Askham Bryan College

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Askham Bryan College
Wildlife centre building (geograph 7713402).jpg
Wildlife Centre Building of the York Campus
Type FE/HE College
Established1936
Principal Tim Whitaker
Students5,000
Location
Askham Bryan (City of York)

Saltaire (Shipley, City of Bradford) Stewart Park (Marton, Borough of Middlesbrough) Team Valley (Borough of Gateshead) Wakefield city centre (City of Wakefield)

Contents

,
Northern England
Website College website
Askham Bryan College.jpg

Askham Bryan College is a specialist land-based college based in Askham Bryan, York, England. [1] [2] Opened to students in 1948, [3] it also has centres in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Saltaire and Wakefield.

Newton Rigg College became part of Askham Bryan College in 2011, [4] but was closed in 2021. [5] In 2022, Askham Bryan College was granted foundation degree awarding powers, [5] becoming the only land-based college with those powers in the UK. [6] University Centre Askham Bryan (UCAB), its upper education arm, [5] had 3,850 students in 2024 studying courses in areas such as animal science, agriculture, veterinary nursing, equine science and zoo and wildlife conservation. [6]

History

Askham Bryan College was built in 1936, but not opened until after World War II as the Yorkshire Agricultural Institute. It first opened to students in 1948 [3] in Askham Bryan, York, England. [1] 19 years later, it became the Askham Bryan College of Agriculture and Horticulture. [7] Since its founding, the college has opened a number of facilities, including [7] at Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Saltaire and Wakefield.[ citation needed ] Newton Rigg College, based in Penrith, Cumbria, became part of Askham Bryan College in 2011, while Liz Philip was Principal. [4] At that time, Askham Bryan College had eight other locations, and 4,000 students. Degrees were validated by Harper Adams University College and York St John University. [7] In July 2013, it opened a new £2.4 million campus in Penrith. [7]

Between 2016 and 2020 student numbers at Newton Rigg fell by 40%. [8] In 2020 Tim Whitaker announced that teaching at the Newton Rigg site would cease in July 2021. [4] [9] According to Cumbrian Lord Inglewood, the process of asset stripping may be "unlawful". [10] The campus closed in 2021. [5]

In 2022, Askham Bryan College was granted foundation degree awarding powers, allowing it to create its own named degrees for its students with the University Centre Askham Bryan, its higher education arm, [5] becoming the only land-based college in the UK with foundation degree awarding powers. [6] Tim Whitaker remained CEO and Principal in 2022. [5]

Programs and facilities

The college runs courses in Agriculture, Animal Management, Veterinary Nursing, Equine, Engineering, Motorsport, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Floristry, Countryside Management, Outdoor Adventure Sport, Sport Coaching and Fitness, Uniformed Public Services and Foundation Vocational Programmes.

In 2024, University Centre Askham Bryan (UCAB) had 3,850 students studying courses in areas such as animal science, agriculture, veterinary nursing, equine science and zoo and wildlife conservation. [6]

The college farm is 1,022 acres (414 ha) and supports three farms: Westfield Farm which accommodates a 250 Holstein Friesian dairy herd and the National Beef Training Centre; East Barrow Farm which houses the college Equine Department with 53 horses and Animal Management Department; and Headley Hall Farm which is the arable farm formerly of the University of Leeds.

It opened a new gym in 2024. [11]

Alumni

Alumni include Geoffrey Smith, a horticulturalist, writer and broadcaster; [12] [3] and Joe Maiden, a horticulturalist and broadcaster for BBC Radio Leeds.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Askham Bryan College". The Independent . 11 August 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Askham Bryan College". Ofsted. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Askham Bryan College". The Independent. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Newton Rigg Review". Askham Bryan College. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lewis, Haydn (1 February 2022). "Askham Bryan College in York can award degrees". The York Press. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Askham Bryan College in York Minster graduation plans". The York Press. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Askham Bryan College". The Independent . 9 August 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  8. ↑ "Questions should be asked over falling student numbers at Newton Rigg". Cumberland Herald. 18 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Newton Rigg College
  10. ↑ "'Asset stripping' of Newton Rigg may be 'unlawful'". Farmers Guardian. 20 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "College in York unveils updated sports facilities". 6 September 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  12. ↑ "Roy Lancaster plants tree at Askham Bryan College in memory of Geoffrey Smith". York Press. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2021.

53°55′16″N1°09′40″W / 53.921°N 1.161°W / 53.921; -1.161

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