Hopwood Hall College

As an anchor institution in the borough, Hopwood Hall College chairs the work and skills group for a cross-borough Mayoral Zone project, linked to advanced manufacturing, machinery and materials, which is one of the most significant projects in a generation, Atom Valley. Within Rochdale there has been a 12% increase in the number of students participating in further education (excluding sixth form colleges), because of the innovative, industry-informed curriculum offer that has been developed at Hopwood Hall College & University Centre.

The attainment level in the borough lags the rest of the North West at Levels 1 to 4, but since 2019 the borough has significantly reduced the gap and increased attainment at Levels 2 to 4 at quicker rates than is being seen nationally. In 2019, the educational attainment data for adults aged 19 and over in Rochdale showed that 68.2% had at least a Level 2 qualification, and 49.8% had at least a Level 3 qualification. The 2023 data shows this had risen to 74.5% for Level 2 and 54.2% for Level 3 qualifications.

There is a direct correlation between partnership work with the key stakeholders and the college's continually developing technical education curriculum, apprenticeship training and higher technical qualifications that directly meets the ambitions of a high skilled economy and aligns with sector specific skills gaps.