Skills and employability

Courses you can do in Barnsley

There are several adult learning providers across Barnsley who offer a wide range of courses dedicated to adult learners. 

Find out more about what courses are available to suit you.

Providers in Barnsley

Courses to support your health and wellbeing

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Adult Skills and Community Learning

Positive Thinking

Our positive thinking course will help you to discover some simple techniques to improve your positivity. Our positive changes course will support you in identifying some small changes that could have a big impact on your life.

Visit Positive Thinking for more information and how to enrol. 

Adult Skills and Community Learning

Creative wellbeing courses

Our friendly courses are a great way to discover how being  creative can help you to improve your wellbeing.

We have a range of creative wellbeing classes to choose from including

  • Baking,
  • Calligraphy.
  • Cake decorating,
  • Digital photography,
  • Drawing,
  • Glass painting
  • Painting,
  • Sewing,
  • Sugarcraft,
  • Wirework,

Visit Adult skills - creative Wellbeing for more information.

Courses to support you back into learning and employment

Provider

Course

Description More details 

Adult Skills and Community Learning

Employability courses

If you're unemployed and looking for work, we offer a range of free courses to help you with searching and applying for a job.

  • Description
  • Effective job search
  • CV session
  • Application forms and applying for a job
  • Interview skills
  • BMBC job applications

Visit Adult skills - employability courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Employability skills Level 1 award

This Fresh Start flexible online programme will assist young people aged 19-24 years to re-engage with education

Visit Barnsley College - Fresh start 19-24 for more information.

Courses for enjoyment and fun

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Barnsley College

Short courses and clubs

We offer a range of part-time courses for enjoyment and fun where you can learn new skills in something you enjoy or have an interest in

  • Catering
  • Art and design
  • Music and Performing Arts

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Courses to gain essential maths, English, digital and IT work skills

There are a wide range of courses in maths, English, IT and digital skills delivered across Barnsley.  The delivery model differs dependant on the provider you choose.  Studying in this area will require an initial assessment of your current skills prior to enrolling onto a course.  The new National digital entitlement from 2020 will fully fund adults with no or low digital skills to undertake this new qualification.

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Adult Skills and Community Learning

Maths

  • GCSE
  • Maths functional skills pre entry, E1, E2, E3, L1, L2
  • Getting started with maths – introductory course
  • Vocational maths linked to industry sectors

Visit ASCL maths for more information.

Adult Skills and Community Learning

English

  • GCSE English
  • English functional skills, pre entry, E1, E2, E3, L1, L2
  • English units

Visit Adult Skills - English for more information.

Adult Skills and Community Learning

IT and Digital Skills

  • Introduction to digital skills
  • Essential digital skills for work and life E3, L1
  • Microsoft applications - Word, Excel, Powerpoint

Visit Adult Skills - ASCL IT and Digital Skills for more information.

Barnsley College

Maths

  • GCSE maths

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

English

  • GCSE English

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

IT: Microsoft applications

  • Essential Digital skills for work and life L1 and L2
  • IT: Microsoft Specialist certification program
  • Functional Skills ICT L1, L2 (C&G)

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Northern College

Maths

Northern college offer GCSE, functional maths skills E3, L1, L2s and a range of short course in:

  • Essential Skills: Whole Numbers and Decimals
  • Essential Skills: Measures, Charts and Graphs
  • Essential Skills: Data and Measurement
  • Essential Skills: Fractions and Percentages
  • Getting reading for Functional Level 2 or GCSE maths
  • Maths and Helping with Homework
  • Budgeting for Real-life

Visit Northern College for more information on maths courses.

Northern College

English

  • Northern college offer GCSE, functional English skills E3, L1, L2 and short courses in: 
  • Essential Skills: Readin
  • Essential Skills: Speaking, Listening and Communication
  • Essential Skills: Writing
  • Reading with Children
  • Getting Ready for Functional Skills Level 2 or GCSE English

Visit Northern College for more information on English courses.

Northern College

IT and Digital Skills

Northern College offer:

  • Office Applications: Level 1 Award in progression
  • Creative Applications: Level 1 Award in progression
  • Level 3 ITQ  (Microsoft Application)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Computing

Digital skills short courses:

  • Digital Foundation
  • Digital Workskill
  • Digital Study skills
  • Introduction to Microsoft Teams
  • Web Design using WordPress

Visit IT and Digital Skills Courses for more information. 

Volunteering courses

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Northern College

Community Organising: Level 2 certificate

Are you actively engaged in social action in your community? This could be in a voluntary role. It could also be a full or part time role within an organisation that has a community organising approach. Do you wish to develop your understanding, knowledge and skills of community organising?  If so then this course is for you.

Contact Northern College for more information.

Courses to help you move to Higher Education

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Northern College

Access to Higher Education

We offer a range of full time Access to HE courses for adults wanting to study at degree level but don’t have the required qualification:

  • Policing and Criminology
  • Health/ Science professions
  • Humanities and Social Science
  • Computing

Visit Northern College - Access to HE for more information. 

Barnsley College

Access to Higher Education

  • Art & Design level 3 Diploma
  • Creative & Digital level 3 Diploma
  • Business level 3 Diploma
  • Hospitality & Tourism level 3 Diploma
  • Childhood Studies level 3 Diploma
  • Health & Science Professions level 3 Diploma
  • Humanities and Social Science level 3 Diploma
  • Criminal Justice and Policy Studies level 3 Diploma

Visit Barnsley College courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Pre-Access Diploma level 2

  • Award in progression level 2
  • Pre-Access Diploma in Social Studies
  • Pre-Access Diploma in Health Professions

Visit Barnsley College courses for more information.

Courses for Higher education

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Barnsley College

Higher Education courses

We have Higher Education courses in the following areas, follow the link to find out about specific courses:

  • Animal Care
  • Art, Design and Fashion
  • Childcare & Teacher Training
  • Construction
  • Engineering
  • Health, Science and Social Care Professions
  • Music and Performing Arts
  • Public Services
  • Sport

Visit Barnsley College - higher education for more information.

Courses to gain industry-specific skills, knowledge and qualifications

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Adult Skills and Community Learning

Mental Health First Aid

This course is for Businesses that would like to train their staff to become Mental Health first aiders in the workplace.

For more information email adultlearning@barnsley.gov.uk or call 01226 775270 and ask for Emma or Sarah. 

Adult Skills and Community Learning

Childcare & Early Years

  • Introduction to Childcare/ Teaching assistants
  • Childcare in early years level 1 / 2 /3
  • Teaching assistants Level 1 / 2 / 3

Visit Adult Skills - working with children and families for more information. 

Adult Skills and Community Learning

Adult Social care

  • Introduction to Health & Social care
  • Health & Social care level 1 / 2/ 3

Visit Adult Skills - adult social care for more information.

Northern College

Social Studies - short courses

Short courses:

  • Introduction to Substance Misuse
  • Introduction to Criminology
  • Psychology: what makes us tick?
  • Understanding Issues in Mental Health
  • Introduction to Human Biology
  • First Steps in First Aid
  • A Child’s World – An introduction to child psychology
  • Understanding Dyslexia
  • Counselling for Beginners
  • Social Science: Level 1 Award in Progression

Visit Northern College for more information.

Northern College

Health and Social Care

  • Level 1 Award in Progression

Visit Northern College for more information.

Northern College

Community Development and Leadership

Short courses in:

  • Practical Team Leader Skills
  • Introduction to Peer Mentoring
  • Level 1 Award in Peer Mentoring
  • Level 2 Award in peer Mentoring
  • COVID Awareness at Work
  • Community Wellbeing
  • Introduction to Volunteering
  • Introduction to Social Action
  • Forest Skills
  • Forest Confidence

Visit Northern College for more information.

Northern College

Education and Training

  • L2 Award in Learning Support Practitioners
  • Level 3 Award in Education & Training
  • Cert Ed/PGCE/PgDipE Lifelong Learning (pre-service)
  • Cert Ed/PGCE/PgDipE Lifelong Learning (in-service)
  • BA (Hons) Education and Professional Development 

Visit Northern College for more information.

Barnsley College

Accounting

  • Accounting level 2 foundation certificate
  • Book keeping level 2 foundation certificate
  • Accounting Advanced Diploma level 3 (AAT)
  • Book keeping Advanced certificate level 3 (AAT)
  • Accounting Professional Diploma level 4
Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Health, science and Social care

  • Adult Care level 3
  • Healthcare Support level 3
  • Adult Care level 4 / 5
  • Assessing Vocational Achievement level 3 Cert
  • Leading Internal Quality Assurance Processes and Practice certificate

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Catering & Hospitality

  • Intro to Culinary Skills and Hospitality level 1 

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Childcare & Early Years

  • Early years Practitioner level 2 Diploma
  • Residential Childcare level 3 Diploma
  • Transition to Playwork
  • Level 3 and Playwork Diploma level 2 / 3
  • Preparing to work in Home Based Childcare level 3 Award
  • Leadership for Health & Social Care for Children & Young People’s  services level 5

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Construction

  • Construction and the Built Environment level 3
  • Site Carpentry level 2 Diploma
  • Plumbing Diploma
  • Property Maintenance Operative level 2
  • Project Controls technician level 3
  • Construction and the Built Environment level 4 HNC

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Business and Management

  • Certificate in Leadership and team Skills (ILM) level 2
  • Certificate in Effective Coaching (ILM) level 3
  • Diploma in Management (ILM) level 3
  • Diploma in Principles of Management and Leadership (CMI) level 3
  • Effective Coaching & Mentoring Certificate L5
  • Management & Leadership (CMI) level 5

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Computing and IT

  • IT Network Infrastructure Technician level 3
  • Software Development Technician level 3
  • Data Analyst level 4
  • Software Development methodologies level 4

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Education and Training

  • Internal Quality Assurance of the Assessment Process level 4 award
  • Information, Advice & Guidance level 3 / 4 / 6
  • Certificate in Safeguarding and prevent level 2
  • Education & Training level 3 / 4 / 5
  • Cert Ed / PGCE / PgDipE Lifelong Learning (in service)
  • BA Hons Education and Professional Development

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Barnsley College

Sport industry

  • Sports massage therapy level 3
  • Personal Training level 3
  • Instructing Circuit sessions level 2
  • Instructing kettlebells Activity level 2
  • Fitness Instructing level 2
  • Fitness Instructing and Personal activity level 3
  • Sports Massage level 4 certificate

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Courses if English is not your first language

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Adult Skills and Community Learning

ESOL

ESOL classes are available from Pre Entry to Level 2, you will complete an initial assessment to find out what level you need to start

  • ESOL Award Speaking & Listening
  • ESOL Award Reading
  • ESOL Award Writing
  • ESOL Certificate

Visit Adult Skills - ESOL for more information.

Barnsley College

ESOL

  • ESOL Skills for life award L2

Visit Barnsley College part-time courses for more information.

Courses for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities

Provider

Course

Description

More details

Adult Skills

Classes for wellbeing

  • Cookery
  • Creative Craft

Visit Adult Skills - courses for adults with learning disabilities.

Adult Skills

Classes to develop skills

  • Fun with English
  • Making the most of your money
  • Preparation for Work

Visit Adult Skills - courses for adults with learning disabilities.

Barnsley College

Pick and Mix sessions

Pick and mix sessions could include:

  • Arts and crafts
  • Cookery and domestic skills
  • Creative media
  • Independent living skills
  • IT and computer basics
  • Leisure and community
  • Maths and English
  • Enterprise
  • Employability skills

Visit Barnsley College - courses for learner with additional needs. 

Employment support

If you're:

  • losing your job
  • out of work
  • employed and at risk of redundancy
  • employed and want to do some free training to help progress at work or get a new job

Then Enterprising Barnsley has a team of people able to give you some free support via our helpdesk.

Contact Employment support online or email them Employmentsupport@barnsley.gov.uk.
You can also call them on (01226) 775100: Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

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