Derwen College, Oswestry

Special

Special post 16 institution

Mixed

Ages 16–25

College / FE residential accommodation

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

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Key Information

DfE GIAS

Head:Principal Meryl Green

LA:Shropshire

Phone:01691661234

Website:www.derwen.ac.uk

Address:Whittington Road, Gobowen, Oswestry, SY11 3JA

Area:Schools in SY11

Admissions:Not applicable

Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 6 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Exceptional

Strong

Expected

Needs Attention

Urgent

Achievement

Expected Standard

Personal Development

Strong Standard

Leadership

Expected Standard

Inspected 3 March 2026View full report

URN:133173

UKPRN:10001929

Diocese:Not applicable

Constituency:North Shropshire

Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Derwen College excels at creating a highly inclusive and supportive environment where all learners feel safe and valued. The college provides outstanding work experience opportunities in real professional settings, helping learners develop confidence and practical skills for employment. Learners also enjoy a wide range of enrichment activities and are well-supported to build independence through tailored residential and community-based learning.

Key Strengths

Strong culture of inclusion with staff expertly supporting learners to participate fully in all aspects of college life
Learners benefit from high-quality work experience in professional environments including a hotel, restaurant, garden centre and retail outlets
Comprehensive enrichment activities including Duke of Edinburgh awards, student union clubs, swimming pool, sports centre and accessible gym
Well-trained staff with access to extensive professional development opportunities
Learners successfully develop independence, confidence and resilience through carefully planned pathways

Areas for Improvement

Data inaccuracies in reporting of learner achievement outcomes over the past 3 years
Feedback to learners is sometimes mostly complimentary and does not sufficiently explain what they could improve
Some staff have raised concerns about wellbeing and workload when supporting learners with complex and challenging needs
Not all staff who work with learners with complex and challenging behaviours have adequate skills, resources and confidence

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed.

Extracurricular Activities

Duke of Edinburgh Award, student union clubs, swimming pool, sports centre, accessible gym, work experience placements in retail, hospitality and hotel settings

Derwen College is an independent specialist provider for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities, focusing on employability, independent living and personal development. The college has been rated as meeting strong standards in inclusion and leadership, with an expected standard in provision for learners with high needs.