Previously the Motto of the college was nos excellentia per nostrum discipulus primoris ('We achieve excellence by putting our students first').

In 2014, colleges in the New Collaborative Learning Trust gave 'academic scholarship' to students to attend their school if they achieved more than 5 A grades at GCSE.

[3] In the academic year 2013–14 NEW College Pontefract was Ofsted Outstanding, with inspectors highlighting their heightened success rates, the development of students skills, regular rigorous assessment, and a successful management that create a culture of high expectations.

In October 2020 it won the sixth-form college of the year at the Tes FE Awards 2020, achieving top in the country.

The college was praised for its 100% pass rate and high grades making up 60% at A-level and 90% in BTEC courses.