Cirencester College is a specialist sixth form college in a rural setting on the outskirts of Cirencester, Gloucestershire. One of only three designated specialist Sixth Form Colleges in the South West, Cirencester College is one of the top ranking Sixth Form Colleges in the country.
About Cirencester College
The College provides a bridge between school and university, apprenticeships or employment. Students experience the academic challenge, pastoral support and enrichment expected at the best sixth form but with a more adult ethos, based on mutual respect, to prepare you to be a successful, independent person.
The College offers an unrivalled choice of subjects from the Upgrade Programme to Level 3 A-levels, T-levels and Vocational courses. The great choice of courses and professional apprenticeships is a major reason why so many students make us their first choice.
Cirencester College ensures that students achieve their full potential through individual student tutorials. Cirencester Sixth Form College’s reputation for excellent teaching, learning, innovation and student support produces consistently high value added scores and achievement rates.
Our Campus
Our Campus adjoins the early Eighteenth century Cirencester Park and is a 15-minute walk from town. The playing field out front and the surrounding trees create a green-campus feel which our staff and students find attractive.
College Facilities
The College is renowned for its rural setting and green fields, which is where you will find our students on a sunny day. There are numerous social and study areas throughout the campus where students have the opportunity to relax or work. Students enjoy free Wi-Fi access from their own devices across the site. The College is ambitious for its students and has invested a substantial amount of funding in recent years to meet the future skills requirements of both students and employers. Visit one of our open events and explore for yourselves!
In the last 3 years, the College has invested substantially in facilities, opening the Gloucestershire Digital Skills Centre in 2022. Digital skills are a major part of all that we do and this building, with all its cutting-edge technology, will develop the skills of all our learners, not just those taking IT-related courses.
Our new T-level building opened in Spring 2023, providing sector specialist accommodation for our T-levels in Engineering, Health, Construction, Early Years, Accounting Business and Marketing.
There are three large engineering workshops, a small training hospital and an early years classroom. T-levels are designed to prepare students to succeed in modern working environments. Also, our new ‘Art Lofts’ opened in September 2023, ready for the new Craft and Design T-level.
In September 2024, the investment has continued with the complete refurbishment of our library and the opening of our Avebury Building. This will have a bigger Pastoral Hub, additional refectory and social space and more classrooms.
- The Sundial Theatre is a fully functional professional theatre. It is also used by our Drama and Performing Arts students
- The practical learning facilities in our numerous science labs provide students with the ideal facilities for scientific learning and discovery
- You don’t need to be one of our sports students to use our multi-sports hall facilities. Our extensive enrichment programme means that all students can get involved in sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, netball, futsal and indoor cricket. Students will also have access to our Fitness Suite with spin bikes, treadmills, cross trainers, exercise bikes, weights equipment and rowing machines
- The Animal Science Centre encompasses a vast collection of specialist animal enclosures which are home to a wide range of mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Our expanding animal collection is made up of numerous exciting species such as a Sudan plated lizard, African pygmy dormice, bumble bee dart frogs, chickens, giant African millipedes and a new zoological collection being added in Spring/Summer 2025. Look out for animal updates on our social media platforms!
- A fully equipped Music Studio and Music Technology Suite, TV Studio & Editing Suite and Esports Suite
- The College has several catering outlets where students can buy anything! From a delicious homemade meal to a snack and coffee; these can be enjoyed in our brand new Refectory facilities, the Spotlight and our new Coffee Cabin serving Barista coffee and snacks.
History of the Campus
Cirencester College opened on 1 September 1991 on the site of the old Cirencester Sixth Form. After incorporation in April 1993 the College has gone from strength to strength and grown an extensive and comprehensive curriculum that offers young people the biggest choice of courses in the area.
The College initially opened with around 450 full-time students and now 30+ years later has over 3,000 full-time students attending the College. During World War II Cirencester College was the site of an US Army Hospital.
Our Mission & Values
Mission: Our mission is to fully prepare learners to progress to their next stage, be that education or employment by delivering excellent educational programmes.
Vision: To be recognised as the leading provider of sixth form education in England and shape the future of Further Education.
Our purpose
‘Ensure every student has the skills, knowledge and qualifications to prepare for their place in a changing world’.
The Cirencester way is:
- Being ambitious for all our students and challenging all to excel
- Respecting and nurturing individuals
- Developing independent, resilient and employable citizens
- Being a learning community which is large enough to offer unrivalled choice but small enough to care
- Providing THE stepping stone from School to University, Apprenticeships or Work
- Empowering great staff to deliver great student experiences.
