Blackburn College expands animal care courses to Witton Park

Blackburn College is expanding its specialist Animal Care and Animal Management training to Witton Park, with Blackburn with Darwen Council supporting the move.

Work to transform the former Visitor Centre — once the stables and coach houses for the grand Witton House — has been under way through the summer, ready for students to move to the site this September.

The college said the upgraded facilities will allow it to offer animal education from Level 1 through to Level 3, bringing the full offer back to the borough and reducing the need for students to travel elsewhere.

There is already strong demand for the courses, which give students skills for work in animal care and management and routes into jobs including vets, zoology, dog grooming, mobile farms and roles with charities.

Blackburn College Principal and Chief Executive Dr Fazal Dad CBE said:

“This project demonstrates what can be achieved through a strong, collaborative effort between the college and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

“Our priority has always been to make animal education accessible to learners who have a genuine passion for the industry.

“Thanks to this partnership, local students will not need to travel outside the area but will be supported right here in Blackburn, with clear pathways into further training and employment.”

The college said the expansion builds on a large number of applications and the success of its first cohort, which included work with snakes, Shetland ponies, goats, sheep, rabbits, rodents and alpacas.

It also follows last week’s results at Blackburn College, which included a 98% success rate in T Levels and a 96.5% success rate in Level 3 vocational courses.

Rachel Tarplee, Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality, said:

“This is an exciting expansion of Blackburn College’s curriculum with Animal Care and Animal Management being a vital area of interest for many learners, and we were determined not to lose these courses from the local area.

“By expanding the provision further at Witton Park, we are future proofing opportunities for students and strengthening our role as a provider that responds to the community need.”

Discussions about the future of the council-owned Witton Park site began when Myerscough College decided to move its provision back to its main campus.

The new partnership brings the site back into educational use for the benefit of the borough.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have been able to support Blackburn College with the expansion of its animal education offer and in the unique setting of Witton Park.

“This is yet another fantastic example of the positive impact that the council’s strong partnerships can have for residents across the borough — something we pride ourselves on.

“Along with the college, we share a determination to ensure that our young people, and those who travel from across Lancashire to study here, are equipped with the skills, knowledge and opportunities they need to succeed, giving them the best possible start in life and their future careers.

“Our teams have been working incredibly hard to upgrade the facility, and we’re looking forward to the college welcoming students to the site in September and continuing to work closely with the college.”

Applications for the Animal Care courses are now open at blackburn.ac.uk. A limited number of places are also available for adult learners.