Gloucestershire College has announced plans to open a second campus in Cheltenham this September, aimed at increasing access to post-16 education for local students. The new site will be located at the former University of Gloucestershire Hardwick campus on St Paul’s Road, situated a 10-minute walk from the town centre.
The 37,000 square foot facility was secured from the MF Freeman Group with the assistance of Bruton Knowles and HCR Law. Refurbishment work is set to begin in the coming weeks to prepare the space for its new role as a learning environment.
When it opens in autumn 2026, the campus will focus on Construction and First Steps programmes. The First Steps courses are designed to help young people build confidence and develop essential English, maths and digital skills, while also allowing them to explore future career paths in a flexible setting.
This expansion aligns with the Gloucestershire County Council One Plan for Children and Young People 2024-2030. The initiative aims to create stronger pathways into further education and provide more accessible support for young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.
The college is currently recruiting staff to support the new site. The expansion follows a positive inspection from Ofsted in February 2026, where the college met all required standards under a new national inspection framework.
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