MORE than 2,000 school children have been given a taste of student life after one of the region’s leading colleges opened its doors to the next generation of learners.
Year 10 and 11 pupils from schools from Darlington, County Durham and North Yorkshire took part in taster sessions at Darlington College.
The year 10s were given a first look at further education in a move to whet their appetites for what is to come when they start to make decisions about where they want to study on completion of their GCSEs next year, while the year 11s were given a glimpse of what they have applied to study in September once they have secured their results next month.
For 16-year-old Ruben Putt it was an opportunity to see first-hand the college’s industry standard kitchens and restaurant.
“I know Darlington College has a really good reputation and I have really enjoyed the day,” said Ruben, who works at Chambers Café in Leyburn. “I like cooking but prefer being front of house.”
Pupils were able to experience the diverse range of courses available at Darlington College, from hair, beauty, business and outdoor pursuits to journalism and game design and engineering, construction and robotics.
Darlington College’s marketing and engagement manager Claire Turner said: “We are thrilled there has been so much interest from schools around the area and we were delighted to showcase our facilities, which I can say are better than ever thanks to recent major investment.
“Prospective students can be assured they will receive the very best training from industry experts, using the most up to date equipment, with the backing of an extremely experienced and caring support team.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College, including full and part-time courses, ranging from levels 1-7, visit www.darlington.ac.uk.