The first cohort of students have settled in well to an exciting, new, land-based educational offer for Cumbria.
Last year, Myerscough College stepped in following the announcement of the closure of Newton Rigg College, to provide a continuity of study for existing and prospective students in the land-based sectors.
In September 2021, agriculture, animal studies and arboriculture post-16 school leaver programmes commenced as a partnership between Myerscough College and Ullswater Community College, in Penrith.
More details of all study programmes and applications for 2022 entry can be found at www.myerscough.ac.uk/cumbria
Students follow an innovative, blended learning model where learners still live at home, while enjoying the benefit of quality, local, academic study, with theory and classroom sessions in Penrith, combined with additional weekly travel to Myerscough College’s main Bilsborrow campus, near Preston, where for animal and agriculture students, practical elements are taught in state-of-the-art, sector leading facilities.
These include a state-of-the-art, multi-million-pound Food and Farming Innovation & Technology Centre (FFIT), the only one of its kind in the UK, and a specialist rural skills centre and animal studies centre.
The collaboration recognises the importance of the future of the land-based sector, and in particular, the agriculture, animal management and arboriculture sectors to the county, and how vital it is that the next generation have the best possible opportunity to obtain high level qualifications locally.
In addition, the programmes provide a genuine and exciting solution for any other students from across Cumbria, who had perhaps previously felt full-time study so far from home was too much of an obstacle.
Alison Robinson, chief executive and principal of Myerscough College, said: “In 1980, there were 50 land-based colleges across the UK, but this has fallen to just 11 specialist land-based colleges and 22 other general FE colleges with specialist land-based facilities.
‘’Students have settled in quickly and are really happy and enjoying their course. It’s great to see the partnership (with Ullswater) working.
‘’Since we stepped in to facilitate the continuation of land-based provision in the county, and we’ll be here for as long as we’re needed and wanted by the Cumbrian community.
“We see this as a great opportunity to now grow the provision in these fantastic facilities both at Ullswater and our main Preston campus. It means the students have the best of both worlds.
‘’The welcome from Ullswater Community has been great and the headteacher Stephen Gilby has been incredibly positive and supportive.’’
