Greetings from the Animal Care Department here at Wakefield College.
I am thrilled to welcome you to read our departmental newsletter, an exciting new publication designed to keep you informed and engaged with the latest happenings, developments and opportunities in our amazing department.
As the head of the department, I am continually inspired by the passion and innovation that our students and staff bring to the world of animal care. This newsletter is our way of sharing that inspiration with you.
In this edition we’ll bring you the latest news from our department, keeping you up-to-date with current trends and departmental achievements. It’s an excellent way for you to stay connected and informed about the field you are about to enter when you join us this September.
We also believe in the power of real stories to inspire and guide. That’s why we will be featuring student case studies, showcasing the journeys, challenges and successes of our students. These stories not only highlight the real-world application of our courses but also serve as a testament to the supportive and innovative environment that Wakefield College offers.
Additionally, we understand the importance of experiencing the environment where you will learn and grow. Therefore, our newsletter includes links to videos and virtual tours showcasing our facilities.
Good luck on your exams and we look forward to welcoming you in September.
Amy O’Keefe Head of Animal Care
Animal Care students enjoyed an inspiring educational visit to Yorkshire Wildlife Park, immersing themselves in the study of a diverse range of species, from polar bears to okapi and many more.
The trip provided a unique opportunity for learners to speak directly with animal keepers, gaining insight into animal care, enclosure design and daily management practices at the Wildlife Park.
Students also learnt about conservation, sustainability and breeding programmes, seeing how theory is applied in real-world settings. They were set a task to research an animal of their choice and link their findings to animal welfare.
The students enjoyed the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom and it became one of their favourite memories of the year!
Joining Us in 2026: Search and Detection Dogs! Yorkshire Wildlife Park Trip
For several years, the Animal Care department has proudly worked in partnership with HM Prison Service Dogs, who have provided learners with a unique opportunity to learn about and work with their search and detection dogs. Through this partnership, learners have developed an understanding of the training, assessment and licensing processes involved in preparing these dogs for operational roles with HM Prison Service Dogs.
And we have some exciting news…
From September 2026, each group of learners will now be allocated a dog to support throughout its training journey! This will allow learners to gain deeper insight and experience into the full lifecycle of working dogs, including pathways for those that do not meet assessment standards and the support provided to dogs as they reach retirement age.
We are extremely excited about this next stage of the partnership, which will see learners take on a more active role than in previous years. This special learning opportunity with the working dogs will allow students to build valuable practical skills, industry knowledge and experience in a specialist area of animal management – a great foundation for any future careers within Animal Care!
wakefield.ac.uk
Meet our newest additions to the Animal Care Department
Hear from our Students
Ziggy
Crested Gecko
+ The species was re-discovered in 1994 after believed to have gone extinct
+ They don’t have any eyelids
+ Can be found in several different colour variations
Sisu
Baby Bearded Dragon
+ LOVES to chase things
+ Native to Australia
+ Has a diet of live insects and vegetables
Zebadee
Argentine Black & White Tegu
+ Fully harness trained and loves a good walk around the department
+ Rare to find in captivity here in the UK
+ Has a diet of mice, rats, chicks and fruit
Kraken & Mellow
Axolotl
+ Native to Mexico
+ Named after the Aztec god of fire and lightning
+ Can regenerate lost limbs without scarring
Hazza
“My favourite thing about the course is that we can work with a large variety of animals such as snakes. I’ve also learnt how to correctly handle and restrain animals which I have used on my own pets at home. It’s a really supportive environment thanks to my tutors who are really understanding of my autism. After College, I would like to work in an RSPCA shelter or kennel and see myself adopting and fostering lots of animals.”
Aj“My favourite thing about the course is the people – I’ve made lots of new friends who are interested in the same things as me. I also like the biological side of the course where we learn about animal anatomy. In the Animal Care Lab, we do practical sessions such as using the microscopes to learn the difference between animal and plant cells. I currently do a work placement at RDA, a charity that gives disabled people access to horse riding, where I have put my animal handling skills to practice. After I complete this course, I want to study Animal Management at university.”
Farhan
“I study the Animal Management course at Wakefield College alongside my work placement at an RSPCA shelter once a week. I really enjoy hands-on work and being productive, as well as my work placement which has built my confidence up, especially around dogs. I have learnt a lot of animal handling and food testing skills at College which I have applied to my work placement. I get to socialise, train and feed the animals at the shelter. My tutors have been really helpful with my UCAS application as I would like to study at the College of Animal Welfare in the future and become an Animal Medicine Advisor.”
Industry Week
We hosted our very own Industry Week featuring employers from across the country including…
Cats Protection
Cats Protection hosted an interactive talk where they spoke about their mission, vision and values as the UK’s leading cat charity and invited our students to become part of their work.
The talk informed students of all the benefits of volunteering with Cats Protection, such as gaining animal handling experience and developing key transferable skills such as communication and management.
Colchester Zoo visited the students to speak on the logistical challenges and skills required of staff to ensure the zoo runs smoothly and shared different kinds of training practices such as animal escape drills.
Students learnt about the different kind of tasks and responsibilities that zoo staff complete and the diversity of jobs in the animal care industry, including roles at their own zoo and what skills are required to fulfil these roles.
Animal Care Students Raise Money for Local Rescue Centre
Our Level 3 Students raised an incredible £225 for local charity Millington’s Magical Barn as part of their Christmas Stall, selling a range of items including homemade dog biscuits, Christmas decorations and a self-made calendar.
The money raised was donated and presented to the Millington Magical Barn and will be put toward the rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of local animals.
Dog Grooming at Wakefield College
Scan the QR code to meet some of our furry clients who visit the department for a much-needed groom.
Colchester Zoo
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.
