Telford College Commits Over £1 Million to New Sixth Form Centre

Telford College is dedicating more than £1 million to furnish its forthcoming sixth form centre, aiming to align with the aspirations of its student body. The extensive investment supports the completion of the Telford 6th building, scheduled for mid-June, coinciding with the college’s announcement of a search for a Vice Principal to oversee the new A-level facility.

The funding encompasses the comprehensive interior fit-out, including £450,000 allocated to IT and audio-visual technology, alongside £190,000 spent on curriculum-specific equipment such as science laboratory apparatus and lighting for the drama studio. Additionally, the college has procured 25 interactive 86-inch digital screens, 240 laptops, 40 wi-fi access points, and invested £350,000 in furniture, comprising 526 classroom chairs and 468 desks.

Specialist amenities within the centre include science laboratories, a drama studio, an arts studio, and a custom-designed library, all situated centrally in Telford’s Station Quarter. This £9 million development is supported by government funding granted to Telford & Wrekin Council, which owns Addenbrooke House, the building undergoing transformation. The project forms part of the broader Station Quarter initiative, which also features the Quad digital enterprise centre, where the college currently educates over 100 students.

Lawrence Wood, Principal and CEO of Telford College, stated: “Everything we are investing in, from the labs to the studios, the technology in every classroom and a library designed around how sixth formers actually learn, is about matching the ambition of the young people this centre has been built for.” He added, “Addenbrooke House has been completely stripped back and rebuilt from the inside out and what is emerging is something the whole town can be proud of. This is A-level provision in the heart of Telford town centre – accessible, ambitious and designed to give every young person who walks through those doors the very best start.”

Wood also highlighted the college’s wider investment strategy, noting the recent opening of a £2 million library at its Wellington campus. “Every student at Telford College, whatever their route and wherever they study, benefits from what we are building here,” he said.

The college is actively recruiting an experienced leader to direct Telford 6th and shape the educational journey of over 500 students. Wood emphasised the significance of this appointment: “Telford College is about to do something which has not been done in our borough before – open a brand-new sixth form centre in the heart of the town centre. This is a multi-million-pound investment in young people and in this community and one of the most exciting opportunities in further education in the West Midlands region. The Vice Principal we appoint will be central to making it a success.”

Holly Wade, head of capital projects at Telford College, remarked on the collaborative effort involved in the final stages of the transformation. “The final stages of a transformation of this scale require an enormous amount of partnership work. We could not have got to this point without the support and expertise of our colleagues at Telford & Wrekin Council, project manager Gleeds, constructor McPhillips and the whole supply chain,” she said. Wade added, “We have overseen every detail of this fit-out to make sure that when staff walk in in August and students arrive in September, everything is ready.”

A formal opening ceremony for the new sixth form centre is planned for early October 2026.