For the second year, Fab Lab Airedale, based within Keighley College has created a herd of Bulls for Timothy Taylor’s annual Fund Raising Beef and Ale Dinner to be held in the dramatic and beautiful setting of York Minister. The Bulls are designed and by the Fab Lab Innovation Team and machined using their large computer controlled flatbed router and were painted in very lifelike style by artist Charlotte Hardaker.

The bulls will line the aisles at the event and will be auctioned off to raise money for the York Minster Fund. In 2015, the Bulls fabricated by the Fab Lab went for in excess £2000 at auction.

The College has been working with Timothy Taylors for several years, with Fab Lab providing machined products for the redevelopment of the Woolly Sheep Pub in Skipton and Taylors and the college delivering apprenticeships for the company.

The Fab Lab offers a range of commercial service including 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC machining of timber products, such as furniture. This is part of Keighley College’s diverse commercial offer which includes fabrication and welding, room hire and Team Building in our fabulous STAR Centre.

We are delighted to announce that after an absence of five years we now have brand new fully equipped science laboratory and will be running courses, including Access to Science and BTEC Level 2 and Level 3 in Science.

Want to study Health and Social Care? Here at Keighley College we have partnered up with Airedale NHS Foundation Trust to deliver up to 45 new Apprenticeships, each year, in Health and Social Care. Your training will be delivered by our college staff but in the hospitals training facilities. Specialist expert tuition will be offered by the Airedale staff, including research support from the library staff and access to the Hospitals’ state of the art simulation equipment.

We are pleased to announce that we will be offering a range of Foundation Degrees, Degrees and Higher (Degree) Apprenticeships within the Aire Valley, through a partnership approach with ourselves, Shipley College and University Centre at Leeds City College. Local delivery will support these part time courses reducing the burden of travel time and giving easier access to tutors and resources.

In 2017/18 the new offer will be:
Children’s Care, Learning & Development, Health & Wellbeing, Leadership and Management, Leadership and Management in Engineering.

An exciting new academic year at Keighley College is almost upon us and preparations are underway to ensure we can all enjoy it together.

A vital part of that will depend, as efforts continue to contain the pandemic, on as many students and staff as possible being vaccinated against Covid-19. 

The government is now offering vaccinations to 16 and 17 year olds and we would strongly encourage students to have a vaccination before starting their studies with us in September.

We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Modality to provide a pop-up Covid-19 vaccination centre at the college. This will be taking place on Wednesday 1 September from 10am until 2pm. Anyone can come for their first or second vaccine and we are encouraging all students to take up this opportunity.

Keeping safe and having fun

Doing so, and following our Covid safety measures – which include continuing, for now, to wear face coverings in corridors and open spaces, or where distancing can’t be maintained – will help us all stay safe.

It will also mean students can feel confident as they try out the many rewarding and fun events we will have going on during induction week and beyond.

To book a vaccination click here. We are also looking into hosting ‘pop-up’ vaccination clinics at our main campuses in the coming weeks.

When term starts students will need to take two Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests each week (like they did before the summer break) and to record their results via the Gov.uk website.

For more details about Covid-19 vaccinations visit the Gov.uk website here. This guide here also includes information on what to expect after having a Covid-19 vaccination.

Tending to people’s needs is something that adult learner, Kelli Smith, has always longed to do. 

After working as a healthcare support worker at Airedale Hospital for over 17 years, she decided to take her career one step further and pursue nursing.

Juggling parenting and a hospital job is challenging enough; however Kelli has found a new lease of life after returning to college at 37 years old to study Functional Skills in English and maths.

A new direction

Changing careers can be a daunting prospect for many, however as Kelli’s children got older, she decided now was the right time to take a different direction.

“Ever since my children were born, they have been my first priority, as I’ve always decided to concentrate on them. However, now that they’re getting older, I’ve had time to reflect on my long-standing ambition to pursue my career further; deciding to take the plunge back into the learning pool.

“I’ve always held nursing in the highest regard and had ideas of changing my career eventually, but I had to make a conscious effort to build my confidence and go for it. I was aware of Keighley College’s community-centered reputation, therefore I chose to sharpen up my English and maths skills.”

Managing responsibilities

Kelli was faced with the challenging task of handling parenthood and working through college studies – all while working at a busy hospital during the pandemic.

“The various lockdowns upheaved our everyday lives; especially with switching to home learning when bubbles collapsed. My children and I worked tirelessly to ensure their work was completed to the best of their ability, and the knowledge I learnt through my college courses really helped me support them.

“It was important for me to stay focused on my college studies, so I always made the effort to join additional revision classes and attend every lesson. My time at college was phenomenal; I felt incredibly supported by my tutors who were genuinely committed to boosting my skills and confidence.”

Continuing lifelong learning

This year, Keighley College is taking part in the Festival of Learning; a national campaign to celebrate the achievements of adult learners. 

“I would encourage everyone to continue learning as they get older; lifelong learning gives you the skills to adapt to an ever-changing environment. 

“I was over the moon to have passed my English and maths courses this year, meaning I’m one step closer to my dream nursing job. I’ll be returning to Keighley College in September to gain my GCSE maths.”

As part of the festival, Keighley College is working with partners across the region to deliver a range of taster sessions, short courses and open days for adult learners. Find out more here and discover our calendar of events.

The Principal of Keighley College has praised the contribution students have made to their local community – while congratulating their academic achievements.

Despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic the college has just enjoyed another successful set of Level 3 and GCSE results, with many students meeting or exceeding their target grades.

Principal Steve Kelly said he was full of admiration for the extra effort that students and staff had put in over a trying 12 months, and their sense of social responsibility.

Achievement in the face of adversity

He said: “This year has been extremely challenging for all students across the country, as well as for those who teach and support them.

“We are very proud of our students and over the past year they have not only completed their studies but helped in their local communities, as well as with their families. 

“I am pleased to say students at Keighley College have been able to gain their vocational qualifications and progress to university, further study or employment. Many have also decided to apply for apprenticeship opportunities in the region.

“The college is open for enquiries and we still have places for anyone wishing to enrol on our courses which start next month and include full-time vocational courses, T Levels, A levels and part-time study.

“We are here to help and would encourage anyone who has questions to contact us by calling 01535 685000, emailing enquiries@keighleycollege.ac.uk or visiting keighleycollege.ac.uk.”

Inspirational husband and wife team

There were many inspirational stories behind the grades achieved by Keighley College students, and especially adult learners, this year. 

Husband and wife Chris and Laura Smith both started at the college after initially being turned down for the Access to Higher Education – Health Science Professions course, as neither had the required GCSE grades for English or maths.

The Head of Service Professions, Kevin Burke, decided to take a chance and offered them each a place anyway. His belief in them was proved well founded as they both went on to work ‘tirelessly’ and pass the course, while also achieving Grade 5s in English and Maths.

Those achievements were all the more remarkable given the fact that Laura and Chris were both holding down a job while studying. They have now each been offered a place at Bradford University, where they will study Nursing.

Overcoming the challenges of dyslexia

Adult learner Katy Currell, meanwhile, has been struggling with the educational challenges of dyslexia for years.

Until recently trying to read longer pieces of text or to write represented a huge challenge to Katy. But that has now, thanks to ‘incredibly hard work’ on her part and specialist support from her English teacher, all changed.

Katy has just achieved a Grade 4 pass in her English Language GCSE, and her teachers also say  they have seen her self-confidence grow steadily as she has progressed.

How do I receive my results? 

Results day at Keighley College is fast approaching and we’d like to wish our students the best of luck with their grades. 

From week commencing 9 August, you will receive your results through your personal email address from 8.30am on the dates below. You can also drop into college on these dates to collect your results if you wish.

Level 3 results

• 10 August: 8.30am to 4.00pm

GCSEs and other levels

• 12 August: 9.00am to 4.00pm

However, if we don’t have your email address, your results will be posted to you.

Coming into college

You can also collect your results at college on the above time and dates. We’ve set up a gazebo at the back entrance of the college where you can pick up your results.

Not got the grades you were expecting?

If you haven’t received the results you were hoping for, there will be teachers and staff on hand to offer support on the day.

Questions?

If you have any questions about results day, please contact your tutor directly.

You can find out more about work experience, careers and industry placements on our Student Life intranet.

Google has now updated Hangouts, so you’ll need to access Google Chat instead, where your previous conversations should now be.

When Husen Ali moved to the UK in 2017 the then 16-year-old’s most pressing goal was to master English.

Now, following lots of hard work at first Keighley College and then Leeds Sixth Form College, Husen is half way through his A levels with his sights firmly fixed on pursuing a law degree at university.

He credits his tutors for giving him the skills and confidence to ‘dream bigger’ and gain the qualifications that have helped him decide on his future career – and says the value of lifelong learning can’t be overstated.

Broadening horizons

He said: “When I came to the UK around four years ago I could speak very little English, so to improve that I enrolled on an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course at Keighley College.

“The time that I spent there was unforgettable as I met fantastic people, the staff were always polite and always helped me when I needed it, and the students were very diligent and fun to be around.

“On top of that, I consider myself very lucky because without the teachers that I had I wouldn’t be where I am today: they guided me and encouraged me to always do my best.

“At first, I was going to choose the engineering route at Keighley College but then one of my teachers suggested I should do my GCSEs first, as that would allow me to expand my options and help me discover what I truly like.

“If it wasn’t for that comment I wouldn’t have enrolled at Leeds Sixth Form College and discovered my passion for law.

“So I am really grateful that I met such fantastic people at Keighley who always pushed me and encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone so I could improve myself.”

A chance to keep improving and growing

With his GCSEs successfully acquired Husen is now studying hard for the A levels he needs to secure an offer to study law at university.

His educational journey has been a challenging but very rewarding one, and he is keen to encourage others to find the courses that will help them follow their dreams – whatever their age.

He said: “I have just completed my first year of A levels and in September I’ll start my final year and then go to university.

“My first choice would be Durham University, which belongs to the Russell Group. Although the acceptance rate is 69.4%, which shows that getting into Durham can be a bit competitive, I am confident that I’m capable of meeting the requirements needed.”

Reflecting on the Festival of Learning and its celebration of lifelong learning, he added: “No matter how old you are, pursuing education is never too late as education is not bound by age.

“Lifelong learning will allow you to keep improving and grow as a person, also it will give you a sense of satisfaction as learning new things gives us a feeling of accomplishment.”

To find out more about courses at Keighley College visit keighleycollege.ac.uk/courses-apprenticeships.

A wide range of courses are available to study for free, through the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, for anyone aged over 19 who doesn’t currently hold a Level 3 (A level equivalent) qualification. For more details visit leedscitycollege.ac.uk/lifetime-skills.

For more information about the Festival of Learning here leedscitycollege.ac.uk/festival-of-learning.