Wrekin College
Wrekin College
Ketley, England
The Wrekin College may not be one of England’s most photogenic boarding schools, but it makes up for the lack of glam factor with its atmosphere: honest, friendly, and refreshingly unpretentious. The sprawling, green campus is well maintained and large enough that it takes five minutes to get from point A to B between classes — comfortable shoes are a must here. The buildings are a mix of old and new, including the impressive Business Centre with glass façades, a conference room, and a lecture hall, as well as the modern music centre.The school places special emphasis on gymnastics, with trained coaches and dedicated facilities. Art, design, music, and swimming are all surprisingly well developed.
The Details
The Academics
Wrekin College offers GCSEs, A-Levels, and selected BTECs — a good mix for different learning styles. The school is not selective but delivers respectable results: in 2024, over 40% of GCSE grades were between 9–7, and 29% of A-Level grades were A.
A real highlight is the Business School — a dedicated building fully focused on fostering employability skills. It covers not only subjects like business studies, economics, and accounting but also soft skills such as presentations, job applications, management games, and career coaching. This practical, smart approach is something many schools don’t offer in this form.
Languages Taught
English as a Foreign Language, French and Spanish.
The Boarding
Only about one-fifth of the students board, but you hardly notice it. Boarding students are seamlessly integrated, which noticeably strengthens the sense of community.
The three boarding houses are cozy, manageable, and well maintained. In the upper years, students usually share rooms with one other, with single rooms being rare, but personal space is respected and the atmosphere relaxed and friendly.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Wrekin College impresses with a very friendly, down-to-earth, and socially open atmosphere. New pupils quickly find their feet — thanks especially to the genuine warmth of the student body and the dedicated teaching staff. No one is overlooked here, and you really feel that community matters.
The creative offerings are strong as well. Art, music, and design are particularly well developed. During our last visit, we were very impressed by the quality of the art lessons and the enthusiasm of the teachers.
Music is an integral part of the school culture, which is palpable: about half the students play an instrument or sing. There is a large orchestra, many ensembles, bands, and choirs — the main choir counts over 100 members. There are also open-mic nights and house singing sessions full of fun, without any elitist attitude.
In sports, Wrekin offers impressive variety and excellent facilities: large playing fields, modern halls, a dance studio, gym, and its own swimming pool. Netball is hugely popular among the girls, rugby dominates among the boys, but hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, swimming, golf, fives, squash, sailing, and fencing are also offered.
Weaknesses
We would like to see a few more boarding students. However, Wrekin College makes a great effort to integrate boarders with day pupils.
Location
Wrekin College is located in the west of England, on the outskirts of the small town of Wellington (Shropshire). The town of Telford is just a few minutes away, and Birmingham is only about an hour’s drive. Train connections from Wellington or Telford take students and parents to London in about 2 hours. Manchester Airport is also a viable alternative, approximately 1.5 hours by car.
Birmingham - 55 mins by car
It’s a great option for students of varying academic abilities. The boarding facilities are also excellent for above-average sports talents.
Just 15 minutes by car from Wrekin is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ironbridge Gorge, the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. Here you can find museums, historic workshops, and the famous “first iron bridge in the world".
Take a look at similar schools
Barnard Castle School
Kent College, Canterbury
Ackworth School
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