Plans to open a specialist academic sixth form college in Keighley have been given the go-ahead by the government.
New College Keighley will offer a very wide range of A level and A level equivalent courses for up to a thousand 16-19 year olds in the Keighley, Bradford and surrounding areas, with an opening date of September 2026.
The college will build on the success of New College Doncaster, New College Pontefract and New College Bradford, all of which are rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted. The colleges have a track record of delivering exceptional results, helping record numbers of young people to progress to university and high-quality apprenticeships, and offering a supportive and inclusive young adult learning environment.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “This is great news for Keighley and the wider Bradford district, especially for students in the north of the district, and is a key step forward to improve post-16 outcomes.
“New Collaborative Learning Trust has a strong track record in Yorkshire and, closer to home, here in the Bradford district, since the opening of New College Bradford in 2019. This has driven positive change for A Level provision in Bradford and we’ve seen significant improvement in attainment, alongside the ability to offer a broad range of high-quality pathways that open up life-changing opportunities for our young people.
“We want to make sure we secure opportunities for Keighley young people which are allied to their talent, energy and ambition. It’s great news for the town and its future.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with the Trust, and with partners in the District to realise the vision for New College Keighley.”
Richard Fletcher, Chief Executive of New Collaborative Trust, added “Our three colleges work closely together, ensuring that young people in Bradford, Doncaster and Pontefract have a consistently outstanding experience and reach their true potential. We’re really proud of our sixth form colleges and we’re really looking forward to extending that opportunity to young people in the Keighley area.”
