities.

He said: “Having been on the board of Leeds City College as the higher education link governor since 2017, I’m delighted to now become chair of the newly formed University Centre Leeds Board.

“These are exciting times for higher education in the UK, with universities taking an active and important role in helping to prepare students for an increasingly diverse range of careers.

“I look forward to working with the executive team to support students from all backgrounds in transforming their lives.”

The board will be made up of members from a broad range of professional backgrounds, to represent UC Leeds’ core curriculum offer of healthcare, STEM, legal and creative arts subjects. A student member of the board has already been identified, and nominations for a staff member to join will soon open. We will share further information on this with you soon.

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