SCHOLARS ATTEND NEW COLLEGE BRADFORD OPEN DAY

Bradford Bulls’ Scholarship players were invited down to New College Bradford’s Open Day last weekend – to look at potential courses and speak to staff about their educational pathway.

New College Bradford, located on Nelson Street, are one of the club’s educational partners who have recently been rated as Outstanding in their latest Ofsted inspection. 

Club captain Michael Lawrence will be coaching a ‘College Development Academy’ in 2024 – assisted by New College Bradford – as one of a number of exciting links the club is building with educational providers in the city. 

Bradford Bulls’ Head of Youth Ryan Hunkin said:

“New College Bradford are one of our educational partners who have been rated outstanding in their recent Ofsted inspection. We are starting a College academy with them through our links through Michael Lawrence who is a PE teacher at New College Bradford, he will be coaching our College Development team and for our players to access an outstanding educational provider is brilliant for us as a club to offer to our scholarship and community club players. 

“The pathway is hugely important; we speak a lot about a dual-career pathway where we want them to succeed in rugby it can’t be the only thing they focus on. It’s proven if you have something else other than rugby it generally leads to more longevity and less injuries, sporting dreams can be over in a flash to give them the opportunity to get a real top-class education so they can go onto further work or studies is massively important to us as a club and as an Elite Academy. 

Bradford Bulls’ Captain and PE Teacher at New College Bradford, Michael Lawrence said: 

“It’s massive to have a pathway, it helps plan for life after rugby as your career goes really quick, it gives you that focus on something else which is good. We are aiming to enter a College league next year to play as the Bradford Bulls, we will most likely play our games at Tong and have a mix of College players and Academy players. 

“We are hoping the partnership will grow to benefit the club and the college, to help the young lads with their education and help the Bradford Bulls Academy to produce some more players for the first team. Having myself here, being the Bulls captain can only help that link and hopefully it grows stronger and stronger as the years go on.” 

New College Bradford’s Assistant Principal Raza Siddique said: 

“The reason we hold these open events is to get local people of Bradford coming in and looking around to see what courses we offer. We offer a wide range of courses for our level 3 programmes as well as A-Levels and Applied Generals. 

“Working closely with Bradford Bulls’ Head of Youth Ryan Hunkin, we liaise with each other regarding potential pathways for the Scholarship and Academy players to come here and study their programmes and fit their timetables around training at Bradford. We love to showcase the fact we work closely with Bradford Bulls to encourage Rugby League across the city.