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Department Newsletter

Greetings from the Creative Industries Centre 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 the creative industries. 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.

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 showcasing our courses and facilities.

Good luck in your exams and we look forward to welcoming you in September.

College Students Become Driving Force in Wakefield’s First-Ever Reclaim The Night Campaign

Film, Media & TV students from Wakefield College took part in the first-ever Reclaim the Night campaign in Wakefield, helping to promote women’s safety across the district.

Using the industry-standard studios and equipment at Wakefield College, the students produced interviews with Cllr Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Champion, Steven Busfield from Empath Theatre and Maddie France from Blossom Training & Development about their various roles within the initiative.

Robert, Level 3 Film, Media & TV student, said: “I’ve really enjoyed working with representatives from Wakefield Council, the public and my classmates to support such an important movement such as Wakefield’s first Reclaim the Night campaign. I’ve had the honour

of interviewing some key voices of the movement for the social media campaign, putting the interviewing skills I’ve learnt on my course into practice.”

College Alumni and Industry Professional Holly returns to Mechanics’ Theatre

Former Wakefield College student Holly Bragg returned to Mechanics’ Theatre recently to speak to students from our Musical Theatre, Acting and Performing Arts courses. Since leaving us, Holly has gone into production arts and has worked backstage in theatres all over the world.

During this session she gave an insightful look into the industry and took a variety of questions from students, giving them personalised advice on how to get into this exciting sector.

Marie Dalton Head of Creative Industries

Hear from our Students Festival Photos

Art, Design & Photography

Rebecca

“I decided to do the Photography course at Wakefield College because the curriculum was really interesting and covered a lot of bases such as art history. The College also has dark rooms and professional photography studios which are always open for students to use and my tutors have worked in the industry so are experts in the field.”

Film, Media & Television

Alex

“I loved Media Studies at GCSE so I thought this course would fulfil my interests. It has allowed me to create all my own content and we have complete freedom for our final project, meaning it could be a music video, short film or an advertisement.”

Music

Canice

“When I started the course, I was just a drummer and played bits of guitar. I have since become a bassist and a vocalist for a band outside of College, all because of the skills I’ve learnt through the Music Performance course.”

Performing Arts

Bluebell

“The Mechanics’ Theatre feels like home to us doing Performing Arts, everyone is family here. It has a really nice environment with good communal spaces as well as a good reputation. You get to experience everything here”

Christmas Cabaret

Check out these photos from our annual Mechanics’ Performing Arts Christmas Cabaret!

Aesthetica Short Film Festival

Our Creative Media Students attended Aesthetica Short Film Festival in York to watch a huge variety of British and international films.

Creative Industries Tour

Take a virtual tour of our Creative Industries Centre!

Performing Arts Video Tour

Join host Rich Williams as he takes you on a personalised tour of the Mechanics’ Theatre!

Film, Media & TV Showreel

Check out the some of the best work our Film, Media & TV students have produced!

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.