New River College Medical

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 March 2026

The college motto, ‘New River, new start’, is lived out every day. Pupils benefit from a positive and nurturing environment that helps them to re-engage with learning. Some pupils have had negative experiences of education. The induction programme helps pupils to settle quickly, and over time they develop a strong sense of belonging. Pupils are accepting and welcoming of their peers. This helps pupils form supportive friendships. The positive start means that for many pupils, attendance improves rapidly. Staff know pupils and their families very well. They use these close partnerships to design bespoke timetables and programmes of study. These help pupils overcome barriers to learning and address gaps in their knowledge. This includes pupils in the hospital school and those learning at home. Pupils are proud of the progress they make from their different starting points. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and respectful. Pupils feel safe and know that adults will listen if they have concerns. Therapeutic support helps pupils to address issues linked to their mental health and understand how these may affect their learning and attendance. Pupils know that staff have high expectations. They value the effort that staff make to help them achieve and thrive. The curriculum offers a wide range of subjects and qualifications tailored to pupils’ needs. As a result, many achieve well and are well prepared for their next steps. The extensive careers programme further supports pupils to have the skills and the confidence to be successful in the next stage of education, training or employment. Staff work closely with each pupil to identify their strengths and interests. Staff plan therapeutic and enrichment activities that help pupils develop their talents and build confidence. Community projects and work with local organisations help pupils to develop the social skills they need to be successful beyond school.

What the school should improve

• Leaders and those responsible for governance should ensure continued improvements in their ambitious programme to support high-quality teaching. They should ensure that all staff have sufficient time to learn, practise and embed each of the school's approaches so that, over time, pupils benefit from an exceptional standard of teaching across all subjects.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)