Hanson School Competitors

For more than 130 years, Blackburn College has been equipping people with the skills to succeed. The College is one of the largest and most successful Further Education providers in Lancashire, serving the Blackburn with Darwen area and the wider region. Today, as part of the town’s wider regeneration, the College is powering the Blackburn Learning Quarter - a dedicated hub for education and skills that is shaping opportunity, ambition, and economic growth across the region. Our commitment to excellence is recognised nationally. We are ranked number 3 nationally for General Further Education (GFE) Colleges (2026) in the official Government league tables and are proud to are ranked Number 2 in Lancashire for 16–19 Achievement Rates (2026). We also hold Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ ratings for both Education Programmes for Young People, and Adult Learning Programmes (November 2024 Visit). The College aims to be an inclusive institution, and we are proud of the equality of opportunity reflected in the breadth, quality, and accessibility of our educational offer. Thousands of learners choose to study with us each year, creating, enhancing and changing their life chances to become self-assured, driven, and experts in their study fields. Our modern, industry leading campus is in the centre of Blackburn and includes vibrant learning facilities such as the Beacon Centre, Sixth Form, University Centre Blackburn College, and a wide range of specialist learning environments including RATH/HEAT, Construction Centre and Scholars Training Restaurant. The College has an extensive range of qualifications at all levels from Entry Level through to Degree and post graduate professional courses. Further Education students can choose from a diverse range of Technical programmes through to A Levels and Apprenticeships with Higher Education study including Degrees and HNDs and HNCs.

The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is a leading independent school for boys and girls aged 2-18. Our campus is a greenfield site at Alwoodley Gates in north Leeds, well-placed for families from across North and West Yorkshire. Under our ‘diamond model’ structure, children learn in single sex classes from ages 11 to 16, while benefiting from shared form time and co-curricular activities. In 2025 88% of A-level grades awarded to GSAL students were at A* to B and 95% of leavers progressed to higher education. 71% of GCSE grades were at 7 or above. With employers looking for specific skills and attributes as well as knowledge of the business world, we support our pupils’ personal development and team working through a wide range of enhancement opportunities. Pupils undertake work experience in Year 11, whilst our sixth form students participate in our Aspire programme, including voluntary work and taught courses, alongside their A-level studies to prepare them for life after school. They can take part in the Leeds Enterprise Advisory Programme (LEAP). Many activities are student driven to provide leadership opportunities. The Extended Project Qualification enables pupils to develop research skills and self-motivation. With over 2,000 pupils and 470 staff, we are a major employer and a significant local business with a turnover of over £25 million. We invest over £1m a year in bursaries to support pupils from a wide range of backgrounds. The GSAL Business Networking Group is a forum for our parents and associates, whether self-employed or working in SMEs, industry or the professions, to share ideas and build contacts. To see opportunities to join our team of committed and professional teaching and support staff, visit www.gsal.org.uk and click the jobs tab. The strength and diversity of the region’s economy contributes to GSAL’s success, and we are proud of our role in developing talented young people who will ensure that our region continues to thrive.

Woodhouse Grove School, and its preparatory junior school Brontë House, is an independent, coeducational, day and boarding public school and Sixth Form college in Apperley Bridge, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England for children aged between 3 and 18. Founded in 1812 by the Methodist Conference for the education of the sons of ministers, The Grove now welcomes pupils and staff of all denominations and none. We have achieved excellent exam results at both A Level and GCSE. Our average A*-E pass rate is 97.2% with around a third of our pupils achieving ABB or better in their results at A Level. Additionally, 89% of the 2023 class achieved 5 or more passes at GCSE including English and Maths, with 35% achieving 6 or more high grades (7, 8, 9). Our existing sports facilities include a multi-use indoor sports hall, school Multigym, Aerobics Studio, Fitness Suite, Fencing Salle, Jubilee Pool, indoor and outdoor Cricket Nets, Netball Courts, Tennis Courts, 3 strip 1st XI Cricket Pitch and Athletics facilities. We are also very excited to announce that our covered all year-round Netball and Tennis courts will be completed and available to use by Spring 2024. The Davy block was purpose built in 2009 to house the Grove’s Performing Arts and links through to The McCarthy Theatre. It consists of a music recital room, drama studio, classrooms, a keyboard room, computer room, a recording studio and 12 practice rooms. The McCarthy Theatre provides an excellent multi-functional, flexible performance space for theatrical productions and musical events with seating for up to 230. A new additional Sixth Form building is due to be completed later this year and will be fully operational early in 2024. This will provide additional study space for individuals or small groups as well as Sixth Form classrooms and seminar rooms. In recent years the school has grown (now 750 in the senior school from age 11) but we are still small enough for all pupils to be known.