New City College

About New City College

New City College is a large state secondary in Tower Hamlets, serving students from age 14 right through to 99, which immediately signals its unusual role as both a school and a further education provider. With 811 pupils recorded in its most recent KS5 data, it operates well above typical secondary capacity, though the school does not publish its official capacity figure or current pupil numbers against it. The proportion of students eligible for free school meals is not given in the data, but Tower Hamlets as a borough has one of the highest rates of child poverty in London, so contextually the intake is likely skewed towards disadvantage. The school is mixed and non-religious, and there is no admissions information provided, so it is unclear whether it is oversubscribed or how selective its entry criteria are. The headteacher is Gerry McDonald, and the school’s facilities include a sixth form centre, science labs, sports hall, astro turf, and a chapel, which is notable given its non-religious character.

Academically, the picture is mixed. At KS4, the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 11.6, which is very low compared with the national average of around 46.5, and the basics measure – the percentage of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths – is just 22.1% using the stronger 9-4 measure, dropping to 15.9% on the 9-5 threshold. No Progress 8 score is available, so it is impossible to say whether this low attainment reflects poor prior attainment or weak value added. At KS5, the picture is clearer: the school’s value added score is -0.13, with a progress banding of ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry grade is a C. The best three A-levels average grade is C-, and only 2.9% of entries achieved AAB or higher. The local authority average Progress 8 score for all schools is 0.09, so New City College is performing below the LA norm at post-16, though the KS4 data is too sparse to make a direct comparison.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, dining hall, music rooms, playing fields, tennis courts, and a gymnasium, plus a sixth form centre and science labs. Sports on offer include swimming, gymnastics, cricket, hockey, rounders, and dance, while clubs range from Eco Club and Coding to Orchestra, Debate, Choir, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. There is no mention of SEND provision in the data, so parents of children with additional needs would need to investigate directly. The school is one of 21 state secondaries in Tower Hamlets, and the nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Stepney All Saints Church of England Secondary School, 2.1 km away. New City College is likely to suit families who value a non-selective, all-through 14-99 model and a wide extracurricular offer, but who are prepared for academic outcomes that are significantly below both national and local averages.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About New City College

Helpful Guides for Parents