Taster days
Introduction
Welcome to the Kirklees College taster session page for students, teachers and parents/carers.
With so many options available to you, deciding what to do when you finish school can be a difficult decision to make. To help make your decision easier, the Student Recruitment team host a variety of activities across our different curriculum areas to see what you enjoy and make the move to college less daunting.
Please note that there will be no additional learning support available for students at our Taster Days.
How do our taster sessions work?
Taster sessions are a great way to explore your interests and decide whether a subject is the right choice for you. They are open to students in Years 9 – 13. Sessions are targeted to Year 11-13 during October to December, Year 9-10 during January to Easter and Year 9 during Easter to June.
To book on to a session, click the ‘Book a Taster’ button.
Course Information
Click to find out what you will do on a taster session
Brunel Construction Centre
Brickwork
Date: Thursday 11th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
This session will give you an insight into life as a bricklayer. You will have an introduction on how to build a wall in our purpose-built workshop, have a tour of the centre and look at our Level 3 students’ technical work. Please wear sturdy shoes or safety boots if you have them. Safety boots can be supplied but there are limited sizes available. Please provide shoe size on the booking form. Please wear suitable clothing/overalls for the workshop as it will be hands-on in a dirty environment and bring a change of clothes.
Electrical
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
In this practical session, you will look at how electrical circuits work. You will be given extra low voltage transformers, connect lights, one-way, two-way, and intermediate switches that will offer control to different parts of a circuit. We will also look at how to wire a circuit into a consumer unit. Please wear sturdy shoes or safety boots if you have them. Safety boots can be supplied but there are limited sizes available. Please provide shoe size on the booking form. Please wear suitable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty in the workshop.
Groundworks
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
This session will give you an insight into joinery at Kirklees College. You will have a demonstration and take part in some practical work. You will also get to chat to our experienced tutor who can answer any questions about working in the construction industry. Please wear sturdy shoes or safety boots if you have them. Safety boots can be supplied but there are limited sizes available. Please provide shoe size on the booking form. Please wear suitable clothing/overalls for the workshop as it will be hands-on in a dirty environment and bring a change of clothes.
Joinery
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
This session will give you an insight into joinery at Kirklees College. You will have a demonstration and take part in some practical work. You will also get to chat to our experienced tutor who can answer any questions about working in the construction industry. Please wear sturdy shoes or safety boots if you have them. Safety boots can be supplied but there are limited sizes available. Please provide shoe size on the booking form. Please wear suitable clothing/overalls for the workshop as it will be hands-on in a dirty environment and bring a change of clothes.
Plastering
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
This session will give you an insight into plastering at Kirklees College. You will have a demonstration in our workshop and take part in some practical work. You will also get to chat to our experienced tutor who can answer any questions about working as a plasterer. Please wear sturdy shoes or safety boots if you have them. Safety boots can be supplied but there are limited sizes available. Please provide shoe size on the booking form.
Plumbing
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
This session will give you an introduction to plumbing at Kirklees College. You will have a demonstration in our workshop and take part in some practical work. You will also get to chat to our experienced tutor who can answer any questions about working as a plumber. Please wear sturdy shoes or safety boots if you have them. Safety boots can be supplied but there are limited sizes available. Please provide shoe size on the booking form. Please wear suitable clothing/overalls for the workshop as it will be hands-on in a dirty environment and bring a change of clothes.
Engineering Centre
Engineering
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Introduction to Engineering with a taster session designed to cover all aspects of the design, manufacture and finishing process. These sessions are built around a hands-on approach to learning, where all the students will draw, programme, run and polish a component to a high standard. Very much a day in the life of an engineer. All candidates will have a tour of our state-of-the-art facility and leave us with a goodie bag. Please wear full shoes.
Fabrication and Welding
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Friday 27th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
In this session, you will get hands-on with our state-of-the-art virtual welder to see what it is like to weld and experience various demonstrations given by industry experienced tutors. You will also get your hands dirty with our practical CNC press brake and folding up exercises and create something to take home with you. Please wear loose clothing and safety boots. If you don’t have safety boots, we can provide these. Please provide shoe size on booking form.
Motor Vehicle
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Experience carrying out tasks that commonly occur within the Motor Vehicle industry. You will participate in a carousel which will allow you to complete tasks such as electrical circuit building, removing and refitting spark plugs, removal and refit of road wheels or any other task that you may find. Please wear suitable clothing (no shorts) and wear sturdy shoes or safety boots if you have them. Safety boots can be supplied but there are limited sizes available. Please provide shoe size on booking form.
Huddersfield Centre
Art and Design
Date: Thursday 11th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
An interactive session where you will experiment with art materials and techniques that you can take home and add to your own portfolio. Aprons will be provided but please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Barbering
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
An interactive session where you will experiment with art materials and techniques that you can take home and add to your own portfolio. Aprons will be provided but please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Beauty Therapy
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
This taster session will include an introduction to the beauty courses that we run. You will learn the basic techniques for manicures, nail art, nail plates and facials in our well-equipped, modern beauty salon. You will get to chat to our tutors about our different courses and ask questions about working in the industry. Please tie long hair back.
Business & Enterprise
Date: Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Monday 23rd February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Do you want to work in a business or start your own business? Business knowledge can be applied to many different areas of industry, you can gain an understanding of the skills through this taster course. Problem solving, project and time management are excellent employability skills. This taster session will give you an insight into the application of these skills in a business working environment. Measure the skills you already have and enhance them in readiness for your next level of study or employment.
Digital Development (Games, Software & Web Development)
Date: Thursday 4th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Lesson Objectives: By the end of the session, students will understand the key principles of digital design as used in software, game & web development, as well as content creation (Esports). Learners could develop a wireframe for an app prototype using an interactive tool or prototype a simple platform game.
Objective: Introduce the concept of app design and user interface (UI) development, and allow students to prototype their own app.
Task: Students design a basic wireframe for an app of their choice (e.g., a social media app, a school planner, or a game tracker) or a simple game.
Education and Early Years
Date: Thursday 11th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Date: Thursday 12th March 2026
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Do you want to work in an Early Years environment? Do you want to be part of the development of babies and children in the Early Years sector? If you have answered yes to these questions then you would really enjoy our hands-on taster session. You will have lots of fun getting your hands dirty by creating sensory activities and developing your understanding of why these activities are important for all areas of growth and development in babies and young children. You will also have the opportunity to chat with our tutors about our different courses and ask questions about working in the industry. All equipment will be provided for you. Please dress in clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. We like to be very creative and may be using messy equipment such as paint, play dough, corn flour and glue.
Hairdressing
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
In this taster session, you will be able to show off your creative side and have an introduction to the different hair courses we provide. You will learn how to create different hairstyles and possibly experiment with different temporary colours and hairpieces—let your imagination go wild!
Health and Social Care
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4:15pm – 5:15pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4:15pm – 5:15pm
Do you want to work with people? Does caring for people interest you? Would you like to become a professional within the Health care sector, like a nurse, radiographer, ODP, midwife or within the Social care sector as a Social Worker, Youth and Community Worker, Primary School Teacher or support worker. This taster session will give you an insight into working in Health and Social Care. You will find out about all the exciting career pathways that studying Health and Social Care can lead to. You will get the opportunity to ask our tutors questions about the courses available. You will be able to take a look at our facilities and experience what student life is like at Kirklees College. You will take part in activities looking at the importance of communication and working as part team. At Huddersfield you will also be given the opportunity to take part in some practical activities in our amazing virtual hospital ward.
Hospitality and Catering
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4:30pm – 6pm
Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 4:30pm – 6pm
Cooking is a great way to impress friends and relatives and can lead to a career working all over the world. Learning to cook develops important life skills such as communication, confidence, and team working. Come and cook in Kirklees College’s state-of-the-art training kitchens where you will be shown dishes and techniques by industry-experienced professional chefs. Please wear full shoes, not open-toe or canvas pumps/trainers. All hair should be tied back and no jewellery.
Media
Date: Thursday 4th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
This taster event is ideal if you would like to dip your toe into media and learn a little about some aspects of this creative programme. The event will focus on making Claymation figures to explore the far-reaching potential of animation. There will be an opportunity to see the media classrooms and meet our tutors to find out more about our courses.
Media Makeup
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Not for the faint-hearted, this taster session is ideal if you are a budding TV and film makeup artist. You will receive an overview of the course – blood and gore included! You will learn how to create real life scars and wounds using fake blood and store cupboard ingredients. Please wear school uniform and tie your hair back if it is long.
Music and Performance Technology
Date: Thursday 4th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Enjoy a taster session for Music Performance and Music Technology. Professional performance starts with excellent rehearsal techniques. Come along to our taster jam session in professionally equipped rehearsal rooms. Whether you’re a vocalist, guitar player, bass player, drummer, or keyboard player, everyone is welcome. The recording along with the performance studio is probably the most important part of any artist’s career. Whether you’re a producer, part of a full-scale rock band, or even someone who wants to learn music arrangements, you will have access to our music studios, live room, vocal booth, and rehearsal spaces, providing you with a fantastic experience in studio recording. You will have the opportunity to use our recording studio and Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software to create a track.
Science
Date: Wednesday 10th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
A scenario led investigation into drug development (chemistry), the effect of drugs on the body (biology), and how medical equipment can be used to further analyse the effect of drugs on the body (physics). Wear: Closed shoes, long sleeves, long hair tied back.
Sport & Physical Activity
If you have a passion for sport and are considering a career in sport, health, and performance, our course could be perfect for you. At this taster, you will have the opportunity to: find out more about the courses on offer; take a tour of the facilities and find out what it’s like to study sport at Kirklees College; hear from current Sport students; meet the subject tutors; partake and observe various practical demonstrations from injury prevention, health assessments, coaching philosophies, and player analysis. You are required to wear suitable clothing for physical activity. It is advised that you bring a drinks bottle or a bottle of water.
Sport & Fitness
Our gym instructing and personal training diploma are the perfect courses to guide you into a successful career in the fitness industry. At this taster you will have the opportunity to: find out more about the courses on offer; take a tour of the facilities and find out what it’s like to study fitness at Kirklees College; see current fitness students in action; hear from the subject tutors; partake in a practical demonstration to discover the key ingredients required in executing effective physical activity sessions. You are required to wear suitable clothing for physical activity. It is advised that you bring a drinks bottle or a bottle of water.
Travel and Tourism
Date: Wednesday 10th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Come and experience life working in the exciting world of Travel and Tourism at Kirklees College where you will be coached by staff who have all worked in a variety of roles within the industry. You will become a member of KC Airlines in our state-of-the-art cabin where you will learn how to do a safety demo using the on-board equipment and cabin PA. You will also learn how to deliver a welcome meeting to try your hand as a resort rep. Please wear your school uniform.
Uniformed Protective Services
Get stuck in with the Uniform Protective Services (UPS) team at Kirklees College at our taster sessions! Effective and efficient teams are an essential element of the work conducted by the uniformed public services. In our tasters, you will participate in several scenario-based activities to explore your ability to work as a team member, solving problems and making informed decisions to overcome challenges. You will also have the opportunity to find out more about the courses on offer, take a tour of the facilities and find out what it’s like to study UPS at Kirklees College, hear from current students, meet the subject tutors, and partake and observe various practical demonstrations.
Pioneer Higher Skills Centre
Art and Design
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Introduction to Screen Printing, you will be able to design and cut a stencil and then print your design in a range of colours. Aprons will be provided but please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Barbering
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
In this taster session you will experience a basic introduction to barbering. You will learn how to use various clipper attachments to create basic men’s haircuts of differing lengths. You will also have the opportunity of creating lined and curved patterns in these haircuts, followed by men’s blowdrying and finishing services.
Beauty Therapy
Date: Wednesday 10th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
In this practical session you will learn how to shape nails, push back cuticles and buff and polish. Please attend with clean nails without polish and no acrylic, gel or false nails.
Hairdressing
Date: Monday 8th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
In this taster session you will be able to show off your creative side and have an introduction to the different hair courses we provide. You will learn how to create hair pieces to add to hairstyles that you have created and experiment with different temporary colours – let your imagination go wild! Please wear either school uniform or black top and smart trousers.
Springfield Sixth Form Centre
Business & Enterprise
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Do you want to work in a business or start your own business? Business knowledge can be applied to many different areas of industry, you can gain an understanding of the skills through this taster course. Problem solving, project and time management are excellent employability skills. This taster session will give you an insight into the application of these skills in a business working environment. Measure the skills you already have and enhance them in readiness for your next level of study or employment.
Construction Multiskills
Date: Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Date: Wednesday 4th March 2026
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
This session will give you an introduction to our construction multi skills course at Kirklees College. Taking place in our new construction workshop located at our Dewsbury Springfield Centre, you’ll get a chance to take part in some practical work and get stuck in. Safety boots can be supplied but there are limited sizes available. Please provide shoe size on the booking form. Please wear suitable clothing/overalls for the workshop as it will be hands-on in a dirty environment and bring a change of clothes.
Digital Development (Games, Software & Web Development)
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Cyber security, programming apps, and games development are all exciting subjects. Take part in this taster to find out how your device works and learn how to keep your data safe, as well as getting hands-on learning how to create games.
Education and Early Years
Date: Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Would you like to find out more about Education and Early Years? A career in education is where you can make a positive difference to babies and young children’s learning and development. We offer a range of courses that can lead to different pathways in working with children. This can include an early years practitioner, teaching assistant, early years teacher, primary school teacher, child psychologist, working with children with special educational needs, behaviour support worker, play therapist and many more. Come along to our taster session where you can have fun exploring sensory activities, learning why they are important to a child’s early learning and development. During this session you will get a chance to chat to our tutors about the different courses and opportunities in the industry. We look forward to welcoming you to this session so that you can find out more.
Health and Social Care
Date: Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Tuesday 24th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Do you want to work with People? Does caring for people interest you? Would you like to become a professional within the Health care sector, like a nurse, radiographer, ODP, midwife or within the Social care sector as a Social Worker, Youth and Community Worker, Primary School Teacher or support worker. This taster session will give you an insight into working in Health and Social Care. You will find out about all the exciting career pathways that studying Health and Social Care can lead to. You will get the opportunity to ask our tutors questions about the courses available. You will be able to take a look at our facilities and experience what student life is like at Kirklees College. You will take part in activities looking at the importance of communication and working as part of a team.
Motor Vehicle
Taylor Hill Animal Centre
Animal Care and Agriculture
Date: Wednesday 10th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Do you want to become a zoo keeper or look after animals? You will meet the extensive collection of animals, including our reptiles and birds, and enjoy a hands-on experience learning how to care for the different animals. Please wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Dog Grooming
Date: Monday 8th December 2025
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Date: Monday 23rd February 2026
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Do you love dogs and want to learn how to pamper them like a pro? Join our Dog Grooming Taster session and get a fun, hands-on introduction to the world of grooming. You’ll meet some of our friendly dogs and discover how to brush, bath, and handle them safely. Learn about different coat types, try out some basic grooming techniques, and see professional equipment in action. This interactive session is perfect for anyone thinking about a career working with dogs – or just wanting to understand more about keeping them happy, healthy, and looking their best. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting hairy.