Fresh Futures: Unlocking Potential and Inspiring Success
At Fresh Futures, we proudly operate two alternative provision colleges that offer a safe haven for students who’ve found that mainstream education isn’t the right fit and may be facing exclusion. Located in Huddersfield and Heckmondwike, our colleges are dedicated to supporting pupils with social, emotional, and mental health challenges, giving them the tools they need to succeed.
We’re absolutely delighted to have launched our very first post-16 provision in Heckmondwike at the end of October! At Brian Jackson College, our mission is simple: to create a nurturing, motivating environment where every student can flourish. Our new post-16 offering is designed to provide a bespoke educational experience that aligns with each student’s unique interests, needs, and aspirations for the future.
Jenny Netherwood, Head of Post-16 commented “I am delighted to introduce myself as the Head of the brand-new Post 16 provision at Heckmondwike. The provision will have an official opening later this term and staff are busily preparing for the arrival of the first ever set of learners!”
What Can You Expect from Our Post-16 Vocational Hub?
Our vocational hub offers an exciting range of opportunities. Every student is assigned a personal tutor who they’ll meet with daily, ensuring they always have the support they need. The College boasts large, welcoming spaces to both study and socialise, creating a genuine sense of community. Our staff, highly trained in their respective fields, are passionate about sharing their knowledge. Plus, we offer on-site access to counselling, career advice from external specialists, and enrichment sessions that provide a real taste of the working world.
Here’s a glimpse at the courses available at our post-16 vocational hub:
- Hairdressing
- Barbering
- Employability skills
- Construction
- Food technology
- Motor vehicle maintenance
- And of course, all courses include essential Maths and English!
What Will Students Achieve with Us?
By the end of their time at Brian Jackson College, students will:
- Secure a positive destination—whether that’s employment, further education, or training
- Have had their individual needs fully addressed to ensure success
- Gain accredited certificates that demonstrate their knowledge and skills
- Achieve qualifications in Maths and English (Functional Skills or GCSEs)
- Complete entry-level SFLE through enriching experiences
A Chat with Michael Winder – Our Enthusiastic Car Mechanics Teacher
We recently caught up with Michael Winder, our passionate car mechanics teacher, to hear more about his inspiring journey:
“I am Michael, the car mechanics teacher at Brian Jackson College and I love anything that rumbles, roars, or just generally makes a racket, is an unstoppable force of nature! Back in 2012, while juggling college classes to gain extra qualifications, I was practically kidnapped by my teacher and told, “you know more about this stuff than anyone here—how about teaching the class?” I found that teaching came naturally to me, partly because I could explain a combustion engine using metaphors involving toasters, and partly because nobody could resist my chaotic enthusiasm!
At the College, my classroom is a high-octane mix of jokes, hands-on projects, and the occasional misplaced socket wrench. My ADHD means every lesson feels like an adventure—one minute you’re learning about engine timing, and the next we are in a conversation about how tanks are just really big cars with better paint jobs. Dyslexia? No problem. When the textbook gets confusing, I throw it aside and says, “Let’s make our own manual!”
I am excited for this next chapter at the post-16 offering and can’t wait to find my next exciting project—probably trying to fit a jet engine onto a go-kart, with a cup of coffee in hand, of course.”
