Leeds Beckett University facts for kids
|
Former names
|
Leeds Metropolitan University Leeds Polytechnic |
|---|---|
| Motto | Latin: Victrix Fortunae Sapientia |
|
Motto in English
|
Wisdom is the conqueror of fortune |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1992 - university status 1970 - Leeds Polytechnic |
| Budget | £260 million (2023–24) |
| Chancellor | Sir Bob Murray |
| Vice-Chancellor | Peter Slee |
|
Administrative staff
|
3,601 |
| Students | (2015/16) |
| Undergraduates | (2015/16) |
| Postgraduates | (2015/16) |
| Location |
,
England
53°48′15″N 1°32′58″W / 53.804167°N 1.549444°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colours | Purple |
| Affiliations | Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Universities UK University Alliance |
 |
|
Leeds Beckett University (LBU) is a big public university in Leeds, England. It used to be called Leeds Metropolitan University and before that, Leeds Polytechnic. The university has two main areas: one in the city centre and another in Headingley. Its history goes all the way back to 1824, when the Leeds Mechanics Institute was started. Leeds Polytechnic was officially formed in 1970. In 1992, it became a university. The name Leeds Beckett University was chosen in September 2014.
Contents
History of Leeds Beckett University
The university's story began in 1824 with the Leeds Mechanics Institute. This institute was a place where working people could learn about science, art, and literature. Over time, it changed names and merged with other colleges.
In 1970, several colleges joined together to create Leeds Polytechnic. These included the Leeds College of Commerce, part of Leeds College of Art, and the Yorkshire College of Education. Later, in 1976, two more colleges, James Graham College and the City of Leeds College of Education, also joined.
Why the Name Changed
In 2013, the university decided to change its name to Leeds Beckett University. This new name came from one of its original colleges, Beckett Park. Beckett Park was named after a person called Ernest Beckett, 2nd Baron Grimthorpe. Even though some students weren't happy about the change, it was approved. The university officially became Leeds Beckett University in September 2014.
University Symbols: Coat of Arms
Leeds Beckett University has its own special coat of arms, which is like a unique symbol or emblem. It was given to the university in 1994. The symbols on the coat of arms have special meanings:
- Green color: Represents looking after nature.
- Owl: Stands for Leeds and for being wise.
- Yorkshire rose: A symbol of the county where Leeds is located.
- Open books: Show that the university is a place of learning.
- Chevron: A shape that means protection.
- Fountain: Represents knowledge flowing out.
University Campuses
Leeds Beckett University has two main campuses: the City Campus and the Headingley Campus.
City Campus
The City Campus is located in the northern part of Leeds city centre. It includes many buildings, some of which were once used for other purposes. For example, Old Broadcasting House used to be where the BBC had its offices in Leeds. Electric Press is another building on Millennium Square.
One of the newer buildings is the Rose Bowl, which is home to the Leeds Business School. It was designed to look like the Civic Hall, a famous building nearby. Another new area is the Broadcasting Place complex, which has tall buildings like Broadcasting Tower. These buildings offer teaching spaces for different subjects, like arts, technology, and design. They also have places for students to live.
Some older buildings on the City Campus have been sold or changed. For example, the Brunswick building was sold and is now the site of the Leeds Arena, a large concert venue.
Headingley Campus
The Headingley Campus is a large area of about 100 acres located in Beckett Park, Headingley. It's easy to get to from the city centre by train or bus.
James Graham Building
The main building on this campus is the James Graham Building, built in 1912. It's a beautiful old building made of red brick. It has a grand entrance with large pillars. Inside, what used to be open courtyards are now big lecture halls.
During WW I and WW II, this building was used as a military hospital. It's named after James Graham, who was very important in setting up the original college here.
The Halls
Around the James Graham Building are other buildings that were once student dorms but are now used for teaching. These are called "The Halls." Bronte Hall is one of them. They were designed to look similar but each has its own special touches. In the past, some halls were for women students and others for men.
It's said that the Headingley Campus is haunted! Some staff members who work late have claimed to see doors open and close by themselves or hear people talking in empty rooms. The university even sometimes offers ghost tours!
The Grange
The Grange is another historic building on campus. It's very old, with parts dating back to 1752. It was changed a lot by the Beckett family, who later sold it and the land to Leeds Corporation to build the college and create a public park. It used to be a student dorm, but now it holds IT offices and other service areas for the university.
Carnegie Campus
In 2006, the university expanded to include the Carnegie Stand at the Headingley Stadium. This building is special because it's used for both sports events (it can hold over 4,500 spectators) and for teaching. The Carnegie Village, which offers student housing, opened in 2009.
Student Accommodation
The university has about 4,500 bedrooms for students. All first-year students are guaranteed a place to live in university housing if Leeds Beckett University is their top choice.
Carnegie Village on the Headingley Campus has modern townhouses and apartments. The largest student hall is Kirkstall Brewery, which can house over 1,000 students. It's about 2 miles from the Headingley campus and used to be a brewery. Sugarwell Court, in Meanwood, is another large hall for 388 students, about 1.5 miles from the City campus. It was also once an industrial site.
Many new tall buildings have been built around the city centre to house students. These include CLV Leeds, The Skyplaza, and Broadcasting Tower.
How the University is Organized
Peter Slee became the Vice-Chancellor of the university in September 2015. The university has different schools, each focusing on specific subjects.
University Schools
The university is made up of many different schools, such as:
- Art, Architecture and Design
- Business
- Clinical & Applied Sciences
- Cultural Studies and Humanities
- Education
- Events, Tourism & Hospitality Management
- Film, Music & Performing Arts
- Health & Community Studies
- Law
- Social Sciences
- Sport
Leeds Law School
Leeds Law School offers courses for students who want to study law. They have courses for beginners, advanced students, and those who want to become professional lawyers. The school has special facilities like a Mock Courtroom, where students can practice legal cases.
University Achievements
Reputation and Rankings
| National rankings | |
|---|---|
| Complete (2021) | 78 |
| Guardian (2021) | 102 |
| Times / Sunday Times (2021) | 88 |
| Global rankings | |
| QS (2021) |
1001–1200 |
| THE (2021) | 801–1000 |
| British Government assessment | |
| Teaching Excellence Framework | Silver |
In 2006, Leeds Beckett University won an award for its "outstanding contribution to the local community." It also came in second place for "University of the Year" because of its strategy to offer good education at a reasonable cost.
In 2007, the university was recognized as the most environmentally friendly university in the UK by the Green League. This shows its commitment to being sustainable.
In 2013, Leeds Beckett University was one of only a few universities in the UK to achieve the Customer Service Excellence standard. This means they are very good at focusing on the needs of their students and visitors.
Research and Resources
The university has an online library of research papers and educational materials. These are available for free to anyone who wants to use them for learning.
Partnerships
The university works with many sports and cultural groups in the UK and other countries.
- Sporting Partnerships
- Leeds Rugby: This includes the Leeds Rhinos (rugby league) and Leeds Carnegie (rugby union).
- Yorkshire County Cricket Club
- In 2007, the university became the main sponsor for the Challenge Cup, a big rugby league competition.
- The university also sponsored the World Club Challenge matches in rugby league.
- Leeds Carnegie was a brand name used by several sports teams linked to the university's Carnegie School of Physical Education.
- Cultural Partnerships
- Royal Armouries: A museum with a national collection of arms and armour.
- West Yorkshire Playhouse: A large theatre in Leeds.
Student Life
The Leeds Beckett Students' Union is a group that represents all the students at the university. It helps students and offers advice. The union has a bar called The Hive on the City Campus, which also has two live music venues. The Headingley campus also has its own The Hive bar.
The Athletic Union is another group that organizes sports for students. Leeds Beckett teams often do very well in university sports competitions. There are also popular sports events each year between Leeds Beckett and Leeds University.
Famous People from Leeds Beckett University
Many interesting people have been part of Leeds Beckett University.
Leaders of the University
- Leslie Silver (1999–2005) - Chancellor
- Brendan Foster (2005–2009) - Chancellor
- Sir Bob Murray (2012–present) - Chancellor
- Christopher Price (1986–1994) - Director of Leeds Polytechnic
- Leslie Wagner (1994–2003) - Vice-Chancellor
- Simon Lee (2003–2009) - Vice-Chancellor
- Susan Price (2010–2015) - Vice-Chancellor
- Peter Slee (2015–present) - Vice-Chancellor
Notable Alumni
Many people who studied at Leeds Beckett University have gone on to do great things in different fields.
- Politics
- Colin Burgon – politician
- Kim Leadbeater – politician
- Andy McDonald – politician
- Eric Pickles – politician
- Phil Willis – politician
- Pholile Shakantu – politician from Eswatini
- Arts & Entertainment
- Marc Almond – singer and musician
- David Ball – musician
- Peter Cattaneo – filmmaker
- Rose English - Artist
- Green Gartside – musician
- Kim-Joy Hewlett, baker and cookbook writer
- Carol McNicoll – potter
- Stereo Mike – hip-hop artist
- Stass Paraskos – artist
- Sophie Parkin – writer, artist, poet
- Alexander Skarsgård – actor
- Frank Tovey – musician
- Andrew White – guitarist for Kaiser Chiefs
- Ricky Wilson – singer for Kaiser Chiefs
- Sport
- Alistair Brownlee – triathlete (runs, cycles, swims)
- Emily Campbell – weightlifter
- Austin Healey – rugby union player
- Keely Hodgkinson – athlete
- Lucy Bronze – football player
- Paul Heckingbottom – football player and manager
- Stuart Lancaster – rugby union coach
- Sam Quek – Team GB hockey player
- Georgia Taylor-Brown – Team GB triathlete
- Kevin Sinfield – Rugby league player
- David Stone – para-cyclist (cyclist with a disability)
- Ben Thaler – Rugby league referee
- Alex Yee – Team GB triathlete
- Business
- Simon Gray – businessman
- Richard Howson – chief executive of Carillion (a construction company)
- John Poulson – architectural designer
- Journalism
- Christian Fraser – BBC journalist
See also
- Armorial of UK universities
- Listed buildings in Leeds (Weetwood Ward)
- List of universities in the UK
- Post-1992 universities
