Shrewsbury’s University and Gap Year Fair 2026

Shrewsbury’s annual University and Gap Year Fair rolled into town today, providing a burst of future planning for the Lower Sixth and their families.

More than 40 universities, gap year organisations and alternative pathway providers transformed the Alington Hall into a lively marketplace of ideas, opportunities and the occasional branded pen.

Perennial Salopian favourites Durham, Exeter, Newcastle, Imperial and UCL were kept busy, joined by a full range of providers from within the UK and overseas. Whether pupils aspire to sandstone quads, cutting‑edge labs or sunnier climes, there was no shortage of inspiration on offer. 

We were delighted to welcome the return of a programme of talks from university admissions officers offering clear, pragmatic guidance on navigating the next stage of life. Sessions on choosing the right course and university, crafting a compelling personal statement and understanding student finance provided useful advice and tips as pupils chart their paths beyond the Moss Gates.

In equal measure, we were delighted to welcome Miriam Irvine from the University of Toronto to Severn shore last week in what has become a biennial visit.  With five Old Salopians currently studying at UoT, it is a popular choice that blends the curricula and facilities of the US and the UK. Miriam offered a tantalising glimpse into what Toronto has to offer to a packed audience, seen by the queue for questions being far longer than that for a Hot Sausage Roll at break in the school shop.

I am incredibly grateful to those institutions for being so willing to visit us and provide their expert view on our pupils’ doorstep; I believe it is crucial for pupils to be able to engage directly with universities as part of their research, turning future aspirations into concrete plans and hopefully offers. 

Mr Toby Percival, Head of Sixth Form and Higher Education