Principal’s Annual Report 2024/25
Sam Wright Principal & Chief Executive
WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25
Presented by
Sam Wright Principal & Chief Executive
“We
know the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group is an amazing organisation, with dedicated and talented staff. They put our students at the heart of all decision-making and ensure we provide them with a superb experience.”
SAM WRIGHT Principal and CEO
INTRODUCTION
We have had a fantastic year, and I am extremely proud of the progress we’ve made in terms of our students’ achievements and all of the activities that we’ve driven to enable our learners to develop, personally as well as academically.
Alongside this report, we have produced a Self Assessment Report for 2024-25, which provides a detailed account of the quality of our teaching, learning and assessment, our student outcomes and our student experience.
Our financial health rating remains as ‘good’ and we have produced a Financial Statements document for 2024-25, which provides a rigorous overview of our performance against our financial measures and our financial position at the end of the academic year. This can be found on our websiteCorporate Documents.
We know the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group is an amazing organisation, with dedicated and talented staff. They put our students at the heart of all decision-making and ensure we provide them with a superb experience.
I would like to thank my colleagues, as ever, for their commitment and passion in ensuring we always endeavour to be the best we can be for our students, and I look forward to progressing on our journey to in 2025-26, as we continue to strive to become truly exceptional.
Best wishes,
SAM WRIGHT Principal and Chief Executive
HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS THE GROUP IN 2024/25
AUGUST 2024
1. Both Selby College’s and Wakefield College’s A Level students’ achievements were celebrated on Results Day, which saw many of them progressing onto Russell Group universities, employment and apprenticeships.
2. Selby College’s A Level programme achieved an outstanding 99.5% pass rate, with 15 out of 16 subjects securing a 100% pass rate.
3. T Level programmes across all three Colleges secured a 100% pass rate.
4. The University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group celebrated another strong set of National Student Survey results, with 91% of students satisfied with the quality of teaching – which is significantly higher than the national average.
SEPTEMBER 2024
5. Wakefield College Fashion & Textiles students collaborated on a project with local shirt company, Double TWO, which was showcased at Wakefield Museum.
6. A new digital mental health service platform, TalkCampus, was introduced to support adult learners across the Group.
7. The Group’s brand-new website went live, streamlining student and user experience.
8. The School Partnerships Team presented at more than 50 Year 11 assemblies across the region in September and October, launching its brand-new prospectus.
OCTOBER 2024
9. Skills Bootcamps were launched in key sectors to address skills gaps and future demand in industries including Automotive, Construction and Engineering.
10. Higher Education Sport student, Tyler Dupree, was shortlisted for the Association of Colleges Student of the Year Award following Wigan Warriors’ triumph in the Super League Grand Final.
11. Wakefield College and YPO were shortlisted for the Supply Chain Excellence Award, acknowledging the life-changing work experience opportunities the College is creating for young adults with learning disabilities or additional educational needs.
12. All three Colleges welcomed hundreds of prospective students and their parents to the first Open Events of the academic year.
13. Graduation ceremonies were held at Selby Abbey and Wakefield Cathedral to celebrate the accomplishments of higher education students at the University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group.
14. Castleford College Construction student, Alfie Parratt, was commended for the exceptional progress he has made throughout his studies at the Youthbuild UK’s Young Builder of the Year Awards 2024.
DECEMBER 2024
15. Selby College celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of providing opportunities for learners aged 15 right up to 70+ in the area.
16. The Group celebrated T Levels week with a host of activities including the opening of a new hospital simulation ward at Wakefield College and fundraising activities at Selby College.
17. ‘I>innovate’ learning pods were opened at each College to upskill both staff and students on new and emerging digital technologies.
18. Hospitality & Catering apprentice at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, Mark Curran, was presented with the Apprentice of the Year accolade at the Wakefield Business Awards 2024. The judges praised Mark for the resilience and determination he showed throughout his studies, which saw him continuously develop and refine his skills as a Level 2 Commis Chef apprentice
19. Over 45 accolades were presented at the Group’s annual Student Awards Ceremony held at Castleford College, acknowledging the hard work and achievements of its students.
20. Brand-new adult courses were introduced ahead of the new year across a range of subject areas including Business, Childcare & Early Years, Construction, Dental, Engineering, Teacher Training and more.
21. Former Castleford College Motor Vehicle student, Arron, gifted a number of engines to the College’s Automotive department - helping to enhance students’ learning.
22. Former Media student, writer and director, Taylor Caddick, received the ‘Fresh Meat’ award at Dead Northern’s Horror Film Festival in York for his short film, ‘The Bloke in the Boot’.
23. Students enjoyed the lead up to Christmas as they engaged in fun and creative activities held at Christmas Fairs across the Group.
JANUARY 2025
24. Wakefield College welcomed Further Education Commissioner, Shelagh Legrave CBE, to its campus to showcase the College’s commitment to delivering highquality education for its local communities.
25. T Level Health students began their placements at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, marking the start of their journey to becoming the next generation of healthcare professionals.
26. The Group welcomed employers and stakeholders from across the region to help shape its curriculum for the year ahead at its Stakeholder Engagement Event.
27. The Animal Care department at Wakefield College held an Industry Week, inviting organisations and charities from the animal care sector, such as Cats Protection and Colchester Zoo, into the College to deliver talks and demonstrations to students.
FEBRUARY 2025
28. The Group celebrated National Apprenticeship Week across the Colleges, including Apprenticeship-themed Open Events, an employer breakfast event, Apprenticeship Team hubs for students and more.
29. The annual Apprenticeship Award Ceremony 2025 took place at Wakefield College, celebrating the achievements of the Group’s apprentices and employer partners.
30. The Care & Early Years department at Wakefield College hosted a storytelling event for local children during the half-term, welcoming over 50 families to the College to participate in a range of themed activities.
31. As part of Wakefield’s Rhubarb Festival, Art & Design students from Wakefield College created and exhibited an upcycled rhubarb-themed fashion exhibition on the city’s high street.
32. Acknowledging the success of the Group’s Open Events, colleagues from the Group’s Marketing & Creative Team were awarded the Silver Award for Events Management. The Group’s Marketing & Creative Team was also Highly Commended for the Team of the Year award, acknowledging their efforts post-merger to combine their skills and knowledge to become a collaborative, highperforming and results-driven team.
The Marketing & Creative Team’s 2023-2024 Keep Warm Campaign was also recognised at the Association of Creative and Print Managers in Education Awards in June 2025, with the Team taking home the Creative Campaign of the Year accolade.
The campaign was also recognised at the Goole & Howdenshire Business Awards 2025, taking home the Marketing Excellence Award.
33. Home Secretary and Member of Parliament for Pontefract, Castleford, Knottingley and Altofts, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, visited Castleford College to see the progress of its brand-new Construction facilities.
34. Higher Education Art, Design & Media students at Selby College launched a month-long sustainability-themed exhibition at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet York.
35. Two A Level students from Selby College, Ben and Henry, received offers to study at the prestigious University of Oxford ahead of their final exams.
36. The Group was awarded the Bronze Investors in Diversity accreditation by the National Centre for Diversity after introducing the FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) framework to staff through various Continuous Professional Development sessions.
37. Castleford College’s Automotive students benefited from a generous donation of motor equipment from one of the UK’s leading sustainable waste management companies, Biffa.
38. To mark Sustainability Week and the Association of Colleges’ National Green Week, Colleges across the Group took part in a range of sustainable activities, including planting new trees, upcycling old clothes and materials and building bird boxes – highlighting the importance of Colleges’ roles in creating a sustainable future.
39. Give Construction a Try was held at Castleford College for the sixth year and welcomed hundreds of pupils from local schools who took part in sustainable-themed construction sessions.
40. Wakefield College staff and students were part of the 2000 people across the city who joined the ‘Hands Across Wakefield’ project, in aid of My Hospitals Charity and Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust.
41. All three Colleges welcomed universities, education institutions and employers to the ‘Your Future’ Careers Fairs where students could speak to experts about progression opportunities and future careers
APRIL 2025
42. Selby College Law, Criminology and Psychology students visited Amsterdam to help with their understanding of the country’s legal system, infrastructure and culture.
43. The Group was awarded the Marketing Excellence Award at the prestigious Goole & Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards, in recognition of its student recruitment campaign which led to a significant rise in applications and enrolments.
44. Staff and students across the Group took part in the Association of College’s Planet Earth Games which saw them championing sustainability through a range of challenges, activities and workshops. This year saw a record number of people taking part in sustainable activities, with Castleford College placing fourth, Wakefield College fifth and Selby College seventh in the national leaderboard.
45. History lecturer at Selby College, Dr Peter Turner, was recognised nationally with the publication of his latest article in Teaching History magazine, which explored an innovative cross-curricular project designed for post-16 students studying History and English.
46. Colleagues from the Group and Siemens Mobility visited DFN Project SEARCH interns at their Goole Rail Village placements to see first-hand the positive impact of the supported internship scheme on young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
47. Wakefield College’s Volleyball Team proudly represented Yorkshire & the Humber at the Association of Colleges Sports National Championships.
The Group was awarded the Bronze Investors in Diversity accreditation by the National Centre for Diversity after introducing the FREDIE framework.
48. Students from Selby College held a 24-hour stationary cycle challenge to raise funds for The Little Princess Trust, in support of former student Georgia Dayes who was diagnosed with Leukaemia.
49. Selby College Computing & Digital Industries students successfully completed a real-world industry project with British Taekwondo involving software development and digital design.
50. Wakefield and Selby Children’s University hosted May-Hem 2025, where local children and their families participated in fun and engaging learning activities provided by local Learning Destinations.
51. The Group was awarded the Matrix standard for its Careers Guidance and Course Information services – helping to deliver outstanding, impartial support to more than 10,000 learners across Castleford, Selby and Wakefield.
52. Students and staff across the Group took part in the annual Colour Fun Run hosted by the Activities Team to raise funds and awareness for prevention of young suicide charity, Papyrus.
53. Three of the Group’s apprentices were shortlisted as finalists at the West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards.
JUNE 2025
54. Higher Education Art, Design & Media students from Selby College proudly showcased their creative talents in a special exhibition at Selby Town Hall.
55. Fabrication & Welding apprentices from Castleford College demonstrated their technical talent during the SkillWeld national qualifiers.
56. Wakefield and Selby’s Children’s Universities held their annual graduation ceremonies at Wakefield College’s Mechanics’ Theatre, congratulating over 70 children across the region with awards for their learning hours.
57. Hosted by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority at Leeds Civic Hall, four adult students from the Group were commended at the West Yorkshire Adult Learner Awards for their achievements in adult learning - with Leanne Garner winning the West Yorkshire Sector Focus Award.
58. Wakefield College’s Music department hosted its annual music festival, Upload Fest 2025, drawing in crowds over the course of two evenings, where students from Level 3 to Level 6 performed music sets.
59. Hair & Beauty students from Castleford College and Selby College visited Tokyo, where they learned about the hair and beauty industry in Asia and immersed themselves in Japanese culture through various traditional and tourist activities.
JULY 2025
60. Subject departments across the three Colleges celebrated their students’ learning progression and achievements through a series of end-of-year award ceremonies.
61. Selby College hosted Discovery Days with local primary school students, giving the children the opportunity to take part in taster sessions across a variety of subject areas.
62. All three Colleges hosted a series of Taster Day events for Y10 students, where pupils trialled a range of taster sessions in subjects of their choice from Construction to Computing, Healthcare, Science and more.
63. Hundreds of prospective students experienced what it’s like to be a student at Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College as part of New Student Day, ahead of the start of the academic year.
64. Staff enjoyed a range of activities at the Group’s annual ‘Feel Good’ Day including archery, jewellery making, foraging and more.
65. Colleagues from across the Group gathered to commemorate another successful year at its annual Staff Celebration Event.
Hair & Beauty students from Castleford College and Selby College visited Tokyo, where they learned about the hair and beauty industry in Asia.
Image Credit: Mark Watkinson Photography
“Deep Dives took place in some A Levels courses to inform a development plan for enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.”
TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Detail of the effectiveness of our teaching, learning and assessment is outlined in full in our Self Assessment Report 2024-25, but we had a wide-ranging calendar of training events to provide colleagues with the skills to improve further-
SEPTEMBER 2024
+ We launched our new induction pathways: Ready to Teach and Teaching at the Heart, ensuring all new educators are able to access the programme best suited to their needs and those joining from industry have access to structured sessions around the craft of teaching
+ Student Experience Walks took place to ensure our students were following Ready to Learn guidelines and getting off to a good start
+ We launched the I>innovate digital skills programme 2024-25
+ Our Excellence in Learning & Teaching Workshop focused on AI and the benefits of tools to support teaching and learning
OCTOBER 2024
+ We launched our new Quality Process: Curriculum Check-in Weeks. The first one to take place was Maths and English. We scrutinised the provision over two days to explore the student experience via activities such as learning walks, staff voice, student voice, manager voice and work scrutiny exercises
+ The I>innovate Pod at Selby had its grand opening
+ At our October CPD Day, we rolled out our new Lesson Visit process including Unseen and Video options. The aim has been to encourage a cyclical coaching culture where our educators are supported to remain reflective practitioners and further develop their skills
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2024
+ Branding was installed in all I>innovate pods and staff were encouraged to continue their digital upskilling with 79 staff completing their I>innovate Awards and a further 27 their Microsoft Educator Awards
+ Curriculum Check-in Weeks took place for all remaining curriculum areas in order to provide an overview of the quality of the student experience for the Group.
+ Liquid Learning was delivered, with a focus on feedback strategies to effectively provide ‘feed forward’; encourage learner ownership and independence; enable ‘closing the loop’; and ensure learners make good progress
+ A Teaching Excellence Matrix was developed to support our educators with the cyclical programme of improvement via Lesson Visits. This included seven themes for them to assess against at either ‘Core’, ‘Branching’ or ‘Flourishing’ levels
JANUARY 2025
+ Deep Dives took place in some A Levels courses to inform a development plan for enhancing the quality of teaching and learning
+ The Group featured in the new book ‘Infinite Education; The ultimate primer for educational innovators in an AI world’ by leading AI educational expert Dan Fitzpatrick
+ Innovation Pods were fully open and staffed for booking
+ 1,431 students completed the Heart of Yorkshire Christmas Immersive Escape Room developed by our new Learning Technologist, Rudra Bhattacharjee
+ Phase 1 of Lesson Visits started alongside a series of Q&A sessions, which were held for educators to discuss the process
FEBRUARY 2025
+ At our Feb CPD Day, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion was explored. There was a showcase of ‘BodySwaps’ and how virtual reality could support the development of core skills such as communication, presentation, and customer service.
+ A version of the Teaching Excellence Matrix was launched for Trainers/Assessors to support selfassessment against the seven themes better aligned to their job roles
MARCH 2025
+ I>innovate sessions were focused around digital skills such as: Using a Digital Whiteboard in the Classroom, Using AI to Work Smarter not Harder, Introduction to Teams and Using AI to Enhance Teaching & Learning
+ The window for video or unseen visits opened, which some educators had opted to trial as part of the new lesson visit process
+ Celebration events for Teaching at the Heart took place with positive feedback from staff, with one staff member stating that it was a ‘brilliant course, and in my view a great steppingstone into the CertEd/PGCE’
APRIL 2025
+ A series of Inclusive Pedagogy Walks took place. These tested the Quality First Teaching practices and Trauma-Informed Strategies being used to identify any further support needed by educators to best support our students
+ I>innovate for Professional Service was launched. This was to support the development of digital skills of all staff and our community
+ The Group hosted ‘The Big Hive’ Event where we explored excellence together with practitioners from other colleges. This included an exploration of digital tools to support our learners, Radical Rest Strategies from Dr Lou Mycroft and a Well-being and Resilience Workshop
+ We launched ‘We Talk Teaching’ to drive our continued focus on pedagogy. A multi-modal initiative with the aim of enabling our educators to inform future CPD and processes. The first session explored ‘what does planning look and feel like to you?’
+ Curriculum Showcases took place for departments to review their Curriculum Check-in Week actions and celebrate impact and progress
JUNE 2025
+ Following on from We Talk Teaching, we launched our new planning documents, the Curriculum Map and Scheme of Learning, which we rolled out with educators
+ We worked on and finalised our AI Policy and Digital Strategy bringing together Digital Pedagogy and IT infrastructure into one combined approach
+ We hosted our annual Festival of Inclusion where we explored inclusive strategies to support our educators, Ofsted Toolkit changes and wellbeing activities
+ In ELT we explored the current picture, how we can create conditions for exceptional learning and agreed our new Ready to Teach guidance
+ We recruited our first team of Teaching & Learning Champions to support our ‘We Talk Teaching’ initiatives and drive excellence in teaching and learning
STUDENT SUPPORT AND THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Whilst continuing to provide high levels of support, the Group has remained committed to maintaining a wide range of opportunities to enable our students to thrive and receive a high-quality experience, and this section provides a summary of activities and initiatives from the 2024-25 academic year.
SAFEGUARDING AND PREVENT
In order to meet the needs of high levels of safeguarding requirements, we need to deliver extensive activity and ensure we have a robust infrastructure in place.
Our Safeguarding Teams across all sites have continued to attend child protection conferences, strategy meetings, and risk and resilience meetings, submitting reports to ensure the timely sharing of information and appropriate student support within the Group. There remains a consistent number of students subject to safeguarding needs relating to Child Protection, Child in Need cases and referrals to Social Care Direct.
The number of Students in Care enrolled has remained high, including those unaccompanied asylum seeker children often, with trauma-related needs, and the number of Young Adult Carers has risen significantly. The Group has successfully achieved re-accreditation for the Quality Standard in Carer Support, reinforcing the effectiveness of our support model.
Policy and practice remain fully compliant, following the annual review of safeguarding procedures in line with KCSIE (Sept 2025) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (Dec 2023). There were minimal statutory changes this year related mainly to online safety, artificial intelligence, and sexual harassment guidance.
The Safeguarding Development Group continues to meet termly to oversee compliance and drive improvement. Staff training compliance remains very high with staff completing KCSIE training and additional CPD delivered for Designated Safeguarding Leads and Governors.
The Prevent Self-Assessment and annual plan continue to be monitored through this group, with active engagement in local Prevent and Channel Panels across West and North Yorkshire.
Preparations for Martyn’s Law (Protect Duty) have begun to meet our requirements as a standard tier organisation.
Student voice has remained a strength, with 87% of students feeling safe at College and 90% feeling that College is welcoming to all.
WELLBEING AND SUPPORT
The level of student wellbeing support has remained high, with the team responding to increasingly complex needs. In 2024-25, the Wellbeing Team supported 650 students, undertaking 2,613 meetings across our three Colleges.
The majority of support continues to relate to mental health concerns, particularly anxiety and stress, accounting for 694 meetings. Growing numbers of students are also seeking support for family-related and College-focused issues, alongside a noticeable rise in cases relating to healthy relationships and bereavement.
All Wellbeing Officers completed Mental Health First Aid training and additional CPD in Wellbeing Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), Disordered Eating and ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), and Sleep and Wellbeing. The Group now has two Senior Mental Health Leads, playing a key role in embedding a whole-Group approach to wellbeing.
Partnerships have remained central to our offer. Turning Point provides weekly on-site therapy at both Wakefield and Castleford Colleges, and NHS FIM supports Selby College learners through workshops on stress management and sleep. The Talk Campus app continues to support HE and adult learners, with nearly 100 adult students accessing it for the first time last year, generating more than 52,000 interactions.
The service continues to innovate through the introduction of mindfulness and calming spaces, walking therapy, and exploration of VR headsets for wellbeing support.
The Student Support Impact Group (SSIG) continues to play a vital role in identifying and supporting our most vulnerable learners. In 2024-25, overall referrals decreased slightly compared to the previous year, and most importantly, 80% of students were successfully moved into the inactive group, up from 66% in 2023-24. This demonstrates the positive impact of interventions in strengthening resilience and reducing ongoing need. Attendance amongst this cohort has remained stable, with only a 1% difference year-on-year, reflecting sustained engagement despite their challenges. Although referrals of female students fell by 35, the number of male referrals increased by 23, mirroring a rise in students receiving financial support and suggesting greater identification of need within this group.
Family-related issues saw a notable 24% increase, and mental health concerns, particularly anxiety and stress, continued to be among the most common reasons for referral, underscoring the ongoing demand for robust pastoral and wellbeing support. Overall, the data reflects both the effectiveness of targeted interventions and the evolving nature of student needs, reinforcing the importance of maintaining strong, responsive support structures.
The Counselling provision has continued to expand to meet demand. With 224 students who accessed support in 2024-25. Average wait times for assessment reduced and the service achieved an outstanding 99% retention rate for those students receiving counselling support. Key presenting issues included anxiety, trauma, depression, bereavement, and relationship difficulties.
We delivered a powerful Mental Health and Wellbeing Week, uniting students, staff, and external partners in a shared focus on mental, physical, and social wellbeing. Activities across all Colleges included interactive sessions, workshops, and support from key organisations such as the Samaritans, NSPCC, and PAPYRUS. The week promoted openness and support and reflects the ongoing commitment to mental health, wellbeing, and lasting partnerships.
STUDENT VOICE AND FEEDBACK
Student Voice activity continues to thrive through the Student Leadership Conferences, with three events held across all sites. These were complemented by focus groups, student surveys, and HE/T-Level forums.
Student updates following each conference have ensured that learner feedback directly informs senior leadership and the Board of Governors. The introduction of the My Heart of Yorkshire Student App, presented at the May conference, was warmly received as a key communication tool.
In partnership with Unloc, 20 student leaders participated in the first Sustainability Project Workshop at Wakefield, developing changemaker projects, to be implemented in 2025-26.
Student surveys showed a reliable picture of student views for last year with response rates doubling with strong and sustained progress in key aspects of Personal Development.
Navigate usage has continued to rise, now averaging 78% across the Group, with particularly impressive growth in My Journey sessions at Selby (68%, +13 points) and Wakefield (65%, +5 points). Digital Skills confidence remains high, with Wakefield at 79% and Selby showing a notable increase from 70% to 76%.
College pride has also strengthened, with Castleford reaching 78% (+9 points), and both Wakefield and Selby achieving 82%, the latter up by an exceptional 13 points. Enrichment remains an area for focused improvement reflecting student feedback around variety, scheduling, and promotion, and we have a clear direction for development.
With regard to safeguarding and wellbeing, Selby continues to lead on safety (90%) and maintains strong levels of respect and tolerance (87%), while Castleford and Wakefield show stable performance in mental health support at 71%. Overall, the Group is well-positioned to build on the positive gains in personal development and pride with continued focused work to strengthen enrichment, safeguarding, and wellbeing provision in the year ahead.
WORK EXPERIENCE
The academic year concluded with all graduating T-Level students successfully completing their industry placements. For programmes requiring mandatory placement hours, every completing student met this requirement except for one individual who, despite repeated support efforts, chose not to engage with their course or placement.
Amongst Level three, first-year students, 98% secured an employer placement. General work-related activity for the academic year finished with 4,898 activities, 18,704 hours of enrichment and engagement and students utilising Navigate more to reflect upon these learning opportunities.
Nine students successfully completed Turing placements in Japan, and all placements were approved following audit. However, due to Turing destinations being outside Europe, a decision was made not to offer Turing placements for the 2025-26 academic year to prioritise student safety. Opportunities will be revisited through Erasmus for 2026-27.
“Student feedback has indicated that enrichment contributed positively to confidence, inclusion, and a sense of belonging across our Colleges.”
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT
The Group has continued to strengthen its approach to personal development through a clearer, more cohesive model that embedded skills, enrichment, and wellbeing across the student journey.
Engagement in enrichment activities continued to rise, with 70% of study programme students participating, and over 4,000 more activities logged compared with 2023-24. The total hours recorded increased by over 15,000, with 270 more unique students involved. Students have become increasingly able to articulate the value of enrichment to their personal and professional growth, particularly in relation to teamwork, resilience, and communication.
New structures have been introduced to improve visibility and participation, including a termly schedule of events, GOALS integration, and My Welcome Induction updates, which clearly communicate opportunities. Student feedback has indicated that enrichment contributed positively to confidence, inclusion, and a sense of belonging across our Colleges.
Engagement in sports activities and clubs increased notably, with over 100 students regularly participating at Selby College and continued strong involvement across Wakefield and Castleford. Efforts were made to align large-scale events such as Freshers, Enrichment Weeks, and Your Future Week across all sites, ensuring that all students benefitted from a consistent and inclusive personal development offer.
Students have also engaged in a wide range of community and social action projects, including litter picks with Next Generation Youth Club during Sustainability Week, fundraising for MY Hospitals Charity, and participation in the Hands Across Wakefield community event. The first Colour Walk, Roll, Run was held across all three sites, attracting participation from over 600 students and marking a highly successful Group-wide wellbeing initiative.
Partnership work with The Youth Association continued to grow, delivering impactful projects such as Future Man and Her Future, which focused on building confidence, resilience, and healthy relationships. The Tell Me Project was also launched to provide mentoring for identified students, while Selby College hosted a pilot of the Influence of Social Media project, which was well received and will expand further in 2025-26.
Student leadership and representation has remained a key priority. Although engagement with the Student Union Executive was initially lower, the launch of the new Group Student Union has reignited student interest. All 15 Executive Committee positions were filled, with high levels of participation in the elections and over 100 votes cast per post. The newly elected Executive Officers and Class Representatives completed a Sustainability Boot Camp in partnership with Unloc, focusing on leadership, teamwork, and project management skills.
PASTORAL CURRICULUM
The Group’s pastoral curriculum has continued to evolve in response to emerging student needs and national priorities. Over the summer period, the programme was comprehensively reviewed, and lessons have been adapted to ensure continued relevance and impact. During the autumn term, delivery focused on key themes including Prevent, British Values, Online Safety, Time Management, Adulting, and Resilience. These topics were designed to build the foundational knowledge, awareness, and personal skills essential for students’ wellbeing, safety, and preparation for adulthood.
The curriculum was further enhanced through extensive engagement with external partners. The West Yorkshire Fire Service delivered road traffic collision demonstrations at Selby, Castleford, and Wakefield Colleges, providing powerful safety education experiences. The mental health charity GASPED returned to deliver lived-experience talks, and a range of additional partnerships were established to strengthen the reach and relevance of the curriculum throughout the year.
The Pastoral Team have continued to invest heavily in their professional development to maintain high-quality, informed delivery. Training completed included PEARL assessor training, Digital Hub awareness, Artificial Intelligence, and Microsoft Teams updates, alongside specialist CPD on sextortion, sexting, and sexual harassment. Further training with Rape Crisis and Mental Health First Aid was scheduled to ensure staff remained confident and up to date in supporting complex student needs.
Student participation and engagement in the pastoral curriculum have remained strong, with a notable increase in the number of students completing the End of Term 2 Knowledge Checker -1,293 students, up 101 from the previous year. Results indicate that 93% of students feel safe and 92% feel welcome and part of a community. Feedback from students who did not feel safe was followed up through existing wellbeing support, ensuring timely intervention.
Curriculum themes in the second term focused on active citizenship, covering financial management (including credit scores and budgeting), sustainability, and healthy relationships. Guest speakers supported delivery across these themes, providing lived experience and real-world context. The introduction of a Sustainability Week proved particularly impactful, with all GOALS classes participating in creative workshops exploring sustainability at local and national levels. Both staff and students praised the event for promoting creativity, collaboration, and meaningful discussion around environmental and social responsibility.
Throughout the year, pastoral tutors also focused on improving their digital capability, embedding new tools such as Padlet, Canva, and Body Swaps into their sessions to enhance engagement and interactivity.
In the third term, delivery shifted to progression and next steps, with targeted activities supporting students at all levels: Level 3 learners focused on UCAS and higher-level apprenticeship applications, while Level 1 and Level 2 students received tailored guidance on internal progression, apprenticeships, and part-time employment opportunities.
The Group’s pastoral curriculum has continued to demonstrate a dynamic and student-centred approach, underpinned by strong partnerships, continuous staff development, and an emphasis on equipping students with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to thrive both in College and beyond.
STUDENT BEHAVIOUR AND ATTENDANCE
Behaviour Regulation (BR) activity totalled 1,513 meetings with students. Early-stage meetings (BR1 and BR2) decreased, while BR3 and BR4 remained steady or saw small increases, reflecting successful early intervention strategies and a strengthened informal support framework.
The introduction of Attendance Support Plan Meetings and a structured intervention checklist has improved consistency and the ability to provide early support. Attendance data has indicated overall improvement, with most departments recording year-on-year gains. English and maths attendance has also improved, supported by targeted interventions.
A whole-Group approach to attendance is now embedded, with clearer staff roles, streamlined reporting, and enhanced data analysis. The development of the new student app and attendance support will further strengthen early intervention in 2025-26.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The bursary threshold increased to £34,000, with 1,555 students in receipt of financial support — an increase of 321 students compared with the previous year.
The ‘Pay My Student’ system is now fully embedded, allowing faster access to funds and improving student satisfaction. All curriculum areas have met or exceeded the target of 20% of students in receipt of support.
The free breakfast offer has continued to grow, with an average of 180–190 students attending daily at Wakefield College peaking at over 230 last year, with the service being integrated for Selby College as a new off and averaging approximately 80-90 students per day utilising. The service remains a key support within Castleford College also and all three Colleges are also providing students with a fruit offer to support wellbeing and aid financial constraints for students.
Next steps include deeper analysis of students in economic difficulty to ensure equitable outcomes and tailored interventions.
CAREERS EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ADVICE & GUIDANCE (CEIAG)
The Careers team has delivered a high-impact, studentcentred CEIAG offer, completing 4,495 one-to-one guidance sessions and engaging 1,500 Level 3 students through small-group work.
We were successful in achieving the full re-accreditation for the Matrix Standard for our careers and course information services with the assessor being highly
impressed with the Group’s progress and cohesion since the last accreditation shortly following merger. She noted that it now feels like one well-aligned organisation with a clear and consistent commitment from senior leaders. In addition, she praised the strong focus on wellbeing for both staff and students, the deeply embedded value of inclusivity, and the clear demonstration of impartiality through student feedback. The positive impact of CPD investment, effective co-production with students, and the robust quality assurance of course information were also highlighted, and she commended the supportive and innovative teams, the Group’s outward-looking approach, and our strong partnerships, describing the overall difference as notable, very positive, and distinctive compared with other colleges she visits.
Further activity has included the reintroduction of mock interviews with 15 local employers and involving more than 300 students. This has strengthened our external partnerships along with preparing students for their next steps and providing valuable work-related experience.
Furthermore, our careers lead achieved the Careers Leader qualification and the Group participated in the Careers Maturity Model pilot led by NYBEP, representing a significant step in strategic development. This work has fostered new partnerships with regional colleges, creating a platform for sharing best practice and collaborative improvement.
Following the publication of the new Careers Strategy and updated Gatsby Benchmarks, the Careers Lead and team have undertaken a gap analysis to identify priority areas for development and ensure compliance and innovation remain central to the service.
All members of the team completed CPD, including external training on SEND support, UCAS updates, and digital delivery. A Digital Coach is now supporting the team’s integration of Microsoft Teams and the new student app.
Annual Staff Conference held in August marks the start of the academic year.
OUR PEOPLE
The 2024-25 academic year has marked significant progress for the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group in advancing our People and Culture strategy, despite ongoing challenges related to staff turnover and recruitment.
The Group has remained highly committed to attracting, developing, and retaining talented staff, fostering engagement and wellbeing, promoting effective leadership, building a high-performing workforce, and creating an inclusive workplace.
STAFF EXPERIENCE & ENGAGEMENT
Staff perceptions have improved, with 77% recommending the Group as a good employer (up from 61% in 2022-23), and 90% expressing pride in the organisation. Positive views on feeling valued, workload consideration, and wellbeing have also seen notable increases. The introduction of a comprehensive welcome booklet for new starters has further supported early engagement and integration.
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Staff turnover has decreased to 14.7%, well below the target of 18%. Recruitment has, in the main, been successful, though some difficult-to-fill vacancies have remained unfilled. Management and leadership and teaching and learning job family turnover rates have also declined.
Induction arrangements have also been strengthened to support retention of new staff.
PAY & REWARD
The implementation of a whole-Group pay spine, and differential pay increases due to the uplift in the Real Living Wage, have helped to narrow the gender pay gap. The median pay gap has dropped from 23.2% to 17.1%, with further improvement anticipated in future years.
WELLBEING & ABSENCE
Wellbeing initiatives, including the promotion of the Employee Assistance Programme, winter flu vaccinations, wellbeing campaigns, and the launch of a pilot to extend Mental Health First Aider training to more front-line and learner-facing staff and managers, has contributed to improved staff perceptions (80% believe the Group takes wellbeing seriously). Sickness absence rates and total days lost have decreased, although the cost reduction was 3.6%, short of the 10% target due to the increase in overall salary costs.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The Leadership and Management Programme, executive coaching, and new initiatives such as online learning platforms have strengthened leadership capacity across the Group.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Staff conferences and CPD days have focused on digital skills, sustainability, EDI, and inclusion. 82% of staff completed Performance and Development Reviews, with plans to improve this further in 2025-26. A wide range of departmental and Group-wide activities have supported staff development and collaboration.
“The Group has remained highly committed to attracting, developing, and retaining talented staff, fostering engagement and wellbeing, promoting effective leadership, and building a high-performing workforce.”
WORKFORCE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Disclosure rates for ethnicity and disability increased significantly, supporting more accurate workforce data. The Group achieved silver accreditation for Investors in Diversity, reflecting its commitment to EDI. In response to changes in employment legislation, a new sexual harassment policy has been introduced, accompanied by compulsory training for all staff to ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment.
Areas for continued focus include -
+ Increasing completion rates for performance reviews
+ Further reducing absence costs
+ Closing remaining gaps in demographic data
+ Addressing ongoing recruitment challenges
Planned priorities for 2025-26 include -
+ The development of a new People and Culture Strategy
+ Creating a Recruitment and Retention Strategy
+ Implementing new policies on dignity at work, including further guidance and training
+ Enhancing succession planning and management skills
+ Improving digital skill confidence and wellbeing/ attendance management
In conclusion, the Group has made substantial strides in terms of creating a positive, inclusive, and highperforming workplace. These successes will provide a strong foundation for future progress, with an ongoing focus on leadership development, staff wellbeing, and workforce diversity.
WORKING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERS AND EMPLOYERS
Building on our ‘Strong’ Ofsted sub-judgement for Skills, which we secured in our inspection in 2023, our leaders and managers have continued to develop an ambitious curriculum to meet regional and national skills needs. We have seen innovation and new developments across all departments focused on improving our students’ experiences and ensuring we deliver local and regional skills priorities.
We have maintained highly effective relationships with a range of stakeholders and employers that enable us to have an excellent understanding of skills needs. We have continued to collaborate with civic partners such as local councils, mayoral combined authorities and chambers of commerce to develop new provision that delivers where it is most needed. We have played an active role in collaborative research into innovative responses to skills needs through LSIP implementation meetings and LSIF boards.
We have continued to work closely with other colleges in West Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire to align our joint offer to learners and employers, collaborate on curriculum development and avoid duplication. We work very effectively with employer partners in identifying skills needs and gather feedback from a wide range of employers to address their specific needs through a range of employer engagement meetings that all Curriculum departments have been targeted with.
The Group has responded effectively to priority skills demands. New programmes have been developed in partnership with key employers, such as Skills Bootcamps for Health & Social Care in partnership with Mid Yorkshire Health Trust, Wakefield Council and DWP. Other newly developed programmes have been successfully delivered in 2024-25, including Carbon Capture with Drax, Skills Bootcamps for Large Goods Vehicles with Viamaster, and Apprenticeships in Power Industry Linesperson and Power Industry Substation Fitter with Omexon. In addition, the Group has been able to dramatically increase its Free Courses For Jobs offer, through a successful record of delivering high priority skills at Level 3.
Our teachers have collaborated with employers to provide learners with exposure to the world of work in a relevant industry through initiatives such as guest lectures and employer reports, student projects and meaningful experiences that connect learners with real working environments. These activities take place regularly in every curriculum area, but they are particularly evident within vocational specialisms.
EMPLOYER FOCUSED FACILITIES AND CURRICULUM
The Group consults with employers to ensure facilities and equipment are industry standard. Some of the Group’s facilities and equipment are cutting-edge, such as the carbon capture lab, heat recovery and hydrogen equipment in Engineering, the hospital ward in Health and Social Care, and VR and high tech equipment used across all curriculum areas within the i-Innovate pods.
Within the Group, there continues to be a true emphasis on ensuring all types of curriculum are informed by employer engagement. We have established meaningful stakeholder partnerships and forums within all of our curriculum areas and have had regular discussions with employers to determine more clearly what they want to see us deliver. As a consequence, employer engagement is threaded throughout every aspect of curriculum activity.
The Group is actively working with over a thousand employers in West and North Yorkshire and nationally on a range of education and training initiatives, including apprenticeships, bespoke upskilling and training, Skills Boot Camps and Sector-based Work Academy Programmes, resulting in an excellent understanding of employer needs. In addition, employers from a range of sectors attend our ‘industry insight days’ and provide high-quality work placements and internships for our learners.
STRATEGIC LINKS AND PARTNERSHIPS
We have continued to work closely with West and North Yorkshire Chamber on the development of the Local Skills Improvement Plans for West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire and we have a monthly skills-focused meeting with senior leaders within the Chamber, which informs our planning.
We have extensive links with local schools and colleges to ensure we offer a diverse range of post-16 study options to all students West and North Yorkshire, as well as responding around 14-16 provision needs.
We have a strategic partnership with Wakefield Council, including high needs provision, safeguarding, adult skills, apprenticeships and collaboration on new developments within the district, such as the Castleford Town Centre project. Our Principal Chairs the Employment & Skills Board for Wakefield. In Selby, we attend several external forums and business networks.
We work collaboratively with Wakefield’s Adult Education Service and North Yorkshire Adult Education Service to map provision, avoid unnecessary duplication and encourage progression from community-based provision into our Colleges.
Selby College is a founding member of the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology and we have senior leader presence on the Board. This partnership has brought into focus the need for higher-level technical courses particularly in Engineering related subjects.
The Group is a member of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges, which is the seven FE colleges collaborating on projects to deliver the skills needs across WYCA. Our Principal sits on the West Yorkshire Principals Group and also the York and North Yorkshire Principals Group. Our Exec Director for Skills is on the York & North Yorkshire SIF Board.
In January 2025, we held an annual high-profile stakeholder event with a group of more than eighty employers, partners and Governors. There was much useful discussion and feedback, and this further informed our planning, tested our thinking and enabled us to further develop our curriculum and essential skills offer.
BUILDING OUR REPUTATION
We’ve continued to strive to build on our reputation and to secure positive media coverage and publicity for the Group, with an increase in positive news stories shared on.
We submitted nominations for 13 different awards events in 2024-25, with several submissions at each. Of these, we secured almost 20 shortlists and 5 wins.
This included Mark Curran, who won the Apprentice of the Year at the Wakefield Business Awards 2024. BA (Hons) Early Years student, Leanne Garner, also secured the West Yorkshire Sector Focus Award at the 2025 West Yorkshire Adult Learner Awards, with three other students named finalists.
The Marketing & Creative Team achieved multiple awards throughout the year, including the Marketing Excellence Award at the Goole & Howdenshire Business Awards 2025, a Silver Award for Events Management and a Highly Commended Team of the Year at the FE
First College Marketing Network Awards, plus Creative Campaign of the Year at the Association of Creative and Print Managers in Education Awards.
The Group was also a finalist at the Educate North Awards, West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards, North Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards, YorkMix Hero Awards and YO1 Radio Sports Awards.
We had a fantastic enrolment in September 2025 across most provision types, resulting from extensive and successful marketing and outreach activity throughout the 2024-25 academic year, with particular growth in 16-18 year olds, apprentices, adult learners and high needs learners. This has enabled us to grow substantially as an organisation. This is in no small part due to the quality of our provision, but also our strong marketing, fantastic range of open events and meaningful school partnerships.
PROPERTY, ESTATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
We have continued to invest extensively in our estate and facilities, focusing on a modern infrastructure and technology, to ensure they consistently meet a high standard. Our commitment ensures these spaces are fit for purpose, safely and effectively utilised, and provide maximum available space for a positive student experience.
Key activities include the following:
+ At Castleford we have significant progressed our work on the new construction workshop which is due to be complete early 2026
+ Also at Castleford, we have effectively reconfigured our existing facilities by remodeling three large classrooms into six separate, distinct classroom spaces, significantly improving the overall space utilisation and flexibility for scheduling classes.
+ Replacement of LED lighting in the Harrison Building in Wakefield.
+ Refurbishment works to level 4 of the Radcliffe Building in Wakefield.
+ Construction of canopies at the Selby campus
+ Compliance and condition improvement works including fire doors and detection, intruder alarm systems, components for lifts, access controls and ventilation works.
In addition, significant planning work has gone into three key projects for the Group that will be delivered during next academic year. These include;
+ the design for the refurbishment of the ground floor of ‘F’ block which will be transformed into workshop spaces for construction
+ the development of a 3G pitch at Selby in conjunction with the Football Foundation and;
+ the concept design for a Skills Hub in Castleford with a focus on Health and Innovation, in partnership with Wakefield Council
In total, the Group spent £5.6m on investment in our property, estate and equipment during this academic year. Of this, £4.5m was grant funded namely from:
+ Transformation Fund
+ Reclassification Fund
+ Post 16 Capacity Fund
+ Energy Efficiency Fund
We’ve also made some great strides with our integrated IT and digital strategy with the proposed final strategy being submitted to our Board of Governors in December 2025 for approval. This strategy will build on our I>Innovate programme and aims to create a digitally confident educational community, whilst ensuring that cyber resilience and security remain at the heart of the Group’s activities.
The Group achieved our Cyber Essentials accreditation earlier in the year and this will be subject to an annual review. Holding this accreditation demonstrates that we are protecting ourselves by implementing the most important cyber security controls.
Over the summer, the IT Services team took the opportunity to further support a mobile, laptopcentric working environment by replacing many older desktop PCs that were still being used in classrooms and staffrooms. Thereby enhancing convenience, reducing duplication of devices, and supporting our sustainability goals
MEETING OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
Over the past year, the Group has continued to strengthen our commitment to sustainability, moving from building on the foundations of our 2023–26 Sustainability Strategy to developing a fully embedded, whole-Group approach. This shift has been driven not only by clear strategic direction but by the collective commitment of staff, students, and partners, supported by expert guidance from sector leaders.
Building on our strong history of carbon management, we have deepened our understanding of our environmental impact and strengthened our readiness for long-term decarbonisation. With the support of Trident, we undertook our most comprehensive Scope 3 carbon accounting to date, an essential step in meeting national expectations and shaping a credible Climate Action Plan. This work has brought together colleagues from several teams, including Estates, Procurement, Digital Services, Curriculum, and Student Engagement, ensuring meaningful progress through shared ownership. Biodiversity enhancement has continued through student-led Estates surveys, nature-based activities, and the ongoing development of wildflower areas, treeplanting events, and habitat-creation projects across all sites.
Our curriculum offer has continued to evolve in response to the emerging green economy, supported by strong partnerships and a shared commitment to preparing students for the future workforce. Our Skills Bootcamp in the Principles of Carbon Capture & Storage, already recognised nationally, was shortlisted for multiple awards, demonstrating our growing expertise in specialist green skills delivery.
Staff and students have engaged in climate leadership programmes, collaborations with the Supply Chain Sustainability School, and expanded opportunities through initiatives such as Give Construction a Try. Across curriculum areas, staff have embedded sustainability skills, project-based learning, and employer-led challenges, ensuring students gain a
deeper understanding of their role in shaping a more sustainable world.
A key achievement last year was the expansion of sustainability as a visible and celebrated part of Group life. Our digital publication Footprint continued to unify communications with students, staff, parents, employers, and external partners, becoming an important platform for sharing progress and inspiring involvement.
Engagement reached new heights through our participation in Planet Earth Games, where all three of our Colleges placed in the national top seven, a success that was recognised by both Planet Earth Games and the Association of Colleges. Staff and students recorded sustainable actions, demonstrating how competition, creativity, and collective activity deepens climate awareness.
Sustainability was also embedded within our annual staff awards, celebrating colleagues who championed climate action, inclusion, and community impact.
Progress this year was enhanced by a wide range of high-quality partnerships. Close collaboration with Steve Frampton MBE and engagement across national networks, including EAUC, SS4FE and Let’s Go Zero, helped us to elevate our approach and ensure alignment with sector best practice
FUTURE PLANS
2025-26 is set to be both exciting and challenging, as we begin the journey in terms of our new Strategic Plan 2025-30 and strive to achieve our goals and objectives.
Throughout the next academic year, we look forward to delivering on our Annual Accountability Statement 2025-26 and we will be reviewing our commitment to delivering on our Local Needs Duty, working with Governors and key stakeholders, as well further developing key supporting strategies and plans.
Exciting times and we look forward to another great year!
GLOSSARY
A (Level) Advanced Level
AI Artificial Intelligence
ARFID Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
BR Behaviour Regulation
CBE Commander of the British Empire (Honour)
CEIAG Careers Education Information Advice & Guidance
CPD Continuing Professional Development
DfE Department for Education
DFN Project
SEARCH DFN Project SEARCH is a one-year transition to work programme for young adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum conditions, or both
EAP Employee Assistance Programme
EDI Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
EHCP Education, Health and Care Plan
ELT Excellence in Learning & Teaching
EUAC Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges
FE Further Education
FREDIE Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement
3G Third generation artificial playing surface
GOALS The Group’s pastoral programme
HE Higher Education
IT Information Technology
IOSH Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
KCSIE Keeping Children Safe in Education
LED Light-Emitting Diode (lighting)
MBE Member of the Order of the British Empire (Honour)
Selby College
Castleford College
GLOSSARY
MHFA Mental Health First Aid
NHS FIM National Health Service Functional Independence Measure
NSPCC National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
NSS National Student Survey
NYBEP North Yorkshire Business & Education Partnership
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide
PC Personal Computer
PEARL Accreditation
PGCE Post-graduate Certificate in Education
Q&A Questions & Answers
SEND Special Educational Needs and Disability
SS4FE Sustainability Support for Further Education
SSIG Student Support Impact Group
T Level Technical Level
TLA Teaching, Learning and Assessment
UCAS University and Colleges Admissions Service
VR Virtual Reality
WRAP Wellbeing Recovery Action Planning
WYCA West Yorkshire Combined Authority
YPO Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation
Thunderhead Ridge, Castleford, West Yorkshire WF10 4UA www.castleford.ac.uk
Margaret Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2DH www.wakefield.ac.uk
Margaret Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2DH www.wakefield.ac.uk
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