Northern School of Game and Wildlife

The Northern School of Game and Wildlife is the gamekeeping department of Newton Rigg College (part of Askham Bryan College) we are based at Penrith in Cumbria, just next to the M6 at junction 40.

We offer one of the best resourced colleges for studying gamekeeping in the UK. The students have responsibility for the management of a 500 acre driven partridge shoot on the college farm, including, pest control, feeding and running shoot days. The student also have access to an on site clay pigeon shooting ground which is used for recreation and teaching. In addition the students regularly visit our deer stalking let at Greystoke Forest where they use rifle on the range, assess deer populations, lead roe stalks and run driven woodcock shoot days.

We have also just taken the lease on Shap Abbey and Wet Sleddale grouse moor and have taken on an upland keeper to manage the site and student use of the area. Students will use this area to learn heather burring, upland pest control, grouse management, running upland shoot days and managing built features on moors.

In addition the college campus also offers students, residential accommodation, shotgun storage, gundog kennels, rearing field, incubators, game larder and dedicated classrooms.

Sitting over these resources are our courses we offer Apprenticeships in Gamekeeping, where learners find their own job, work as a keeper and then come in to college for week block over 2 years for off the job training and short courses. During this time students have to complete a portfolio of evidence to show the skills they have learnt.

For those who cannot find a job straight away we offer fulltime courses for young people wanting to make a start in the game industry, these are:

The one year introductory L2 Diploma Countryside and Environment; for learners who have 4 GCSE’s (or equivalents) at D or E.

For students who get 4 GCSE’s at C-A* including 2 of Maths, English or Science we offer the 2 year L3 Extended Diploma Countryside Management.

During these courses students study a range of units covering the gamekeepers role. The courses also include a range of additional qualifications which could include courses such as Deer Stalking Certificate L1 or Lantra L2 Assisted Shotgun Loading. Fulltime courses also include a period of block release work placement of between 5-10 weeks after Easter in the first year of each course.

Courses may also include a study tour to Scotland or else where in the UK.

For more information visit www.gamekeeping.org.uk