10 good reasons for choosing Wakefield College

Our welcome programme helps you settle into your new life, make friends, register with a doctor, open a bank account, get your travel pass and much much more. We ask you to arrive at College a few days before your course begins so that you can take part in the orientation programme. If you arrive after this date we will do our best to give you an individual introduction to the College. Wakefield College is a friendly College where there are students of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities who are involved in a variety of activities together throughout the academic year.

The cost of living is significantly lower in the north of England, which together with our very competitive tuition fees, provides international students with the chance to gain an excellent education at a very affordable price.

The class of 2009 achieved an overall pass rate of 97.8% - the highest in the College’s history and above the national average of 97.5%. This year saw eighteen subjects (out of twenty two) achieve 100% pass rates, including: English Language, Chemistry, Biology, Government and Politics, Law, Psychology and ICT. A level Maths recorded a 100% pass rate for the fifth year running while Film Studies students delivered the maximum pass rate of 100% for the sixth year in a row. The Applied Double Award A level in Health and Social Care achieved a 100% pass rate in every year since it was introduced.

Survey results show that the vast majority of our staff are happy to be working at Wakefield College, and this is reflected in their dedication to creating a first class learning experience for all their students. Our lecturers can take advantage of an ongoing Continuing Professional Development programme which helps them to keep up to date with teaching methods and technology. There is a rolling programme of lesson observations and a team of Advanced Practitioners which offers support to less experienced lecturers. All lecturers directly employed by Wakefield College either hold a recognised teaching qualification or are working towards one, and many of those who teach on vocational courses have substantial commercial or industrial experience which ensures that their lessons are relevant to the world of work outside the College.

Wakefield College offers a unique mix of academic and vocational programmes. There is a wide range of A Level subjects to choose from, including humanities, science, languages, ICT and business studies. In some subjects we offer Applied A Levels and the new Diplomas. As a College of Further Education, however, we also offer an extensive range of vocational courses in subjects such as animal care, art and design, business, childcare, construction, engineering, hair and beauty, hospitality and catering, ICT, motor vehicle, performing arts and music, public services, sport, travel and tourism. In most of these areas, courses are offered at a variety of different levels, from introductory diplomas at Level 1 to National Diplomas (equivalent to 3 A Levels) at Level 3.

We are keen to offer you the opportunity to continue your studies at Wakefield beyond Level 3 and have therefore developed a portfolio of courses at Higher Education level in a range of subject areas, including business and management, childcare, engineering, sport and fitness, photography, web design and computing.  Our foundation degrees are validated by local universities (particularly Leeds Metropolitan University, of whom we are a partner college) and offer progression to full honours degrees either at university or at our own University Centre.  We also offer a Level 3 Access to Higher Education course, which is widely accepted by local universities.

Wakefield College is a forward-looking institution which continually strives to update and improve its facilities. Here are some of the highlights of our provision for learners:-

• Students training in skills such as construction, engineering, motor vehicle, hairdressing and beauty therapy benefit from the state-of-the-art facilities at the new skillsXchange Campus, opened in 2009.
• Performing Arts and Music students have access to a 220 seater theatre, studios and rehearsal rooms and the chance to perform at Wakefield Theatre Royal.
• Up to date multimedia and Apple Macintosh suites allow art, design and media students to use the latest software as well as more traditional studios.
• Our purpose-built centre for Hospitality and Catering courses includes a luxury 70 seater training restaurant, reception and bar, industry-standard training kitchens, conference suite, TV style demonstration theatre and computer suite.
• Sports students are well served by on-site facilities such as the indoor swimming pool, pitches, sports hall, climbing wall, sport and exercise science lab and collaboration with local rugby league and football clubs.
• The College’s in-house, fully operational travel bureau gives Travel and Tourism students the chance to deal with real travel enquiries and bookings.

There are well-equipped Learning Centres at each campus, providing books, journals, multi-media IT facilities and access to the internet.

We recognise that sometimes students need help to make the most of their time at College and to achieve success in their courses. Our Learner Support Services can help in a variety of ways:-

• Counselling.  Professionally qualified Counsellors offer one to one support, a safe place to talk in private about your problems and to find your own solutions.
• Welfare.  Our Welfare Service gives information and advice on issues such as accommodation, childcare, benefits and sexual health.
• Personal Tutors.  You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor throughout your time at College where you can discuss any problems you may have as well as review your academic progress.
• Additional Support.  We have specialist tutors with expertise in supporting learners with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, medical conditions, visual impairment, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, or who are Deaf or hard of hearing, have learning or mobility difficulties, or have English as a second language. The help offered may be in the form of support staff in or out of the classroom or assistive technology. Wakefield College features on the DisabledGo website which provides access guides to our buildings and services.

Wakefield’s central position makes it easy to reach by whatever means of transport you choose.  There are several international airports nearby, principally:-

Leeds Bradford Airport (32 km)
Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster (46 km)
Humberside Airport (93 km)
Manchester Airport (93 km)
Nottingham East Midlands Airport (115 km)

There are excellent rail links to all part of the country via the mainline Wakefield Westgate Station, with the journey to London Kings Cross taking just over two hours.  Road travel presents no difficulty as two major motorways (the M1 and M62) are close by and the city is served by National Express coaches.

Wakefield is a small but lively city with a wealth of facilities for leisure activities, including sports, museums, art galleries, historic sites, theatre, cinema, shopping centres, restaurants, pubs, discos and nightclubs which keep the city centre alive until the early hours.