Skills for all
#CollegesWeek2026
#LoveOurColleges
Shaping Further Education
New City College: leading the conversation on further education and skills
One of the largest and most influential colleges in the UK, New City College is at the forefront
of conversations about further education and skills.
With the recent post-16 education and skills white paper; a new modern industrial strategy and related sector skills plans; the move for adult skills responsibility from the DfE to the DWP; upcoming changes for SEND education; risks to ESOL and the ongoing funding frustrations across the sector – it is a critical time for the further education sector.
#CollegesWeek2026
A message from our Group Principal and CEO Gerry McDonald CBE
At NCC, we are proud to lead.
We don’t just respond to change — we shape it for our students, communities and economy.
In recent months, our team and students have met the Prime Minister, ministers, DfE and DWP advisers, councillors and mayors. We’ve led campaigns on VAT inequality and adult skills funding, shared sector-leading research, and spoken at events and conferences. Above all, our students continue to achieve outstanding success and progress to bright futures.
New City College’s Stop the Cuts campaign which raises awareness of the value of adult skills has taken the sector by storm. With hundreds of thousands of social media views, our adult students and their skills are firmly in the limelight.
Read moreIn February 2026, some prominent skills stakeholders came together for the inaugural London Adult Skills Summit. The resulting joint statement is a summary of our agreed position and how it can be achieved.
Sign the statementPolicy change need not be costly to the Treasury. In many cases, taking some simple advice from the sector could make a massive positive impact. At New City College we update our ‘asks’ regularly. We urge policy makers to come and talk to us about:
- • Simplifying the complex adult skills funding system.
- • Matching pay in FE to pay in schools.
- • Streamlining curriculum reform.
- • Including FE in SEND plans.
- • Protecting ESOL.
- • Allowing colleges to undertake end point assessments for apprenticeships.
Don’t Miss the Action
Stay connected with our social media activity and highlights from across #CollegesWeek2026 at NCC.
Monday – Adult Learners
Bold Steps. Brighter Futures.
Celebrating our adult learners who prove it’s never too late to change direction and build a better future.
Every day at New City College, adult learners are taking courageous steps to transform their lives. They are parents returning to education, high-flyers gaining new skills for a career change, and individuals rediscovering their confidence and potential. Their journeys show that learning has the power to open doors, strengthen communities and create real opportunity.
College courses for adults can change lives. But when funding for adult education is cut, it’s not just courses that are lost. It’s second chances. It’s fresh starts. It’s futures that may never have the opportunity to begin.
So this Colleges Week, we are celebrating our adult learners and their skills – and standing up for the opportunities they deserve.
Support adult education. Help Stop the Cuts.
New City College
teaches
adult learners
across ten campuses
At New City College, we offer flexible, career-focused courses for adults who are ready to take their next step. Browse our adult courses below.
New City College
teaches
adult ESOL learners
and last year over 2,000 progressed to higher-level vocational qualifications or employment.
Read more about why protecting ESOL matters now, and what we’re calling for.
Tuesday – Young Learners
Ambition in Action. Futures in Focus.
Celebrating our young students whose hard work and determination are opening doors to university, apprenticeships and rewarding careers.
At New City College, our 16–19 year-old students achieve exceptional results, consistently performing above national averages and progressing to leading universities, high-quality apprenticeships and skilled employment.
Their success is built on ambition, resilience and the support of expert teachers who help them reach their full potential. Beyond strong grades, they develop confidence, independence and the skills they need to thrive in whatever path they choose.
In Colleges Week, we celebrate the achievements of these young people and the bright futures they are creating.
New City College
teaches
16-18 learners
across ten campuses
Whether you aspire to higher education or to prepare for a great career New City College will have a course for you. We'll support your ambitions and set you on the path for success. Browse our courses below.
The Impact of Learning.
In 2025, pass rates at New City College were 96.4% which is 3.7% above National Rates!
Wednesday – Apprenticeships
Learning. Earning. Achieving.
Celebrating our apprentices who are making their mark in the workplace while building successful connections and careers.
Our apprentices step into the workplace ready to contribute from day one. Combining hands-on experience with top-class training, they develop the technical skills, professionalism and confidence that employers value most.
Across every sector, they demonstrate commitment and determination – adding real value to their industries while gaining recognised qualifications.
During Colleges Week, we are celebrating our talented apprentices who are learning, earning and making a real impact for employers.
Did you know?
of apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship progress into employment or further training
Data Source - Department for Education
Thursday – Higher Education Learners
Driven to succeed. Ready to Lead.
Celebrating our higher education students who challenge themselves, overcome barriers
and achieve their ambitions.
Our higher education students bring resilience and real purpose to their studies. Many have returned to learning or balanced study alongside work and family commitments.
Through career-focused degrees and advanced skills training, they develop specialist knowledge and a maturity that employers value. By the time they graduate, they leave not only with respected qualifications, but with the confidence and capability to step straight into the world of work.
As well as delivering our own HE courses, NCC is proud to work in partnership with Bath Spa University and Queen Mary University of London to create even more opportunity!
This Colleges Week, we celebrate our higher education students and their achievements.
Friday – College Community
Building Partnerships. Achieving Together.
Celebrating the experiences and community connections that help our students turn ambition into achievement.
Through work experience, live projects, trips, competitions and activities beyond the curriculum, students gain insights, confidence and access to professional networks. These experiences broaden horizons and raise aspirations.
In Colleges Week, we are celebrating the community around us – the relationships and partnerships we have with those in our local communities that help our students grow and step confidently into a brighter future.
At New City College, success is built on more than what happens in the classroom. Our students thrive because they are part of a vibrant college community, supported by dedicated staff, inspiring speakers, industry partners and local employers.
