York College

Are you an art lover who is planning a trip into the city centre this weekend?

Yes - then don't miss out on the York College University Centre 2026 Degree Show.

It features the final work of our students on the York School of Art BA (Hons) courses - Fashion Design & Garment Technology; 3D Creative Practice; Film Production & Professional Practice; Graphic & Communication Design and Media Make-up, Special Effects & Hair Design.

Our pictures only give a glimpse of the wonderful talent on display.

If you want to see more, please visit the Spurriergate Centre ( Spurriergate meeting place) from 10am to 4pm today and between the same hours tomorrow.

The exhibition is free to members of the public and we'd love to see you there!

We're delighted to have Bagnalls as a sponsor of our REACH Awards!

Having the support of our business partners allows us to celebrate all the brilliant achievements of our students and apprentices ⭐

To learn more about our REACH Awards, click here ⬇️

https://www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/events-and-news/events/reach-awards-2

Just one day to go until our2026 Degree Show!

Whether you're an art enthusiast, industry professional, or simply curious, join us to celebrate the next generation of creatives pushing the boundaries of their fields.

When: Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2026, 10.00am - 4.00pm

Where: Spurriergate Centre, Saint Michaels Church, Spurriergate, York YO1 9QR

Learn more here ⬇️

https://www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/events-and-news/events/creative-degree-show-2025

It was great to have two of our BA (Hons) Media Make-up, Special Effects & Hair Design students talking to our level three students this week as part of our Get Set Go, Careers Week!

Jess Liddle and Grace Butterfield talked to the group about their journey's onto the course and shared some useful insights with the students on what they could expect from studying Media Make-up at degree level.

Thank you so much for your time ladies!

Come along to see the fantastic work of our Art & Design students at this year's Creative Show!

When: Thursday 11th - Wednesday 17th June (excluding weekends)

Where: York College & University Centre, Sim Balk Lane, York YO23 2BB.

Visitors to the College should check-in at the Welcome Desk on arrival.

Learn more here ⬇️

https://www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/.../events/creative-show-2025

We’re so grateful to Aesthetica Magazine for sponsoring our REACH Awards and recognising hard work and success! 👏

We can't wait to celebrate with you, our students and our apprentices!

Learn more about our REACH Awards here ⬇️

https://www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/events-and-news/events/reach-awards-2

We're delighted and proud to announce that our wonderful Work Placement Team Leader Emily Grimes was named Education & Training Professional of the Year during last night's 2026 Insider Media Yorkshire Young Professional Awards at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.

Well done, Emily, on such a great achievement! The recognition is very much deserved.

Last, but by no means least, we are throwing the spotlight on the final member of our Fab Four - an elite group of Access to Higher Education in Humanities students, who have all secured places at the University of Cambridge from the same classroom!

As an A Level student, Isaac Lees saw his Oxbridge dreams dashed after he chose the wrong subjects at school, opting for a Science route.

His subsequent results fell short of the grades needed but, despite living in Sheffield, he waited until he was old enough to enrol on York College's Humanities Access course, having been impressed by tutor Alison Willis' reputation for helping students get to Cambridge.

He went on to sweep the board with Distinction grades and will now study History and Politics at Cambridge's Hughes Hall, Cambridge in September.

Click below to read more about Isaac's inspiring story ⬇️

Isaac fulfils Oxbridge ambitions on York College Access course after… York College has propelled Isaac Lees back on a pathway to Cambridge after ill-advised A Level choices at his school’s sixth form threw him off route.

We're throwing the spotlight on our Fab Four this afternoon - an elite group of students who have secured places at the University of Cambridge from the same Access to Higher Education in Humanities classroom.

They all have incredible stories to tell, too.

Next up is Kierran Horsfield, who will start a History degree at St Edmund's College Cambridge in September, more than a decade on from dropping out of education after receiving four U grades in his AS Level exams.

Despite admitting he was "terrified" initially on his return to academia, with the support of his "extraordinary" tutors, he has gained Distinction grades across the board, having been inspired to take the plunge following a conversation with another former York College Access course student in the Golden Ball York pub!

He is now putting no ceiling on his future, joking that he is targeting “nine degrees and two University Challenge trophies!”

Click below to read more about Kierran's remarkable journey ⬇️

Kierran's going to Cambridge a decade on from dropping out of college… York College student Kierran Horsfield has secured a place at the University of Cambridge more than a decade on from dropping out of education after…

Want to hear another truly inspirational story? Then, look no further than another one of our Cambridge-bound Access to HE in Humanities students Poppy Jeavons.

Still only 22, Poppy has had to contend with personal tragedy, a spell homeless, illness, injury and an autism diagnosis on her journey to securing a place to study BA (Hons) English at University of Cambridge’s Wolfson College this September.

The death from Covid 19 of a family friend she was living with at the time left Poppy reeling while she was studying her A Levels and that devastating incident, coupled with falling ill herself due to a personal issue, caused her to drop out of her school’s sixth form close to Leeds.

She then tried to resume her A Levels remotely with an online company but found that she required more support.

An autism diagnosis followed, along with a period of time where she was without a permanent base and sleeping on her grandmother’s sofa.

Amid all this upheaval, she gave A Levels a third chance – this time at York College in September 2024 – only to suffer concussion when she banged her head on a car door.

With her illness intensifying again, too, Poppy was left with little alternative but to abandon her studies again.

Showing remarkable resilience, she returned to College last September, with the support of the Adult Skills Fund via the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, and, this time, she absolutely smashed it, gaining Distinction grades across the board!

Click below to read all about Poppy’s remarkable story in full ⬇️

Poppy overcomes homelessness and tragedy to gain Cambridge place… Poppy Jeavons has had to contend with personal tragedy, a spell homeless, illness, injury and an autism diagnosis on her inspirational journey to securing…