It marks the dawn of a new era for educational provision in the city, supporting Wolverhampton Council’s drive to enhance skills and employment outcomes for its residents.

The new city centre campus, alongside ongoing improvements to the neighbouring Adult Education Wolverhampton and Central Library facilities, form the £61million second phase of the council’s City Learning Quarter masterplan.

It has paved the way for the college to move from its 1960s Paget Road site, which is now closed and has been identified as land to build much-needed housing.

Phase one of the City Learning Quarter masterplan – a new £8.1 million Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre at the college’s Wellington Road campus – opened to students in September 2024.

The new city centre campus will offer A Levels in a range of subjects and vocational qualifications in art, design and photography, business and management, catering and hospitality, computing and digital, creative media, games design and e-sports, hair and beauty, health and social care, music technology, performing arts, and science.

Situated around the Old Hall Street and St George’s Parade area, incorporating a site on the corner of Garrick Street and Bilston Street where the former Faces nightclub building once stood, the eye-catching development also utilised the existing Metro One building.

Health and social care student, Eva Abley, said: "The building is lovely - everything is nice in there and it's a great place to be. It has a lot more opportunities for students as it's going to have more social things as well as the learning aspect, so it's great to be here."

Photography student, Oliver-Jace Price, added:  "I really like the new building because it has a lot of new technology, and I'm looking forward to coming into the city centre because I'll be able to experience new things."

Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “Seeing the first students enjoying this wonderful, state-of-the-art City Learning Quarter campus and the opportunities it presents for them to thrive is what it is all about.

“Through strong partnership working we have delivered this major development at the heart of our city that will drive education and skills in Wolverhampton and beyond, especially with its excellent connectivity to rail, bus, tram and cycle routes.

“It will also act as a focal point, bringing vibrancy to the city centre, with students, staff and visitors set to boost footfall by 4,500 a week to support neighbouring businesses.”

Warinder Juss MP, Wolverhampton West, said: “The new state of the art city centre college campus is a significant investment in the present and future of Wolverhampton and for everyone who is educated here.

“It is vital that we have the skills necessary for the city to thrive in the fourth industrial revolution of converging technologies and artificial intelligence. The new campus will play a key role in helping us to shape the future.”

Louise Fall, Principal and Chief Executive of the college, said: “The new building is amazing and there was a real buzz as we started welcoming students returning after the half-term break.

"Our students and staff deserve to have fantastic learning and teaching facilities and we're able to provide this at CLQ.

"This is the start of an exciting new era for the college which will further establish it as a leading provider of further education in the region, and it will also have a huge impact on the employment prospects and life chances for the thousands of people who will be able to access courses and learning programmes more easily due to its city centre location."

The exciting City Learning Quarter city centre proposals were initially supported by investment from the council with a further £49 million coming through UK Government funding, plus additional government grants and contributions from the college and council.

The college forecasts that over a 10-year period approximately 45,000 people will benefit from learning at the City Learning Quarter and around 7,500 apprenticeships will be started.

Its central location and close proximity to the new £150 million transport interchange make it easily accessible. It also boasts environmental benefits in line with council’s climate emergency agenda.