Here, you can find out about:
- education and training in Bradford, for children
- education and training for adults
In the UK, the law is:
- all children age 5 – 16 years must go to school, full time
- all young people age 16 – 18 years must go to school, college or training
Parents or legal guardians are responsible for this.
For children age 0 – 4, find out about Childcare in the ‘Caring For Your Family’ section.
View the School Years/Key Stages
- An Introduction to Schools
What age do you start and finish school? Many children start school in September after their 4th birthday. However – if you do not think they are ready for school… Read more: An Introduction to Schools - Choosing a School
Find out about local schools. This will help you to decide which ones to apply to. First, go to Schools Finder. Put in your postcode. Choose – 1 mile, 2 miles,… Read more: Choosing a School - How to Apply for a Place at School
Primary and secondary school: if the school year has already started The following information is for you, if you are: new to Bradford and your child is already old enough… Read more: How to Apply for a Place at School - School Years/Key Stages
The government decides what all children must learn in school. This is called the ‘National Curriculum’. The National Curriculum in England is organised into four ‘key stages’. It does not… Read more: School Years/Key Stages - Attendance
It is very important to make sure your children regularly attend school. This helps them achieve and get the best possible start in life. In the UK, parents and guardians… Read more: Attendance - Education and Training for 16-18s
All young people can leave school at 16 if they want to. But by law they must be in education or training till 18, or in work with training. There… Read more: Education and Training for 16-18s - Learning English – Adults
Learning English will really help you to find work. It will help you become part of your new community. There are many classes where you can learn English in Bradford.… Read more: Learning English – Adults - Education and Training for Adults
Over 18? Want to develop your work skills, get a qualification, or simply to learn something new? There are lots of courses you can do in Bradford. Courses run in many different… Read more: Education and Training for Adults - Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships allow you to work and study for a qualification at the same time. This means you can get work experience (and a wage) as well as a qualification. You… Read more: Apprenticeships - University
At Bradford University, you study for Higher Education qualifications (e.g. BA Hons and BSc Hons degrees, Masters level and PhD). Bradford College also offers some degree courses. Students of all… Read more: University
Solidaritech
Solidaritech repurpose your unwanted laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones, passing them on to asylum seekers and refugees to help them resolve their immigration status, pursue studies and start their lives in their new country. Solidaritech professionally wipe your old hard drives, installing new Operating Systems to make a new, quicker and more usable machine.
Speak to your support organisation to make a referral.
Opening Times:
RCUK- Rohingya Centre
RCUK is a Bradford-based international organised of Rohingya Centre of United Kingdom (England & Wales)
We are a Community Centre based in the Great Horton area, working to empower and support refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants by providing meaningful support and services that enable successful integration in their local communities. Broadly, we seek to enhance the wellbeing of people in need in particular but not exclusively; Rohingya refugees in the UK.
We are refugee-led, and our projects are based on our lived experience; with the aim of empowering refugees and helping them to settle and gain the skills they need to rebuild their lives within the society they newly call home. See how we support and provide services in Bradford.
• Welfare and Immigration Advice
• ESOL and Integration Learning
• Employability Skills Workshops
• Health and Wellbeing Activities
• Community Awareness Programme
• Social Inclusion and Gatherings
• Occasional Cultural Events
• Youth Work Through Sport
At RCUK, we proudly provide free services and confidentially to asylum seekers, refugees, and all other families and individuals in Bradford. Our commitment is to provide support, hope, inspiration and helping them to thrive. If you or someone you know needs assistance, reach out to us.
York St John University
York University
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield University
Leeds Conservatoire
Leeds Arts University
Leeds City College University Centre
Leeds Trinity University
University of Leeds
Leeds Beckett University
Hull University
Huddersfield University
Enable2 CIC
New College Bradford
Dixons Sixth Form Academy
Motive8
Keighley College
Shipley College
Skills House
SkillsHouse is a local partnership of education and training organisations. Made up of Bradford Council’s Employment and Skills department and partners, it supports people across the Bradford District to find appropriate training and help apply for jobs.
SkillsHouse can also support young people with their post 16 options through the different options highlighted on the SkillsHouse website.
Opening Times:
School Admissions Team
The Admissions Team process the annual allocations to Reception and Y7, in-year applications and also the appeals procedure.
They offer advice to parents and other agencies regarding all admission and appeal related enquiries.
Also, they provide advice and guidance to schools concerning current and new legislation relating to admissions and ensure that the statutory responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the School Admissions and School Appeals Code of Practice.
[email protected] (in-year and appeal queries)
[email protected] (annual allocation to secondary school queries)
[email protected] (annual allocation to primary school queries)
Access Team
Formerly the New Communities and Travellers team.
What do we do?
The Access team supports families from Central and Eastern Europe, refugees, asylum seekers, travellers and vulnerable groups, with access to education.
Families can self-refer by contacting us on 01274 439393 or they can attend our drop-in, details below. Or they can be referred by any professional on behalf of the family. See below.
The service also supports and signposts its client group, taking into account the wider family support needs including SEN, Benefits and Early Help. Specialist staff in the team advocate on behalf of families who are experiencing barriers in accessing appropriate education settings. There are workers within the team who speak languages including Slovak, Polish, Czech and Hungarian but we can also access most languages through our partner, Enable2.
Interpreting and translation
For any queries relating to interpreting and translation, please email [email protected] or call 01274 439393.
Free School Meals (FSM)
The Access team only support with FSM enquiries for asylum seekers. If you have any other queries relating to FSM, please contact 01274 432772.
Refugees and asylum seekers
Refugee and asylum seeker children have the same entitlement to education as other children in the UK however they can often find it harder to access education due a number of barriers which may include language, past experience and trauma. The Access Team aim to support refugee and asylum seekers into education through practical support and advice. The Access Team is also on hand to provide advice and support to schools who have refugee and asylum seeker children on roll. Please see our ‘Quick guide to refugees and asylum seekers’.
How to make a referral for support with access to education?
Referrals to the Access Team can be made by any professional on behalf of the family by completing the referral form and sending it to [email protected]
Please ensure that families have consented to the referral, where possible getting consent to sharing information form signed by the family prior to making a referral.
Drop-in
The Access Team runs a drop-in at Britannia House, every Tuesday morning between 9:30-11:30am during term-time. If families are being signposted to the drop-in, they are asked to attend with the children needing school places and with copies of their ID and tenancy documents.
University of Bradford
Bradford College
BEES – Conservation Group
They offer a broad range of environmental education opportunities to young people, individuals, community groups, schools and businesses; enabling and inspiring people to make a positive contribution to their local environment, develop skills and explore the natural environment.
Manningham Library
Some of the Services at the Library:
- Disabled access
- Community garden
- Photocopier
- Reference collection
- Local history
- Asian language books
Events
Monday: Storytime, 4.30pm to 5pm
Friday: Rhymetime, 1.30pm to 2pm
Sunday: Colouring, 1.30pm to 2pm
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 7pm
- Friday and Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm
- Sunday, 12 noon to 4pm
Great Horton Library
Events
- Mondays, 1pm to 3pm – Threads & Needles Craft Group
- Tuesdays, 11am to 1pm – Tuesday Friends Lunch Group
- Thursdays, 11am to 12.30pm – Stay & Play including Storytime/Rhymetim
Opening times
- Mondays: 1pm to 3pm
- Tuesdays: 10am to 2pm
- Thursdays: 10am to 2pm
Bolling Hall Library
The Community Library is located in a dedicated room within the historic manor house, Bolling Hall. It is well stocked with books for adults, teenagers and children as well as a small selection of audio CD’s and large print editions. It is now staffed by volunteers who can help with reservations from the full Bradford Library catalogue and there is a computer with internet access available for public use as well as Wifi.
Events
Friday during term time, – 11.30am to 12.30pm: Story and Rhyme time for children under five years. Free weekly fun sessions of stories, crafts and rhymes.
Opening times:
- Wednesday 10am to 2pm
- Thursday 10am to 2pm
- Friday 10am to 3.30pm
- Saturday 11.30am to 3pm
- Sunday 11.30am to 3pm
Holme Wood Library
Opening times
Monday: 10am to 2pm
Tuesday: 10am to 2pm
Thursday: 10am to 2pm
Thornbury Library
Opening times
Monday 10am to 2pm
Tuesday 10am to 2pm
Wednesday 10am to 2pm
Laisterdyke Library
Services at the library
- Disabled access
- Photocopier
- Asian language books
- Council information
- Children’s activities
- Free Internet access, word processing, etc.
Opening times
- Monday, 9.30am to 7pm
- Tuesday, 9.30am to 5.30pm
- Wednesday, 9.30am to 1pm
- Thursday, 9.30am to 7pm
- Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm
- Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm
City Library
City Library can hold up to 60,000 books, 40 computers, a range of newspapers and free Wi-Fi.
Library staff are on hand to help people with their choice of books, answer information enquiries and help people gain IT skills.
There are events and learning sessions for various groups. You can also use self service kiosks to issue and return books.
There is a bookable meeting room available with public PCs and smartscreen TV. Please contact [email protected] for further details.
Events
- Rhyme Times on Wednesday morning at 10am
- Story Times on Saturday mornings at 11am
- Work Club Thursday 10am to 12 noon
- Learn My Way Sessions Tuesday 2pm to 4pm
Opening times:
The Library is open between the following hours:
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 7pm
Friday and Saturday, 9am to 5pm
Kirkgate Centre Shipley
The Kirkgate Centre is a busy community and social action centre serving Shipley.
We are a registered charity and a registered company.
Most importantly, we are a membership organisation. Members of the Kirkgate Centre run the centre and have the power to call meetings, elect trustees and become trustees themselves. Membership is free to anyone living in the Shipley area.
Kirkgate Spotlight English Conversation Club – Every Tuesday, from 10am to 11.30am
Millan Centre
Millan Centre is a community centre for girls and women. We run educational, social and health related activities for women, girls and children in the Manningham and Heaton area.
Millan Centre is a charitable organisation and a company limited by guarantee. The registered office is at the Centre. There are 5 members of the Management Committee who have overall responsibility for the Centre and a small team of full and part-time staff.
Millan Centre’s aim is to provide women and girls with:
- A stimulating, responsive and varied programme of educational, training and social activities in a safe and accessible environment
- Support to empower individuals to achieve their full potential and become active citizens
- Equal access to opportunities regardless of race, disability or age and a valuing of diversity
- Opportunities through partnerships with other groups and organisations
Park Lane Medical Centre English conversation class
When is it?
Wednesdays from 1pm to 2.30pm
Opening Times:
Anchor Project
The Anchor Project is a community-based organisation that has worked in a challenging area of inner-city Bradford (ranked in the top 1% most deprived living areas in the UK), for the last eighteen years. The focus of our work is to engage with, and support some of the most marginalised, vulnerable and isolated in our neighbourhood, and to improve community wellbeing and integration.
Our current activities include:
- Elders lunch and activities club (Mon 11am – 1pm)
- BD3 CARE – Drop-in support for asylum seekers and refugees (Tues 10am – 12noon)
- Everyday English conversation group (Thurs 1pm – 2.30pm)
- English My Way group (Friday 10.15am – 11.45am)
- Monthly BD3 Garden Club
- Annual BD3 Gardening Competition and festival
- Various environmental and art projects/groups around BD3
- Quarterly inter-faith lunches and activities
- Come Together – parents and pre-school children singing group
- Host various workshops for service users and volunteers
Connecting Opportunities
Connecting Opportunities (CO) is a project working with new migrants to develop their skills and opportunities to find work and be part of the local community.
Some local organisations that specialise in working with migrants are working together to offer
- tailored support
- cultural orientation
- English language classes
- other training across West Yorkshire and part of North Yorkshire (Craven, Harrogate, Selby and York)
- provide work placements to help people get a foothold in the job market