Craven College, Skipton

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Craven College on 6 areas: 1 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have very successfully established an inclusive culture, where the needs of learners and apprentices are put first."

Contribution to meeting skills needs - Expected standard. "Leaders recognised, following the previous inspection, that their work with large employers was mainly in the land-based industries."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Since the previous inspection, leaders have made rapid progress to improve the experience of learners on education programmes for young people."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Learners, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, develop knowledge and skills that help them to prepare for their next steps."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear overview of the quality and performance of the curriculums."

Participation and development - Expected standard. "Leaders provide learners with calm and spacious working environments that are conducive to learning."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should provide young and adult learners with high-quality teaching and assessment on all courses"; "Leaders should continue to work with young learners to ensure they have consistently high attendance"; "Leaders should provide adult learners with ambitious personal targets"; "Leaders should continue to take action to increase achievement rates for all learners and apprentices"; "Leaders should provide adult learners and apprentices with high-quality careers information advice and guidance"; "Leaders should broaden the range and quality of opportunities to extend apprentices' interests beyond their main curriculum".

In its own words: "UNITED values are also known as British Values and form part of the Craven College Prevent Strategy: We ask that our students help us to keep each other safe through our UNITED values: Our dedicated Customer Services Team and reception areas are available during the following times:"

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 18 November 2026, an open evening on Wednesday 25 November 2026, an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026 and an open day on Saturday 16 January 2027 at 10am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

Of the 637 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 14% went on to university or other higher education, 12% to apprenticeships and 36% into work. 1% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

The nearest railway station is Skipton Rail Station, about 980 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Craven College (adjacent), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Craven College stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 83 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.