MORE than 3,300 prospective students, parents and carers visited our campuses during this year’s open event programme, exploring courses, facilities and opportunities ahead of making decisions about their next steps.
The growing interest is also being reflected in admissions, with applications to the College currently ahead of where they were at the same point last year.
Across all four campuses, large numbers of attendees said they had either already applied following their visit or planned to submit an application soon, reflecting the positive impact the events had on prospective students and their families.
Feedback from attendees highlighted the welcoming atmosphere, supportive staff and the wide range of opportunities available across the College – with many visitors leaving feeling confident and excited about their future options.
At Salisbury, visitors praised the variety of opportunities available and the supportive atmosphere on campus.
One visitor said: “This was an incredible experience, this college has everything and more and is the best place I’ve ever seen. It is filled with so many opportunities and it is way better than I expected it to be. It made me want to be a student there straight away.”
At Chippenham, prospective students spoke positively about the support they received from staff and the confidence the events gave them about starting college.
One visitor said: “The open days have been so good that I came back for a third time to meet the lecturers again, despite already applying before the first event even began. They have made me overwhelmingly excited to begin in September.”
Visitors to the Trowbridge campus praised the approachable and supportive environment, with one parent saying: “Every member of staff we saw was welcoming, friendly and approachable. I loved how they spoke to my son treating him like an individual and a young man which massively made a difference in how he felt about college.”
At Lackham, attendees highlighted both the campus environment and student experience.
One visitor described the event as “really well organised” with “open helpful staff” and a “beautiful campus”.
Another added: “The best thing for us was being able to ask questions and being given an overall picture of the different courses.”
Dave West, the College’s Executive Director of Growth and Engagement, said: “Choosing your next step is a big decision for any young person and their family, so it’s fantastic to see so many people engaging with our open events this year.
“What really stands out from the feedback is how welcomed and supported visitors felt when they came onto our campuses. Our staff and students work incredibly hard to create an environment where people feel confident, inspired and excited about their future, and it’s great to see that reflected in both the feedback and the rise in applications across the College.”
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Applications for September 2026 remain open on selected courses.
