New College Worcester (NMSS)

New College Worcester is a non-maintained special school for pupils with visual impairments, including many who are registered blind, and most pupils are boarders. Following a previous inspection that judged the school inadequate, this inspection found much stronger provision: behaviour and attitudes and personal development are outstanding, while the quality of education, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision are good. Safeguarding is effective. The school inspires, nurtures and empowers pupils, with high expectations and careful attention to individual visual impairment needs. Pupils benefit from an ambitious and well-balanced curriculum, skilled and specialist teachers, strong relationships, and excellent personal development. The school prepares pupils well for adulthood and independence, including through independent living skills, careers work and workplace connections, and offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Reading is promoted well, and pupils achieve suitable qualifications. The main areas for improvement are assessment and subject leadership. Staff do not consistently use checks on pupils’ learning to address misconceptions and gaps, and subject leaders’ evaluation and oversight of some subjects are not yet fully developed, with monitoring findings not always acted on. Leaders are committed to supporting subject leaders to bring about further improvement.

Strengths

• Ambitious and well-balanced curriculum for all year groups, including the sixth form
• Skilled, specialist staff adapt learning to pupils’ individual visual impairment needs
• Strong, nurturing relationships and outstanding behaviour and attitudes
• Personal development is a clear strength and prepares pupils well for adulthood
• Well-planned PSHE and independent living skills support pupils’ next steps
• Effective careers and workplace connections for pupils with visual impairments
• Wide range of extra-curricular activities, many adapted for visually impaired pupils
• Reading is promoted well and pupils receive support appropriate to their needs
• New governing board is passionate and committed to pupils’ future success
• Staff feel well supported and workload is manageable
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Staff do not consistently use assessment checks to address misconceptions and gaps in learning
• Evaluation and oversight of some subjects are underdeveloped, and subject leaders need support to act on monitoring findings

In 2024–25, 10.2% of pupils at New College Worcester (NMSS) were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 New College Worcester (NMSS) had 52 pupils, 98.1% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 98.6%).

It says it provides for: hearing impairment; vision impairment; autistic spectrum disorder.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded non-maintained special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Worcester · Worcestershire local authority: places and applications

What is New College Worcester (NMSS)'s Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for New College Worcester (NMSS) is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was New College Worcester (NMSS) last inspected by Ofsted?

New College Worcester (NMSS) was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does New College Worcester (NMSS) have?

New College Worcester (NMSS) has 52 pupils on roll.

What age range does New College Worcester (NMSS) cover?

New College Worcester (NMSS) for pupils aged 11 to 19.

What are New College Worcester (NMSS)'s GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 32.3, and 33% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is New College Worcester (NMSS)?

New College Worcester (NMSS) is at Whittington Road, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 2JX.