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Open Event at Wakefield College to celebrate Colleges Week

Monday, 15 October, 2018

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Wakefield College opens its doors to the public this week during National Colleges Week. The College will see its Wakefield City, Castleford and Thornes Park Campuses welcome visitors between 5 and 7 pm on Wednesday 17 October. Wakefield College is a vital part of the District supporting over 8,000 learners to learn, train and get on. Colleges Week takes place from Monday 15 October to Friday 19 October 2018 and is part of the ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign and sees colleges across the country hosting events to showcase the brilliant stuff they do, day in and day out, as well as national lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 17 October.

The ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign is a partnership between Association of Colleges (AoC), National Union of Students (NUS), Association of College and School Leaders (ASCL), University and Colleges Union (UCU), Unison, GMB, TUC and National Education Union (NEU). Whether it’s through top-class technical education, basic skills or lifelong learning, colleges help people of all ages and backgrounds to make the most of their talents and ambitions. Rooted in local communities, they are crucial in driving social mobility and providing the skills to boost local and regional economies.

However, there is currently a reduction in education funding once a student turns 16 – whether they are in a school sixth form or a college. ‘Love Our Colleges’ is calling on the government to increase 16-19 funding by 5% a year for 5 years.  It is also asking Department for Education to provide exceptional funding, ring-fenced for teacher pay. Sam Wright Principal at Wakefield College said: “We’re delighted to be hosting our open events this week and look forward to welcoming hundreds of potential learners through the doors.

“We are also supporting National Colleges Week as we feel our young people are being short-changed compared with their counterparts in other countries and compared with previous generations. The hours of teaching and support, the choice they have and the enrichment they are offered have all reduced as funding cuts have bitten. This cannot continue if we are to secure the future of our nation.”

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said: “Every single day colleges like Wakefield College provide a world-class education and transform the lives of millions of people. 

Colleges Week is an opportunity to celebrate the brilliant things that go on and a chance to showcase the brilliant staff that make it possible.  It is simple, if we want a world-class education system then we need to properly invest in it.”