Runshaw College Review 2026: Lancashire's Premier Sixth Form College

A comprehensive sixth form college in the heart of Lancashire that sends more students to Russell Group universities than most schools in England. From 350 students in 1974 to over 5,000 learners today, Runshaw College has established itself as one of the largest A-level providers in the country. The March 2025 Ofsted inspection rated the college Good overall, with Outstanding grades for behaviour, attitudes, personal development, adult learning, and provision for learners with high needs. Nine students secured Oxbridge places in 2024, continuing a tradition that has produced actors, Olympic medallists, and Members of Parliament.

The college occupies a leafy campus in Leyland, with 13 buildings named after areas of the Lake District, a nod to the ancient woodland that surrounds the site. The naming convention reflects a broader culture of regional pride and identity that permeates campus life.

Clare Russell has led the college as Principal and CEO since succeeding Bernard O'Connell, who was knighted for his services to education during Runshaw's period of national expansion in the 1990s. Under Russell's leadership, the college has invested over £25 million in buildings and facilities over the past decade, including the £3 million Buttermere teaching block that opened in January 2023.

The Ofsted inspection in March 2025 noted that students appreciate the wholly inclusive and welcoming college culture where diversity is celebrated. Students feel valued and listened to. Teachers build friendly and purposeful relationships and encourage students to share their ideas and opinions. The inspection confirmed that feedback from students leads to tangible change.

The Amanda Roocroft Theatre, named after the Olivier Award-winning opera singer who studied at Runshaw, hosts dance, drama, and musical theatre productions throughout the year. The 128-seat venue reflects the college's commitment to performance arts alongside academic study.

A-level results place Runshaw in line with the middle 35% of sixth form providers in England, ranking 1,082nd out of 2,649 providers for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking). The college achieves 51.3% of grades at A*-B, compared to the England average of 47.2%.

At the top end, 6.4% of grades achieve A*, with 23.6% at A*-A combined. The college takes pride in awarding over 1,000 A*-A grades annually, a volume that reflects its large cohort rather than exceptional top-end performance.

The picture improves when examining trajectories rather than raw grades. A-level students have consistently achieved an average of a Grade B in their qualifications every year for more than a decade. For a genuinely comprehensive intake without entrance exams, this represents solid value-added.

The curriculum spans over 40 A-level subjects, making Runshaw one of the largest A-level providers nationally. Sciences, humanities, languages, and creative arts are all represented. Entry requires five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including English and mathematics.

The £3 million Buttermere building houses T-level courses in Digital and Civil Engineering, plus an Architecture Academy that opened in March 2023. This represents the college's investment in technical routes alongside traditional A-levels.

STEM provision has received particular attention. The college holds STEM Assured accreditation and offers specialist laboratories and facilities. An Esports centre fitted with 15 Alienware PCs opened in 2022, adding gaming-related study to the curriculum.

Beyond traditional classroom teaching, the college has developed specialist facilities including a cabin crew training set, media and makeup rooms, photography studios, stage and green rooms, and a gym alongside three sports courts.

40% of 2024 leavers progressed to university, with the college ranking 132nd in England for combined Oxbridge placements. Nine students secured Oxbridge places that year, from 86 applications, representing an offer rate of 11.6%.

The Oxbridge breakdown shows five students accepted at Oxford and four at Cambridge. This places Runshaw 108th in England for Oxford admissions and 201st for Cambridge.

The college features among the top feeder schools for multiple Russell Group universities, with 1,267 Russell Group offers placing it alongside elite state providers like Greenhead College and Brampton Manor. Medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science remain popular destinations, with 25 students receiving offers for these competitive courses in 2024.

Beyond university, 31% of leavers entered employment directly, 11% started apprenticeships, and 3% continued with further education. This breadth of destinations reflects the college's comprehensive mission.

The Runshaw Scholars programme provides enhanced support for the highest-performing A-level students targeting the most competitive university destinations. The programme offers mentoring focused on successful applications to Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, and other research-intensive universities.

This targeted intervention helps explain how a college with middle-tier average grades nonetheless sends significant numbers to elite destinations. The scholars programme sits alongside broader UCAS support available to all students.

The college has developed an extensive academies and societies programme that extends learning beyond the curriculum. The Art Academy supports gifted students across A-level visual arts subjects, teaching a breadth of media techniques and processes. The Allied Health Society prepares students for health-related degrees through guest lectures, workshops, and practical sessions.

Aspiring Teachers at Runshaw delivers a six-week programme for students considering teaching careers, combining taught sessions with work placement guidance. The Criminology Academy covers criminal extremism, knife crime, domestic abuse, gang violence, and serial murder, with students helping manage the college's annual Public Services and Social Sciences Conference.

For creatively inclined students, The Insider provides a student-run magazine showcasing literary, journalistic, and editorial work. The Computer Science Academy offers video game development using industry-standard programming languages and algorithm-based challenges.

Sport facilities include three outdoor courts and a gymnasium. Holly Bradshaw, who won an Olympic bronze medal in pole vault at Tokyo 2020, studied at Runshaw before her international career. Olivia Sheridan, who broke the junior world record in para powerlifting, studied BTEC Sport and Exercise Science at the college.

Runshaw has produced notable figures across entertainment, sport, and politics. Steve Pemberton, co-creator of The League of Gentlemen and Inside No. 9, studied A-levels in French, German, and Theatre Studies between 1984 and 1986. John Thomson, best known as Pete Gifford in Cold Feet and for The Fast Show, also attended the college. Joe Gilgun, who played the central character in Sky's Brassic through all seven series, studied A-levels at Runshaw.

Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005 and former party leader, attended Runshaw before reading Politics at Newcastle University. Amanda Roocroft, whose 2007 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera led to the college theatre being named in her honour, graduated before studying at the Royal Northern College of Music.

These success stories span decades, reflecting sustained quality rather than isolated achievement.

Entry requires five GCSEs at grade 5 or above in separate national curriculum subjects, including a minimum of grade 4 in both English and mathematics. There is no entrance examination, catchment area, or distance criterion. The college serves students from across Lancashire and beyond, with significant numbers travelling from Blackburn, Wigan, Preston, and Chorley.

Applications are made directly through the college website. Open events for 2025-26 entry are scheduled for Saturday 20th September 2025 and Saturday 15th November 2025. Subject Choice Days in July allow prospective students to sample subjects before finalising their programme.

Enrolment takes place on GCSE Results Day, with classes beginning in early September. The admissions team can be contacted at admissions@runshaw.ac.uk or by telephone on 01772 643000.

Progress Mentors provide pastoral support to students throughout their time at college. The March 2025 Ofsted inspection rated behaviour and attitudes as Outstanding, noting that students feel valued and listened to.

The college has received Matrix accreditation for information, advice, and guidance services, alongside Cyber Essentials certification. NHS approval indicates the college meets healthcare sector standards for partnership working.

Students contribute positively to the college and wider communities, with pastoral support extending to safeguarding arrangements that meet required standards.

The college is located at Langdale Road, Leyland, Lancashire, PR25 3DQ. The main campus consolidates provision following the sale of the Chorley campus to Lancashire Constabulary in 2022.

Transport services operate from across the region, reflecting the college's wide catchment. Runshaw Dining provides on-site catering, with a public restaurant operating alongside student dining facilities.

Not academically selective. The college welcomes students meeting the five GCSE threshold without entrance testing. This creates a genuinely comprehensive intake, which means high-achievers will study alongside peers with lower prior attainment. Families seeking an academically selective environment should consider grammar schools or independent alternatives.

Volume over exclusivity. With over 5,000 learners, Runshaw offers scale and subject breadth but cannot replicate the intensive support of smaller sixth forms. Class sizes will be larger than many school-based sixth forms.

Raw grades versus added value. A-level results sit in the middle tier for England. Families focused primarily on top grades should examine destinations and value-added rather than headline percentages. The Scholars programme helps high-achievers, but requires students to actively engage.

Travel considerations. Students travel from across Lancashire and beyond. Journey times from Blackburn, Wigan, or Preston may be significant, particularly for those relying on public transport.

Runshaw College delivers genuine breadth and opportunity within a comprehensive sixth form setting. The Scholars programme creates pathways to elite universities, evidenced by consistent Oxbridge placements, while vocational routes and apprenticeships serve students with different aspirations. Outstanding grades for behaviour, personal development, and high-needs provision confirm that the college serves its full community well.

Best suited to motivated students from Lancashire who will thrive in a large, diverse college environment with extensive subject choice and extracurricular opportunities. Families seeking smaller class sizes, academic selection, or traditional school-based sixth forms should consider alternatives. For students willing to engage with available support, Runshaw offers genuine routes to competitive destinations without entrance barriers.