About Us

Dudley College of Technology has come a long way since 1931 when £74,177 was invested in building a new college for the borough, on a site provided by Dudley Council. Now forming the Dudley Learning Quarter, and the Brierley Hill Learning Quarter the college has expanded across the borough and is one of the most successful further education colleges in the UK, providing a wide range of education and training programmes across the West Midlands, with inspirational facilities in which our students can access world-leading technology, we are at the forefront of Further Education. The college continues to invest in its learning environment to provide outstanding facilities to its students. 

Enrolling around 12,000 students each year across a wide range of academic and vocational programmes, on both a full and part-time basis our provision continues to develop as a response to the ever-changing skills agenda. Ofsted rated as “outstanding” in the most recent 2017 inspection, success rates for learners, across all programmes remain high. Our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Assured (STEM) Assured status is recognition that we are delivering high-quality education and training in all of these areas. 

The college offers courses in a wide range of subject areas and provides education and training for apprentices, advanced apprentices, and work-based adults. The college has extensive links with employers on a local, regional, and national basis offering a diverse range of business improvement and employee skills updating programmes. The college also offers a number of employability programmes to help adults return to work. 

The college is the biggest provider of apprenticeships within the West Midlands Combined Authority area, delivering 27% of all college delivered apprenticeships. In 2021/22 we supported 2,200 apprentices across a range of sectors supporting thousands of local people to upskills each year. The college is committed to supporting the local economy, with 58% of our apprentices studying in STEM sectors. A significant percentage of our apprentices’ progress to higher apprenticeships and degree level programmes. 

Over 92 per cent of our 16–18-year-old full-time learners move on to positive destinations including higher/further education or employment. For those who study A’ levels with us 97 per cent choose to continue to the full range of universities across the country, or if staying local move on to our own higher education courses or went straight into employment. The college employs 794 staff   and in 20/21 had an annual income of £46 million. 

Our mission

Outstanding technical and professional learning, which raises aspirations, develops skills and changes lives. 

Our vision

For the future is that ‘by 2023 we will be firmly recognised regionally, nationally and internationally simply as ‘a great college’. With our focus on apprentices, full-time programmes for young people, adult learning and higher technical skills, we will consistently make a real difference to the lives of our learners, raising their aspirations and promoting their prosperity. As a driving force in the regional economy we will continue to improve business productivity, adding gross value.’ 

Ofsted 

The Ofsted inspection report, published on 13th June 2017 finds Dudley College of Technology to be an ‘outstanding’ provider. In total the college received an ‘outstanding’ grade in seven of the eight key areas reviewed and a further ‘good’ in the eighth, culminating in an ‘overall effectiveness’ grade of ‘outstanding’. 

The report’s main findings highlight high levels of student success, excellent teaching and support available to students and the positive impact the college’s accommodation and resources have on learners. The summary of key findings included the following statements: 

College Accounts 

Reports of the college accounts are published for each academic year: