This December we are opening our doors to community groups and providers service users to experience a Christmas wellbeing course.
The half day event with coffee and mince pies can be held at our stunning campus (Christmas trees included!) or we can come to your premises.
We will help cover the cost of travel to campus if minimum numbers are guaranteed.
For more information and to arrange a day contact Steve Tasker – Smith stasker-smith@northern.ac.uk or ring the College on 01226 776000.
At no other time has it been as important as now to either learn digital skills or increase your knowledge of them.
The world has changed with regards to how we work, live and learn. From online Zoom calls to classrooms in Microsoft Teams, we are all doing things differently to how we imagined, and they have become essential skills for life and work.
Digital skills are a way of doing things in this new landscape. This includes how we use devices such a mobile phone, laptops, tablets, and their software. These skills can help to simplify tasks in the workplace and in everyday life.
No matter which sector you are looking to work in, these skills are more important than ever, and now is the perfect time to gain the skills which employers are looking for.
So, where do you start?
Whether you are new to computers and digital technologies, or just need to update your skillset, we can offer you a course which suits your level.
Let us help you to build your skills and confidence so that you can go after the job that you really want or progress in your current role.
We have courses that introduce you to the Digital world as well as higher level courses to further develop your knowledge and skills.
Ready to apply?
Look now at our digital courses on our website.
Yorkshire politicians, business leaders and council chiefs have paid tribute to the life changing impact of one of the North’s leading colleges as part of a national campaign.
The College officially unveiled its future plans to leaders from across Yorkshire as part of the national Colleges Week 2023 celebrations.
Dan Jarvis, Barnsley Central MP, and the Rt. Hon Lord Blunkett, were among 50 guests who attended a Colleges Week celebration event at Northern College on 13th October 2023.
Colleges Week shines a light on further education colleges’ vital role in strengthening communities, boosting the economy and transforming lives through learning.
The Association of Colleges-led campaign has run over two weeks this year from 9th to 20th October 2023.
Emma Beal, Principal and Chief Executive, Northern College, said: “We are incredibly proud of our students who prove that it is never too late to discover a joy for learning.
“We have a distinguished history of providing life changing adult education opportunities to hundreds of learners every year many of whom have not fulfilled their potential previously.
“At Northern College, we give equal value to the development of their knowledge and skills as well as their confidence and wellbeing, thanks to our amazing staff.
“We are committed to honouring our past whilst evolving and innovating. It is great to champion our students and share our future plans during Colleges Week, which is all about celebrating the inspirational impact of further education colleges.”
Dan Jarvis, Barnsley Central MP, said: “ Northern College has a longstanding and cherished history of supporting adults to re-enter education and uses residential learning to progress students’ development, helping them get a job or retraining them for a new career.
“It is a hugely valuable part of our region’s educational and cultural landscape, and it was great to hear about their ambitious plans for the future which will allow them to continue their outstanding work.”
Representatives from the Association of Colleges, Barnsley Council, Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, Bolsover District Council, Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions and Doncaster Chamber of Commerce attended the event.
They were also joined by officials from Leeds City Council, National Trust, Luminate Education Group, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Hallam University, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Guests heard from leaders about Northern College’s ambitions, with the official launch of its Strategic Plan 2023/26, and students whose lives have been transformed by education.
The student speakers included Hayley Greenfield, 53, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, who has successfully overcome a drugs dependency, which led to her being homeless and spending time in prison for shop theft.
Discovering a love of learning and studying at Northern College has been an important part of Hayley’s recovery since four years-ago she decided to turn her life around.
Hayley lived at the college as a residential student, which enabled her to immerse herself in her studies. Hayley completed several short courses before progressing to a Counselling Skills Certificate at Level 3.
Now she is studying a Degree in Psychology at the University of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Hayley said: “Education helps to stabilise you, it gives you a focus. Northern College has been absolutely phenomenal. It’s a brilliant place and there’s so much support.
She explained: “I was at rock bottom for a long time but now I have a lot more self confidence. I feel very positive and so much better. I know that I am truly moving forward.
“Arriving at college was nerve-racking initially. The short courses have been an important stepping stone. The more progress you make, the more your confidence builds. I would recommend it to anybody.
“It is really exciting to be able to go to university. It feels an amazing achievement and I am really proud of myself. I never expected to feel like this and it’s had a much wider impact. Hearing my family say they are proud of me is the best thing in the world.”
Based at the grade 1 listed Wentworth Castle within 60 acres of National Trust gardens, the college provides short community courses and academic and vocational qualifications.
Northern College students benefit from learning with other adults, residential accommodation so they can focus on their studies and free access to National Trust gardens.
The college prepares learners to return to education, gain employment or make a career change through residential learning and specialist support.
The college’s new strategy commits to three themes:
Adult learner Michelle Allen, 36, left school with few qualifications but successfully completed an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Criminology at Northern College this summer.
Michelle, from Sheffield, has progressed to a BA Honours Degree in Criminal Justice at University Campus Doncaster, part of the DN Colleges Group.
Michelle said “Northern College has changed my life and created chances for me that I wouldn’t otherwise have had. If you’d have told me a few years-ago that I would study a university degree, I wouldn’t have believed you.
“Throughout my life I have not had much confidence. But when I arrived at Northern College, I instantly felt at home. Initially, I was shy in class and used to sit at the back of the room because that’s where I felt safe. Gradually, my confidence improved.
“I began to speak out when I knew the answers to questions. You get a lot of support at the college, which has been so helpful to me as I have autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia. The tutors know about my conditions and their support and understanding has helped me to flourish because they believe in me.”
Being residential has been the key to success. She added: “Being able to live on campus for two nights a week as a resident at the college whilst studying has made such a difference.
“You can spend time in the library without rushing off. Your time is not taken up with a long, stressful commute. You can really focus on your studies. The grounds are really peaceful and I made a lot of friends.”
We are excited to announce that Northern College has secured funding to deliver Multiply – a national programme funded by the Government, focused on improving adult numeracy skills.
Numeracy is the ability to understand and use maths in daily life, home, and work. Whether that be improving household finances, helping children with homework, making more sense of the stats and facts in the media, or improving numeracy skills specific to your line of work.
People who improve their numeracy skills are more likely to be in employment, have higher wages, and better wellbeing, and will be more able to progress to higher levels of free training to secure a skilled job.
Businesses who develop their employees’ numeracy skills can boost productivity, increase profits, and improve employee retention.
As an adult only college that works with students to develop their numeracy skills already, it is a fantastic opportunity for us to reach more adults in the region.
‘”The Multiply initiative is a really good opportunity for anyone within the Barnsley area to try maths without the commitment to a full course. The sessions for Multiply will be fun and engaging removing the surrounding fear that people sometimes feel. At the end of the sessions there will also be opportunities to look at moving onto other courses within the college. “‘ Steph Eyre, Curriculum Manager
Further Information
Multiply website
If you would like to discuss further the Multiply project and our planned sessions, please contact us advice@northern.ac.uk
Returning to education when you’re an adult might seem scary because you’re worried about managing your time and money, and whether you can keep up with the coursework. But here’s the good news: experts and adult students who’ve been through it before say that older learners have some big advantages.
Let’s break down these benefits:
Life Experience: You’ve lived more life, and that brings valuable experiences to the classroom. You can share your real-world experiences, making discussions richer and more interesting.
Motivation and Focus: Our students are often more determined and focused because they understand how important education is. You’re likely to work hard and stay committed.
Clear Goals: You probably have a better idea of what you want to achieve academically and in your career. This clarity can help you stay on track.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Life experiences can sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which can be super helpful in your studies.
Appreciation for Learning: Going back to school later in life can make you more excited about learning. You’re studying what you want to, not what you have to, which can boost your enthusiasm.
Your life experiences and personal qualities are strengths that can make your educational journey more fulfilling and help you reach your goals. Embrace the opportunity to learn and grow and remember that it’s never too late to invest in yourself and your future.
For over 40 years Northern College has been changing the lives of adults across the region. Each year we build a learning community of students, teaching and support staff that works together to make sure you achieve your goals.
So, whether you are returning to education, looking for a career change or just want to learn new skills – Northern College could be the perfect place for you.
Find out more
Student life at Nothern College
A ceremony to celebrate inspirational adult learners from Yorkshire and beyond has been held by Northern College.
Around 130 guests including students, their families, college staff and governors attended the event at the college this month on 5th September 2023.
Students were presented with certificates marking their achievements on qualifications including pre-access and access courses, which provide a pathway to university.
Emma Beal, Principal and Chief Executive, Northern College, said: “I am so proud of our students and their phenomenal achievements.
“It takes courage, hard work and perseverance to return to studying later in life especially given the other responsibilities that many of our learners have.
“Our amazing staff, facilities and stunning outdoor environment provide a supportive and inspirational backdrop that motivates our students to learn, achieve and succeed.
“It is extremely rewarding to see them grow in confidence and create life changing opportunities that some students thought were not possible until they came to the college.”
Kelly Hall, who received a certificate of excellence at the ceremony, is one of the many Northern College students who have found a new sense of direction.
Kelly, 51, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, left school with few qualifications. Now, thanks to Northern College, she is going onto study a degree at a top Russell Group university.
Kelly said: “Studying at Northern College has changed my life. I have gone from not even thinking about education to being able to go to university. I feel like a different person.
“It’s given me direction, purpose and a goal to aim for. It’s all about progression and finding a route to fulfil your potential.
“Studying wasn’t on my radar. I didn’t get any GCSE grade A to C passes when I was at school.
“But all of that changed when I came across Northern College on a visit to Wentworth Castle with a support group.
“I decided to start a couple of short courses and stayed on campus as a residential student. The place and the grounds – I just loved it.
“The teaching was brilliant and really helped me in terms of my wellbeing. There was lots of support and it was a very inclusive environment.
“I loved it that much that I decided to move on to study a one-year Level 2 Pre-Access Diploma in Progression in Social Studies.”
Alongside the course, Kelly studied for maths and English GCSEs resits and secured a grade 5 pass and a grade 4 pass in August 2023.
Now she is progressing to the University of Leeds to complete a foundation year in arts and humanities and then a Degree in Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Thought.
Kelly added: “I have also developed other skills. Going to Northern College has given me a voice. I have learnt acceptance and to be who I am. It has really built my confidence.
“After I left school, I worked in accountancy for many years. Now I am really enjoying studying. I love the idea of going onto study a Masters Degree or PhD in future.
“My advice to others thinking of returning to education is – give it a go. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You can make something of yourself even if it is later in life.”
Find out more about our courses.
By Jim Taylor, Digital Tutor.
‘I joined Northern College as a Digital Tutor in June. My initial task was to review the digital curriculum and find ways to match it with the skills that are most needed in our local area. To achieve this, I took a close look at the courses we already had and identified other short courses that would be a good fit to create a longer course. These new courses are eight-day courses spread out over four weeks. During this time, you will delve into various related modules that fall under a broader topic.
We have combined relevant areas like software development and games design to become the new Introduction to Software. This way, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the skills and concepts involved. The four new courses are:
The new courses cover a range of digital skills that employers are looking for. These courses will help you understand important concepts related to digital technology and give you a chance to practice what you’ve learned through practical projects. By grouping similar topics together, you will see how these topics are connected and understand common themes that are important in the digital world. What’s even better is that you will be encouraged to use things you’ve made in one course in other courses too. For example, a photo you edit in one class could be used in a website that you will create in another class. You can figure out which topics you like and are good at. This will give you a good base if you want to study more or work in these areas in the future.
These courses are open to everyone, whether you are interested in learning digital skills for your job, for education, or just for fun. However, keep in mind that you should already have some basic digital skills like managing files and searching the internet. Because of this, we have also made a short course called “Learning to Learn Digital.” In this course, you’ll learn the basic skills you need to be ready for other digital courses, like making apps or building websites. This course is also useful for everyday digital tasks. The new courses are starting in September.
This is a great chance for you to get into digital learning. The courses are made to help you succeed in the digital world, and I’m really excited about them!’
If these courses sound like something that you would like to do, visit our website and apply now!
Staying over whilst you study is the best way to experience our College if you can. Don’t just take our word for it – we have asked our students what the best things about studying residentially are.
Here are the top five reasons:
No matter what your reason is for applying to stay residentially you will get so much more from the experience. Our College is your home from home.
Visit our course search page to find your perfect course.
Contact our Student Support Team to find out more about residential study.
advice@northern.ac.uk
A South Yorkshire politician has visited Northern College to hear about the life changing impact of adult education.
Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis MP was welcomed by staff at Northern College, which is the only adult residential college in the North of England.
The Ofsted graded ‘good’ college has a proud history of providing life changing opportunities to adults who have returned to learning.
During his visit on 7th July 2023, Mr Jarvis completed a campus tour and heard about the impact of the college as well its recent positive Ofsted report and plans for the future.
Emma Beal, Principal and Chief Executive, Northern College, said: “Northern College changes lives and is a unique and valuable regional asset. We are immensely proud of the work that we do with adult learners.
“Our focus is on raising aspirations and providing life changing opportunities that inspire our students to progress in education, employment and their careers. It was great to be able to share that with Dan Jarvis MP.”
Dan Jarvis MP said: ““Northern College is one of Barnsley’s proudest institutions and the only adult residential college in the North. Quite simply, it is an iconic part of Yorkshire’s educational and cultural landscape.
“Institutions like Northern College create opportunities, they contribute to growing productivity and are vital to our future prosperity.
“It was great to meet with Emma and hear about how the college is ensuring our workforce is equipped to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and adapt to the ever-changing world of work.”
Based at Wentworth Castle, Barnsley, the college provides short tailored learning courses and longer accredited academic and vocational courses that enable students to progress on to further study, higher education or work.
Focussed on addressing socio-economic disadvantage, the college educates hundreds of adults across South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and beyond, every year.
A significant proportion of learners are from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and have additional learning needs.
Leaders and staff have been praised for providing an exceptional and unique environment for learning in the latest Ofsted inspection report, published in April 2023.
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who often arrive at the college with low self-esteem, overcome significant personal barriers to develop their confidence and skills, the report highlights.
Many, the report adds, move onto higher-level learning. Others use the skills and attributes they have gained to enhance their personal lives and the contribution that they can make to their communities.
Most students on accredited courses gain substantial new knowledge and skills, and a high proportion achieve the qualifications that they need to pursue their career goals.
Find out more about courses at Northern College.
Did you know Northern College for Adults can provide support to charities and community groups to attend courses at the College?
To qualify groups, need to be a minimum of ten individuals and come from within the South Yorkshire or West Yorkshire regions.
We have a wide range of courses available that focus on building confidence and developing life and work skills.
Availability is limited so contact us now for more details.
01226 776000
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