New College Worcester (NMSS), Worcester
New College Worcester (NMSS) is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Worcester. It was rated Inadequate at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Inadequate (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
New College Worcester (NMSS) in detail
New College Worcester (NMSS) in its own words
In its own words: "At NCW it is our aim to ensure there are no barriers to success for any child with a vision impairment. The combination of tailored learning, extra-curricular experiences and the immense support offered by staff and peers means that every child has the opportunity to achieve their very best potential. Thank you for making school such an amazing place."
Coming up: an admissions event on Friday 30 October 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Worcestershire
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to New College Worcester (NMSS) are Fort Royal (1 mile, Good); Abigail's Place (1.7 miles, Good); Norton College (1.9 miles); and Regency Academy (2 miles, Good).
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about New College Worcester (NMSS) (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 7 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college.
Who goes there
25% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at New College Worcester (NMSS) has an education, health and care plan (51 of 52 in 2026). The most common need among them is visual impairment.
New College Worcester (NMSS) provides for pupils with visual impairment.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Worcester Shrub Hill Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is New College Worcester (adjacent), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood New College Worcester (NMSS) 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 120 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Worcestershire (78), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, New College Worcester (NMSS) issued 8 suspensions, 13.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at creating a nurturing, joyful community where pupils with visual impairments thrive academically and personally. Staff provide excellent individualised support adapted to each pupil's needs, and the school is exceptional at preparing students for independent adult life through its independent living skills curriculum. The school also advocates strongly for pupils with visual impairments in the workplace, actively building connections to support their career ambitions.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, with excellent relationships built on mutual respect and joy between staff and pupils
- Outstanding personal development that prepares pupils very well for independence and life after school
- Well-balanced and ambitious curriculum tailored to individual pupil needs with strong progression in learning
- Highly skilled teachers, nearly all with specialist qualifications, who adapt teaching for each pupil's needs
- Comprehensive support for pupils' physical and mental health through PE lessons and regular mental health monitoring
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not consistently use their checks on pupils' learning to address gaps and misconceptions, which limits the depth of learning for some pupils
- Subject leaders need further support and training to effectively monitor their subjects and act on findings to improve pupil outcomes
- More development needed in how assessment information is used consistently across the school to identify and close learning gaps
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Shooting, tandem riding, cultural food club, choir
New College Worcester is a special school for pupils with visual impairments that inspires and nurtures students to succeed in education and later life. The school has improved significantly from its previous Inadequate rating, now achieving Good in quality of education and leadership, with Outstanding ratings in behaviour and personal development.
At a Glance
25.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Vision
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from New College Worcester (NMSS)
NCW’s New Weekly Podcast: Parenting Beyond Sight
28 Sep 2026
EyeChat: Conversations from NCW Episode 2 - Rowing Towards Success with Naomi Riches
21 Sep 2026
NCW Achieves Gold School Games Mark Award for 2025/26
18 Sep 2026
NCW Singers Hit the Right Note with Exam Results
16 Sep 2026
NCW Launches New Weekly Podcast: EyeChat - Conversations from NCW
14 Sep 2026
NCW Achieves Prestigious Wellbeing Award for Schools
4 Sep 2026
From New College Worcester (NMSS)'s website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with New College Worcester (NMSS)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to New College Worcester (NMSS) from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. New College Worcester (NMSS) is in Worcestershire; for families living there:
Apply to Worcestershire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 10 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
3 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 Worcestershire is 5.5 (the median across 276 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
School Occupancy
54%
Available places
52 pupils
96 places
44 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Worcester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Worcester
Across Worcestershire council
Places available
4,103
Applications
3,828
Got 1st preference
88.1%
Got preferred school
95.7%
All secondary applications across Worcestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
51
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
New College Worcester (NMSS) provides for pupils with visual impairment.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
52
Total Pupils
25
Boys
27
Girls
2026 academic year
Pupil Absence2024/25
24.2%
Overall absence
33.3%
Persistent absence
9
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
New College Worcester (NMSS)
Questions parents ask about New College Worcester (NMSS)
What are GCSE results like at New College Worcester (NMSS)?
In the 2026 results, pupils at New College Worcester (NMSS) achieved an Attainment 8 score of 32.3. 33% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is New College Worcester (NMSS)'s Ofsted rating?
New College Worcester (NMSS)'s most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2022, it was rated Inadequate.
What is the catchment area for New College Worcester (NMSS)?
No fixed boundary. When New College Worcester (NMSS) is oversubscribed, Worcestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to New College Worcester (NMSS)?
New College Worcester (NMSS) has around 52 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
Does New College Worcester (NMSS) have specialist SEN provision?
New College Worcester (NMSS) provides for pupils with visual impairment.
What is attendance like at New College Worcester (NMSS)?
24.2% of sessions were missed at New College Worcester (NMSS) in 2024/25. 33.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to New College Worcester (NMSS)?
Apply through Worcestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming New College Worcester (NMSS) 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 College Worcester (NMSS)?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 10 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 3 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 Worcestershire is 5.5 (the median across 276 schools, same distance and years).
Where is New College Worcester (NMSS)?
New College Worcester (NMSS) is at Whittington Road, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 2JX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)