About Us
With more than 5,000 students, over 300 courses and an extensive range of subject areas and qualifications, we’re one of the largest and leading providers of education and training in Liverpool and Merseyside.
About Hugh Baird College
Expect state-of-the-art learning spaces and outstanding support alongside exceptional teaching and unique industry connections, as part of every course at Hugh Baird College.
We deliver courses across an extensive range of provisions, from apprenticeships, to T-levels, A-levels, university level courses and adult learning, with dedicated campuses and employment-focused results.
We have a purpose-built, multi-million pound University Centre and the dedicated sixth form at Sefton Sixth Form College. We also have a specialist hotel school and flagship restaurant, industry-focused hubs, and a unique enterprise village with a salon, florist, café and gym. All of our exceptional facilities are enhanced with the incredible personal support we offer to every one of our students.
Parents, Guardians and Carers
Each of our courses is focused on getting our students ready for work, and our latest Ofsted report reinforces our commitment to high quality teaching and the outcomes for our learners.
Student Life at Hugh Baird College
College is about more than just learning. We’re proud of the exceptional support we offer and the opportunities our students can enjoy during their time with us.
Our Offer
Our outstanding facilities and dedicated, state-of-the-art buildings are spread across several campuses, each with its own unique educational focus.
Located across two campuses; Balliol Road Campus and Healthcare Campus, our Further Education provision provides a wide range of full-time vocational subjects and part-time learning opportunities.
Our purpose built University Centre is where students benefit from a unique environment to study for degree-level qualifications.
At Sefton Sixth Form College we offer a wide choice of A-levels which are delivered by specialist teachers in a modern campus with outstanding facilities.
Our Business Development team advise, coordinate and deliver apprenticeships, training and funding options to employers across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.
Key Partnerships
The partnerships we forge with local employers, regional industries and leading institutions help us to continually provide exceptional teaching, outstanding facilities and unique courses.
We work closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to ensure the content of our courses keep up with the growing areas of opportunity and employment.
The University of Central Lancashire is a world class institution and the partner university for our higher education courses.
Liverpool Chamber connects businesses across the City Region – to a local business community, national conversation and international trade network.
CITB is the Industry Training Board for the construction industry and a partner in ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council.
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Rachael Hennigan
Principal and Chief Executive
Rachael joined Hugh Baird College in February 2020 as Principal and Chief Executive. Rachael has over 15 years of experience in the further education sector. She is no stranger to the Liverpool City Region, having grown up in Bootle and completing her A-levels at Hugh Baird College.
Rachael has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the College. She is passionate about ensuring students develop relevant knowledge and skills that will enable them to progress.
Sonia Stirling
Deputy Principal - Curriculum, Quality and Recruitment
Sonia is an experienced senior leader within the FE sector and joined Hugh Baird College in June 2021. She has held several roles in colleges across the North of England, including Head of Sixth Form and Vice Principal.
Sonia is responsible for ensuring that students at Hugh Baird College have a high-quality experience and that the College provides a relevant curriculum that meets the local community's economic and social needs. Sonia also has overall responsibility for student recruitment.
Matt Larkin
Vice Principal - Finance and Corporate Services
Matt is a Chartered Accountant who joined the College in April 2015. He has held various roles, including senior finance roles at a large charity and a national firm of estate agents and as an external auditor.
Taking overall responsibility for managing the finances of the College, he also oversees key support areas, including MIS, ICT and Services.
Colette Mawdsley
Assistant Principal - Higher Skills and Access
Colette is responsible for the strategic leadership with operational management of the Hugh Baird University Centre, with a clear focus on quality and demand-led growth, ensuring the student experience is at the heart of everything they do.
Lynn Masterton
Assistant Principal - Business Engagement
Lynn had worked for 17 years as an Accountant before joining Further Education as a Teacher. She progressed to various roles such as: Advanced Teaching Practitioner, Head of Business, Head of Humanities, Accounting, ICT and Management. Lynn joined the College in 2016 as an Assistant Director of Quality (Construction and Engineering) before becoming Director of Business Engagement in 2017.
Joe Poole
Assistant Principal - Sixth Form
Joe joined the College in August 2018 as Director of South Sefton Campus. Before this, Joe worked four years as Assistant Principal at a Sixth Form College in Manchester. Joe has a legal background, qualifying as a Solicitor within an international commercial law firm in 2008 before moving into education to teach A-level Law.
Alex Lang
Vice Principal - Quality, Learner Services and Human Resources
Alex joined Hugh Baird College in August 2022 following a career as one of his majesty’s inspectors with Ofsted and 20-plus years in the FE, University and Independent Learning Sector. She has worked in senior quality roles driving change and improvement.
Alex is responsible for the quality of the learning experience, the support students receive on their programmes, and for Human Resources. Alex is a passionate believer that education makes a difference in people’s lives and strives to ensure the best experience for students at Hugh Baird College.
