The North East farming industry employs over 10,000 people. Our Kirkley Hall Campus is ideally situated to support employers from agriculture, horticulture and vets, to floristry and equine.
Northumberland College boasts extensive industry standard facilities including two working farms, an equine centre of excellence, an animal management centre, a teaching zoo as well as skilled teaching staff to support this diverse sector.
Agriculture
Animal Management
Equine
Floristry
Horticulture
Veterinary Nursing
Our impressive Zoological Gardens contain over 200 species of animals including exotics, reptiles and birds. We are one of only a few colleges in the UK to gain full membership of the BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums).
Our impressive land-based facilities include a working farm on-site at Kirkley Hall. We also have tractor and arboriculture machinery workshops with a range of farming machinery and equipment.
Our bespoke equine centre is a centre of excellence for equine education. It includes a large indoor arena with viewing gallery and a new education hub to support the delivery of equine management skills, such as farriery, dentistry and physiotherapy.
Our commercial dog parlour includes a grooming salon with a designated washing area, non-slip floors and extensive floor space. We also have safe and secure kennels for our four-legged friends.
Our animal management facilities include teaching spaces and animal enclosures. Two new learning spaces will be created, the zoo’s collection of animals will be expanded and a state-of-the-art zoo kitchen will be developed to support in delivering core competencies in animal husbandry.
The beautiful grounds of Kirkley Hall has a stunning 9-acre garden with terraces and a Victorian walled garden. The garden includes an extensive collection of unusual trees, shrubs, herbaceous and ornamental borders.
July 11, 2024
College leaders from across the UK descended on Sunderland for a one-day conference exploring ‘people, workforce and culture.’
July 4, 2024
EPNE has won the National Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Award for Inclusion in Further and Higher Education.
June 27, 2024
Sunderland College and British Esports will continue to offer their combined expertise in the extension of their current partnership.