Telford College Review 2026: The Region’s Skills Engine

Standing as the largest further education provider in Shropshire, Telford College is less a school and more a pre-professional training ground. Created from the 2017 merger of TCAT and New College Telford, it occupies a sprawling, industry-focused campus in Wellington. The atmosphere here is distinct from a school sixth form; the bells have been replaced by a sense of adult independence, and the classrooms often look more like hospital wards, engineering workshops, or digital studios.

Mr Lawrence Wood, appointed Principal and CEO in August 2024, leads the college with a clear mandate: employability. The curriculum is heavily shaped by local industry needs, from the NHS to advanced manufacturing. While it maintains a dedicated A-level centre, the college’s true heavyweight status lies in its vocational and technical provision, including the new T-Levels.

The 2025 Ofsted inspection rated the college Good, praising its "partnership approach" and the way it plugs local skills gaps. For the 16-year-old ready to leave the constraints of school behind and start training for a specific career, this is the region’s primary destination.

Walking onto the Haybridge Road campus feels like entering a workplace. There are no uniforms for the general student body, though you will see Health & Social Care students in scrubs and construction students in PPE, mirroring the industries they are training for. The "Rendezvous" area serves as the social hub, a bustling space where prospective accountants mix with trainee electricians.

The college prides itself on being a "careers college". This is not an academic hothouse where success is measured solely by university acceptance letters; it is a pragmatic environment focused on skills. The culture requires self-discipline. Students are treated as young adults and expected to manage their own time. There are no detention slips for missing homework, but there are professional consequences for lack of engagement.

Facilities are the college’s strongest asset. The campus houses the "7th" Innovation Hub, a high-tech centre equipped with virtual and augmented reality technology that allows students to simulate complex tasks—from surgical procedures to engine diagnostics—before attempting them in the real world. On-site commercial ventures, such as The Orange Tree restaurant and The Retreat hair and beauty salon, are open to the public, adding a layer of professional accountability to the training.

The college’s academic profile is complex. It serves a non-selective, inclusive cohort, and its results should be viewed through the lens of "distance travelled" rather than raw league table positions.

A-Level Outcomes

In 2024, the college’s A-level performance sat in the national lower band (FindMySchool ranking: 2,467th in England). The proportion of top grades is modest compared to selective sixth forms, with 15.55% of entries achieving A*-B. However, pass rates in many subjects, including Business, Economics, and Mathematics, hit 100%.

These figures reflect an inclusive admissions policy that gives students a chance to study A-levels even without a string of grade 8s and 9s at GCSE. For students who need a supportive environment to reach their potential, the value-added can be significant, even if the raw grades are lower than at a grammar school.

Vocational & Technical Excellence

Vocational outcomes tell the real success story. In 2024, the college recorded its best-ever BTEC results, with a third of students achieving triple distinction grades or higher (equivalent to three A grades at A-level). T-Level results—the new technical qualification—were equally impressive, with 100% pass rates in Digital and Health pathways. In these practical subjects, Telford College consistently outperforms many academic competitors.

Teaching here is defined by industry expertise. Many staff are "dual professionals", meaning they continue to work in their sector while teaching. In the automotive and construction workshops, tutors operate more like site managers than teachers, emphasising safety, precision, and professional standards.

The curriculum is vast. Beyond the A-level centre, the college has embraced T-Levels in areas such as Health, Science, and Digital. These courses include substantial industry placements (45 days), requiring a teaching approach that bridges theory and workplace practice.

In the A-level centre, teaching follows a seminar style. Class sizes vary; popular subjects like Psychology and Criminology see larger groups, while niche subjects enjoy smaller, tutorial-style ratios. The college uses Microsoft Teams extensively as a learning platform, supporting the independent study habits required for higher education.

The destination data highlights the college’s distinctive character as a pipeline to the workforce.

In 2024, 12% of leavers progressed to university. While this is lower than traditional sixth forms, it includes high-quality progressions; in the most recent cycle, one student secured a place at the University of Cambridge, proving that the academic ceiling is not capped for those with drive.

The dominant story is employment. A significant 48% of the cohort moved directly into employment or apprenticeships. This reflects the college’s success in its core mission: employability. Many students progress into roles with local engineering firms, NHS trusts, and digital enterprises, often with employers they met during work placements.

Entry to Telford College is generally non-selective, though specific courses have strict criteria.

For A-level programmes, students typically require five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths. T-Levels and Level 3 BTECs have similar requirements. However, the college offers pathways for almost every starting point, including Level 1 and 2 courses for those who need to build their qualifications.

Applications are made directly via the college website. The process is "rolling", meaning there is no strict deadline, but popular courses like Engineering and Electrical Installation fill up quickly. Early application in the Autumn term of Year 11 is strongly advised.

Transitioning from school to a large college can be a culture shock. To manage this, each student is assigned a Learner Manager—similar to a form tutor but with a focus on attendance and progress.

The college has a dedicated Student Hub team offering support with mental health, financial bursaries, and counselling. The 2025 Ofsted report praised the "calm environment" and noted that students feel safe. The college also provides robust support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), with a dedicated team ensuring learning support in class and during exams.

Student life is active but different from the club culture of a school. The college operates several "Academies" that function almost like semi-professional outfits.

Sports & Academies

The Sports Academy includes men’s and women’s football academies, run in partnership with professional coaching staff, and a rugby academy. Students combine their studies with elite-level training and competitive fixtures in Association of Colleges leagues.

Enrichment

The enrichment programme includes the Student Council, LGBTQ+ support groups, and gaming clubs utilising the VR suite. However, for many students, "extracurricular" means work experience. The college organises extensive placements, and for many, their part-time job or placement is their primary activity outside lessons.

The campus is located on Haybridge Road in Wellington, well-served by public transport. Wellington train station is a short walk away. Crucially, the college operates its own network of subsidised buses covering routes across Shropshire and into Staffordshire, making it accessible for students from rural areas.

The college day typically runs between 9:00am and 4:30pm, though individual timetables vary. Students are only required to be on campus for their timetabled sessions.

Adult environment. This is a further education college, not a school. Students share the campus with adult learners. The freedom is extensive; no one rings a bell to tell you to go to class. Students who lack self-motivation can sometimes drift in this environment.

A-level context. Families should be aware that while A-levels are offered, they are not the college’s dominant focus. The "academic hothouse" atmosphere of a selective sixth form is absent. Students aiming for elite universities will need to be self-driven to excel here.

Vocational strength. Conversely, for students seeking technical skills, the facilities dwarf what most schools can offer. If a student wants to be an engineer, a nurse, or a chef, the equipment and industry links here provide a head start that a traditional classroom cannot match.

Telford College acts as the engine room for the local economy. It is not designed to top league tables for A-level grades, but to produce competent, skilled, and employable young adults. For the academic high-flyer solely focused on Oxbridge, the environment may feel too broad; however, recent Cambridge successes prove it is possible. Best suited to students ready to leave the school environment behind and focus on career-specific skills in facilities that mirror the working world.