This year, New College’s Careers Team won Bronze for FE Team of the Year in the Pearson National Teaching Awards. This award is in recognition of the excellence the team consistently demonstrate on an annual basis, securing positive outcomes for our young people and driving forward the college’s commitment to social mobility. For example, in 2025 an impressive 98.2% of students progressed into education, employment, or training. This is even more impressive when you consider that the current national figure for not being in education, employment or training (NEET) amongst 16- to 24-year-olds is 13%. In 2025, 69.9% of students went on to university or apprenticeships, another figure well above the national average. Disadvantaged students also do significantly better with us than the national average, with 69.8% going to university or apprenticeships, only fractionally behind the percentage for all leavers.
These numbers tell only part of the story. Every student at New College benefits from the advice, encouragement, support and opportunities provided by Helen, Emma, Becky and Jayne, who open doors to work experience, employer engagement, HE visits, ambitious university courses and apprenticeships for literally hundreds of young people every year. Such is the demand for their specialist support that the team is expanding, as new colleagues complete professional training. The work of the whole team makes a measurable impact on social mobility and is at the heart of New College’s vision to make “a significant difference to the lives of young people”.
