Shrewsbury Sixth Form College

Last updated

Shrewsbury Sixth Form College
Shrewsbury Sixth Form College Logo 2017.svg
Address
Shrewsbury Sixth Form College
Priory Road

Shrewsbury
,
Shropshire
,
SY1 1RX

England
Coordinates 52°42′32″N2°45′37″W / 52.70889°N 2.76028°W / 52.70889; -2.76028
Information
Type Sixth Form College
Established1981;43 years ago (1981)
Local authority Shropshire Council
Department for Education URN 130800 Tables
Ofsted Reports
ChairmanRoger Wilson [1]
PrincipalJames Staniforth [2]
Staffc.140
GenderCo-educational
Age16to 19
Enrolmentc.1,650 (9,450 inc. Shrewsbury College)
Colour(s)Blue, White, Black
   
Website www.scg.ac.uk

Shrewsbury Sixth Form College is a post-secondary co-educational sixth-form college located in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England. The college currently has an enrolment of approximately 1,650 students, [3] generally ranging between the ages of 16 and 19. The curriculum consists of AS, A levels and a small range of BTECs. GCSE English Language and Maths can only be taken alongside an A level programme as resits. [4] The college was ranked as the 17th-best sixth-form college in 2012 (out of 400 institutions), [5] has the best A-Level performance of any state-funded institution in Shropshire, [6] and has been awarded 'Beacon Status'. [7] The college's Welsh Bridge campus includes buildings of Grade II-listed status originally built in 1910 to house the Priory Grammar School for Boys. [8] [9]

Contents

History

Shrewsbury Sixth Form College was founded in 1981 and has developed into one of the top sixth forms in the country.

The Grade II listed main building, built in 1910, as viewed from Claremont Bank. Shrewsbury VI form College.JPG
The Grade II listed main building, built in 1910, as viewed from Claremont Bank.

The college has been at the top of the sixth-form college league tables for both AS and A2 level results for many years. Nationally the college was rated as 12th- and 27th-best in 2004 and 2005, respectively, with students having an average of 305.1 UCAS points (approximately ABB/ABC at A-Level) in 2004. [10] In 2009 AS level pass rates were at 94.7%, with 66% achieving grades A-C. For A2 level in the same period, pass levels were up to 98.7%, with 79% achieving A-C grades. [11] In the 2010 rankings, the college had the second best A-Level performance in Shropshire, after Concord College, superseding William Brookes School, Shrewsbury School and Shrewsbury High School. [12] In 2012, the college ranked well in The Sunday Times Schools Guide; performing well against both state and fee-paying schools, the college placed 17th nationally. [5] In 2013, the college achieved a 98% pass rate, with more than half of the students obtaining A*-B grades. [13]

SSFC performs well against local fee-paying schools, with the average A/AS points per student at 852, [14] versus 873 for Shrewsbury School [15] and 876 for Shrewsbury High School. [16] This is higher than both the Local Authority (738) and national (731) results, and for comparison, nearby Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology achieves a score of 574. [17] In 2009 the college surpassed Shrewsbury School, becoming the third best A-Level institution in Shropshire after Concord College and Shrewsbury High School. [18]

Many students go on to study at Russell Group universities. In 2013 and 2014 respectively, six [19] and seven [20] students were offered places at Oxford or Cambridge.

Proposed Co-Location

In November 2004 the college and nearby Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology announced plans to relocate and build a combined campus, with Shrewsbury College's existing London Road site earmarked as a potential location. [21] The colleges claimed that existing property "lacks modern facilities and is, in some cases, not fit for purpose". [22] The college's then-principal, Bill Dowell, wrote in the Shropshire Star declaring that "co-location is in the very best interests of the students". [23]

The proposals were met with resistance - with business owners in the town centre objecting the proposals early on; [24] the local MP's opposition to the proposals [25] [26] (including a brief discussion in Parliament [27] ); student protests (joined by the local MP); [25] [26] and public consultations. [25] The colleges branded the local MP a "chief difficulty" for his opposition to their proposals. [28]

In November 2008, nearly 4 years after the colleges announced their plans, Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council voted against the proposals 11 to 2. [29] Shortly after the college formally withdrew from proposals and were "revisiting other options". [30]

Merger

In November 2015 the college alongside Shrewsbury College and New College, Telford announced a proposal to merge, [31] in which each college would retain its own principal, "individual culture", and students would continue to apply to each college separately. [32] In February 2016 public consultation began where the proposed name of the combined college was announced to be "Central Shropshire Colleges Group". [33] [34]

In April 2016 following public consultation, New College backed out and proceeded with a separate merger with Telford College of Arts and Technology; the college and Shrewsbury College continued with their merger to occur on 31 July 2016 with the name "Shrewsbury Colleges Group". [35] [36]

In July 2016 the college merged with Shrewsbury College (based on London Road) to form the Shrewsbury Colleges Group. [37]

In the merged college's first Ofsted report, the college scored Inadequate in both "Behaviour and attitudes" and "Leadership and management" with the remaining scored at Good. [38] The college attempted to, unsuccessfully, overturn the report before it was published [39] - with Ofsted upholding the grading upon their revisit. [40]

Campuses

The college's Wakeman site, acquired in 2013 following the closure of Wakeman School. SSFC - Wakeman.JPG
The college's Wakeman site, acquired in 2013 following the closure of Wakeman School.

The college, is located on the banks of the River Severn. The Welsh Bridge Campus occupies the main and ancillary buildings of the former Priory Grammar School for Boys (itself built on the site of a medieval Augustinian friary).

English Bridge Campus (Abbey Foregate) – comprising Wakeman Hall and sports fields – Courses: Art & Design including Food Technology, Sport & PE, Humanities (English, Classical Civilisation, Religious Studies, Politics & History), Health & Social Care, Music & Dramatic Arts.

Welsh Bridge Campus (Priory Road) – comprising Austin, Priory Hall, Priory House, Quarry, Severn – Courses: Work Applied subjects (Business, ICT, Computer Science, Law & Economics), Social Science (Sociology, Geography, Psychology), Sciences, including electronics, Modern Foreign Languages, and Maths.

Students

The college has approximately 1,650 students. It is the sixth form for the following schools: Shrewsbury Academy (formally The Grange and Sundorne schools), Priory School, Meole Brace School, Belvidere School, Corbet School, Mary Webb School and Science College and Church Stretton School. Students from outside the 'partner schools' (listed above) are also accepted. Students in Shropshire are additionally able to go to other sixth-form colleges, which exist in Oswestry, Ludlow and Telford.[ citation needed ]

A-Level performance is comparable to the nearby independent fee-paying Shrewsbury School and Shrewsbury High School, resulting in a noticeable presence of previously independent-school students at the college. [6] Female students outnumber male students. The percentage of students from a minority ethnic heritage is small, mirroring the profile in the locality. [42]

Notable alumni

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shropshire</span> County in England

Shropshire is a ceremonial county in the West Midlands of England, on the border with Wales. It is bordered by Cheshire to the north, the Welsh county of Wrexham to the north and northwest, Staffordshire to the east, Worcestershire to the southeast, Herefordshire to the south, and the Welsh county of Powys to the west. The largest settlement is Telford, while Shrewsbury is the county town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telford</span> Town in Shropshire, England

Telford is a town in Shropshire, England. It is the administrative centre of Telford and Wrekin borough, a unitary authority which covers the town, its suburbs and surrounding settlements. The town is close to the county's eastern boundary, and near the River Severn.

Thomas Telford School is a City Technology College in Telford, Shropshire and is sponsored by The Mercers Company and Tarmac Holdings Limited.

New College Telford was a sixth form college situated in Wellington, an area within Telford, Shropshire, England. During December 2017 the merger between Telford College of Arts and Technology, and New College Telford, was officially certified by the Government, meaning the college now trades as Telford College since September 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sheffield College</span> Further education college in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

The Sheffield College is a large general further education college in Sheffield, England. The college has six campuses across the city and has 13,500 students enrolled as of 2021. It provides academic, technical and vocational training for school leavers and adults from across the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority region.

Lincolnshire is one of the few counties within the UK that still uses the eleven-plus to decide who may attend grammar school, in common with Buckinghamshire and Kent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness</span> Further education school in Sixth Form Campus, Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England

Furness College is a college of further education in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. It provides a wide range of A levels, vocational education and skills training to over 16s, notably working with BAE Systems to train apprentices for their shipyard in Barrow. The college also offers courses for adults, and runs HNDs and other higher education programmes including foundation degrees, degrees and master's degrees, for which it achieved Teaching Excellence Framework silver status in June 2017. It is the only college in Barrow and the largest further education college in Cumbria. On 1 August 2016, Furness College merged with Barrow Sixth Form College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrow Sixth Form College</span> Part of Furness College, in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England

Barrow Sixth Form College, part of Furness College, is in the outskirts of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. Barrow Sixth Form College was established in 1979 to fulfil the role of the main A level provider in Barrow following the merger of the two Barrow Grammar Schools and their change to deliver education to only 11 to 16 year-olds. It is the only sixth form college in Cumbria. A levels and Cambridge Technical qualifications are taught in buildings that have been specially designed for students over the age of sixteen. It includes facilities for physically disabled students and is a satellite campus for Beaumont. The college primarily educates students within the age range of 16–18 years, as well as courses for adult learners.

Herefordshire College is a college of further education (FE) based in Hereford, Herefordshire, and with a separate sixth form college campus in Ludlow, Shropshire.

Charlton School is a coeducational secondary school located in Telford, Shropshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hadley Learning Community</span> Academy in Telford, Shropshire, England

Hadley Learning Community (HLC) is a coeducational all-through school, for students from 3 – 16 years of age, located in the community of Hadley in central Telford, Shropshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wakeman School</span> Comprehensive school in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England

The Wakeman School and Arts College was a co-educational comprehensive school located in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England. The school was the only state secondary school in the town centre, located just to the east of the English Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telford College</span> Further education college in Telford, Shropshire, England

Telford College is a further education college in Telford, Shropshire, England. It operates from one main site and many in-company training sites and community-based courses spread out across Shropshire and the whole of the United Kingdom. During 2017 the college improved its Ofsted rating to Grade 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Priory School, Shrewsbury</span> Academy in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England

The Priory School is a secondary school with academy status in the market town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The school was opened in September 1939 and became a Business and Enterprise College in 2003, with the addition of Applied GCSE courses to the curriculum. The Priory was a girls' grammar school linked to the Priory Grammar School for Boys, but has since become a mixed non-selective school.

The City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College is a mixed sixth form college on Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent. It opened its new building on Leek Road in September 2010 having previously been located on Victoria Road, Fenton. The college is also known as Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, and - prior to its relocation - Fenton Sixth Form College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berry Hill High School and Sports College</span> Community school in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England

Berry Hill High School and Sports College was a mixed, secondary school in Berry Hill, Stoke-on-Trent, one of the two predecessors to St Peter's Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Adams School</span> Academy in Wem, Shropshire, England

Thomas Adams School is a coeducational secondary school, boarding school and sixth form in Wem, Shropshire, England. The school takes pupils from ages 11–18 and currently has just over 1,300 on roll. The school has the Schools for Health Award and in 2002 obtained Media Arts College status.The school is located on a 30 acre site split across 2 campuses which are connected. The Lowe Hill site is the location of the secondary school (11-16) whilst the Noble Street site is the location for the sixth form and adjacent boarding houses. The boarding house can accommodate up to 65 students and is one of only 32 state boarding schools in England.

Shrewsbury College is a further education college in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.

Telford Priory School is a coeducational secondary school located in the Wrockwardine Wood area of Telford in Shropshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callywith College</span> Further education college in Cornwall, England

Callywith College is a further education college in Bodmin, Cornwall. The first all-new college in the UK for 20 years, it was created with the assistance of Truro and Penwith College to serve students aged 16–19 from mid, north and east Cornwall, and opened in September 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "College Governance". Shrewsbury Colleges Group. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "The Senior Leadership Team". Shrewsbury Colleges Group. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. ↑ "Department for Education page on the college". Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
  4. ↑ "Shrewsbury Sixth Form College Inspection Report May 2003". Ofsted . Retrieved 22 September 2007.
  5. 1 2 "SSFC ranked in Top 20 of Sixth Form Colleges Across the Country". Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 "BBC Education – Shropshire listings". BBC News. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
  7. ↑ Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) – 14–19 Learning – 6th form schools – Curriculum planning – Timetabling Archived 6 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "SHREWSBURY SIXTH FORM COLLEGE MAIN BUILDING". Historic England . Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, The Priory". Historic England . Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  10. ↑ http://www.hbjsh.com/lx/yg/3top50.pdf%5B%5D
  11. ↑ "Shrewsbury Sixth Form College - academicresults - .: A Shrewsbury College". Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  12. ↑ "Secondary schools and colleges in Shropshire". BBC News. 12 January 2011.
  13. ↑ "Results Success For Students". Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "BBC News, School league tables 2007, Shropshire LA". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  15. ↑ "BBC News, School league tables 2007, Shropshire LA". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  16. ↑ "BBC News, School league tables 2007, Shropshire LA". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  17. ↑ "BBC News, School league tables 2007, Shropshire LA". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  18. ↑ "Secondary schools in Shropshire". BBC News. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  19. ↑ "Results Success for Students". Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  20. ↑ "Oxbridge Success for Students". Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  21. ↑ "Colleges announce combined campus". BBC News . BBC. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "Shrewsbury Colleges Co-Location Project FAQs" (PDF). Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  23. ↑ Dowell, Bill. "Everyone wins if colleges co-locate". Shropshire Star . Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "Businessman's colleges plea". Shropshire Star . 14 December 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  25. 1 2 3 "Student protest at college move". BBC News . BBC. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  26. 1 2 "Protest over colleges plan". Shropshire Star . 21 December 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  27. ↑ "Shrewsbury Sixth-form College". UK Parliament. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  28. ↑ "Colleges brand MP a 'difficulty'". Shropshire Star . 28 January 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  29. ↑ "Joint college site plans rejected". BBC News . BBC. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  30. ↑ "Co-location bid scrapped after college withdraws". Shropshire Star . 21 November 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  31. ↑ "Three Shropshire colleges announce merger plan". BBC. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  32. ↑ "Three Shropshire colleges propose merger to create largest Sixth Form College in the country". Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. 11 November 2015. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  33. ↑ "Consultation over Shropshire colleges' merger under way". Shropshire Star. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  34. ↑ "Public consultation over merger of three Shropshire Colleges now open". Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  35. ↑ "Shrewsbury colleges to merge - while New College in Telford looks to merge with TCAT". Shropshire Star. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  36. ↑ "Three College Merger Proposal Update". Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  37. ↑ "Merger is 'exciting' for Shrewsbury college students". Shropshire Star. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  38. ↑ "Inspection of Shrewsbury Colleges Group November 2019". Ofsted . Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  39. ↑ Mersinoglu, Yasemin Craggs. "'I've never experienced anything like this': Shrewsbury College in grade 4 battle". FE Week. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  40. ↑ Mersinoglu, Yasemin Craggs. "Shrewsbury college loses grade 4 battle with Ofsted". FE Week. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  41. ↑ "Shrewsbury Sixth Form College to take over Wakeman School site". Shropshire Star. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  42. ↑ "Shrewsbury Sixth Form College Inspection Report May 2008". Ofsted . Retrieved 7 December 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.