Pioneering VR project helps future learners experience college before they arrive 

South Staffordshire College is working with Staffordshire County Council on a new virtual reality project designed to help young people feel more confident about starting college.

The virtual reality project focuses on the experience of arriving at college for the first time, a moment that can be daunting, particularly for students who experience anxiety, lack confidence, or have sensory sensitivities. By allowing viewers to explore the college environment in advance, the project aims to reduce uncertainty and help students feel more prepared before they arrive.

Students at South Staffordshire College are co‑creating an immersive 360‑degree virtual tour filmed from a real student’s perspective. Led by students from a range of curriculum areas including media and creative arts, drama and performing arts, digital skills and computing, the tour experience follows the journey of a student arriving at college by car or public transport, moving through reception and into learning and social spaces, and clearly showing where to go for guidance and support.

The 360‑degree college tour captures both calm and busy moments of college life, using real sounds, movement, and student narration to reflect what a typical day feels like. By showing the reality of the college environment, rather than an idealised version, the project helps to normalise first‑day nerves and set clear expectations.

Once complete, the 360‑degree tour will be hosted by FocusXR, an immersive VR learning specialist who are providing technical support for the project. FocusXR is supporting students with the production and hosting of the experience, while students remain involved at every stage, from filming and production through to scripting, accessibility and inclusive design, ensuring the tour reflects genuine student needs.

The 360‑degree tour will be used by both the college and the county council as part of transition support for prospective learners. It is intended to support recruitment, inclusion and learner wellbeing, and to provide a foundation for future digital projects across college provision.

Steve Wileman, Head of Digital Learning at South Staffordshire College, said “What makes this project powerful is that it’s been created by students, for students. They understand the worries of arriving at college for the first time and have designed an experience that genuinely supports confidence and inclusion. It shows how immersive technology can be used in a purposeful way to support successful transitions into further education.”

Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council’s Acting Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said “We’re committed to supporting educational inclusion and ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive. By using innovative digital approaches like this, we can help reduce perceived barriers and improve life chances, while exploring how immersive technology could support a wider range of services in the future.”

Future projects could help the county council to introduce residents to a wide range of services. From adult social care settings to family hubs, supported living, highways schemes, cultural venues and more, VR could soon offer informative walk‑throughs in an easily accessible way.