Newbury College

Newbury College is a general further education college in Newbury, Berkshire, serving around 3,272 learners across young people, adult learning, apprenticeships and high needs provision. The college has a high proportion of learners who have not achieved grade 4 or higher in GCSE English or mathematics. Safeguarding standards are met. Most areas of provision are judged to be at the expected standard, with a strong inclusive culture and clear leadership vision. The college excels in creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where learners and apprentices feel safe and valued. Leaders and governors are committed to serving the community, and staff identify and support learners' needs well. Employer engagement is a particular strength, with curriculums closely aligned to regional skills needs, especially in engineering and construction. Apprenticeships are effective, with engineering apprentices often achieving distinction grades. Adult learning programmes also help learners gain valuable skills for employment and further study. Learners with high needs on specially designed courses make good progress and move on to positive destinations. However, several areas need attention. Young learners do not make enough progress in GCSE English and mathematics to achieve grade 4 or higher, largely because teaching does not help them close knowledge gaps and attendance is poor. Attendance in some vocational lessons is also a concern. Careers guidance for young learners is scheduled too late, hindering informed decisions. For learners with high needs on level 2 and 3 vocational courses, targets are not reviewed frequently enough, and teaching does not consistently provide enough practice time. Leaders are taking action to address these issues, but the impact is not yet fully evident.

Strengths

• Inclusive, welcoming and caring culture where learners and apprentices feel safe and valued.
• Clear leadership vision to provide high-quality education and training that prepares learners for their next steps.
• Governors hold leaders to account effectively through regular visits and interactions with learners.
• Staff identify learners' and apprentices' needs promptly and accurately, using personalised support plans.
• Strong employer engagement and curriculums aligned to regional skills needs.
• Effective apprenticeships, with engineering apprentices often achieving distinction grades.
• Adult learning programmes that help learners gain skills for employment and further study.
• Learners with high needs make appropriate progress and move on to positive destinations.
• Respectful and polite learners who meet high expectations for behaviour.
• High-quality careers guidance for learners with high needs on specially designed courses.
• Meaningful opportunities for learners' wider development, including work experience, clubs and volunteering.
• Staff receive high-quality training and feel valued by leaders.
• Teachers use assessment well in many subjects to provide useful feedback.
• Learners produce work of a standard appropriate for their level of study, with some high standards in engineering.
• Good support for disadvantaged learners to achieve their learning outcomes.

Areas for Improvement

• Young learners do not close gaps in GCSE English and mathematics well enough to achieve grade 4 or higher.
• Attendance of young learners is not good enough, particularly in GCSE English, mathematics and some vocational lessons.
• Careers information, advice and guidance for young learners is scheduled too late in the academic year.
• Targets for learners with high needs on level 2 and 3 vocational courses are not reviewed frequently enough, so learners do not know what to improve.
• Staff do not use targets consistently well to help learners achieve their full potential.
• Teaching for learners with high needs on vocational courses at levels 2 and 3 does not consistently provide enough time to practise and close knowledge gaps.
• Leaders have identified a need to improve how they identify the needs of a small proportion of adult learners studying online courses.
• Strategies to improve attendance have not yet had the full intended impact.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Newbury · West Berkshire local authority: places and applications

What is Newbury College's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Newbury College is Needs attention, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was Newbury College last inspected by Ofsted?

Newbury College was last inspected in May 2026.

What age range does Newbury College cover?

Newbury College for pupils aged 14 to 99.

Where is Newbury College?

Newbury College is at Monks Lane, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7TD.