Greetings from the Foundation Learning Department at
Selby 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 needed to prepare them for their next steps in life. That’s why we arrange for our students to take part 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 Selby College offers.
Project SEARCH Interns Graduate from Siemens Mobility
Our Project SEARCH interns celebrated the end of their supported internships with a graduation ceremony
The Project SEARCH programme combines work experience with short classroom sessions to give young people the opportunity to learn essential skills within a real working environment. It also equips students with the confidence that they can make the transition between education and the workforce.
Deborah Moss Head of Inclusion
To celebrate the first cohort of interns of the programme, Siemens Mobility held a graduation ceremony at local Howden Shire Hall, where the five students from Selby College were joined by friends, family and colleagues to celebrate their achievements and progress over the last year.
One of the graduates, Lucy, has now secured a job in the canteen at the Rail Village after completing the programme.
Many of the graduates have progressed through our Foundation Learning provision, so it is incredibly rewarding to see them taking their next steps into the working world.
I was so excited when I heard about the DFN Project SEARCH internship with Siemens because I’ve always wanted to work with trains. I attended the opening day of Siemens’ new tube trains for the London Underground where I got to see the new train cars which I am very passionate about.”
Linden
Project SEARCH Graduate
selby.ac.uk
Hear from our Students
FLEX
Harley
I love everything about the FLEX course, particularly the cooking and baking that we get to do. I enjoyed putting my baking skills to the test for the Macmillan Coffee Morning that we held at the College. The course has also helped with my time management skills and how to handle money. I want to work as a chef or a baker one day.”
Kayla
I chose to study the FLEX course because I knew it would allow me to experience different things which would teach me how to be independent, including how to handle money and order things. We also get to do lots of fun activities, such as Dungeon and Dragons club and trips to the Royal Armouries in Leeds and the cinema to see Beauty and the Beast.”
DFN Project SEARCH
Byron
I’ve had a really good experience on the DFN Project SEARCH programme and have made lots of new friends. I’ve learned how to do spreadsheets and built up my communication and customer service skills. I’ve always wanted to be a bus driver since I was 10 years old.”
Trips and Visits
Students also have the opportunity to take part in a number of exciting trips and visits as part of their course. Our students have enjoyed trips to Bridlington, Flamingo Land, Yorkshire Wildlife Park and more.
Our Foundation Learning students recently tested out our I-innovate pods, which aim to provide students with the skills they need to excel in a rapidly changing world.
The students were able to try their hand at a range of innovative technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, state-of-the-art drones, green screens and podcasting equipment, eGlass Lightscreens, Wizefloor interactive floor
Students Support Local Community Kitchen
As a Foundation Learning student, you will have the opportunity to get involved in several activities to fundraise for local and national charities.
Last year, our Foundation Learning students worked with Up For Yorkshire to help raise money for the Community Kitchen in Selby. The students managed to raise a total of £235 after completing a marathon in a month of Mondays!
Recruitment Fair
At Siemens Mobility Goole, our Project SEARCH interns held a Drop-In Recruitment Fair.
They worked incredibly hard to create display boards highlighting the skills that they have developed, feedback they have received from their managers and their aspirations for the future.
Celebrating Success
In the Foundation Learning Department, we love to celebrate our students’ successes!
Our Foundation Learning students had a great afternoon at their end-ofyear celebration, with a party, buffet, games and awards presentation.
Welcoming Spaces
We’re lucky to have an onsite communal garden which, as a Foundation Learning student, you will spend a lot of time in. As part of a National Citizen Service community project through the Club Doncaster Foundation, our Foundation Learning students worked together to refurbish the gardens. The students helped to paint the garden’s shed, remove weeds and plant flowers, whilst gaining important skills such as team building, communication and leadership.
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
SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER: 10AM-12PM
NOVEMBER 2026
WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER: 5PM-7PM
FEBRUARY 2027
WEDNESDAY 3RD FEBRUARY: 5PM-7PM
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.
