School campus will be home to Scotland’s first complex needs college
£250k invested in transforming site to cater for students
Renfrewshire has been earmarked as home to Scotland’s first complex needs college.
Plans are afoot for Corseford College to fill a void in the sector for school leavers whose needs cannot be met in mainstream colleges.
Charity Capability Scotland is masterminding the move to open the first specialist college of its kind in September.
Some 127 similar specialist centres are operated in England and Wales.
The facility will offer further education day places within a wing of the existing Corseford School campus near Johnstone.
It has undergone a £250,000 interior and exterior overhaul to ensure it meets the needs of pupils it is set to welcome from the start of the new academic year.
The charity, which has already allocated 12 of the 15 places available at the site in year one, says the demand demonstrated the level of previously unmet need in the sector.
Work is under way to finalise funding schemes for students with the Scottish Government, which charity chiefs say has indicated strong support for the move.
Brian Logan, chief executive of Capability Scotland, believes the model will transform the lives of individuals with complex support needs, as well as their families and support networks.
He said: “We’re delighted with the engagement that we have been receiving from the Scottish Government, empowering us to make Corseford College happen.
“There is a clear and urgent need to address the lack of further education opportunities for so many of our young people in society.
“The default option for those with complex needs is day care.
“While this is the right route for some, there needs to be greater depth of opportunity.”
And he announced an open day for parents and guardians set to take place this Saturday, adding: “We’ve already had a great deal of interest from families all around the country and we’re looking forward to welcoming some of those families to our open day on Saturday.”
The organisation hopes to increase places at the facility to 25 in time for the year two intake, before delivering a strategy for a phased rolling out of similar colleges throughout Scotland.
They say a highly-specialised curriculum will be used, centred on core learning styles for students, with each individual set to embark upon a bespoke learning pathway.
Brian added: “This is not about priming people to enter the jobs market who otherwise wouldn’t.
“While some of our students may be able to do that in time, the college environment will exist to provide opportunities for lifelong learning and for students to develop in their world around them.
“I’d like to also emphasise our commitment to the existing school at Corseford.
“While pupil numbers have fallen in recent years, the creation of the adjoining college highlights our commitment to the site.
“We think the new facility will only strengthen the appeal of the school.”
Capability Scotland - which is celebrated its 75th anniversary last year - delivers care, support and education for disabled children and adults across Scotland.
Founded in 1946, it has always strived to be a major ally in supporting disabled people to have full equality of opportunity and participation as citizens.
It now provides direct support to more than 800 individuals through day and residential schools, residential care, housing support services, home care and a range of day opportunities in the community and local Capability Scotland hubs.
To register for Saturday’s open day, visit www.capability.scot/events/538-corseford-collegeopen-day
There is a clear and urgent need to address the lack of further education opportunities Brian Logan