wakefield.ac.uk
Welcome
Greetings from Wakefield College’s Computing and Digital Industries Department!
In a world where technology continues to transform how we live and work, digital skills have never been more valuable—or more exciting to develop.
Our Level 3 Game Development students recently had the exciting opportunity to work on a live industry brief set by award-winning game development studio Radical Forge.
At Wakefield College, we’re proud to lead the way in digital innovation. Our department was recently featured in Jisc’s digital newsletter for embedding sustainable practices into the curriculum. From cloud computing and data optimisation to secure software development, our students are learning how to build smart, efficient, and environmentally responsible digital solutions.
We also believe in learning beyond the classroom. Our students have showcased their work at major gaming events like GaMaYo and participated in Wakefield Digital Careers Week— connecting with industry professionals, gaining insight into real-world practices, and building valuable experience in areas such as game design, 3D modelling, programming, and project management.
Whether you’re passionate about computing, cybersecurity, or game development, the digital world is full of opportunity—and it’s growing every day. We’re here to help spark ideas, build skills, and support your journey, wherever it takes you.
Wishing you all the best as you explore what’s next.
Rob Charlish Head of Head of Computing & Digital Industries
As part of the project, students designed and developed their own original games, applying the skills they’ve been building in areas such as coding, gameplay mechanics and digital design. The experience gave them valuable insight into how professional studios develop and present new game ideas.
To showcase their work, students published their finished games on itch.io — a popular platform used by independent developers around the world to share and distribute their creations.
Projects like this give students a real taste of the games industry, helping them build
portfolios and gain practical experience that prepares them for careers in the fast-growing world of game development and the future of the digital world!
Students studying Game Development at Wakefield College will be starting the new academic year with an exciting upgrade to The Studio – the department’s dedicated game development teaching environment.
Designed to mirror a realworld games studio, The Studio features a 50-seat workspace where students can collaborate and gain hands-on experience of working in a professional development environment.
Thanks to a recent upgrade delivered in partnership
with Chillblast, the space is now equipped with brand new high-performance PCs. The machines also feature custom UV-printed cases, bringing a vibrant splash of colour to the room.
The refresh has been warmly welcomed by both students and staff, helping to ensure learners have access to the modern tools and technology used across the games industry.
With powerful new hardware and a creative studio environment, students are now even better equipped to
design, develop and test their own games as part of their studies at Wakefield College
“I chose to study at the College so I could be in the city. The IT course appealed to me because of the course content like the cybersecurity module. My favourite module so far has been web development as I really enjoy the creative and design side of it. After college, I’d like to go to university or straight into employment.”
The Head of Computing and Digital Industries at Wakefield College, Rob Charlish, has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to games education after winning the Most Inspiring Course Leader Award at the Games Education Awards.
“Creating games is my favourite part of the course. I like the process of gathering research, references, building ideas and iterating them. In my first year, I got to try everything out as the College has all the programmes and computers that you need. In my second year, I have been able to specialise in programming and art, using my preferred programming language.
“I love the creative process on this course and developing visually appealing games. I want to go to University in Scotland to do a Bachelor’s degree in Game Design and become an Indie Games Developer, creating thematic and narrative PC games. I recommend the course and think more people should challenge themselves with programming.”
I really enjoyed Media Studies at school so I thought I’d be good at the Games Development course. I enjoy working with Unity, a Game Development software which I used for my final project where we created a game from scratch.
“My tutors have helped me with the programming side of the course, boosting my confidence in this area. I’ve also learned how to use Blender to make 3D assets, Photoshop skills and Trello, enabling me to develop my project management skills which will come in handy during big projects.”
The award, sponsored by Double Eleven, celebrates the vital role educators play in supporting and inspiring the next generation of games developers. During the ceremony, Mark South highlighted the importance of recognising those working behind the scenes in games education.
Judges praised Rob’s passion and dedication to his students. Quoting comments from Keith Stuart, the judges said: “It is clear that they are a hugely knowledgeable and inspiring course leader who is absolutely dedicated to his students. They bring experience and imagination to the course, while motivating learners to achieve their very best.”
The award comes at a special time for Rob, who is also celebrating 30 years working in the games industry. Throughout his career, he has combined extensive industry experience with a passion for teaching, helping students develop the skills, creativity and confidence needed to succeed in the fastgrowing games sector.
His recognition is a proud moment for the department and reflects the strength of the digital and games education offered at Wakefield College.
Exciting things happened for our students at GaMaYo, where they dived into the world of game development and turned their creative ideas into reality!
This incredible event brought together game developers, industry professionals, and aspiring creators, giving our students the opportunity to showcase their talents, network with experts, and gain hands-on experience in actual game development. From designing levels to coding mechanics, they put their skills to the test in a fastpaced, real-world environment.
Events like GaMaYo provide a fantastic platform for our students to develop their expertise, learn from industry leaders and get a glimpse into the exciting careers that await them in the gaming industry.
A huge well done to our students for embracing this opportunity—we can’t wait to see where their skills take them next.
Students from our Digital Industries courses recently took part in a sustainabilitythemed Game Jam during the department’s Careers Week, using their creativity and technical skills to design games and digital content inspired by environmental themes.
Working either individually or in teams, students developed a wide range of projects including full games, game design documents, concept art and digital art assets. In total, 34 entries were submitted and later voted on by students across a variety of award categories.
The winning game, Into the Fog, took inspiration from the horror genre. Players must navigate a dark, eerie environment in an electric car that is slowly running out of power, while being pursued by a petrol-fuelled vehicle.
Other creative entries explored ideas such as watering plants, reducing rubbish, tackling pollution and installing solar panels on people’s homes. Alongside the games themselves, students also produced a variety of artistic pieces reflecting different aspects of sustainability.
The event was a fantastic opportunity for students to combine game design, creativity and environmental awareness, while gaining experience of the fast-paced and collaborative style of a professional game jam.
Students at Wakefield College gained valuable insight into the world of digital and creative careers during this year’s Digital Careers Week, which took place from 23–27 February 2026.
Now in its fifth year, the event brought together an exciting line-up of industry professionals from across the games and digital sectors, who shared their experiences, advice and practical knowledge with students studying Digital Industries and Game Development.
Across the week, guest speakers delivered a range of sessions exploring topics such as the game development pipeline, building a strong portfolio, and the key lessons professionals learned when publishing their first games. Students also heard about the wide variety of roles within the industry, from
programmers and designers to artists, producers and marketers.
One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity to connect with professionals from around the world, with many sessions delivered online. This allowed students to hear directly from industry experts working in different studios and specialisms, giving them a broader understanding of how the sector operates.
Digital Careers Week plays an important role in helping students prepare for their Final Major Projects, providing real-world context and inspiration as they begin developing their own creative work. It also helps build an important bridge between education and industry, ensuring students leave Wakefield College with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to pursue careers in the fast-growing digital sector.
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
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.
