New City College, London
New City College is a post-16 school for pupils aged 14 to 99 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2025. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 266th-highest of the 266 schools in London with published results, and 3,292nd of 3,298 across England.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2025)
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
New City College in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at New City College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 10, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.4 in Tower Hamlets and 47 across England.
12% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Tower Hamlets and 47% in England.
That is down from 12.1 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -3.01: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 12 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Social Studies and Religious Studies.
Where pupils go next
Of the 113 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 76% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 66% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.
Of the 4007 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 25% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 27% into work. 3% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Poplar, about 100 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Poplar Recreation Ground / DLR, 250 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood New City College stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Contribution to meeting skills needs: Reasonable
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
New City College excels at teaching through expert subject specialists who create challenging and rewarding learning experiences. The college works closely with employers to provide real work experience that prepares learners for their next steps in employment or further study. Learners are supported in diverse, inclusive environments where they feel valued as individuals and develop strong mutual respect with peers from different backgrounds.
Key Strengths
- Teachers are subject experts who deliver exceptional teaching, helping learners quickly develop knowledge and skills needed for progression
- Strong partnerships with employers provide meaningful work experience that aligns with learners' career goals
- Excellent support for learners with high needs through highly supportive environments and effective communication strategies
- Broad and flexible curriculum that meets local skills needs in priority areas like engineering, construction, and digital technology
- Diverse, inclusive learning communities where learners feel safe, valued and develop mutual respect
Areas for Improvement
- Some apprentices receive inconsistent coordination between on-the-job and off-the-job training from trainers and employers
- Employer involvement in curriculum design and implementation is still developing in motor vehicle and plumbing courses
- Limited exposure to the world of work for learners in some vocational subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - learners and apprentices feel safe, value the presence of staff and security teams across campuses, and have confidence that inappropriate behaviour is dealt with swiftly.
New City College is a very large college group formed in 2017 with over 18,500 learners across seven colleges in East London and Essex. The college has been rated Outstanding overall, with exceptional performance across education programmes, adult learning, and provision for learners with high needs.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
C
Average grade
28.4
Points per entry
C-
Best 3 A-Levels
3%
Achieving AAB+
Below average
Value added
853
A-Level students
89%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
+ 20 more subjects
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 4,007 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
3%
Top-third university
45%
Degree course
49%
Any L4+ destination
2%
Apprenticeships
Based on 2,491 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with New City College
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 229
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 38
- Children hurt
- 15
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 229 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 38 serious and 191 slight.
15 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 7 in a vehicle or otherwise.
37 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Tower Hamlets is 231 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Tower Hamlets council
Places available
3,059
Applications
2,716
Got 1st preference
79.1%
Got preferred school
96.6%
All secondary applications across Tower Hamlets council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(13)
Questions parents ask about New City College
What are GCSE results like at New City College?
In the 2026 results, pupils at New City College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 10. 12% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is New City College's Ofsted rating?
New City College was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2025.
What is the catchment area for New City College?
No fixed boundary. When New City College is oversubscribed, Tower Hamlets allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to New City College?
Apply through Tower Hamlets's coordinated admissions process, naming New City College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near New City College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 229 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 38 serious and 191 slight. 15 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 7 in a vehicle or otherwise. 37 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Tower Hamlets is 231 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Where is New City College?
New City College is at Poplar High Street, Poplar, London, E14 0AF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)