New College Bradford

Overview

New College Bradford is a 16 to 19 free school that delivers an “Outstanding” overall effectiveness rating across all inspection categories. The report describes a provider where students benefit from a “highly ambitious curriculum” and make “rapid progress” in developing the knowledge and skills required for high-level achievement. Leaders maintain a “very strong focus on raising the aspirations” of young people, resulting in excellent progression to higher education and high-level apprenticeships.

Strengths

• Teachers provide “consistently excellent tuition” by carefully designing programmes that foster “independent and resourceful learners” and deep subject understanding.
• Behaviour is “exemplary,” with students being “highly respectful” and responding positively to high expectations for attendance and punctuality.
• Students feel “very safe” in a “calm, safe and inclusive environment” where they understand risks such as gang culture and know how to report concerns.
• Leaders offer “highly effective” professional development and support, including rigorous monitoring and effective coaching for staff who do not meet expectations.
• There is a “broad range of high-quality and interesting activities” beyond the academic curriculum, including international travel and community projects.

Areas to improve

• The report identifies no significant areas for improvement, noting that leaders quickly implement effective strategies for the “very few cases” where concerns arise.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”