Askham Bryan College is a specialist land-based college based in Askham Bryan, York, England.{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/askham-bryan-college-458851.html | title=Askham Bryan College | work=The Independent | date=11 August 2010 | access-date=8 June 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/130595/(type)/524288,1048576/(typename)/Further%20education%20colleges%20and%20sixth-form%20centres | title=Askham Bryan College | publisher=Ofsted | date=9 April 2009 | access-date=8 June 2011}} Opened to students in 1948, it also has centres in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Saltaire and Wakefield.

Newton Rigg College became part of Askham Bryan College in 2011, but was closed in 2021. In 2022, Askham Bryan College was granted foundation degree awarding powers, becoming the only land-based college with those powers in the UK. University Centre Askham Bryan (UCAB), its upper education arm, had 3,850 students in 2024 studying courses in areas such as animal science, agriculture, veterinary nursing, equine science and zoo and wildlife conservation.

History

Askham Bryan College was built in 1936, but not opened until after World War II as the Yorkshire Agricultural Institute. It first opened to students in 1948 in Askham Bryan, York, England. 19 years later, it became the Askham Bryan College of Agriculture and Horticulture.{{cite news |date=9 August 2013 |title=Askham Bryan College |work=The Independent |url=https://www.the-independent.com/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/askham-bryan-college-458851.html |access-date=18 February 2025}} Since its founding, the college has opened a number of facilities, including at Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Saltaire and Wakefield.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} Newton Rigg College, based in Penrith, Cumbria, became part of Askham Bryan College in 2011, while Liz Philip was Principal. At that time, Askham Bryan College had eight other locations, and 4,000 students. Degrees were validated by Harper Adams University College and York St John University. In July 2013, it opened a new £2.4 million campus in Penrith.

Between 2016 and 2020 student numbers at Newton Rigg fell by 40%.{{cite web |website= Cumberland Herald|url=https://www.cwherald.com/save-newton-rigg/questions-should-be-asked-over-falling-student-numbers-at-newton-rigg/|title=Questions should be asked over falling student numbers at Newton Rigg|date=18 February 2021}} In 2020 Tim Whitaker announced that teaching at the Newton Rigg site would cease in July 2021.{{cite web |title=Newton Rigg Review |url=https://www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/the-college/newton-rigg-review |website=Askham Bryan College |access-date=13 January 2021 }}[https://www.newtonrigg.ac.uk/ Newton Rigg College] According to Cumbrian Lord Inglewood, the process of asset stripping may be "unlawful".{{cite web |website=Farmers Guardian|url=https://www.fginsight.com/news/news/asset-stripping-of-newton-rigg-may-be-unlawful-119531|title='Asset stripping' of Newton Rigg may be 'unlawful'|date=20 May 2021}} The campus closed in 2021.

In 2022, Askham Bryan College was granted foundation degree awarding powers, allowing it to create its own named degrees for its students with the University Centre Askham Bryan, its higher education arm, becoming the only land-based college in the UK with foundation degree awarding powers. Tim Whitaker remained CEO and Principal in 2022.{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Haydn |date=1 February 2022 |title=Askham Bryan College in York can award degrees |work=The York Press |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19890901.askham-bryan-college-york-can-award-degrees/ |access-date=18 February 2025}}

Programs and facilities

The college runs courses in Agriculture, Animal Management, Veterinary Nursing, Equine, Engineering, Motorsport, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Floristry, Countryside Management, Outdoor Adventure Sport, Sport Coaching and Fitness, Uniformed Public Services and Foundation Vocational Programmes.

In 2024, University Centre Askham Bryan (UCAB) had 3,850 students studying courses in areas such as animal science, agriculture, veterinary nursing, equine science and zoo and wildlife conservation.{{cite news|date=18 September 2024 |title=Askham Bryan College in York Minster graduation plans |work=The York Press |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24592910.askham-bryan-college-york-minster-graduation-plans/ |access-date=18 February 2025}}

The college farm is {{convert|1022|acre|ha}} and supports three farms: Westfield Farm which accommodates a 250 Holstein Friesian dairy herd and the National Beef Training Centre; East Barrow Farm which houses the college Equine Department with 53 horses and Animal Management Department; and Headley Hall Farm which is the arable farm formerly of the University of Leeds.

It opened a new gym in 2024.{{cite news|date=6 September 2024 |title=College in York unveils updated sports facilities |publisher= |url=https://yorkmix.com/askham-bryan-college-unveils-updated-sports-facilities/ |access-date=18 February 2025}}

Alumni

Alumni include Geoffrey Smith, a horticulturalist, writer and broadcaster;{{cite web|title=Roy Lancaster plants tree at Askham Bryan College in memory of Geoffrey Smith|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7985623.roy-lancaster-plants-tree-at-askham-bryan-college-in-memory-of-geoffrey-smith/|access-date=26 April 2021|website=York Press|date=6 April 2010 }}{{cite web|date=9 August 2013|title=Askham Bryan College|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/askham-bryan-college-458851.html|access-date=26 April 2021|website=The Independent}} and Joe Maiden, a horticulturalist and broadcaster for BBC Radio Leeds.