South Yorkshire further education providers are joining forces to champion the vital role that skills have in boosting the economy and careers opportunities for learners.
With a combined annual turnover of £230,000,000 and links to 7,500 employers, the region’s seven colleges and university training provider deliver education and skills training to more than 66,000 learners.
The partnership, which aims to transform lives through learning, education and skills, comprises the following organisations:
Yiannis Koursis, Chair of South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership and Principal of Barnsley College, said: “We are delighted to officially launch the South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership. Innovation, inclusivity South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership launches to boost careers and skills and skills development are central to the success of our partnership and all of our students across South Yorkshire.”
He explained: “Through our collective expertise and ambition, we are committed to collaborating and boosting the skills of the current and future workforce, driving growth and increasing productivity that is vital to our economy and enhancing opportunities for all across our region.”
The partnership launch follows new national developments in education and training. The Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, which recently became law, represents the biggest shake-up to vocational and technical education and training in over a decade.
Putting employers at the heart of the system, so that education and training leads to jobs that improve productivity and fill skills gaps, is a key part of the new legislation which recognises the vital role of colleges in their local communities including supporting adults to retrain.
The Act aims to make it easier for people to get the skills to secure well-paid jobs in industries with skills gaps such as health and social care, engineering, digital, clean energy and manufacturing – which are key sectors in South Yorkshire.
South Yorkshire Colleges Partnership officially launched on July 5th, 2022, at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority on Broad Street West in Sheffield.
On Tuesday 12th July you are invited to join us at Northern College for our Summer Open Day.
The Open Day will run from 10.00am to 3.00pm and give you the opportunity to meet our staff and students, find out about our courses and what studying at the college is like.
Not only that, but you will also be able to take a tour of Wentworth Castle and Gardens – giving you an inside look at our campus and where you will be studying.
The Summer Open Day will run from 10.00am until 3.00pm with three sessions taking place to make it easier for you and your family to join us.
The times for the talks and tours are:
Book now via the link below and remember to choose your preferred time when given the option.
If you can’t make any of the times above email us at advice@northern.ac.uk to discuss visiting another day.
Or you can look at our Open events webpage here.
Here at Northern College, we have everything you need to help refugees settle and thrive in the UK. From our community of students, teachers, and support staff to our perfect setting in acres of national trust gardens.
We have a range of our short courses running on weekends across the summer that refugee adults can enrol on that will help them build confidence, learn some new skills, and meet other people from similar backgrounds.
View our 2022 course leaflet by clicking here: 2022 Course Leaflet
Adults aged 19 and over can choose to stay overnight in our accommodation, giving them the opportunity to focus on their studies, build relationships with others and make the most of our wonderful surroundings.
All our Tailored Learning funded courses are free for refugees.
Find out more about us
We offer free online and on-campus open events and tours which aim to answer all your questions about Northern College, South Yorkshire. Our events are updated regularly on the website below.
Contact us now to find out more.
01226 776000
The Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Alex Burghart, visited Northern College at Wentworth Castle on Thursday 19 May 2022 to meet with Principal, Yultan Mellor, and Miriam Cates, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge. The Minister was given a tour of the impressive campus and spoke to students about their experiences of studying there.
The visit was arranged by Miriam Cates following recent success in helping to secure the future of the college, working together with the Principal and the Government to guarantee its independence and secure funding for its adult skills programmes.
Northern College is one of just two providers of residential adult education in the country, offering a variety of courses to students aged 19 and over. It focuses on providing both educational and pastoral services to its students, many of whom have struggled to engage with education in the past but thrive in this supportive environment.
The College is now keen to take on new students and help adults gain new skills and qualifications. It offers a variety of both residential and non-residential courses at different levels to ensure that education is available to everyone, regardless of their current situation.
Miriam Cates MP said: “It was moving to talk to students who told us how studying at Northern College is having a transformative effect on their lives, and it was great to hear how many go on to find jobs and further training that they once thought were out of reach. The beautiful setting and supportive atmosphere of Northern College is a key part of its success, alongside the inspirational leadership team led by Principal Yultan Mellor.
“The Government has ambitious plans for adult education and Northern College is in a brilliant position to deliver skills and training both locally and nationally. This will bring new opportunities to people across South Yorkshire and help to level up our economy and our communities.”
Yultan Mellor, Principal and Chief Executive at Northern College, says:
“I was delighted to welcome Alex Burghart, Minister for Apprenticeships & Skills and our local MP Miriam Cates to our wonderful College. As ever, our students did us proud discussing with the Minister how studying at Northern College has positively impacted on their future work and life opportunities. I am sure that he took away the importance of this offer in supporting adults to develop the skills that will help them progress to further education and better jobs.”
Do you enjoy being in the outdoors? Do you find gardening good for your wellbeing?
We have launched a new horticulture course to grow your skills and knowledge, delivered in the stunning National Trust grounds surrounding our campus.
You will develop a range of green-fingered skills which you can then use to develop your patio planters, garden or allotment.
You will also achieve a Level 1 Award in practical Horticulture from City & Guilds. This course is a great start for those wishing to pursue a career in gardening or landscaping.
Outdoor learning
From Forestry to Navigating Walks, we offer courses that take advantage of our unique setting. Our team at the college have years of experience in the outdoors and you can begin your practical education with us now.
Find out more about our outdoor courses
Our students will begin their careers with our courses and move into fields such as gardening, landscaping and outdoor pursuits. You will also learn more about returning to education at Northern College and how you can progress.
Study for free
The vast majority students can study most of our courses up to level 2 for free.
Study residentially
Most students apply to stay over on our campus whilst they study. 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.
Northern College, South Yorkshire, has partnered with Surplus to Purpose and Thomas Franks to help drive forward the food waste revolution by feeding bellies and not bins.
The College is hosting a medieval banquet on 4 March 2022 designed to prevent edible nutritious food waste from being thrown away to turn it into a delicious meal instead. This marks the start of an exciting new partnership and is the first of a series of events.
Future events are open to the wider public. They will run on the evening of 20 May and 15 July 2022. Tickets are available now and expected to sell out quickly. Book your place here.
The nutritious food at the event will be cooked by guest chef Adam Smith (pictured), CEO of Surplus to Purpose and founder of the award-winning global phenomenon The Real Junk Food Project (TRJFP).
Surplus to Purpose aims to revolutionise the disposal of millions of tonnes of avoidable food waste. It distributes perfectly edible food that would otherwise not make it to the plate to individuals, cafes, schools and community groups.
This banquet will also help raise awareness of how edible surplus food destined for landfill can be made into nutritious meals.
Adam with be joined by Frank Bothwell, Founder of international catering company Thomas Franks. The catering company works with Adam Smith to turn surplus food into meals to feed communities.
Northern College supports individuals aged 19 and over to re-enter education to progress, get a new job or change careers. Set in acres of stunning National Trust gardens, it is the ideal spot for people to concentrate on their studies and change their lives through adult education.
Northern College Principal and Chief Executive, Yultan Mellor, says:
“When we first met with Adam from Surplus to Purpose, he liked the ethos and diversity of Northern College, and the impact it has on individuals who come to study with us and transform their lives. Through our unique partnership we are delighted to host this event.
“Adam’s ethos around sustainability, supporting those in need and repurposing food is very aligned to our values. As a college, we are strongly focused on sustainability and how we can work together to support the environment. Many of our adult students also get involved in charitable activities whilst studying with us.”
Adam Smith, CEO of Surplus to Purpose, says: “The key to sustainable and systematic change within the food sector is entirely dependent on collaboration. Surplus To Purpose was born out of collaboration with Thomas Franks. Now, both organisations are collaborating further with The Northern College to bring a one-of-a-kind event with sustainability at its heart.
“A surplus banquet is to be created entirely from surplus ingredients. With the support and dedication from Thomas Franks, Surplus To Purpose will expose global environmental issues surrounding food, whilst educating and empowering diners to make an impact. It’s an honour to work alongside Frank and his team, and a proud moment to cater at Northern College for their inaugural sustainability event. A huge opportunity to Feed Bellies Not Bins and to SToP Wasting Food!”
Frank Bothwell, Founder of Thomas Franks, says: “Thomas Franks has a long-respected association with Adam Smith. We met up last year and decided to co found a new 100 per cent not for profit CIC and simply call it what it is, Surplus to Purpose. Its simple aim is to feed bellies not bins. However, it’s future is to harness intercepted surplus food and ensure it reaches those with little or nothing. It was easy to form this initiative with Adam as its new CEO, as not only do we both share the same values, but my own company Thomas Franks, is committed to a more sustainable way of dealing with food waste. Key areas for our growth will be to ensure our feeding communities initiatives (which has delivered over 1.1 million meals to date since the pandemic began), utilises Surplus to Purpose food to make future healthy food aid.
Book onto our future banquets on 20 May and 15 July.
On 16th March 2022, we will be hosting a Wellbeing Day. The day will be a fun-filled event full of activities all based around the five steps to mental wellbeing from the NHS.
The day will have five learning workshops which will focus on the five elements of the wellbeing agenda and a final workshop so that you can record your learning. You will also make an action plan to support your continued development and apply for your next course in college over the summer term.
The five steps to mental wellbeing and focus of our workshops include:
We can’t think of a better way to start the Spring that coming along, meeting new people, and learning new skills.
As things start to get back to normal on campus, we have launched a brand-new series of open events so that you can come and visit us at Northern College. You can also use our new discounted bus service which brings you to the college front door for just £1.
Our open events are here so that you can visit to meet our staff, have a look around the college and find out more about any courses that you are interested in. This includes our fully funded short courses for eligible students. And don’t worry if you are unsure about what to do next – our brilliant team will be able to help you find the perfect course to get you started.
Set in acres of stunning National Trust gardens, we offer the ideal spot to focus on your studies and future.
It’s never been easier to come up to campus. Our new bus service brings you right to the college front door from Barnsley Interchange and free parking is also available on site.
View and book onto the right event for you
View our bus timetable and learn how to find us
We are really excited to share the wonderful news that Northern College students have had their writing published as part of a national Association of Colleges project. Our students’ work has been featured across many of the project’s genres including poetry, non-fiction, and science fiction.
This follows the creation of a collection of work from the GCSE English Language class of 2020-21. This work was a happy product of the pandemic when, due to Covid-19, all exams were cancelled, and students nationwide were graded by their teachers instead of sitting exams.
Many of our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, sometimes without former qualifications. With the added pressure of Covid-19, this year’s group also experienced the additional stresses of lockdowns: online classes, children to home-school, isolation, financial worries, illness and more.
Ruth North, lead tutor, had the fantastic experience of reading students work that would otherwise have been submitted to an examiner and compiling the anthology.
The students produced such a high-quality body of work in the face these challenges that, with hard work, commitment, and support from college, 100% of them achieved grade 4 or higher (equivalent to grade C or above).
At Northern College, we run English and Maths courses for adults, to support them to re-enter education to gain employment, change careers or access university. These run at flexible times to suit learners’ needs, including during the day and at weekends.
Download and read the full anthology (PDF 1MB)
Did you know you may be able to study English and maths for free?
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.
• If you are interested in studying English and maths and would like to know more visit our webpage here
• Listen to our student Michelle (pictured), an author of one of the pieces of creative writing, about her own experiences of studying English, Maths and Digital Skills at Northern College here
Calling all voluntary and community organisations
To support this, we are currently offering voluntary and community organisations:
• Free group taster sessions to help adults back into education
• Fully funded residential courses for eligible students
• Transport into college
• No entry requirements for many courses
Our residential courses are two full days and one night at our stunning campus in South Yorkshire, surrounded by over 500 acres of National Trust gardens and parkland. This offers the ideal spot for students to focus on their studies with like-minded peers and receive exceptional support throughout.
Residential courses are fully funded for many students up to level 2. This is usually if they are unemployed, on certain benefits, or earn £17,374.50 a year or less. We also offer some digital courses free to all adults, regarding of income, alongside English and Maths. A residential stay for these courses includes bed, breakfast and evening meal.
There are many courses and subjects available, and we are open to conversations to meet the needs of groups and organisations. Subjects include but are not limited to outdoor courses in Forest Skills, English, Digital, Maths, Team Leadership, Volunteering, Peer Mentoring, Substance Misuse, First Aid, Enterprise Skills and Counselling.
We are also able to offer three-hour taster courses on your own premises should this be more appropriate. These courses can be negotiated on a bespoke level ensuring that the needs of your group are met. See our website for ideas and examples of delivery: www.northern.ac.uk
Many of our students describe their period of short intensive study at Northern College as life changing, as our students progress onto higher level courses and work.
If you require any further information and to book your residential learning opportunity email awright@northern.ac.uk or telephone: 0778 7504841.
If doesn’t matter where you are in your learning journey – we can help you find the best place to start.
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We have a whole team to support you through your studies to make sure you do well.
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