Willerby Grove Campus, Peterlee

East Durham College delivers high-quality technical, vocational and professional education from its Willerby Grove campus in Peterlee and across the wider region. 

Whether you want to work in construction, care, hair and beauty, the creative industries or sport, build the skills you need in real working environments – from commercial salons and a training restaurant to specialist workshops and a 220-seat theatre. 

Among the fastest improving colleges in the country for student achievement* 

Top 25% nationally for student achievement* 

Top 10 nationally for apprenticeship achievement* 

Rated Good by Ofsted for five consecutive inspections* 

94% of students would recommend us to a friend* 

(*View our Achievements page)

Where we are 

East Durham College, Peterlee 

Willerby Grove Campus 

Willerby Grove 

Peterlee 

County Durham 

SR8 2RN 

We’re just off the A19 on the edge of Peterlee, with free parking and wifi for students. Eligible students can also get free travel to and from college. 

If you need help finding us, call us on 0191 518 8222.

Our facilities

Designed to reflect real workplaces, our specialist facilities give you the opportunity to develop practical skills, build confidence and gain valuable experience before progressing into employment, an apprenticeship or further study. 

Our facilities include: 

• EDC Gym
• Lee Stafford Education hair salon
• beauty salon
• a manufacturing cleanroom lab
• immersive training classrooms
• a care simulation ward 

Our continued investment means you’ll benefit from: 

• modern teaching and training environments
• specialist, industry-standard equipment across all subject areas
• dedicated facilities for hands-on, practical learning
• high-quality digital resources and IT suites
• comfortable study spaces, learning centres and breakout areas 

Students can join EDC Gym for £10 a term and enjoy free or reduced-price treatments in our beauty and hairdressing salons. 

Every investment we make – in our facilities, technology, teaching and student support – is focused on helping you build a successful future.

Visit our facilities page to find out more.

Courses available at Willerby Grove Campus

Access to Higher Education 

It’s never too late to go to university. Study part-time in the evenings to gain the UCAS points you need for a degree, with courses including Nursing & Midwifery, Science and Physio & Sport Therapy.

Find out more by visiting our Access to Higher Education page.

Accountancy

Retrain as a professional accountant around your existing commitments. Study part-time for adults, either during the day or in the evening. 

Find out more by visiting our Accountancy page.

Art & Design 

Create, experiment and develop your creative voice. Work in our art studios and Mac editing suites with Adobe Creative Cloud, and build a portfolio.

Find out more by visiting our Art & Design page.

Beauty Therapy 

Turn your passion for beauty into a career. Train in our professional salons, working with real clients and brands such as Dermalogica and P. Louise.

Find out more by visiting our Beauty Therapy page.

Brickwork

Build a career in a high-demand trade. Train in our large, fully equipped bricklaying workshop, with individual bays that mirror real site conditions

Find out more by visiting our Brickwork page.

Business

Develop skills that open doors in every industry. Set up and run your own micro-business and take part in enterprise challenges.

Find out more by visiting our Business page.

Carpentry & Joinery 

Shape your future with practical, hands-on skills. Train in our large, fully equipped workshop with individual bays and professional tools.

Find out more by visiting our Carpentry & Joinery page.

Catering & Hospitality 

Train in real kitchens and serve real customers. Cook in our two premium-grade kitchens and gain front-of-house experience in The Grove, our bistro-style training restaurant.

Find out more by visiting our Catering & Hospitality page.

Childcare

Start a rewarding career supporting children and young people. Learn in our childcare simulation room and simulated nursery, connected to our on-site nursery.

Find out more by visiting our Childcare page.

Computing & IT

Build digital skills for a fast-growing industry. Work in our digital suite with gaming PCs, VR headsets, drones and Xbox Series X consoles.

Find out more by visiting our Computing & IT page.

Counselling 

Help people work through life’s challenges. Study part-time on courses for adults.

Find out more by visiting our Counselling page.

Creative Media Production

Create films, radio and television content with professional-standard kit. Train in our television studio, green screen studio, radio broadcasting studio and Mac editing suites.

Find out more by visiting our Creative Media Production page.

Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction 

Build the knowledge for a professional career in construction. Study a two-year T Level covering surveying, design, engineering and planning, with CAD software, surveying equipment and an industry placement of at least 45 days. 

Electrical Installation 

Build the skills for a future-proof career. Train in our fully equipped electrical workshop, with realistic wiring bays and industry-standard tools.

Find out more by visiting our Electrical Installation page.

Engineering & Manufacturing 

Develop the skills to shape the future of industry. Train in industry-standard workshops with CNC machinery, robotics and specialist welding bays.

Find out more by visiting our Engineering & Manufacturing page.

GCSE Maths & English 

Gain the maths and English you need to move forward. They’re free for adults who haven’t yet passed them, and students joining at 16 study them alongside their main course.

Hairdressing & Barbering

Train in a real salon and learn the skills employers want. Work with real clients on more than 50 professional workstations, and learn Lee Stafford-inspired techniques as part of the North East’s only Lee Stafford Education Academy.

Find out more by visiting our Hairdressing & Barbering page.

Health & Social Care 

Make a real difference in people’s lives. Practise in our care simulation ward, with hospital-grade beds, hoists and responsive mannequins.

Find out more by visiting our Health & Social Care page.

Motor Vehicle Maintenance 

Get hands-on with modern automotive technology. Train in a large workshop with dedicated bays, hydraulic lifts and electric and hybrid vehicle training rigs.

Find out more by visiting our Motor Vehicle Maintenance page.

Music & Music Technology 

Build your sound and shape your future. Train in professional recording studios and practice spaces with a vocal booth, an RCF sound system and Mac editing suites.

Find out more by visiting our Music & Music Technology page.

Painting & Decorating 

Turn creativity into a hands-on trade. Train in a workshop with individual bays that replicate real rooms, from surface preparation to spray application.

Find out more by visiting our Painting & Decorating page.

Performing Arts 

Take centre stage or work behind the scenes. Perform in our 220-seat theatre, with a dance studio, vocal recording booth and green screen studio.

Find out more by visiting our Performing Arts page.

Photography 

Learn to take photographs you’re proud of. Study part-time in the evenings on courses for adults.

Find out more by visiting our Photography page.

Plumbing & Heating Engineering 

Build practical skills for a trade that keeps homes and businesses running. Learn in a fully equipped plumbing and heating workshop with a specialist Baxi training suite.

Find out more by visiting our Plumbing & Heating Engineering page.

Science 

Build the knowledge and confidence to progress to university. Learn through practical experiments and laboratory work on a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science, with the option to top up to the Extended Diploma in your second year.

Find out more by visiting our Science page.

Sports 

Turn your passion for sport into a career. Train on a full-size floodlit 3G pitch and in our indoor sports arena, fitness gym and boxing gym.

Find out more by visiting our Sports page.

Travel & Tourism 

Gain real working experience in our own travel agent, supported by regular trips to tourist sites around the North East.

Find out more by visiting our Travel & Tourism page.

Uniformed Public Services 

Prepare for a career that makes a real difference. Build fitness, teamwork and leadership through outdoor activities such as kayaking, caving and orienteering, plus a week-long Army base training experience.

Find out more by visiting our Uniformed Public Services page.

Foundation Studies

Build confidence, independence and the skills you need for adult life. Follow a pathway tailored to you, with the chance to try vocational options such as IT, art and construction. 

Find out more by visiting our Foundation Studies page.

More ways to study at Willerby Grove Campus

T Levels (16–19-year-olds) 

Get a head start on your career with a qualification equivalent to three A Levels. Combine classroom learning with an industry placement of at least 45 days.

Find out more by visiting our T Levels page.

Apprenticeships 

Learn, earn and build your future. Gain real work experience, earn a wage and study towards a recognised qualification. Training costs are fully covered by your employer or the government, so you won’t need a student loan. Apprenticeships are available in: 

• accountancy
• bricklaying
• business administration
• carpentry and joinery
• customer services
• early years
• electrical installation
• engineering and manufacturing
• health and social care
• human resource support
• lean manufacturing
• metal fabrication and welding
• painting and decorating
• science manufacturing
• teaching assistant 

Find out more by visiting our Apprenticeships page.

LEAP 

Not sure what’s next? Explore your options. LEAP (Learn, Explore, Achieve, Progress) is for 16–18-year-olds who haven’t settled on a path, with practical tasters in different vocational areas while you work towards essential qualifications.

Find out more by visiting our LEAP page.

The King’s Trust Team Programme 

14 weeks that could change your confidence, skills and future. Take part in a week-long residential, community projects and a two-week work placement. For 16–25-year-olds who are currently unemployed, and it won’t affect your benefits.

Find out more by visiting our King's Trust page.