The importance of providing students with more than just a set of good results has been exemplified recently. Super-curricular activities are now more influential than ever in preparing students for university life. “Students today need more than just qualifications if they want to go to university. They won’t get offers unless they’ve got wider super-curricular experiences” said Jim Robinson, Assistant Principal at New College Bradford. That’s why we have worked hard to develop our enrichment programme extensively this year.
The enrichment offer at New College Bradford has been broadened significantly this year, now containing almost 50 different activities. It features a variety of selections for our students to get involved in, including clubs to aid social development, fitness and wellbeing-centred activities and super-curricular activities linked directly to courses. It is fast-becoming one of the major attractions of New College Bradford.
TES praised our ‘Read, Watch, Do’ list rolled out over the lockdown period, and also praised us for the business competition BASE, trips to museums and taster days at universities which we offer and try to encourage students to take part in.
Robinson stressed the importance of including the students when building the enrichment plan, saying “[it’s important to] make sure you look at what both sides of the equation want and then provide those opportunities for the students”.
The enrichment offer we have been developing here at New College Bradford is having some positive effects. After our first batch of students left in the summer, 83% of them have gone on to study further at Higher Education. We believe this has a direct link to the growing enrichment offer we are providing, and will continue to give our students as many opportunities as possible.
To find out more about the enrichment programme we currently have in college, visit the page here.
