College Overview

Fircroft College has supported the local and regional community for over 100 years with education and training. The college was established by George Cadbury Jnr in 1909 in his previous family home in Selly Oak, Birmingham, to educate his workers so that they could pass on their knowledge to others and is one of only two adult residential colleges in England. The college is located in six acres of landscaped grounds that act as an extension of the learning space offered to students. Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the grounds to reflect, socialise with their peers and enhance their overall experience at the college, allowing them to escape from their everyday lives to focus on their studies.

The college’s social justice mission is demonstrated by its diverse student network, with a high percentage of students who have a wide range of support needs and who are referred by third sector recovery and other agencies. The college has a sustainability strategy that is adhered to in college practices throughout the organisation as well as being a part of the curriculum, with the Principal and CEO on the Board of the FE and HE Climate Commission. Awarded “Top College in the Midlands” in 2019 for student satisfaction by FE Choices, all students are encouraged to move on to seek employment, progress to higher level education or to engage in voluntary work. The college specialises in digital retraining, management and leadership, health and social science and humanities, working with employers, third sector and local government organisations to enhance the student experience. The college’s offer extends from entry level to level 5 qualifications, delivered by residential, online, non-residential and correspondence methods in areas such as personal and social development, courses for work and volunteering, social justice and IT along with two Access to Higher Education diplomas. By specialising in working with adults with diverse support needs across the West Midlands, enabling them to progress and move on, the college is well placed to assist the region with economic recovery in the coming years post COVID-19.