About Us

Here you can read statements on our financial performance for the latest and previous academic years.

Executive pay

The number of employees with a gross annual salary and benefits of £100,000 or more in £10,000 increments. 

Shrewsbury Colleges Group is committed to providing web pages that are accessible to all users.

The Shrewsbury Colleges Group website aims to meet a minimum of WCAG 2.0 AA compliance in line with the Web Accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.0) standards.

Documents on our website, such as policies, are being replaced as PDFs in a format that meets accessibility standards.

Please contact the Webmaster if you have any issues with accessing the information on this website or if you wish to provide any feedback.

When websites are designed, developed and edited, all users can have equal access to the sites' information, functionality and benefits. We aim to make our website accessible and usable for people of all abilities and disabilities.

We aim to audit our website every six months and resolve any conflicts that may have arisen since the last audit (January 2020).

August 2020 Audit

After testing the website in July 2020 and auditing any issues arising, the following actions have been taken:

• More informative ALT text has been added to logos and images on the website to help visitors who use screen readers
• All logos and illustrations have been replaced with Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) versions which are more accessible to a wider group of users, including users with low vision, colour blindness and users of assistive technologies
• All pages have been updated to provide enough contrast between text colour and its background making the website more accessible to people with low contrast sensitivity and colour blindness
• Word and PDF documents that do not work well with assistive technologies are now being published in HTML format wherever possible so that our documents can use the custom browser settings of our visitors

March 2021 Audit

Since the August 2020 audit we have continues to improve the accessibility of the website and after auditing any issues arising, the following actions have been taken:

• All page templates have been run through the AXE automated testing tool recommended by the Government Digital Service’s (GDS), with all Critical, Serious, Moderate and Minor issues resolved.
• Removal of automatic carousel movement to make banners easier to navigate via a keyboard
• An HTML HE course specification template has been produced to replace the existing PDF documents
• Where possible, online forms have been created to replaced Word and PDF forms

Accessibility issues that we are unable to resolve

Some third-party content fails accessibility tests and as it is not part of the SCG system, we are unable to resolve the issues.

Embedded YouTube videos
Website landmarks help to organise the various types of content on a page for users of assistive technologies. There is currently no method of adding landmarks to embedded YouTube videos.

Embedded Google Maps
Embedded Google Maps are not screen-reader accessible so we have used code to hide them from screen readers and included a more accessible link to our campuses on Google Maps.

Many people use assistive technologies to allow them to view websites in easier-to-read colours, larger fonts or as spoken text. They can also help to navigate around a site using the keyboard only.

The following items have been prioritised to assist with consistency and accessibility:

• Consistent Shrewsbury Colleges Group Header and Footer navigation
• Navigation - Website navigation is coded as lists to ensure that all menu navigation can be read by screen readers.
• Heading elements (H1, H2, H3) etc. are used throughout the website.
• Images - All images are coded to use an ALT attribute. Blank alt attributes are used for decorative images such as bulleted-list images, spacer images, etc.
• Font-sizing and Stylesheets - Content and presentation are separate with presentation being controlled by Stylesheets. The default font is set to a sans-serif for main webpage content and fonts can be resized in each browser (see table below for detailed instructions).
• Forms - All forms are coded where labels are explicitly linked to relevant input field

This website can be customised to suit your own needs and preferences by changing basic appearance settings in the following browsers:

Additional Learning Support

To find out the range of support options available to our students please visit the Additional Learning Support section of the website.

James Staniforth
Principal and Chief Executive

“I am delighted you are thinking of studying at Shrewsbury Colleges Group. We are the largest college in Shropshire with the widest choice of courses available for school leavers to study. We also offer a huge range of other courses, including Apprenticeships, degree level, Distance Learning, free numeracy and literacy courses, vocational diplomas and part-time professional development and hobby courses.

As Shrewsbury Colleges Group we can now offer academic excellence at our English and Welsh Bridge town centre campuses and vocational excellence at our technical and professional centre based at London Road. We can provide the best facilities, teaching and resources for all of our students.

At the core of our success is our commitment to individual students. This means high quality teaching and close tutorial support. All subjects offer additional one to one and small group support for students who are struggling or who want to push themselves even further. Our excellence programme has been set up to provide additional support for students applying to the top universities. Our Student Support team is there to offer advice and guidance with any difficulties. We want you to enjoy your time with us and achieve your potential.

College life isn't just about studying, and student life is brilliant. SCG is a place where you will meet new friends and develop new interests. There are many activities taking place inside and outside College including sports, music, dance and drama. Every year we run trips across the country, Europe and the world, including to Greece, Italy and Paris. This blend of excellent teaching, support and enrichment is why so many students travel to us from across Shropshire, Telford and from Wales. Excellent transport links make it easy to get to our different campuses.

Our modern student-focussed facilities include Bridges Cafés at all three campuses. Student Services are based in The Hub at London Road, the Common Room at Welsh Bridge and in the Quiet Study Area at English Bridge Campus, so it's easy to get advice about any questions or concerns, whether it is about support with your studies, travel to college or financial help. Our Learning Resource Centres are a place for you to work and research. We have extensive sports facilities including indoor halls at London Road and English Bridge campuses and outdoor facilities at London Road, including a gym, 3G pitch and athletics track.

We have spent over £15m across the campuses over the last few years improving facilities. In addition to the teaching spaces we have for A Level and vocational courses, we also have a dedicated Higher Education Centre located on the London Road Campus. This facility provides a teaching, learning and social space solely dedicated to students studying a higher education course with us. More information on our facilities can be found here.

This website will help you find out about our courses and our College. We also have regular Advice Events and College Taster Days throughout the year which are a great opportunity for you to find out more about us - so please check our Events section. If you cannot make these events, or if you want a personal visit, please contact us and we will be happy to show you round. Our News section is where you can read all about the goings on at College and the successes our staff, students and partnership working.”

James Staniforth
Principal and Chief Executive

SCG has an active Sustainability Group, made up of both students and staff, who review the operation of the college's Sustainability Policy to suggest, where practical, opportunities for further improvement. The Group is open to anybody at the college and warmly welcomes new people and ideas.

Some of our initiatives include:

• Our support for the Shrewsbury Cups – a ‘Cup for Life’
• Pen and crisp packet recycling bins
• Replaced single-use plastics in college canteens with compostable alternatives, combined with incentives to use non-disposable alternatives
• A review of vending machines to reduce energy use
• Replacing marketing materials with environmentally-friendly alternatives
• Installation of a 200kwp Solar Panel system comprising 721 panels at the London Road Campus
• Installed energy-efficient LED lighting across London Road Campus
• Upgraded 180 windows with modern double-glazed units at London Road Campus to improve thermal efficiency
• Installed Voltage Reduction equipment at all three campuses to reduce carbon emissions
• Installed Voltage Reduction equipment at all three campuses to reduce carbon emissions
• Installed improved energy-efficient lighting across the Welsh Bridge Campus. 

We are committed to working together as a college community to secure a better future for our current and future students. We are continually looking for ways to improve the efficiency of our buildings, such as reducing heat loss, water consumption and improving recycling. We summarise our activities and goals in an annual sustainability report which can be found below. This also provides Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR).

Sustainability Report 2022-23

Sustainability Report 2021-22

Sustainability Report 2020-21

Sustainability Report 2019-20

Shrewsbury Colleges Group is an NUS recognised College and our Student Union representatives have a demonstrable impact on developing the student experience on all of our campuses. The Student Union Executive is a team of elected officers who liaise with and represent the student community. Student Union Rep meetings are held half-termly at each campus where students’ views and ideas can be shared. The Executive meet regularly with senior managers and College staff to share information and follow up actions from these meetings which is then communicated to students.

Working with teams in the College and other students, they co-ordinate student-related events and fundraisers for local and national charities. It has a budget, which it can spend on improving the College environment for students and helping students set up groups and societies.

At Shrewsbury Colleges Group we value your input and offer plenty of opportunities for you to get your voice heard:

• Student Union Executive: Shrewsbury Colleges Group will work with the Student Union Executive Officers as its primary method of engagement with students
• Student Governors: Student Governors are a vital part of the College’s Student Voice. Student Governors are full members of the Corporation and use their experiences as students to help shape the Corporation’s decision-making. We have a download to tell you more about being a Student Governor or you can visit our College Governance section for more information
• Student Representation: Officers will be elected to the Student Union annually in the spring term, allowing for them to work with current officers so they are able to effectively start their new role when the new College year begins in September. Student Union class reps will be elected during the six week induction period. Curriculum Forums will be held termly in each school to allow student representatives to meet with school management teams
• Student Services: All students are welcomed at the helpdesk to share compliments and complaints.

The Education and Training Foundation has commissioned a short film explaining the benefits of volunteering to be a governor and why people should consider putting themselves forward.

What our students say

Our students have the opportunity to give us feedback through both the Induction Survey and Exit Survey. Here are some of the questions they answered and the percentage who agreed:

• I leave lessons feeling that I have made progress 91%
• I am able to access resources needed for my course 96%
• I would recommend the college to a friend 94%
• My work was regularly assessed 91%
• I have been encouraged to achieve my target grade or above 94%
• I am happy with the range of enrichment activities 92%

Statistics are taken from the Student Perception of College Survey 2020-21

Shrewsbury Collegs Group are proud to demonstrate our support for the Armed Forces Community by signing an Armed Forces Covenant.

Principles Of The Armed Forces Covenant

Shrewsbury Colleges Group will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:

• no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen
• in some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.

Demonstrating our Commitment

Shrewsbury Colleges Group recognises the value Serving Personnel, Reservists, Veterans and Military Families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by:

• Promoting the Armed Forces: promoting the fact that we are an Armed Forces-friendly organisation, to our staff, customers, suppliers, contractors and wider public. We will encourage our supply chain partners to embrace the Armed Forces Covenant, recognising that it is good for business;
• Veterans: supporting and advocating support for the employment of veterans, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process; advertising vacancies with the Career Transition Partnership for Service leavers
• Service Spouses & Partners: supporting and advocating support for the employment of Service spouses and partners; advertising vacancies with the Military Families Federations; providing flexibility in granting leave for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment;
• Reserves: supporting our staff who are members of the Reserve Forces; granting additional leave for annual Reserve Forces training; supporting any mobilisations; actively encouraging membership of the Reserve Forces from within our workforce;
• Cadet Organisations: supporting our staff who are volunteer leaders in Military Cadet Organisations, granting additional leave to attend annual training camps and courses; actively encouraging membership of cadet organisations; supporting local Cadet Units;
• National Events: supporting Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal Day and Remembrance activities;
• Armed Forces Charities: supporting Armed Forces charities with fundraising and supporting our employees who volunteer to assist;
• Education: support the young people of serving military families with access to continuing their post 16 education through re-location.

We are publicising these commitments through our literature and on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.

We value partnerships with local, national and international companies and organisations to support students in their studies and provide opportunities and links for employment.

Current and former students can access a range of opportunities at The Shrewsbury Club, owned by leisure company Mosaic Group. Opportunities include being part of the Tennis Academy, work experience, placements and part-time paid employment. This provides students with access to a recognised company with opportunities across their company, not only in sports but business, catering, finance, therapies, hair, computing and marketing too. The Shrewsbury Club have a range of activities in the year such as the AEGON Tennis Tournament where students can gain valuable experiences linked to a national event.

Our partnership with The Wrekin Housing Group offers students a wealth of opportunities to try the world of work, including volunteer opportunities in the community, interview workshops, work experience and exciting new Apprenticeships with associated qualifications. Students can also get involved in events and activities within the community to broaden their experiences and help them with career planning, as well as get useful advice about their own accommodation plans for the future.

The College has a long-established partnership with City Unity College in Athens through the Erasmus+ programme. This partnership has developed over the years to provide a first-class experience for students who want to undertake work experience overseas in Business, Hospitality. Catering or Travel & Tourism.

The College is an active member, of the National Association of Student Employment Services (NASES), with the Agency Manager sitting on the Executive Board representing the FE sector. Our work with NASES ensures our students have access to a full service of employment support, and also links closely with the SAFER Jobs initiative in partnership with NASES, to ensure student safety is paramount in our employment services work.

Young Enterprise Shropshire offers a wealth of practical ways to help young people get a taste of the world of work and the excitement of running a business. They inspire young people to develop aptitudes and attitudes they cannot learn from a textbook or traditional academic curriculum.

There are opportunities to attend study support and revision sessions with University Centre Shrewsbury, plus chances to attend guest lectures.

The College has a corporate covenant with the Armed Forces which recognises the commitment to support the families linked to the forces both past and present.

Summer School opportunities are available at Concord College for Academic students who pass an application process - this is a fabulous opportunity to experience Medic, Law and STEM lectures by World Wide Specialists.

In 2017 we secured nearly £500,000 from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership via its Growth Deal with Government to develop one of three advanced manufacturing training hubs in the region. The College continues to seek further opportunities with the LEP.