It continues to be an exciting time for the team at Telford College.
From September 2018 we will be operating from one campus, at Haybridge Road, for the first time.
Bringing together our wide range of curriculum – built around A levels, vocational, part time and university-level courses and as well as apprenticeships.
We have never lost sight of the most important thing – our commitment to students and qualifications and skills built around the needs of local employers.
In April, Ofsted monitored the progress we continue to make highlighting “learners make good progress” and there are “improvements in the quality of teaching” during their visit.
Our staff have been fantastic, it has been a team effort and there is superb work being carried out across the college.
We are a growing college with growing applications and a very bright future.
But becoming one college has given us the opportunity to reflect on the courses we offer, and the people we need to deliver them.
Our new curriculum covers over 70 different industries meaning a wide range of option available for students to achieve their career goals.
I would like to personally thank headteachers, schools and employers across Telford & Wrekin for the feedback we have received to ensure we are meeting the needs of students, schools and the local economy.
One of our major innovations is the launch of our new 7th Form for A level courses – the first of its kind in the region and the UK.
We will be blending A level courses with direct links not just to universities, but crucially industry mentors from local companies.
It means students can hear first-hand from the people who have been there and done it, about what person they need to be and the skills they need to make it in their chosen career.
The knowledge that leading businesses are working with us to shape our students is, we believe, priceless in giving people the best possible start.
Our positive relationship with businesses also allows us to support companies with their levy and non-levy funding to create more apprenticeships opportunities in the region – with the college being above national targets.
We have been working particularly closely with the construction and engineering industry on initiatives to help tackle a skills shortage in the sector. We will be launching a number of new courses in engineering, construction skills and the built environment.
A great deal of investment is being made to the facilities at the Haybridge campus in readiness for the new academic year.
One of the most exciting is £750,000 worth of new virtual and augmented reality equipment into our new virtual reality suite. This will make us the leading college in the country for developing skills in virtual reality.
We are set to improve our results last year and we’re looking forward to yet more progress over the coming 12 months.
TELFORD COLLEGE, FOR JUNE 7, 2018
By Graham Guest, principal and chief executive of Telford College
