53.382°N 1.464°W / 53.382; -1.464 The Sheffield College is a large general further education college in Sheffield, England.^[3] The college has six campuses across the city and has 13,500 students enrolled (including 2,501 apprentices) as of 2021.^[4] It provides academic, technical and vocational training for school leavers and adults from across the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority region.

The college is the sole provider of post-16 education in the north of Sheffield, following the abolition of traditional sixth-forms in 1988^[5] by the tertiary system. The current college was founded in 1992, following the merger of six different tertiary colleges, namely: Castle, Loxley, Norton, Parkwood, Parson Cross and Stradbroke. In May 1995, the college was described as being the biggest in Britain^[6] and had over 33,000 students enrolled at the time, of which almost 7,000 were full-time students.^[7] In 2003, the college launched a new 'federal structure', a reorganisation that 'sought to create a greater voice for students and a better organisational structure for its workforce'.^[8] In 2014, the now-closed Norton campus served as a filming location for the television series This Is England '90.^[9]

The college offers a variety of courses at the following levels:^[10]

• School Leavers - Entry to Level 3 (NVQ Level 1–3; GCSEs to A-Levels)
• Access to University - Level 3 (NVQ Level 3; A-Levels)
• Career Progression/Adult - Level 3 to Level 7 (NVQ Level 3–7; A levels to postgraduate level)
• University Level - Level 4 to 7 (NVQ Level 4–7; A levels to postgraduate level)

The college offers courses in the following subjects: Animal care, Automotive engineering, aviation, tourism & events, business, catering & hospitality, childcare & education, civil engineering, construction & building trades, design & visual arts, engineering, ESOL, games design, hair & beauty, health & social care, inclusion, IT & computing, land-based studies, medial, journalism & photography, performing arts & music, science, dental & pharmacy, sport, taxi driving and uniformed public services.^[11]

In September 2012, more than 200 taxi drivers completed the first course of its kind designed to train prospective drivers in customer service skills.^[12] In October 2012, the college launched an online Human Trafficking Uncovered course, the first of its kind designed for those working in the public, private and voluntary sectors.^[13] In December 2014, singer JB Gill was recruited by the college as the public face of a two-year vocational performing arts course. The course was part of a portfolio of courses to help address a skills shortage in the creative industries.^[14]

In September 2012, the closure of a press photographers' course raised concerns about the future of regional newspaper staff photography. The course had been running uninterrupted at Norton College since 1979.^[15]

The college has main campuses at City, Hillsborough, Olive Grove and Peaks.^[16]

The Sheffield College sponsors UTC Sheffield Academy Trust which operates three university technical colleges (two in Sheffield and one in Derby). The college is a member and sponsor of the trust and provides it with business support services.^[25]

The Sheffield college owns and operates three wholly owned subsidiaries which provide specific services for the college.^[25]

• Sparks Managed Services Ltd. which provides nursery, cleaning, catering and facilities support to the college and Sheffield UTC Academy Trust.
• Sparks Teaching Services Ltd. which provides temporary teachers and other staff.
• Sparks Solutions Ltd. provides marketing, and business development services to the college.

In August 2009, the college reported a pass rate of 96.9 per cent, with those achieving A to B grades at 34.4 per cent.^[35] In August 2016, the college reported a 93 per cent A-Level pass rate, with 23 per cent of grades at A* to B. This was down from the scores of 2015, which were 94 and 23 per cent respectively.^[16]

In February 2016, Ofsted marked the college as 'requiring improvement', following an inspection. Inspectors had found failings in leadership, teaching, attainment, personal development and both 16 to 19 and adult education programmes.^[36]

In August 2017, the National Student Survey (NSS) awarded the college with an 86 per cent satisfaction rate, a score higher than the national average of 84 per cent.^[37]

The Sheffield College Students' Union (SCSU) reportedly represents around 25,000 students at the college every year. Every student automatically becomes a member of the union upon enrollment.^[38]

• Richard Caborn^[39]
• David Blunkett^[40]
• George W. Buckley^[41]
• Jeremy Clarkson^[42]
• Kat Fletcher^[43]
• Richard McCourt^[44]
• Stephen Slater^[45]
• John Sweeney (journalist)^[46]

• The Online College