Students from 18 Herefordshire schools were able to take part in a huge range of activities including agriculture, business, childcare, construction trades, computing, criminology, design, engineering, fashion, health and social care, music, sport, creative media, animation and photography to name but a few. 

The event provided Year 10 students with a hands-on experience of college life and will help them make informed decisions about their future career choices, as they transition from school to further education and training.

The Three Colleges Open Day was a collaboration between Herefordshire Council, Hereford College of Arts, Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College and Hereford Sixth Form College.

Councillor Graham Biggs, Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: “We have an outstanding range of post-16 opportunities for students in Herefordshire. For Herefordshire Council to help support the colleges collaboration on Three Colleges Day is a great example of just how important skills are to the administration.

“Providing students with the chance to attend workshops in subject areas they are considering studying in the future, to help them make informed decisions, aids the transition from school to post-16 education and training.

“The event was a successful, enjoyable and invaluable day for all involved. We will continue to work on future collaboration opportunities with training providers and employers to include skills and training and to promote the value of apprenticeships to businesses in Herefordshire.”

Catherine Brearey, Principal of Hereford Sixth Form College, added: “At Hereford Sixth Form College, we offer an outstanding range of post-16 pathways to students from across the county and beyond. We’re always delighted to collaborate with our fellow colleges on Folly Lane and with Herefordshire Council to deliver this educational event.

“Our staff thoroughly enjoy sharing their creative expertise with students from a wide variety of schools, giving them a glimpse into the diverse and exciting career opportunities made possible by the exceptional creative education we offer. We’re proud to have been part of such an inspiring day, alongside our colleagues across Folly Lane.”

Abigail Appleton, Principal of Hereford College of Arts, said: “Hereford offers an exceptional range of post-16 pathways for students across the county and beyond. We were delighted to work with our sister colleges on Folly Lane and Herefordshire Council, to help deliver this flagship educational event. Collaboration of this kind is enormously important and I’m grateful to the team at Herefordshire Council for all their support and facilitation. 

“With Britain acknowledged as a creative superpower across the globe and creative industries at the heart of the UK’s ten-year strategy for growth, I know staff across the college love this chance to introduce young people to the world of career opportunities opened up to them through creative skills.” 

David Williams, Principal of Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College Group (of which Herefordshire College and Holme Lacy College form part of) added: “Three Colleges Day is a testament to the collaborative spirit and commitment to education within our community. 

“We were delighted to host this event alongside Hereford College of Arts and Hereford Sixth Form College, offering Year 10 students a unique insight into their potential future studies. We hope this inspires our students to give their very best in their GCSEs, using this opportunity as a springboard into college and onwards to their chosen career or university destination. This is the beginning of an exciting journey, and every effort now helps shape the future they aspire to.”

Feedback from schools and colleges on the open day

Barrs Court School, shared: “One pupil came back from the Art College beaming and said they felt like they belonged there.”

A representative from Kingstone High School, Hereford, said: “The feedback from the open day has been really positive. Many of our students have said it has given them a much clearer idea of what they want to do. One has even bought a book on blacksmithing!”

Earl Mortimer College and Sixth Form Centre, added: “The students were really enthusiastic and positive about the workshops they experienced and found it really useful to inform their choices next year.”