Nelson and Colne College Group

The Nelson and Colne College Group is made up of three merged colleges; Nelson and Colne College, Accrington and Rossendale College and Lancashire Adult Learning. It is also sponsor to Pendle Education Trust.

Accrington and Rossendale College has been providing high quality, award-winning education and training for over 60 years. It was named Outstanding BTEC School/College of the year in 2015 and its success rates for 16-19 year olds put it in the top 10% of FE and tertiary colleges in the country.

Its merger in November 2018 with Nelson and Colne College has further enhanced the diverse curriculum it is able to offer local communities within East Lancashire. This includes further education, apprenticeships and training, adult learning and a highly respected Higher Education programme.

The College’s tutors and assessors have a wealth of industry experience and students have opportunities to take part in masterclasses with Michelin starred chefs, award winning movie directors, actors and Premier League footballers who previously studied at the college, giving students the expert skills and knowledge needed to move on to their chosen career path.

Nelson and Colne College is a high-performing, ambitious organisation situated in the heart of Pendle. It has been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted since 2005 and is currently the number one college in the country for 16-18 learner achievement.

The College is recognised nationally for its performance and is at the forefront of sector developments. It has developed a strong reputation for its collaborative approach to education and was one of the first colleges to deliver T Levels. It has also been selected to be a Maths Centre for Excellence.

The College has approximately 1,800 full time students, 14,000 part-time adults and more than 1,000 apprentices supported by highly-skilled staff who are committed to raising aspirations, transforming lives and delivering significant impact and opportunities across the region.

Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) is one of the largest Adult Community Learning Providers in the UK. It offers an extensive range of subjects from leisure learning to employability skills and skills for life to over 14,500 learners. Working with over 200 partners, LAL has delivered over 2000 courses through more than 300 venues across Lancashire.

Recognised by Ofsted in 2016 as a ‘Good’ learning provider, LAL plays a crucial role in moving society forward, reaching out and helping people everywhere within its boundaries to move on and up in their lives.