Telford College in open day

As well as meeting staff and students, it is a chance to visit the college’s virtual and augmented reality suite, which will be demonstrating some of its cutting-edge technology.

The open event runs from 5pm to 7.30pm on and prospective students and their parents will be able to learn about the college’s 'seventh form', plus apprenticeships, and full and part-time vocational programmes.

Tom Ollivier from Newport, is studying A-levels in philosophy and ethics, history, religious education and film studies, and hoping to read archaeology at the University of York.

He said: “The teachers are so friendly, and down-to-earth. It’s not a ‘me and you’ relationship, it’s an ‘us’. You’re not separated from them. The seventh form is a little community within itself within the college, so everybody knows each other.”

Faye Oliver, from Telford, who is studying English language, sociology and psychology at A-level, said: “I really liked the idea of coming to a college rather than a sixth form, because it felt like it was more independent.

“It felt more grown up, but also not throwing you in at the deep end and helping you along the way.

Kaycee Owen, 18, also from Telford, moved from another local sixth form to take chemistry, biology and maths.

She said: “The activities are really interactive, and I love that I’m with other people doing tasks. It’s so much better than sitting down and copying out of text books.”

Graham Guest, Telford College’s principal and chief executive, said: “We pride ourselves on the fact that you don’t have to choose between academic achievement and career success, because we offer the best of both worlds.

“Our seventh form is a new concept that builds on a traditional sixth form model to help plan a long-term career, working closely with dozens of mentors from local businesses to take learning out of the classroom.”