New College Durham - Durham

Emma Bainbridge

I am writing this review as a parent of a student who attended this college last year.
This college, on the surface, may look and sound like the best choice for further study but please don’t believe everything they tell you. In my opinion, it is all for show and to get numbers enrolled at the college.
We were made so many empty promises by the college, including the SEN department, who probably did more harm than good to my son!
The course mostly had lecturers present, however, they didn’t teach the students, they were left to self-teach using things like YouTube! What a waste of wages!!
At the end of the course, the students had to complete tasks that required them to remember what they did in week 1 of the course as they hadn’t been asked to complete such tasks as the course progressed. They were given very short deadlines for these tasks which were through no fault of their own.
I followed the complaints procedure which involved an “independent” (by a different member of staff from college) investigation. This didn’t really change the situation. I didn’t take it any further as my son decided to leave last summer. The best decision he’s ever made!
I could go on and on but have tried to summarise the key points to raise awareness of our appalling experience of this college.
There are definitely better choices out there so choose wisely!

lisa palliser

I do not recommend this college,the teachers don’t have a clue,in my sons second year they were getting taught what my brother who is highly qualified was getting taught in his first year,they repeated a lot from the year before,my son also had to complain about a certain maths teacher over and over and nothing was done apart from they had someone talk to that teacher ?

Daniel Haley

NCD provided myself with a great learning experience with excellent facilities. The supportive environment helped me build real-world skills and lasting connections. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a strong foundation for their career.

Malcolm Hardy

My Grandson, who suffers from Epilepsy has just started at this college. The staff in the Foundation Department have been second to none, extremely supportive and helpful, nothing is too much trouble and this is very much respected by his parents and grandparents. Thanking all staff very much for this support.

Speaker Excursion

Terrible. Everything about it. This place will ruin you, and leave you standing there. Oh, and the toilets are constantly being vandalised. The male toilets door was hanging off today. A few days back someone peed on the floor intentionally and the whole stall was soaked, and multiple times there have been floods in the toilets since September. All the lectures are lazy and completely incapable. ABVOID, ABORT, RUN. However you want to word it, DON’T GO HERE! (Below is an image of the scene)

Freda Cook

Disappointing!
I was expecting a college salon with trainees to be quite professional but unfortunately, on this occasion, that wasn't the case.
The salon isn't cleaned properly; there was lots of hair on the floor, at various stations, & this when they'd just started for the day. There was a big hair clip on the floor, tucked in to the wall.
The trainee that did my roots gave me the impression she was brand new; no chat, extremely gentle. Turns out she was level 2 but she didn't use enough dye to cover the grey.
She told me she'd check the dye in 15 minutes but that didn't happen. 45 minutes later a different student washed and dried my hair.
Water was not warm but the student had lots of personality.
No supervisor to check the dye job (colour match was good but there's lots of grey showing through), no supervisor to check the blow dry; no supervisor to ask about my experience /take feedback. No-one asked about the patch test before beginning either.
I was left to my own devices after the grown was removed & I stood waiting to pay for a few minutes.
I wasn't impressed but wonder if it's different with different staff/tutors... Not sure I'll return to find out.

Samuel Douglass

Doing 5 Star so this can be seen by all, This College/University have absolutely terrible communication, and they refuse to help you throughout the course clearly picking by out favourites in the class. They have zero care for helping those with mental health issues and it’s instead like to say ‘that’s life get over it’ when you gain courage to actually speak up about it. They then unjustly fail you after they refuse to help in anyway shape or form even higher up side with their colleagues instead of listening to the student. Their student councillors do the one session and even if you book another session they don’t make one and you hear nothing back from them.

If you are looking to go here I’d 100% not recommend I’d suggest looking into other other places such as Newcastle where the teachers actually care and know what they are doing.

Andy Gray

Completed my GCSE Maths here as an adult learner with the amazing Julie. Fantastic learning atmosphere during the once a week evening session, very well structured and delivered by someone who knows her stuff. Actually miss my Wednesday nights doing GCSE Maths!