• The latest full Ofsted inspection was March 2023. The college is currently assessed as ‘Good’.
  • The College has Good financial health.
  • The College has approved status from the Office for Students for its Access and Participation Plan – approved September 2018.
  • The College is an approved provider on the national Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (formerly Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers)– re-approved January 2022.
  • The College commenced T-Level delivery in September 2021 and for 2024 is offering T Levels in:  Accounting; Beauty Therapy; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Digital; Education & Childcare; Engineering & Manufacturing; Health; Management & Administration; Media, Broadcast & Production; Science.
  • Over £25m spent on accommodation in the last 10 years.
  • The College has an annual turnover of £31.7 million.
  • The College holds Matrix quality standard for information, advice and guidance re-approved May 2023 for three years. 
Oftsed Inspection Result Group Photo
Students on Results day
  • Over 1,750 individuals supported with English and maths GCSE resits in 2022-2023.
  • Over 2,600 individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities were supported in 2022-2023.  Of these, 266 had an education and health care plan, of which 180 were high needs individuals.
  • The College has twelve centres at its Market Street campus in Bury: Woodbury, A-level, Health & Digital, University, Millennium, Beacon, Innovation, Prospects, Construction Skills, Endeavour, Aspire, Sports.
  • The College also delivers from several Community Venues.
  • The College is a curriculum partner (specialism: Digital Health) in the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology.
  • Investing over £9.75 million in Transformation & T Level Projects for Hair, Beauty, Catering and student accommodation across Beacon and Woodbury Centres 2023-2025. 
  • 95% of 2022-2023 16-18 students (for whom destinations were captured) progressed positively.
  • The College works with over 750 employers each year.
  • Over 2,000 of all Full-Time students were in receipt of Financial Support in 22-23 including 16-19 bursary, free school meals, care to learn, discretionary learner support funds and HE bursaries.
  • Over 250 students progressed into employment or onto an Apprenticeship in 22-23.
  • Over 600 students progressed onto university in 22-23.
  • 280 learners in-learning on a Bury College Apprenticeship at 4 October 2023.
  • The College has 566 staff, of whom 249 are teaching staff.
Healthcare apprentice smiling at employer
Three students studying in class

The College offers:

  • 22 A-Levels
  • 5 Applied qualifications (A-Level equivalent and taken as part of an A-Level study programme.
  • 11 T-Level subject areas covering 15 specialisms.
  • 16 Vocational areas covering multiple courses across Levels 1-3.
  • Wide range of Foundation Study Pathways covering Pre-Entry, Entry Level, L1 and L2.
  • Apprenticeships at level 2-5 across 11 sectors.
  • Access to: Learning FE (L1 and L2) and HE (L3).
  • 17 University subjects across Access, Foundation Diploma, HNC, HND, CertEd, PGCE, Foundation Degree and Degree levels.

Information updated November 2023