Recently we took our Access to Higher Education students to visit our partner universities. The students visited the University of Huddersfield and Sheffield Hallam University and spent a day at each.
Our students were greeted by university student ambassadors that were there all day to answer any questions and make our students welcome. The group took part in academic taster sessions, a campus tour and spent some time in the Students’ Union.
These visits are an important part of our Access to HE courses, helping our students to explore and decide what is their next step, and which universities they would like to apply for.
‘’It was lovely to take our students on trips to the Universities before the UCAS deadline, so they could experience what it would be like to study at Higher Education. But most importantly, the visits allowed students to confirm the degree pathway they were interested in studying and seek advice on their personal statement and any future interviews they would take part in, which was valuable for our students.’’ Hannah Williams, Careers and Work placement Adviser
Further information
If you have the ambition to go to university but are missing qualifications, then our Access to Higher Education courses could be the right place to start.
Visit our department webpage to find out more and contact us with any questions.
Do you want to learn a new skill, try something new or change career? We have provided a list of all our upcoming courses and start dates which you can see below.
About us
Set in acres of stunning National Trust gardens, Northern College is the ideal spot to focus on your studies and future.
Our college and residential accommodation for individuals aged 19 and over allows you to focus on your education and receive exceptional support throughout.
Did you know you may be able to study for free?
Many of our students are eligible to study for free on some courses and we can offer you all the advice you need about course fees, funding support and Advanced Learner Loans.
Want to progress to university?
We also have a range of Pre-Access to university courses available, to get you ready to study a level 3 Access to Higher Education course in September to fast-track to university. You can view these here: Department: Access to University – Northern College
*Please note dates are subject to change. We will confirm when you apply.
Northern College takes great pride in the training we provide for the local community. We have taken this further by working with GXO, the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, in Barnsley to provide on-site training to their staff. Interested employees joined our tutors in Digital Learning and Essential Digital Skills. By taking part in these courses students have learned some essentials skills such as:
The course was delivered on site at GXO over five weeks and on the sixth week the students came to our campus and completed their assessment.
“This is a great partnership which is allowing employees a wonderful opportunity to develop the kind of digital skills which are so important to have today in everyday life. GXO should be applauded for their staff development programme which positively reinforces the importance of adult education for their workforce.” Nicky Straughan, Curriculum Manager
“GXO Barnsley first made connection with Northern College around 12 months ago and we were keen to explore how we could work in partnership together and explore the interesting opportunities they have to offer.
As a major employer within the Barnsley area, we are proud to engage with local providers and to support them where we can. We have a strong culture for learning and so when Northern College shared information on their essential skills offerings we thought this offering would be useful to those colleagues who are passionate about their personal development.
Classes such as Digital Skills and ESOL can help learners with some basic key skills that can be used in both their personal lives and at work, which is great news.
We look forward to 2023 where we expect the partnership to continue to go from strength to strength.” Joanne Gibson, Talent and Development Manager
Safeguarding Adults Week 2022 takes place Monday 21- Sunday 27 November in association with the Ann Craft Trust.
The week is an opportunity for organisations to come together to raise awareness of important safeguarding issues for adults.
Each day we’ll be focusing on a different safeguarding theme to explore how we respond to contemporary safeguarding challenges – joining in and showing our support for this important awareness event.
The Ann Craft Trust have provided an excellent resource hub for those that want to join in and show your support.
As a College specifically for Adult learners (aged 19+) we see the importance in raising awareness amongst our College students and within the wider community.
The job market is always changing and developing – how do you find out what employers are looking for?
It doesn’t matter what industry you want to work in, having strong transferable and interpersonal skills is always beneficial.
With that in mind, here are the top 5 skills that employers are looking for on job adverts in the Yorkshire region:
These skills give us an idea of what employers are looking for, help us plan our courses and help you to develop your CV.
If you are looking to develop your experience and skill set, we can work with you to create a personal learning plan. The plan will include courses that are specific to your level of learning and give you the skills and knowledge that you need for your next career move.
Contact us now to talk to our Student Support Team.
Search our courses now
So, you need English and maths qualifications for your next step, but you don’t know if you need Functional Skills or GCSEs.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help you decide which is right for you by explaining what each means and the benefits. You may also be able to study for free.
These courses are free to anyone who doesn’t already have either a GCSE grade 4 (C grade), or a Level 2 in the specific subject.
English and maths Functional Skills focus on skills that you need in everyday life and the ability to problem solve. For example, on the English course you will learn reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. On the Maths course you will learn about the number system, use of common measures, shape and space, and handling information.
Benefits include:
GCSEs are considered the gold standard by Higher Education and some industries. They also provide a more in-depth and academic approach to learning English and maths over a full academic year of study.
Benefits include:
We know that your decision will also depend on your circumstances. So, if it isn’t clear to you which qualification would be the best, you can contact us on the e-mail address below and one of our Student Support team will be in touch to discuss your options.
Functional skills and GCSE qualifications in English and Maths are free to anyone who doesn’t already have either a grade 4, or a Level 2, in the specific subject. This means, if you’re aged 19 or over, the government will fund your English and Maths studies until you achieve either of these grades whether you are in work or not.
Contact advice@northern.ac.uk now or telephone 01226 776000.
View our English and maths courses and you can also apply online.
From everyone here at Northern College we would like to express our deepest condolences to the Royal Family following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022.
We are in a period of National Mourning to mark the Queen’s life, and as such we would like to share the details of the Book of Condolence.
The Book of Condolence is available to leave messages in from Monday 12th September. It will be situated in the Blackbourne Room in the Conservatory within the National Trust Gardens.
For further information visit the webpage below.
The College will also be closed on Monday 19th September 2022 which will be a Bank Holiday to observe the State Funeral. Students with scheduled classes will be contacted directly.
We are pleased to announce excellent results for our GCSE English and maths students this year. The first group to sit exams since 2019.
As we all know the last few years has seen unprecedented disruption to students across the board. This disruption was felt by our adult students who had many other things to focus on.
However, despite the uncertainty the class of 2022 have achieved superb results in their exams.
100% of our GCSE English and maths students have passed as well as 100% of English Language students achieving high grades (9-4).
We are incredibly proud of the commitment and resilience shown by all our students to have completed and achieved such excellent results.
“This year’s GCSE students have done brilliantly in the first exams in three years. Adult students have so many commitments outside their college courses, but our students have achieved excellent results. A GCSE in maths or English is a key which makes it possible for them to progress onto further opportunities, such as degrees in teaching and mental health nursing. Our students made immense progress in such a short period of time, some of them studying for GCSE English in only 16 weeks, and we are incredibly proud of every single one of them.” Ruth North, Lead Tutor for English and Maths
Did you know?
You could be eligible to study GCSE English and maths for free at Northern College. If you are thinking about taking your GCSEs then look at our course pages and contact us for more information.
www.northern.ac.uk/course-department/english-maths/
advice@northern.ac.uk
Join us on the 26th August 2022 at Northern College Barnsley to celebrate the Independence Day of Ukraine. The event is family friendly for refugees and supporters to come together and enjoy traditional Ukrainian activities.
From 11.00am until 3.00pm guests can enjoy crafts, facepainting, food stalls and many more. We are delighted to be joined by Ulia Lord e Brattia and friends who will be performing live music and dances.
Everybody is welcome to come along and enjoy this celebration of Ukrainian culture. There is free parking available and a minibus service which can be found via the link below.
www.facebook.com/augbsheffield
Northern College is delighted to work in collaboration with the AUGB in hosting the event this summer.
‘We are really excited to host the Spirit of Ukraine event. Northern College has always been a safe and inclusive environment for students, so it seems perfect to open our doors to refugees and supporters to celebrate the culture of Ukraine.’
Emma Beal, Assistant Principal Curriculum, Quality & Market Development
Further Information
Northern College
Northern College is South Yorkshire’s only college for adult learners aged 19+. We are based at Wentworth Castle in the heart of National Trust gardens and offer residential accommodation on many of our courses – giving students the perfect place to focus on their studies.
The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB)
The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) is the largest representative body for Ukrainians and those of Ukrainian descent in the UK. It exists to develop, promote and support the interests of the Ukrainian community in the UK.
We are pleased to announce that our new Access to HE (Business) course is taking applications for September.
If you want to study at university but don’t quite have the right qualifications, then this Access course is perfect for you. During your year with us, you will study subjects such as:
During the Access course, you will also gain invaluable study skills and experience that will prepare you for university.
Students that complete this course successfully will be able to go on and study degrees such as:
Find an Access to University course that’s right for you.
Study for free
Most students can study most of our courses up to level 2 for free. This includes English, Maths and our Pre-Access programme to support your future studies and career.
For level 3 courses (including this course), you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. Most students do not need to pay back if they complete a university course afterwards or until they earn a certain amount.
Study residentially
Most students apply to stay residentially with us. We are a college only designed for adults, surrounded by over 500 acres of National Trust gardens and parkland. This means you can focus on your studies with like-minded peers and receive exceptional support throughout.
For more information about our Pre-Access and Access to Higher Education courses visit the webpage here.
If doesn’t matter where you are in your learning journey – we can help you find the best place to start.
Find out more
We have a whole team to support you through your studies to make sure you do well.
Find out more
We can offer you all the advice you need about course fees, funding support and Advanced Learner Loans.
Find out more
Our students tell it best – find out more about their own journeys.
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