Trinity Sixth Form College in Halifax surpasses student target numbers

The new Trinity Sixth Form College, developed at Northgate House, Halifax, in partnership by Calderdale Council, Trinity Multi-Academy Trust, Rastrick High School, LDN Architects, blacc and a range of small, local contractors, opened its doors to its first intake of students this September.

The initial target, partly taking the ongoing coronavirus pandemic into consideration, of 300 year 12 students, has been achieved and surpassed, said Chief Executive of Trinity Multi Academy Trust, Michael Gosling, told members of the council’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Board.

“We have had a cap on recruitment at just short of 370, because we don’t think we can fit any more in the building at this point, so it has been a very successful recruitment, considering we are limited in mumbers and can’t show them around,” he said.

The new building, formerly council offices but fully refitted to the college’s speculation, had impressed the first students with its further education feel to it.

“It’s a real stepping stone between schools and universities,” said Mr Gosling.

Mr Gosling said the opening of the college enhanced the choice available to post-16 students in Calderdale.

“It is not a one-stop shop but it is a valuable choice and one that seems to have been enthusiastically embraced among students including a number of Calderdale schools,” he said.

It was collaborative effort and complemented existing post-16 education offers, he said.

Some students would want to continue their education at existing sixth forms and the new centre could not acoomodate every sixth form student in Calderdale – no post-16 education centre in Calderdale could provide the solution for all needs but the offer had now been widened in the borough.

Other senior educationalists at the meeting agreed.

Andrew Fisher, Headteacher of North Halifax Grammar School, said: “There are different offers at different schools and providers and there is great choice around now for students.

“It is different to what we do at North Halifax, some will will like it, some will want different, ther are all catered for now.”

John Rees, Principal at Calderdale College, said each institution was playing to its strengths – the college was vocational, for example.

“The choice is between a good provider and a good provider,” he said.

The council’s Assistant Director for Education and Inclusion, Mark Randall, said 20 per sent of Calderdale’s young people of this age had been going out of Calderdale to colleges in Huddersfield and it was hoped many would now remain in Calderdale with the added capacity provided