About the College

Information about the provider

1. Solihull College is a large general further education college, located on three main sites, with courses in all 15 sector subject areas and a significant amount of higher education provision. Work-based learning is a significant area of the provision and includes Train to Gain and Entry to Employment programmes. The college serves the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull and surrounding areas, recruiting a significant number of learners from the City of Birmingham. A major redevelopment of the college’s largest campus, in the south of the borough on the Blossomfield campus, is in progress. In the north, an area of significant economic and social disadvantage, the college opened the Woodlands campus in September 2006. The college was awarded the Training Quality Standard in December 2008.


2. In 2008/09 46% of learners enrolled were from widening participation backgrounds with 20% of learners from minority ethnic groups. Around 75% of full-time learners are aged 16–18. Just under half of these learners follow advanced level courses, with the remainder split equally between courses at foundation and intermediate level. Around 80% of learners are adults with the largest proportion following courses at intermediate level. The largest number of full-time enrolments are in health, public services and care; engineering; sport, travel and tourism; arts, media and publishing; and business, administration and law.


3. The college works with secondary schools in two 14-19 partnerships serving the north and south of the borough and provides vocational opportunities for pupils aged 14-16. The number of Year 11 pupils who achieve five A*-C grades at GCSE, including English and mathematics, in Solihull is higher than the national average.

4. The college provides training on behalf of the following providers:

• Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Summary report

Grades: 1 is outstanding; 2 is good; 3 is satisfactory; 4 is inadequate