Craven College aspires to be the best general further education college within the Yorkshire and Humberside region. Meeting this aim requires a firm commitment to further improve every aspect of our provision.

As the College responds to national government priorities and skills gaps, we should also remember our special ability to recognise and reflect local requirements. We must take responsibility for speaking on behalf of our rural community and providing for their needs both within the economy and as individuals with their own aspirations.

Craven College is providing for an extensive range of career options, attracting increasing numbers of students from neighbouring towns and cities. As new courses and subject areas are introduced to complement the curriculum, we are reminded of the need to guarantee that students leave College with good basic skills in literacy, numeracy and information technology, linked to a realistic understanding of the industry of their choice.

The College is proud to launch two new purpose-built training centres for Aviation and Construction – an initial phase in both cases, which will lead to further development in the near future. The centres are already responding to the training needs of employers, as will the introduction of a ‘passport to employment’ initiative – the CREST (Craven College Record of Employability Skills and Training). Established with employer involvement, this individual portfolio of achievement will seek to enhance and demonstrate the employability of our full-time students.

In all of these developments, we are indebted to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Yorkshire Forward – the Regional Development Agency (RDA) – for their ongoing support and the confidence they bestow upon Craven College.

In aspiring to be that ‘best college’, we are proud of the professionalism of our staff team and will continue to attract and recruit staff of the highest professional calibre. Striving to build upon previous successes, we continue to be inspired by the commitment and achievements of our students. The Craven community has a great future and the College is determined to play a leading role in its success.

Alan Blackwell - Craven College Principal

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