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Department Newsletter

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Welcome

Hello from Selby College’s Sixth Form Department!

My name is Karen Ralphs and I am thrilled to welcome you to read our departmental newsletter, designed to keep you informed and engaged with the latest developments at our amazing Sixth Form at Selby College.

As the Head of Sixth Form, I am delighted to introduce you to our amazing community, where we are dedicated to nurturing your academic and personal growth.

The Sixth Form Department and its tutors are always committed to enhancing the student experience outside of the classroom.

In this newsletter, you can find out what our current and former students have been up to over the past year – from career activities to college trips, enrichment and student stories.

Each cohort we welcome to the College consistently demonstrates academic excellence and enthusiasm to learn. We are very proud of our class of 2025 who achieved amazing results in their A Levels in summer – read about their successes inside.

It is important to us that our students feel at home at the Sixth Form, so we have a support system open to all of our students. This includes our Student Wellbeing Officers, a Student Experience Team, counselling services and more.

I hope you enjoy reading through this newsletter and we look forward to welcoming you in September.

Karen Ralphs Head of Sixth Form & Science

Top Grades, Top Destinations: Selby College’s Students Shine

Selby College was proud to celebrate the exceptional achievements of its Class of 2025, who achieved a 99% overall pass rate.

An impressive 32% of students secured high grades (A*/A/B), opening doors to some of the UK’s top universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham and more.

Amongst the standout successes are two students who secured places at the University of Oxford. Ben Nelson, who achieved four A*s across Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Further Mathematics and will study Chemistry, said:“I knew studying A Levels would be a challenge, but I was ready to push myself because I wanted a career in science. This is testament that you can achieve great things when you put the work in.”

Joining Ben at the University of Oxford is Henry, who achieved three A*s in Biology, Business and Mathematics, and will study Law to pursue his ambition of becoming a Barrister. He said: “My tutors have been a constant source of help and support throughout my course and particularly with my university applications. I’ve worked hard and had to stay focused, but it’s all been worth it to be accepted into the University of Oxford.”

Other success stories include Applied Science student Bimandi Nawela Mahagama Ralalage, who relocated from Sri Lanka and achieved an exceptional triple Distinction*, securing a place to study Physiotherapy at the University of Hull.

“I’m incredibly proud of our students and staff for achieving such fantastic grades this year, and especially thrilled to see many of our learners securing places at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including the University of Oxford. Behind these successes are inspiring stories of hard work, resilience and ambition. Our staff have gone above and beyond to guide and support each student, helping them to achieve their potential and realise their dreams. Seeing our students take their next step is a proud moment for the whole College community and a testament to their dedication.”

Sam Wright Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart

of Yorkshire Education Group

A Level Destinations

Bimandi

I really enjoyed my Applied Science course. I chose this course because I always knew I wanted to go into the medical health field, and this gave me the perfect pathway. Moving to the UK from Sri Lanka, I had to adapt to the language difference, but with the amazing support from all my tutors I was able to progress really well. The skills I’ve gained have prepared me for the next step at university and dream of becoming a Physiotherapist.”

Subjects and Grades: Level 3 Applied Science (Distinction*)

Bimandi has now progressed on to study Physiotherapy at the University of Hull.

Gracie

I thoroughly enjoyed all my courses, but Criminology really felt like my subject – I loved learning about all its different aspects. My tutors were excellent and gave me brilliant support throughout, especially helping me develop my essay writing skills, which will be so important at degree level. During my time here, I also had the opportunity to be President of the Student Union and went on a law trip to Amsterdam, which was a great experience.”

Subjects and Grades: A Level Criminology (A), Sociology (A) and Law (C)

Gracie now studies Criminology at the University of Nottingham.

Ben

I chose these A Levels because they helped me get into my dream university. Taking part in the Chemistry Olympiad made me realise I wanted to study Chemistry at a higher level—and now I’ve secured a place at the University of Oxford. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my tutors, who guided me through my personal statement and mock interviews.”

Subjects and Grades: A Level Biology (A*), Chemistry (A*), Maths (A*) and Further Maths (A*)

Many students were accepted into their first-choice universities such as the University of Oxford, the University of Sheffield, the University of Nottingham and many more! 32% of students secured high grades (A*/A/B)

Ben is now studying Chemistry at the University of Oxford. 99% overall pass rate achieved by the Class of 2025

Keep Up With Our Sixth Form!

You can keep up with what’s going on at Selby College and its Sixth Form on social media:

Discover Science Day

A Level Science students visited Teesside University to take part in a ‘Discover Science Day’. The students participated in a range of scientific disciplines including Biomedical Science, Pharmacy, Food Science and Forensic Science so they could trial the different courses that universities offer. The students spent the day working inside Teesside’s labs, giving them their first taste of a university-setting.

Taken to Court! Careers Talks

Each year, several groups of our A Level students visit Leeds Crown Court in order to support their learning and understanding within real-world settings.

This year, our A Level English students visited the Court in order to learn more about the language used in courtrooms including linguistic registers, sociolects, accents and dialects.

A Level Law students also visited the courts where they witnessed legal practice firsthand. This included the opportunity to see a live case, helping students to apply their academic learning of abstract concepts to real-world scenarios. As well as observing courtroom procedures and professional interactions, students gained clarity on their potential future careers in the legal field.

Trip to Amsterdam

Our Criminology, Law and Psychology students have recently been on a trip to Amsterdam where the students took part in a range of tourist activities in the city including a scenic canal cruise. Students also developed their knowledge of their subjects through various educational activities and visits.

Criminology and Law students were able to experience a whole different perspective on why crimes that are illegal in the UK are socially accepted and decriminalised in the Netherlands. Students were tasked with thinking about how the UK legal system operates and compared the different levels of crime, policing and urban environments across both countries.

Students were encouraged to look at the design of the environment and consider whether this is a factor in why crime rates

are also so low in Amsterdam, as well as observe the police presence in the city to determine the effectiveness of it as a crime deterrent.

Psychology students visited the Body Worlds Museum which helped them to contextualise their learning on the Biopsychology module. They looked at the brain and the nervous system, cognition and social influence on how interaction with other humans can support engagement between the mind and the human body.

Daniel Kenworthy from Ison Harrison Solicitors recently spoke to our A Level Business and Law students about the different careers available within the legal profession.

This was an excellent opportunity for our students to hear first-hand what a day in the life of a legal practitioner looks like.

The trip was valuable to all students as they experienced a different culture alongside the varied social structures and institutions, enabling them to utilise the experience in future applications for further study or employment opportunities.

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.