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Student life at Yorkshire Rose College is about more than just academic achievement — it’s about belonging, growing and preparing for your future.
From integrated therapies and wellbeing support to residence life, clubs and having your voice heard, we’ve created an environment where every student can thrive. Here’s what makes life at our college unique.
Life at college is about more than study. At Yorkshire Rose College, we offer a wide range of clubs, activities and trips that give every student the chance to make friends, try new things and build lasting memories.
On-campus activities
- Football
- Gym sessions
- Signed song
- Dance classes
- Lunchtime clubs
- Pool competitions
- Craft nights
- Inter-lodge bake-offs
- Gaming club
- Discussion evenings
Clubs & events
- Weekly Youth Club (open to day and residential students)
- Deaf Social Club
- Christmas and Summer Fayres
- Parties and celebrations
- Community competitions
- Graduation ceremony
Trips & outings
Education and residential staff regularly organise trips and activities, including weekend visits to local attractions as well as bigger cultural experiences.
These opportunities are designed to entertain, stimulate and broaden horizons, while helping students build independence and confidence.
For students who need to live on campus, Darley Lodge offers a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where independence, confidence and friendships can grow.
Darley Lodge isn’t just somewhere to stay — it’s a place to belong, grow and prepare for life ahead.
Living at Darley Lodge
Darley Lodge offers residents:
- A 38-week placement within our 24-acre campus grounds.
- A warm, homely environment where students feel safe and relaxed after college.
- Comfortable, age-appropriate lodges with staff support available 24/7.
- Bedrooms that can be personalised, plus shared spaces including:
- Lounges for socialising, meetings and Student Voice.
- Quiet lounge for downtime.
- Modern kitchens for group meals and learning life skills.
- Bathrooms with modern baths and walk-in showers.
- Utility room for practising independent living skills.
Developing independence
Darley Lodge is more than accommodation – it’s part of preparing for adulthood. Students learn to:
- Cook, clean, manage money and take care of themselves
- Build confidence in travelling and accessing the community
- Balance independence with the reassurance of staff always being nearby
Inspectors praised how well our residence supports students to grow in self-confidence, communication and community access.
It feels like my second home. It was daunting at first, but the staff are really supportive and I feel comfortable here.
Darley Lodge student
Activities & enrichment
Life at Darley Lodge is active, fun and student-led. Activities are shaped by Student Voice and run twice weekly, alongside everyday social opportunities.
Examples include:
- Alpaca walking and climbing
- Canal boat and coastal trips
- Visits to museums and entertainment venues
- Bowling, swimming and sports sessions
- On-site clubs, including gym, sports hall and Deaf club
- Evenings in lodges: pool competitions, craft nights, bake-offs, Wii tournaments, discussion groups
There’s more to do here than at home. Sometimes I feel bored at home, but here there are always activities and chances to go out with friends.
Darley Lodge student
Students often describe residence as a “second home” — a place where they feel less isolated, make friends and enjoy a rich social life.
Outstanding care & support
Ofsted inspectors rated our residence Outstanding for overall experiences, safeguarding and leadership.
- Staff are highly skilled in care and communication, including British Sign Language.
- Support is person-centred, with key workers allocated to each resident.
- Strong links with college tutors, therapists and families ensure joined-up support day and night.
- Transition planning is a key focus, helping students prepare for the move into supported or independent living after college.
Sometimes I feel isolated at home, but here I can socialise, make friends and feel part of something. The staff are amazing — really supportive.
Darley Lodge student
At Yorkshire Rose College, your voice really matters. We’ve embedded a culture of Student Voice across everything we do, giving students the skills, confidence and platform to shape their own development – and the wider college community.
- Student Voice meetings every 6 weeks, chaired by a student-elected Chair and Deputy Chair
- Specialist roles, such as Deaf Awareness Leader or LGBTQIA+ Leader, empower students to represent areas that matter to them
- 15 additional representatives — 5 from each curriculum pathway — are elected or self-nominated each year
- It’s not just meetings: we’re listening to students every day through EHCP reviews, tutorials and 1:1s, careers guidance appointments, surveys and course reviews, and more
Celebrating student impact
“You said, we did” updates are displayed across campus and shared in tutor groups and newsletters, so students can see the positive changes they’ve created.
At Yorkshire Rose College, learning and wellbeing go hand in hand. We know that students thrive when they feel safe, supported and understood — which is why pastoral care and safeguarding are at the heart of everything we do. Our doors are always open, our team is always listening, and every student has someone to turn to.
Pastoral Support
Pastoral care is essential for young people’s wellbeing and personal development. At our college, we cultivate a nurturing, safe environment that encourages growth, confidence and calm.
- Quiet spaces and sensory rooms are available to help students regulate and return to learning ready to succeed.
- Our pastoral team works closely with students, parents and carers, as well as external agencies such as social care and CAMHS, to provide joined-up support.
- Staff across college flag concerns quickly, often before students even realise they need help. This might include a referral to our on-site counsellor or Speech and Language Therapists.
- Students are part of daily tutor groups with familiar staff and peers. These sessions give a structured start to the day, easing anxieties and setting a positive tone.
- Break and lunchtimes are supported by staff in common rooms, the gym, outdoor areas and the learning resource centre — creating safe, social environments where students can relax and build friendships.
We take pastoral care as seriously as academic progress, because we know that when wellbeing is strong, learning follows.
Safeguarding
The safety and welfare of our students is paramount in everything we do. We take a comprehensive approach to safeguarding, designed to protect young people from harm, abuse or neglect, while supporting both their physical and mental health.
- 24-hour curriculum: safeguarding is embedded into daily life at college.
- Regular training: all staff are trained and updated in line with their roles.
- Health and wellbeing: students can access counselling services and other health resources whenever needed.
- Online safety: we prioritise teaching responsible online behaviour, addressing cyberbullying and helping students navigate the digital world safely.
- External collaboration: we work extensively with a wide range of outside agencies to ensure every student’s needs and vulnerabilities are addressed effectively.
Prevent Duty
As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, we also follow the Prevent strategy. This means helping to protect young people from radicalisation and extremist behaviour. Staff are trained to recognise risks, and awareness is built into tutorials and themed sessions so students can talk openly about issues and understand how to stay safe.
Meet the Safeguarding Team
Our safeguarding team is here whenever you need them. Whether you’re a student, parent, carer or professional, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have a concern.
Online safety
Keeping young people safe online is one of our top priorities. We work closely with national agencies, including the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command, to help protect children and young people from harm.
For Children and Young People
CEOP helps anyone under 18 who is being pressured, forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity of any kind – online or in person. The CEOP Safety Centre offers clear advice on what can be reported, how to report it, and what happens next.If you need help, you can:
- Visit the CEOP Safety Centre →
- Speak to a trusted adult
- Or contact Childline any time on 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk
For Parents, Carers and Professionals
CEOP also provides guidance for adults supporting young people. You can learn how to recognise and report concerns through the CEOP Safety Centre →.
The service tackles all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse, both online and offline, and offers tailored advice for parents, carers and educators.
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