Bradford 2nd in UK for optometry amid strong national gains
The University of Bradford has strengthened its position in the latest Complete University Guide 2027 rankings, rising nine places overall as its optometry provision cements its place among the very best in the UK. Ranked second in the country for Optometry, Ophthalmics & Orthoptics, and first in Yorkshire and the Humber, Bradford continues to build on a reputation as a national leader…
Do school uniforms contribute to bullying and sexism?
Is it time to get rid of school uniforms? As schools face rising temperatures and the pressures of the summer term, rigid school uniform policies are being challenged for contributing to bullying, inequality and poor mental health among pupils. Dr Elizabeth Nassem, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Bradford and a leading researcher on…
University of Bradford expands China offering
The University of Bradford has strengthened its international footprint after securing approval to deliver two new academic programmes in China. The Chinese Ministry of Education has formally approved a postgraduate engineering management programme with China University of Petroleum-East China (UPC), alongside an undergraduate business and management programme at the Sino-British College in Shanghai. Both programmes will launch in September and…
Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards attract record entries as sector offers opportunities amid rising youth unemployment
A record number of entries have been received for this year’s Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards, as manufacturers across the region continue to invest in young talent at a time when employers in other sectors warn entry-level roles for young people are disappearing. The awards, which take place this week, attracted 45 nominations from 19 companies,…
Yorkshire Recruitment and HR Group Recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026
Independent recruitment and HR business Castle Employment Group has been named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 rankings. The annual nationwide survey, published in partnership with employee experience platform WorkL, recognises organisations with outstanding levels of employee engagement, workplace culture and employee experience. The recognition places the Scarborough-based business alongside nationally recognised…
Further Education College of the Year
Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Further Education College of the Year 2026 at the prestigious Educate North Awards 2026. The award recognises the College’s exceptional educational outcomes, transformational impact, and unwavering commitment to supporting students from highly disadvantaged and diverse communities. In their citation, the…
Stella Maris Leadership Gold Awards 2026
On Wednesday, we hosted the Stella Maris Leadership Gold Awards. This year, an impressive 76 students achieved their Gold, a record-breaking number since the award was established in 2019. To earn their Gold, students must have earnt their Bronze and Silver award, achieved virtue commendations from all four categories; Civic, Moral, Performance and Intellectual; had…
AOC Nationals 2026
Last weekend, Team ND attended the Association of Colleges (AOC) National Championships in Nottingham. The weekend brings together the top sporting students from colleges around the country, each representing their county with the aim of winning the Wilkinson Sword. We brought representatives for Yorkshire in volleyball, badminton, table tennis, tennis, and endurance running. The weekend…
Plans to reform provision for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities in York
Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) in York will find it easier to get early support and have their needs met in mainstream schools if proposed changes to SEND provision are approved next month (2 June). City of York Council’s Executive will consider York’s draft Local SEND Reform Plan, which outlines the city’s…
Bradford alumni wins Study UK Alumni Awards for AI research
University of Bradford graduate Dr Bashir Mohammed, a Senior Lead Gen-AI Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS), has won a prestigious Study UK Alumni award. He was presented with the award – winning the Science and Sustainability category – at a ceremony in Los Angeles yesterday (May 22). Dr Mohammed’s work involves conceptualising and implementing AI integration for…
GSAL named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 in the Big Organisation category, in the school’s first year of entering the national awards programme. Published in partnership with employee experience platform WorkL, founded by Lord Mark Price, the nationwide survey celebrates organisations leading…
Archbishop Holgate’s School triumphs at York Young Citizen’s Public Speaking Competition
Archbishop Holgate’s School has won this year’s prestigious York Young Citizen’s Public Speaking Competition. Secondary school pupils from schools across the city battled it out for the top slot, going head-to-head to debate one of four topics: Smart phones make present day life much better for children. York is a city with a past but…
Manningham Housing Association awarded funds to train tenants for leadership roles
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has secured £70,000 of government funding to boost tenant involvement in important decisions made by landlords in Yorkshire and Humber, and the North East. Working in partnership with the Housing Diversity Network (HDN) – a not-for-profit social enterprise that specialises in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the housing sector – the…
University Centre Leeds launches new FinTech degree
A brand new degree, designed to equip learners with the future-ready skills needed to thrive in FinTech, one of the fastest-growing global sectors, is starting in September 2026 at University Centre Leeds. Open for applications, BSc (Hons) Financial Technology is a dynamic three-year programme which blends core principles of finance and accounting with cutting-edge training…
Breaking free from the spreadsheet trap
How Excel Could Be Holding Your Organisation Back For many organisations, Excel has slowly become embedded in everyday operations. Holiday tracking, scheduling, order handling, approvals and finance processes. If a workflow exists, chances are someone has built it in a spreadsheet. And initially, that works just fine. But as organisations grow, expectations increase, and AI…
Over £1 million awarded to boost young people’s mental health through creative writing and ethical AI
York St John University partners with Goldsmiths and University of Leeds for Creative Writing Together project A major new research project led by York St John University has secured over £1 million in funding to support young people’s mental health, strengthen family relationships and promote inclusion through creative writing. The three-year project, Creative Writing Together, is…
Leeds Beckett Innovation projects earn top ‘Outstanding’ rating from Innovate UK
Two research-led Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects between Leeds Beckett University (LBU) and Yorkshire-based companies Sniffers Pet Care and Ardent have achieved the highest possible grading of Outstanding from Innovate UK. The recognition highlights the significant commercial impact, innovation, and long‑term growth and sustainability delivered through the university’s research expertise and close collaboration with its industry partners…
Green plaque honours global impact of Bradford Sling
A World Origin Site green plaque has been unveiled at the University of Bradford to commemorate the global impact of the Bradford Sling and the world‑leading Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU), where the innovation was developed. The internationally recognised Bradford Sling, created at the University following the 1985 Bradford City fire, is a simple but highly…
National warning that England is raising an inactive nation
University of Bradford‑led research may provide the solution England is facing a growing crisis in children’s physical activity, health and wellbeing – and research led by the University of Bradford is now helping to shape what could be a national response. A major new report from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Inactive Nation, warns that more than…
The Grammar School at Leeds unveils exciting plans to transform its sixth form centre
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has announced plans to refurbish and upgrade its sixth form centre, creating a space to enhance independent learning, collaboration and student wellbeing. The project forms part of the school’s ongoing investment in its 140-acre campus, following the opening of The Cryer, GSAL’s performing arts centre, in 2025, and reflects…
New innovation partnership to accelerate growth of Shipley textile manufacturers
Marketing and business experts at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are partnering with Shipley-based Specialised Covers to secure the long-term growth and sustainability of the family-owned bespoke protective textile cover manufacturers. The two-year project is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) through Innovate UK, and is led by Dr Catherine…
From refugee child to scholar – Andrews’ remarkable journey over last 30 years
A University of Bradford student has recalled being a child refugee sleeping next to dead bodies on board a ship while fleeing a war 30 years ago. Andrews Adjei became a refugee in his native Ghana aged six in 1996 after leaving Liberia during the First Liberian Civil War, which ran between 1989 and 1997….
Bradford students ‘over the moon’ after stellar USA trip
A group of 30 lucky Bradford College students returned to Earth with a bump after a trip of a lifetime to study science and engineering in the USA. The Level 2 and 3 Science and Computing students spent 13 days working at prestigious organisations, including NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and The Kennedy Space Centre…
Upcoming Ebor lecture at York Minster to explore society’s treatment of refugees
York Minster to welcome distinguished academic and refugee advocate Professor Alison Phipps for a powerful and timely Ebor lecture entitled “When Every Hope has Gone: Grief, Rage and Refuge in a Merciless Age”. In this deeply reflective lecture taking place on Wednesday 20 May, Professor Phipps will examine the theological and practical failures exposed by…
AI-driven movement analysis could transform early detection of Parkinson’s
An artificial intelligence (AI) system which could accelerate the early detection and monitoring of Parkinson’s, using smart phone video recordings, is being developed by the University of Bradford. The project, led by Dr Ramzi Jaber, Researcher in Data Science for Applied AI at the University, and supported by clinicians at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust…
One in three stroke survivors may be missing life‑saving medication, new research suggests
Action on Stroke Month (May): why medication could prevent a second stroke and why many don’t get it New research undertaken at University of Bradford is investigating why as many as one in three stroke survivors are missing out on life‑saving medication. Stroke survivors who miss out on essential preventative medication increase their risk of suffering a second – often more disabling – stroke. Stroke survivors are up to 15 times…
Are locally led initiatives more effective than top-down Government schemes?
A new national compendium published by the Key Cities Innovation Network (KCIN) highlights how cities and universities across the UK are rethinking innovation ecosystems to support more inclusive and sustainable regional growth. The University of Bradford is among ten contributors to Innovation Ecosystems, the first i‑PLACE Compendium, which brings together peer‑reviewed research and real‑world case studies exploring how…
National student nursing partnership award win for second year
The University of Bradford has won the Student Nursing Times Awards’ Partnership of the Year category for a second successive year. This year’s award recognises the University’s Student Supported Services Model, a collaboration with the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, developing student supported services that expand placements, support staff, and enhance patient care. Vikki Carter, the University’s…
LCB to receive over £919k in Government funding for renovations
Leeds College of Building (LCB) is one of 18 colleges in Yorkshire and the Humber set to benefit from government funding for essential estates and building improvements. In a recent announcement, it was confirmed that LCB will receive £919,871 from the FE College Condition Allocation (FECCA) fund. This latest £30 million package from the Government…
First look at Bradford College’s new £19.3m Motor Vehicle & Engineering building
Scaffolding has come down on the new Bradford College Junction Mills building on Thornton Road, set to open in September this year. Junction Mills will offer students skills in new technologies, such as modern automotive and digital engineering, electric/hybrid vehicles, and advanced manufacturing. The building will be vital in supporting the growth of technology and…
Entries open for Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards as new generation reshapes sector’s image
Entries have opened for this year’s Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards, with manufacturing and engineering employers across West Yorkshire being encouraged to put forward their most promising young talent at a time when a new generation is helping to redefine the industry’s image. Now in their fifth year, the awards, which take place in June, recognise…
National Offer Day for primary schools- York children allocated their Reception school place for September
A total of 94.3% of children who applied for a Reception place at a primary school in York this September were allocated their first choice on National Offer Day [Thursday 16 April]. All the children who applied for a Year 3 place in a junior school were allocated their first choice. Parents who applied online…
York parents and carers to receive support to help get their child school-ready
York parents and carers with children starting school in September will receive specialist information to help them get their child school-ready this month. Around 1,700 households will receive two information booklets – one focussing on how parents can get children toilet trained before starting school – and another with helpful tips to make sure children…
Health T Level Placement Awards
Our Health T Level students received some exceptional feedback and results at the recent Placement Awards at St James’ Hospital recently. Notre Dame students secured a clean sweep of all award categories ahead of Leeds City College, who we partner with through the Leeds Health and Care Academy for T Level Health placement opportunities. The…
York supply specialists secure seven-figure public sector contract with Bolton Council
Following a competitive tendering process, York-based supply specialist, PPS, has been awarded a seven-figure contract with Bolton Council for the supply and delivery of chemicals and consumable goods for services across schools. The three-year agreement will see PPS responsible for supplying a comprehensive range of cleaning and hygiene products to approximately 90 schools across the…
How do we better connect people with opportunities in tech?
Join education providers and training innovators from across Leeds as they explore the evolving tech skills pipeline, from traditional degrees to alternative routes like bootcamps, apprenticeships, and tailored training programmes. Chaired by Kirsten Brumfitt, Chief People Officer at PEXA UK, this event will offer expert insights along with a panel discussion to unpack how different education models are helping to open up access to tech…
Building a Brighter Future: Embedding Inclusivity in Yorkshire Schools
In the heart of our region, a transformative movement is taking shape. As the Institute for Equity, University Centre (IEUC), we understand that the strength of our future workforce begins in the classroom. To ensure our students continue to thrive in an increasingly globalised world, our schools must be environments where every student and staff…
Fashion Retailer schuh Steps into Trinity Leeds
Fashion footwear retailer schuh has announced it will debut its new store at Trinity Leeds on Friday 17th April – with giveaways, competitions and free coffee for visitors on opening day. To celebrate the launch, Vinyl Grounds will be offering complimentary barista-made coffee, and customers who purchase from BIRKENSTOCK will get an exclusive anklet with a choice of a charm from Nelle Studios. Customers can also be in with a chance of winning a pair of BIRKENSTOCK when signing up or checking in to THE SCHUH CLUB loyalty programme. The store will showcase the…
HE Day 2026
Last Thursday [19th March], students benefitted from an inspiring and informative Higher Education Day, an annual event designed to support students in their decision-making for their next steps after college. The event, which was compulsory for all Lower Sixth students, featured a carousel of activities throughout the day. In the morning, students had the opportunity…
Whitby school receives book donation from North Yorkshire developer
Barratt and David Wilson Homes has donated a range of books to East Whitby Academy. The housebuilder has donated a range of books spanning all age groups to East Whitby Academy, less than a mile from its Chaloners Green and Abbey View developments. To combat the declining rate of reading enjoyment in the UK, the National Literacy Trust has launched its…
Commemorative student and community documentary honours railway police officer killed in wartime air raids in York
PC Robert Smith – The Final Beat brings together students, historians, museums, businesses and creatives from across York and North Yorkshire York St John University is to host the premiere of a new historical documentary, PC Robert Smith – The Final Beat. The film tells the tale of Robert Smith, a railway police officer who was on duty the night York was targeted in the so-called Baedeker Raids in WWII. The film is produced and directed by Mick Child as his MA Media Production Independent Project at York St John University. As a former railway worker himself, the the project represents a deeply personal creative endeavour for filmmaker Mick. More than ten MA and undergraduate students from York St John University have been involved in both the film’s production and the organisation of the premiere evening. The film will premiere on Monday 27 April 2026 in the Creative Centre at the University. The date is especially significant, taking place two days before the 84th anniversary of the devastating 1942 bombing in York that claimed numerous lives, including that of PC…
Notre Dame signs up to Leeds City Council’s Future Talent Plan
Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College has formally pledged its support to Leeds City Council’s Future Talent Plan, a city-wide initiative to ensure Leeds becomes a place where no one is left behind in an increasingly competitive labour market. The pledge, submitted by Principal Justine Barlow, reflects Notre Dame’s commitment to supporting young people across…
T Level Partnerships at Notre Dame
T Levels are Level 3 qualifications that are equivalent to three A-levels. They were created in collaboration with employers and businesses, so the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work. Students are provided with a genuine experience of the workplace through practical learning via a 315-hour or 45-day industry placement. We…
York St John researcher and music activist selected to represent the UK at TED2026 with warning about AI’s cultural erasure of women
Gabriella Di Laccio MBE wins TED Idea Search London PhD student Gabriella Di Laccio MBE is to present her research at TED2026 in Vancouver after bringing judges and audiences to tears with her powerful talk about gender inequality in music through history and in the age of AI. “If we don’t fix this silence now,…
How US-Iran war makes a mockery of climate change targets
Has the world just avoided a major environmental catastrophe in the Middle East? A direct missile strike on the South Pars refinery in Iran would release more than double the amount of CO2 the UK generates in a year into the atmosphere – that’s according to University of Bradford pollution expert Dr Nejat Rahmanian, who…
Leeds Beckett Cyber Security degree fully certified by the National Cyber Security Centre
Leeds Beckett University has announced that its BSc (Hons) Cyber Security degree is now fully certified by the National Cyber Security Centre, a part of GCHQ. The certification places Leeds Beckett among a small group of UK universities to hold full certification for an undergraduate cyber security degree, recognising the quality and rigour of the…
Strengthening Yorkshire’s Business Backbone: The Power of Inclusive Growth
Across Yorkshire, our businesses are the lifeblood of the community. But to stay competitive in a global market, we must move beyond traditional models. True growth isn’t just about the bottom line; it’s about the people behind it. That is why the Institute for Equity, University Centre is proud to champion a more inclusive future…
Research partnership secures bright future for Guiseley bakery with new products, branding and growth
A research-led partnership between Leeds Beckett University (LBU) and Haighs Bakery in Guiseley has brought together marketing students and academics to launch new product ranges, branding and social media accounts, and a unique Master Baker Experience, helping to secure the long-term growth and sustainability of the Leeds family bakery. The project is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded…