A working farm, an animal management unit, and a zoo open to the public at weekends create a distinctive setting for a large further education provider. The St Albans site is where the land-based specialisms sit, while Welwyn Garden City hosts a different mix, including areas such as health and social care, engineering, construction, and the performing arts. There is also provision in Borehamwood, with a strong adult learning focus, including English for speakers of other languages.
Leadership is led by Principal and CEO Andrew Slade, in post since 2021.
The college is large and multi-campus, so “feel” varies by programme and site. What comes through consistently in formal evidence is that students value the support they receive from tutors and that learning environments are calm and productive. For many learners, the practical nature of the offer is central, with specialist spaces designed to reflect real workplaces, particularly in land-based and vocational areas.
The scale also means breadth. The provider teaches a wide spread of levels, with substantial numbers on entry level through to level 3, and a smaller cohort at level 4. Adult learning and high-needs provision form meaningful parts of the overall picture, rather than being bolt-ons.
The latest Ofsted further education and skills inspection (19 to 22 September 2023) judged the college Good overall, with all key judgement areas also graded Good.
For families focused specifically on A-level outcomes, the published A-level dataset paints a more challenging picture. Ranked 2,548th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), this places results below England average (within the bottom 40% of providers on this measure). 8% of grades were A* to B, compared with an England average of 47.2%. This gap is material for students choosing between an A-level heavy route and a predominantly vocational route.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
8%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
A strength of the college model is course choice and progression planning. The curriculum spans programmes for young people, adult learning, access to higher education, and specialist high-needs pathways, and the inspection evidence describes teaching that builds knowledge in a clear sequence, moving learners from foundational skills to more complex work. Tutors are described as well qualified in vocational areas, and some maintain current sector knowledge through continued industry practice.
For adults returning to education, the evidence base is particularly specific: support is focused on organisation, study skills, and confidence building, with adult learners using the college as a re-entry point to structured learning, including access to higher education programmes.
Destinations data for the 2023/24 leaver cohort indicates a mixed outcomes profile: 14% progressed to university, 8% to further education, 9% to apprenticeships, and 38% to employment.
At the highest end of academic progression, the same dataset records 2 Oxbridge applications and 1 acceptance in the measurement period. This is a small absolute number, but it signals that the most academically ambitious students can and do pursue elite routes from within a broad further education setting.
Admissions are handled directly through the college. The published process is designed to be accessible: students apply online for courses, receive a conditional offer, accept their place, then upload GCSE results once released, with enrolment activity running at the end of August for September starts.
Open events are a practical way to test fit because course areas can feel very different. The college advertises open events for prospective 16+ learners, adults, apprenticeships, and higher-level study, with booking and campus tours typically available.
For applicants interested in the sports academies, there are also dedicated Wolves events, including a scheduled Wolfpack Day on 16 February 2026.
Support is a prominent theme in formal evidence. Learners describe feeling included and well supported by tutors, with mentors helping students overcome barriers to learning. Ofsted also reports that learners feel safe and know how to raise concerns.
High-needs provision is described as substantial, with planned transitions into college, multi-disciplinary working with families and carers, and timely access to therapies such as physiotherapy and other specialist support. For the right learner, this is a major differentiator compared with more limited post-16 offers.
Extracurricular life is strongest where the provider has built branded pathways and specialist environments. Oaklands Wolves is a major example, with a structured academy model across sports such as athletics, basketball, cheerleading, cycling, hockey, rugby, football, netball, and more.
Facilities also create enrichment by default. The St Albans campus includes land-based provision with an animal management unit and zoo, and students can also encounter public-facing operations such as The Stables Restaurant through the wider college ecosystem.
The published academic calendar confirms enrolment activity for the 2025 to 2026 cycle running from 21 August to 5 September 2025, with term dates set through to July 2026.
Transport planning matters for a multi-site provider. The college publishes specific bus routes for St Albans and Welwyn Garden City, including frequent services on key routes into the St Albans campus.
For open events, the college states that free parking is available at both campuses, with limited spaces at Welwyn Garden City.
A-level outcomes on the published measure. If A-level grades are your main priority, the available A-level dataset is weak relative to England averages. This makes course-level due diligence important, especially for students considering a primarily academic pathway.
Multi-campus logistics. Course choice is a strength, but travel time can be a constraint when learners are tied to a particular campus for specialist facilities or timetables.
Different funding rules by age and course type. For 16 to 18 study programmes, there are no tuition fees in the way families associate with independent schools, but adult learners may face course charges depending on eligibility, funding category, or loan routes, so confirm early.
Sports academy expectations. The academy model can suit students who want structured high-performance sport alongside study, but it adds commitment and, in some cases, residential elements.
Oaklands College is best understood as a wide, vocationally anchored post-16 provider with specialist facilities that most sixth forms cannot match, and a support model that is well evidenced for both young people and adult learners. It suits students who want practical, employment-facing learning, or a clear technical route, and who will benefit from the scale of provision across campuses. Families prioritising a purely academic A-level track should interrogate course-by-course outcomes and teaching models carefully before committing.
Use FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature to keep track of alternative post-16 routes locally, and to compare offers side-by-side when you are balancing A-level, vocational, and apprenticeship pathways.
The most recent further education and skills inspection judged the college Good overall (September 2023), and formal evidence describes calm learning environments and strong student support. For A-level focused applicants, published A-level outcomes on the available measure are below England averages, so suitability depends heavily on the course route a student intends to take.
Applications are made directly through the college course pages. Applicants typically receive a conditional offer, accept their place, then complete enrolment after GCSE results are released, with advice and enrolment activity usually running at the end of August for September starts.
The college runs open events covering 16+ study, adult learning, apprenticeships, and higher-level courses. Dates vary across the year, but there are typically autumn and spring events, and some academy pathways run their own scheduled recruitment events.
Yes. The college offers A-levels alongside a wide mix of vocational, technical, and adult programmes, and it also teaches specialist routes including high-needs provision. Students should check subject entry requirements and campus location for their intended pathway.
The college publishes bus route information for both St Albans and Welwyn Garden City, including routes connecting from nearby towns and key rail or bus interchanges. Travel planning is particularly important because the provider operates across multiple sites.
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