All about: Wakefield College

Situated in West Yorkshire, Wakefield College is an English college of further education, serving the city of Wakefield and the wider area. Its main campus is in the heart of the city, and it is the largest further education college in the district. It is close to the many other cultural and historical attractions which Yorkshire has to offer.

History and location

The college has three main sites which offer different courses and subject areas for study. The main campus is located in the city centre of Wakefield at Margaret Street, and this houses the college's Sixth Form. The main focus of courses here are 'A' and 'AS' levels.
Campuses There are also campuses at Thornes Park and the skillsXchange in Glasshoughton, which offer a range of more practical options. The college has been a provider of further education in the Wakefield area since 1868, in one form or another, and was known as the Wakefield Technical College in the 1950s, when it was situated on Burton Street. skillsXchange centre
The skillsXchange centre at Glasshoughton is located close to the largest shopping village in Europe at the outlet village, while the nearby Xscape development is where one of the largest indoor real snow ski slopes in Europe is situated.

Learning and lifestyle

Courses The Wakefield campus is where students can take Sixth Form courses in subjects such as arts, humanities and sciences. There are also a range of vocational courses on offer at this campus, in areas such as Business Studies, ICT and Travel and Tourism, amongst others. At Thornes Park, the focus is on the Performing Arts, Music, Design, Media, Communications, Business and Management, Sport and the Public Services, with all levels up to Higher Education be being available. There are a range of fine facilities here, including a 200-seat theatre and fully-equipped photographic studios, with many others additionally available. skillsXchange: Features The skillsXchange is entirely vocational in outlook. This building opened in February 2009, and includes professional standard health and beauty facilities, as well as a range of workshops and high-technology learning environments with interactive media installed, helping young people in Wakefield find jobs with practical training and instructions. There are now some 10,000 part-time and 3,000 full-time students enrolled at the college, according to the institution's own figures. A final word The college plays a key role in the ongoing regeneration of the West Yorkshire area, both for learners and for those with college careers.