The College was inspected in March 2026 by Ofsted.
inspection highlights “inclusive, welcoming and positive culture”
The team at Newbury College are delighted to receive positive confirmation of the impact of changes made over the last few years, which are creating opportunities to transform lives. The student experience is the fundamental priority for the College, and the “Ofsted Inspection Report” confirmed that ‘learners and apprentices enjoy the inclusive, welcoming and positive culture of the college’.
The College was pleased to have it confirmed by Ofsted that it is providing an environment where students are benefiting from the College’s long-held ethos to provide “Careers not Courses”, strong pastoral and wellbeing support, and purposeful work experience. The inspectors saw that ‘leaders provide learners with opportunities beyond their course to develop their confidence and resilience’ and that curriculum for high-needs courses ‘are individualised and well-tailored to learners’ needs and employment prospects’.
Principal and Chief Executive, Lee Probert, commented:
“Our colleagues have been relentlessly committed to delivering excellence, addressing areas for improvement and effecting positive change for a sustainable future.”
This year, for the first time in several years, Newbury College will also deliver a trading surplus, allowing sustainable quality improvement and ongoing investment in its industry-standard facilities.
Throughout the report it is evident that leaders and staff are equipping learners with the skills they need to succeed in their careers, ‘the curriculum enables learners and apprentices to develop the skills for employment, further learning and independent living’ and that learners are developing wider skills, knowledge and behaviours needed for the workplace ‘with the knowledge and skills they acquire, learners are well prepared for their next steps’.
Lee Probert continued:
“When the inspectors arrived, we were open about the areas for improvement, and the inspection team validated these. We had already started to address these and will highlight the impact of these changes when Ofsted return.
“We have a clear strategic focus on improvement, collaboration with employers and partners, and a commitment to delivering high-quality provision that meets the needs of our community.”
Newbury College has been a pivotal skills engine for the West Berkshire community for over 75 years. Its mission to create opportunities to transform lives is evident in the number of students, past and present, positively impacting business, and its transformational change highlights the benefits of the institution for our community.