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Monday 8:45am - 5pm Tuesday 8:45am - 5pm Wednesday 8:45am - 5pm Thursday 8:45am - 5pm Friday 8:45am - 5pm

Derwen College

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Derwen College

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Derwen College is a Shropshire-based day and residential specialist college committed to the education of young people (16–25) with SEND since 1927. Why Derwen?

Located in Gobowen, near Oswestry, Ludlow and Telford. Charity status since 1963. Derwen College delivers exceptional learning programmes for young people aged 16 to 25 years, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including: learning and physical disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), behaviours of concern, and Profound & Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD). Residential and day students attend our main campus in Gobowen, near Oswestry, Shropshire. We have three other satellite sites across the county in Walford, Telford, and Ludlow, each delivering programmes to day students from the local area. Exceptional pastoral care and student support. Excellent learner outcomes. Wraparound independence development programme. Unrivalled sports, leisure and wellbeing activities. Fantastic spacious, rural location, yet still easily accessible. Derwen College is ‘A Place of Possibility’. We work with our young people to support them to achieve what they want to and challenge them to do more. Our students regularly exceed what they and others thought possible. Your college programme can open up a world of exciting opportunities. Come and have a look!

05/11/2026

Update: College phone system

We’re pleased to let you know that our main College Reception phone is now operational. However, we are still experiencing some disruption due to an issue with a Microsoft service. This means calls cannot yet be transferred through to individual departments.

If you need to contact a specific department, please email [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to resolve the issue.

05/11/2026

Please note: We are currently experiencing some problems with our phone system. Our main telephone number should still be working, but you may be unable to transfer through to individual extensions.

If you need to contact us, please email [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

04/11/2026

It's not long until Derwen College's Christmas Fayre!

Join us on Saturday 28 November 2026, from 10am to 4pm, for a festive day filled with local makers and producers, delicious food and drink, and seasonal entertainment.

Shop for cut and potted Christmas trees, festive hampers, unique gifts, and Christmas decorations.

Step into our Enchanted Christmas Garden, enjoy fun challenges on the Elf Training Trail, and meet Santa and Mrs Claus in the Grotto.

Tickets for the Elf Training Trail are available to book now on our website.

02/11/2026

We are delighted to name Walters House of Coffee, Cocktails & Ch*****ne in Whitchurch as our Employer of the Month for October.

Owners Joshua and Dan Smyth have embraced the opportunity to give Derwen College supported intern Cari meaningful experience across every area of the business.

Cari approached Walters House herself to ask about a placement. Joshua and Dan were impressed by her confidence and welcomed the chance to offer an inclusive and supportive workplace where she could learn, contribute and thrive. She now works at the café once a week as part of her supported internship.

Since joining the team, Cari has taken on a wide variety of responsibilities, including serving customers, taking payments, preparing food, cleaning and collecting orders from the business’s other shop. Her enthusiasm, ability and willingness to go above and beyond have made a lasting impression.

The placement has brought benefits far beyond the practical skills Cari has developed. Joshua and Dan say that taking on Cari has helped create a workplace culture full of fun and happiness.

Walters House say they would wholeheartedly recommend work experience and supported internships to other employers, recognising the powerful opportunity they give young people with additional needs to shine.

Congratulations to Walters House of Coffee, Cocktails & Ch*****ne, our very deserving Employer of the Month for October 2026, and thank you for making such a positive difference.

Read more on the news section of Derwen College's website.

31/10/2026

It's Halloween, and there were screams, smiles and plenty of fake blood when Derwen College students experienced a brilliantly gory special effects make-up workshop earlier this month.

Performing Arts students from our Gobowen campus discovered how imagination and make-up skills can create convincing cuts and wounds for gruesome Halloween looks. The results were scarily realistic and had everyone in the spooky spirit!

The SFX (special effects) industry workshop was led by Terrie Cope, beauty therapy instructor at Smallbrook School, alongside her talented students. It gave learners from both settings a chance to connect, swap skills and explore a different side of the Performing Arts industry.

The workshop builds on an established partnership between Derwen College and Smallbrook School. Smallbrook students will join us again for the Christmas show, taking the lead on stage hair and make-up.

Read more on the news section of our website.

29/10/2026

Derwen College's Christmas Fayre takes place in just over 4 weeks time!

On Saturday 28 November 2026, from 10am to 4pm, we will have a day of local producers and makers, food and drink, and festive entertainment.

Buy your cut or potted Christmas tree, festive hampers, gifts and decorations.

You will be able to join our Elf Training Trail, and of course meet Santa and Mrs Christmas.

Get in early for the Elf Training Trail – tickets are available on our website now!

27/10/2026

Derwen College offers day and residential provision for students aged 16 to 25 who have special educational needs and disabilities.

Through our unique university-style experience, students build the confidence, independence, and employability skills they need to prepare for adulthood.

We attend transition events across the UK, offering families and carers the chance to find out more about how Derwen College can support their young person's next steps.

To learn more about the transition events we’ll be attending this year, visit: www.derwen.ac.uk/transition-events.

24/10/2026

Delicious smells filled the air at Derwen College's Gobowen campus when students and staff prepared soups and fruit crumbles for a Harvest Heroes competition to promote independence.

As part of their Independent Living Skills sessions, student groups were challenged to create either a soup or a crumble. The activity was about much more than cooking, with students developing skills including travel training, shopping, money handling, teamwork and choosing locally sourced ingredients.

Many groups made the most of Shropshire produce, using apples from the College orchard or visiting local Llynclys Farm to pick pumpkins. Shopping locally also helped students learn how everyday choices can reduce their carbon footprint.

Read more, and find out who won the competition, on the news section of our website.

22/10/2026

Enjoy your half term everyone!

Whether you are at home, or going on holiday, have a nice break, and take time to relax and spend time with family and friends.

We look forward to welcoming residential students back to Derwen College on Sunday 1 November, and day students on Monday 2 November.

See you then!

20/10/2026

Twelve students, supported by four Derwen College staff, enjoyed an action-packed educational trip to Iceland earlier this month.

This was the College’s first overseas trip and is part of an exciting pilot project to explore the viability and long-term potential of expanding our outdoor education offer.

The trip was the culmination of almost three years of planning, and the students enjoyed four packed days of learning, new experiences and adventure in Iceland.

From waterfalls, volcanoes, the Bridge Between Continents, geysirs, the dramatic black sand beach to the Lava Centre and a dip in the Secret Lagoon, there was plenty to discover and experience.

The group also explored Reykjavik and were lucky enough to see the spectacular Northern Lights!

The experience provided lots of opportunities for students to develop confidence, independence and travel skills, while learning about Iceland’s culture, geography and natural environment. They made the most of the opportunity to travel abroad and embraced every experience with their peers.

The four fantastic days were packed with learning, laughter and adventure – and despite a 2.5-hour flight delay home providing one final, unplanned lesson in patience – we hope the students will all have great memories of their trip of a lifetime!

Address

Whittington Road, Gobowen
Oswestry
SY113JA

Opening Hours

Monday	8:45am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:45am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:45am - 5pm
Thursday	8:45am - 5pm
Friday	8:45am - 5pm

Telephone

+441691661234

Website

https://www.derwen.ac.uk/links/

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