Bilborough College

Introduction from David Shaw, Principal

I’m delighted that you’ve expressed an interest in Bilborough College.

Bilborough is a flourishing college with strong student outcomes, fantastic enrichment and development opportunities, and an innovative and creative teaching and learning culture. We are located between Nottingham and Derby in our bright, modern and well-equipped, purpose-built college campus. As a result of its excellent reputation, student numbers have grown in each of the previous two years taking the college to its capacity of 1800 students. We achieved a ‘Good’ outcome in our most recent (2020) Ofsted report, which described the college as a “welcoming and inclusive” organisation where students are “proud of their college” and demonstrate “exemplary behaviour and conduct”.

Alongside good and outstanding teaching, the experience of being a student here involves a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including sport, foreign exchange visits, direct involvement in running and managing College events and much, much more. We believe that all of this – underpinned by strong support services, positive and productive staff student relationships and a genuine sense of community – provides an environment where students are able to develop as individuals, personally and academically, in line with their particular talents and abilities. Every member of staff, whatever their role, has a vital part to play in creating that environment by putting our values into practice. Our mantra for students of, “Be who you are, become who you want to be” exemplifies our inclusive and ambitious culture.

Bilborough College became a 16-19 Academy and joined the Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust (BF MAT) in November 2019. We joined King Edward VI College, Nuneaton, as a founding member and Gateway College in Leicester joined in 2020, creating a powerful centre of 16-19 educational expertise. The vision of the MAT, sponsored by Coventry University, is to become a national hub for excellence in 16-19 education and our mission is to transform the futures of young people through excellence, innovation and opportunity. Staff and students at Bilborough College are already benefiting from working as part of a MAT and we see many opportunities for exciting developments as we work in partnership.

We are ambitious college, with a clear strategy for further development. Personal development and growth is at the heart of what we seek to do for both students and staff and we value people who are positive, open and reflective with a growth mindset. Staff, students and visitors often comment on the positive college environment and the strong sense of community that permeates the organisation.

Best wishes

David Shaw

Principal