Wakefield College

Wakefield College is a Further Education and Higher Education College[2] in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It has provided education in the city since 1868.[3]

Wakefield College
Address
Margaret Street

Wakefield
,
West Yorkshire
,
WF1 2DH

England
Coordinates53.68600°N 1.50595°W / 53.68600; -1.50595
Information
TypeGeneral Further Education and Tertiary
Motto"Transforming lives through learning"
Established1868
Local authorityYorkshire & Humber LSC (although in Wakefield LEA)
Department for Education URN130549 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalSam Wright[1]
GenderMixed
Websitehttp://www.wakefield.ac.uk

History

In the 1950s, it was known as the Wakefield Technical College on Burton Street, becoming the Wakefield Technical and Arts College in the early 1960s and the Wakefield College of Technology and Arts in 1973.

In 1974, it became administered by the City of Wakefield.

Campuses

The higher education courses available are in specialist facilities at all three campuses. There are almost 40 university-level courses offered in conjunction with Huddersfield University, Leeds Beckett University and Bradford University.

Wakefield College has three main campuses in the Wakefield district:

Wakefield Campus
Buildings in Wakefield

This site is at Margaret Street in the city centre and houses the Sixth Form Centre for students studying for AS and A Levels. This campus offers also courses such as ICT and Computing, Office Skills, Hospitality and Catering, Travel and Tourism, Health Studies, Childcare, Animal Care and Languages.[4]

The Wakefield City Centre campus underwent major re-development works, including the 2012 completion of a building designed to house the College's sixth-form, higher education provision and new library.[5] The former Wakefield Museum on Wood Street is now its Performing Arts centre.[6]

Thornes Park Campus

This site is in the centre of Thornes Park, Wakefield and offers courses such as Foundation Learning, Performing Arts and Music. The rest of the courses like Art and Design, Media and Communications, Business and Management, Sport and Public Services have moved up to Margaret Street City Campus as the campus is closing down in 2019.[7] The buildings are made up of the former Thornes House High School (also known as Thornes House Grammar School) which opened in 1921 as separate sex school. In 1941 it became a mixed school, and the school suffered a fire in July 1951. It was administered by the City of Wakefield Educational Committee.

It became a 13-18 comprehensive school in 1972 with 1200 boys and girls. In 1981, it lost its sixth form and became a 13-16 school and, in 1992, merged with nearby Cathedral Middle School. The newly formed school re-located into Cathedral Middle's buildings on Thornes Road.[8] In 1993, it became part of Wakefield College.[9]

Castleford Campus
Castleford Campus building

This is a purpose built site in Glasshoughton which opened in 2008,[10] described by the college as a 'distinctive, iconic structure'. The Castleford Campus was formerly known as the skillsXchange.[11] This site houses courses for construction crafts, practical engineering, motor vehicle, hairdressing and beauty therapy, a foundation course, IT and care.[12]

It replaced the Whitwood Campus, in Castleford. This closed campus was the former Whitwood Mining and Technical School, which opened in the 1930s and closed in February 2009.[13] The Whitwood Campus has been redeveloped for housing.

University Centre

The College has an established higher education provision, branded as the University Centre Wakefield.[14] The college does have plans to significantly expand its HE provision, submitting its plans to Wakefield Council for consideration in September 2012.[15]

Collaboration with Crofton Academy

In 2012, Wakefield College announced it would be collaborating with Crofton Academy, opening a sixth form centre at the Crofton Academy site, High Street, Crofton. The centre will offer a range of A Level and BTEC courses.[16][17]

Alumni

Alumni of Thornes House School

Alumni of Thornes House School are known as Old Thornesians.

Wakefield College Students' Union

Wakefield College Students' Union is the official students' union. Its role is to provide a representative channel between all students and the authorities of the college as well as to provide services and run events and campaigns.

Executive Committee

The Unions Executive Committee are elected once every year; Usually at the end of the previous academic year and, if necessary, again at the start of the appropriate academic year to fill the remaining unfilled posts. The committee currently has 11 members.

The Executive Committee and certain members of staff are responsible for running the union as a whole.

References
  1. "Executive Team". Wakefield College. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/130549 Ofsted Wakefield College
  3. http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/About/ Wakefield College - About
  4. http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/About/WakefieldCampus.asp Wakefield College - Wakefield Campus
  5. "Wakefield College revamp". ITV News.
  6. http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local/more-wakefield-news/wakefield-museum-to-get-1m-makeover-to-become-performing-arts-centre-for-students-1-5025789
  7. http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/About/ThornesParkCampus.asp Wakefield College - Thornes Park Campus
  8. http://thorneshouse.org.uk/History/history-2.htm Thornes House Website
  9. http://www.wakefieldfhs.org.uk/Educational%20Establishments.htm Wakefield Family History Site
  10. http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/News/PressReleases/Articles/2009/04/SXCOpening.asp Wakefield College Press Release
  11. http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/getintouch/skillsxchange.asp
  12. http://www.wakefield.ac.uk/About/skillsXchange.asp Wakefield College - skillsXchange
  13. https://www.flickr.com/photos/22226318@N08/sets/72157610013242880/with/3056492281 flickr.com Whitwood Campus
  14. "Wakefield College - Higher Education". www.wakefield.ac.uk.
  15. http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local/more-wakefield-news/university-plan-for-wakefield-closer-1-4886610
  16. "Home". www.croftonacademy.org.uk.
  17. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/wakefield-new-1m-sixth-form-college-is-planned-1-5002349
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