Issuu

Department Newsletter

Welcome

Greetings from the Foundation Learning Department at Castleford College!

I am thrilled to welcome you to read our departmental newsletter. I hope you enjoy reading about the amazing things that happen within our Foundation Learning Department.

In this edition, you can expect to find a wealth of information. We’ll bring you the latest news from our department, keeping you up-to-date with current trends and departmental achievements.

Our main focus is to provide our students with the core skills and confidence which will prepare them for their next steps in life. That’s why we arrange for our students to participate in a rich variety of activities and experiences alongside their learning to ensure they can successfully progress onto their next steps.

We also believe in the power of real stories to inspire and guide and you will be able to read about some of our student success stories in this newsletter, including some of our current and former students. These stories serve as a testament to the supportive and innovative environment that Castleford College offers.

We look forward to welcoming you in September!

Students Practice their Barista Skills

Our students get to use and work in our onsite SEND café which includes a brand-new barista machine, recently donated by the Conservatory Outlet. Students are able to gain new skills and

Our current students recently hosted their first coffee morning where attendees got to enjoy a barista-style coffee and learn all about the delicious cakes before sampling some tea and biscuits!

Deborah Moss Head of Inclusion castleford.ac.uk

Hear from our Students

Zane

After attending an Open Event, I decided to apply for the FLEX course. I like the artistic parts of the course such as art, drama and music. We have been to Xscape and Leeds Museum which I really enjoyed too. After this course, I am going to study Art and Music at Wakefield College.”

Lucie

This is my seventh year at Castleford College and I love being close by, having friends here and my tutors are great. I enjoy going to the ARC to catch up on work and play games, and I’ve had fun visiting Castleford Tigers and the RSPB. I’m excited to start my placement working outdoors and in a café soon!”

Lewis

I was previously home-schooled due to my autism but I’ve found Castleford College much more laid back compared to school. I am studying on the FLEX programme and particularly enjoy Maths, English and the employability side of the course. We have also learnt how to bake pizzas, muffins and biscuits and have been bowling at The Hut.”

Building Employability Skills

Our Alternative Curriculum students recently visited local cafe, Rockello, where they met owner, Harry, who gave them advice on how to get ready for the workplace. They were even treated to a tasty meal!

Octopuses have three hearts

Two pump blood to the gills, one to the rest of the body. That last one stops when they swim.

Sharks existed before trees

Sharks have been around for over 400 million years. Trees showed up around 350 million years ago.

The Eiffel Tower can grow over 6 inches in summer

Heat expands metal. That’s thermal expansion at work.

There’s a species of jellyfish that can potentially live forever

Turritopsis dohrnii can revert to an earlier life stage and start over.

You can hear a blue whale’s heartbeat from 2 miles away

Their hearts weigh over 400 pounds.

Celebrating our Students’ Successes

We love to celebrate the personal and academic achievements of our students at our annual awards ceremony.

Our Foundation Learning students held an entertainment-filled end-ofyear awards ceremony, with a party, buffet and performances from a range of students. The department handed out awards for each student to celebrate their hard work this year, alongside some special awards to mark exceptional progress in English, Maths and ICT.

Group Secures Number One Spot for FE College Achievement Rates in the Region

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has ranked first in Yorkshire & the Humber for student achievement amongst General Further Education Colleges, also securing fifth place nationally.

This highly impressive result follows a strong performance across the Group’s 16–18 provision, with the latest Department for Education National Achievement Rate Tables (NARTs) for 2024/2025 confirming the Group as the region’s highest-performing FE college for learners aged under 19.

In addition to this success, the Group also achieved fourth place regionally for Apprenticeship achievement rates, further highlighting its strength across further education and skills training.

The results position the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and its three colleges – Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College - as having the best achievement results of all further education colleges in Yorkshire & the Humber region and being the fifth top-performing further education college in England, reflecting the quality of teaching, support and student outcomes delivered across its campuses and programmes.

The NARTs are key summary indicators of performance in education and training and apprenticeships and demonstrate the percentage of students that were awarded their qualifications. Published annually, the national tables rank over 150 colleges.

I am so proud of this phenomenal accolade. Being ranked first in the region for our 16-18 achievement rates and fifth nationally is something we are incredibly proud of and reflects both the ambition of our students and the quality of education and support across the Group. These results are a true reflection of the dedication and care shown by our staff, who go above and beyond every day to help our learners succeed academically, grow as individuals and move forward with confidence into their next steps.”

Sam Wright Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

OPEN EVENTS

OCTOBER 2026

MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM

Castleford College

WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM

Wakefield College

NOVEMBER 2026

SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER: 10AM-12PM

Wakefield College and Castleford College

FEBRUARY 2027

WEDNESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY: 5PM-7PM

Wakefield College and Castleford College

Combining Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group saw outstanding pass rates in 2024/2025, with Selby College securing a 99% pass rate across its A Level programmes and Wakefield College a 98%. Castleford College and Wakefield College also achieved an impressive 100% pass rate for their T Level courses.

A significant number of its learners also progressed onto employment or higher education, including Russell Group universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham and many more.

Across its colleges, the Group offers a broad range of 16–18 study programmes, including A Levels, T Levels and vocational and technical courses. It also delivers a wide variety of apprenticeships, designed to reflect local labour market needs and support learners into meaningful careers.