They’ll be more than qualified.

A good education alone isn’t enough to succeed in today’s world. That might sound strange coming from a college but we’re nothing if not honest.

To succeed today students need to be educated and employable and they’re not the same thing. That’s why we offer the highest standards of education and real world skills. It’s a combination we call employment edge and it’s totally unique to Gateshead College.


Employment edge means:

  • Helping students plan their education around a clear career path
  • Industry driven, first class education
  • Not delaying the world of work but actively preparing for it from day one
  • Helping our students to grow as people and learn about themselves
  • Helping them to grow in confidence, find purpose and self-belief
  • Giving students the skills, support and direction to make the most of their talents.


Are your children about to pick their GCSE subjects?

Check out our brilliant guide to help them make the right choice.


Why choose Gateshead College?

Just like you, we’re only interested in the very best quality of education. 

Anything less than an exceptional experience just isn’t good enough for our students and community. 

College isn’t an easy ride or a second rate option. We believe that nothing worth having comes easy and expect all our students to work hard, challenge themselves and be outstanding.

Learning is a two-way street and we’ll put everything we’ve got into making sure your child succeeds. We’ll push them when they need it, nurture them when they don’t and be their biggest cheerleader every step of the way.

We’ll use our insider knowledge, our best in class employer partnerships, our creative minds, our commercial know how, our enterprising approach and our fantastic facilities to ensure every student gets an experience that plugs them into the world of work, as well as an education.

We promise a learning experience that’s just for your child, designed around their strengths and ambitions and helps them to tackle the things they’re not so good at.

Along with a qualification, our students leave us job-ready with a CV packed with experiences and skills for life as well as for work. They have the confidence, positive attitude and strong work ethic to take on their next challenge, whether that’s university, work or an apprenticeship.

We are immensely proud of our diverse student community; we value our differences and learn from each other. We are committed to making sure the college is a safe and welcoming place for everyone to work and study, a place where everyone feels they belong and can be themselves.

We are working to achieve The Rainbow Flag Award, a national quality assurance framework that focuses on positive LGBTQIA+ and Non – Binary inclusion and visibility. Across the college we mark significant dates on the LGBTQIA+ calendar including LGBT+ History Month, Pride, Trans Day of Visibility and IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia). We have also been rewarded and recognised for delivering an inclusive curriculum and ensuring LGBTQIA+ people and identities are positively represented across all areas of the curriculum and college.

There are five ways to study with us:

I’ve gained confidence, interview and work skills which have set me up for life.
Luciana Parker-Jones Intermediate Apprenticeship in Vehicle Body & Paint

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Don’t worry, we can help. We know that helping your child to understand their options after GCSE exams is tough. 

At Gateshead College we have independent Careers Advisers who can help you and your child to understand all the options available and what the best route for them is, even if that means they don’t study with us.

For more information, come along to our Career Choice and enrolment events.

Yes. We hold an enrolment event every month and weekly events during the summer.

We also hold Taster Sessions for students to come along and find out more about our subjects.

Our Career Choice events are perfect for parents and students to come along together and find out more about all the available options after GCSE exams. 

We believe we offer a learning experience that is unmatched by school sixth forms. Our students enjoy a more adult environment which we believe better prepares them for their next steps, whether that is university, an apprenticeship or straight into work.

Our aim is to equip our students with the skills, knowledge, confidence, contacts, work ethic and positive attitude that will help them stand on their own two feet and be successful in whatever they choose to do next.

We know that this more mature environment may not suit all students but it doesn’t mean they are left unsupported or allowed to go off track. All our students receive a personalised study programme that is built around their personal targets and ambitions, have regular one to ones with teachers and have access to range of extra support should they need it.

No, college isn’t an easy ride or a second rate option. We believe that nothing worth having comes easy and expect all our students to work hard, challenge themselves and be outstanding.

And we’ll work hard with them. Our teachers put everything they’ve got into making sure our students succeed. They’ll motivate, inspire and challenge them to be their very best. 

Vocational study programmes are offered at three levels, so there is an option for every ability. Level 1 is introductory, Level 2 is intermediate and Level 3 is advanced, the same learning level as A levels.

Although we’re bigger than most school sixth forms, we have a team of experts on hand to offer one to one support to all our students with;

  • Learning difficulties
  • Physical disabilities
  • Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD and other learning difficulties
  • Mental health and well-being

There is a range of financial support you can apply for to help with some of the costs of coming to college. Click here for more information on finance.

If your child is under 19 on the 31st August before the course starts they will not have to pay tuition fees for most courses. However, if your child is aged 19 or over, they will be responsible for paying tuition fees for their courses unless they fall into certain categories where financial support is available.

Click here for more information.

Our campuses are all easily accessible using public transport. The 93/94 Loop bus runs between all four Gateshead campuses at regular times throughout the day and links each campus to Gateshead Interchange.

Each campus has its own car parking.

Click here for more information on travel and how to find us.

They can start their application to any of our courses online by completing the short application form linked to each course outline. We’ll then invite them to our next enrolment event where they can chat with a teacher, have a look around and find out more about their course. 

If they want to complete their application, they can complete an application form to secure their place for September, subject to them achieving the required entry grades.

Or they can just drop into any of our enrolment events and go from there.

You are welcome to come along with them to the enrolment event.

We know that students don't always get the grades that they were predicted. The main thing is for them and you not to worry. They should still come along to an enrolment event or to the Registration Day appointment that we have sent them. 

Our Careers Advisers and teachers will be able to discuss their options and advise them about other courses available. This may include looking at an alternative course or a lower level course in the same subject area.

Find Out More