Taking our college on its own was best move

8:20am Tuesday 20th May 2008

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ONE year ago New College Worcester made the brave decision to go it alone.

After more than 70 years of being overseen by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) the college decided it was time to cut the apron strings and make its own way in the world of specialist education.

And its been a successful first 12 months for the college, which now has the ability to raise its own funds to make improvements at its Whittington Road site.

"It's been a success for the college to go independent," said principal Mardy Smith.

"Everyone has been very positive about it and all see the benefits, allowing us to move forward."

New College Worcester was first set up in the 19th century, when it was known as Worcester College for the Blind Sons of Gentlemen, and was based at the Commandery in Sidbury.

The college left its rented wing of the Commandery in 1887, moving to Powick, before moving to its present location in 1902.

In 1936 the RNIB took over all financial responsibility for the school and in 1944, an Act of Parliament (the Education Act 1944) made the school recognised as an official grammar school for blind boys.

Much construction work was undertaken at the Whittington Road site, including the building of an open-air swimming pool, and a school chapel in the 1950s, as well as major extension work.

In 1987 the college merged with Chorleywood College for Girls with Little or No Sight, creating a co-educational school for blind and partially-sighted young people, known as RNIB New College Worcester.

From then on the college thrived, but it soon became apparent that the RNIB's involvement might not provide the best future for the students.

"For the RNIB, specialist education was only a small part of what they do," Mrs Smith said.

"And being part of a large bureaucracy was not in the best interests of the college, because of the delays in getting things done, and so we looked to go it alone.

"It was a long process, overseen by our excellent governors, and everyone believes it was the right thing to do.

"We can now concentrate on making the college the best it can be for our students and providing all the courses and activities that we want."

The college is classified by the Department of Children, Schools and Families as a non-maintained specialist special school.

Although the college does have fees, they are not paid by individual families, but by each students' home local authority.

Currently there are 86 young people, aged 11-19, at the college from across the UK, with two from abroad, nearly all of whom board.

However, there are currently no students from Worcestershire attending the college.

"We have a nationwide catchment area," Mrs Smith said. "We have had pupils from Worcestershire in the past but we don't have any at the moment.

"For parents to send their children here is often a very difficult decision," she said.

"Most of the parents would not normally have sent their child to boarding school were it not for their visual impairment, but they recognise that what we can offer here is in their child's best interests.

"We can offer them the same curriculum as they would get at their home school, but with our added expertise, preparing them for independent living."

The college offers a full range of GCSEs, with most students sitting eight or nine, along with 24 A-levels.

"We want our students to have all the same opportunities for study that they would have in any mainstream school," Mrs Smith said.

"The young people that come here have the same right to pursue their dream career as anyone else and we aim to allow them to do so."

All teachers at the college are specially trained in providing education for blind or partially sighted students. But as well as the academic studies, the college also aims to help students become independent, teaching them how to budget, shop, cook, do their laundry and generally look after themselves.

"At home many parents will probably want to do too much for their blind child, which doesn't allow them to become independent," Mrs Smith said.

"We have the expertise to teach them how to do things for themselves. Even simple tasks like boiling a kettle, or using the oven.

"We want our students to leave here not only with a good education but also as independent people, able to look after themselves, as anyone else would."

The split from the RNIB has seen little change to the students' actual education, it is more in the administration of the college.

One of the key differences, however, is that the college is now able to fund-raise itself, something it was never able to do before.

"The college is now a charitable company so we are responsible for our own destiny," Mrs Smith said.

Following the split, the college appointed a fund-raising manager earlier this year, Anne Priestley.

"This is a great challenge," Mrs Priestley said.

"The college has never been able to raise its own funds before so I have a blank canvas to work from.

"I hope to be able to get local businesses, organisations and other schools and colleges working closely with us."

In the future the college hopes to raise funds for a new sports centre and also hopes to expand its curriculum and the variety of activities on offer.