Top marks for Barnsley College Higher Education students

8th March 2021

Barnsley College Higher Education is celebrating another excellent set of degree level results with a 90% completion rate for the last academic year.

In 2019/2020, 82% of Higher Education (HE) students on Bachelor’s programmes were awarded a First-Class Degree. The BA (Hons) Popular Music programme was particularly successful - 90% of students on this course achieved a First-Class Honours in their degree.

Robert Wilson, a mature student with 40 years of experience as a musician, was one of these students. He said:“The course vastly improved my playing, and it also gave me an understanding of every aspect of the industry – recording, processing and song-writing.

“After playing bass for the best part of 40 years, I went from doing what it says on the tin to understanding and learning the fundamentals of music.”

Saffron Smith also achieved a first-class honours in her BSc Physical Activity, Health and Exercise degree last year. She is now working towards a PGCE with the hopes of teaching at Barnsley College.

When asked about her favourite part of the course, she added: “The small teaching groups were a big selling point for me on this course. It enhanced my learning and helped me with my confidence.

“I also enjoyed the different range of assignments that were given on my course. I wasn’t always sat writing reports, I found the creative PowerPoints fun and looked forward to working on them.”

Andrea Clarke, Director of Quality for Higher Education at Barnsley College, went onto say:“After such a difficult year, our students have coped so well with the new ways of learning and this has been reflected in their excellent results.

“Their determination and positive attitude towards learning has been amazing, and we are so proud of them. The College continues to transform lives and help our students to fulfil their full potential throughout these unprecedented times.

“We wish them all the best of luck for the future, and hope they think of their years at Barnsley College as a fun and unique learning experience that set them up for their working lives.”

Barnsley College Higher Education offer dozens of HNC/Ds, degrees and Higher Level Apprenticeships in a range of industry sectors range including Fine Art, Childcare and Education Professions and Sport.

The College is also the best South Yorkshire college for student satisfaction, as it achieved 88% overall student satisfaction rate in the 2019/20 National Student survey (NSS) Satisfaction Survey.

Find out more about the range of Higher Education courses available at Barnsley College and apply for a course starting in September 2021 at: www.barnsley.ac.uk/higher-education.