Latest news with #CorsefordCollege
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Future of dedicated complex needs college secured with up to £1.4 million in funding
SCOTLAND'S first dedicated college for students with complex and additional needs has been granted funding for another two years. The pilot scheme at Corseford College in Renfrewshire will receive up to £1.4 million to continue until 2027. The college offers opportunities to young people aged 18-25 whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream college and gives them the chance to carry on with education after leaving school. Since it launched in 2022 the pilot scheme has received more than £1m from the Scottish Government, which has helped give 35 students with complex and additional needs the chance to continue learning. READ MORE: My travels helped me explore the musical connection between Scotland and Poland Further education minister Graeme Dey said: 'Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago. 'This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College's future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported. 'We are keen to explore a sustainable approach for specialist provision going forward, and the continued pilot at Corseford will help inform this. 'The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future. 'We are determined to support Scotland's young people with complex additional needs and disabilities. 'Last month, we published our first national strategy that ensures young disabled people can access the help they need as they transition to adulthood. Our continued funding for Corseford will support this work.' The Scottish Government said 41 young people will benefit from specialist support at the college in the 2025/26 academic year starting in August. Capability Scotland, which runs the college, welcomed news of the funding. Its chief executive Brian Logan, said: 'The Scottish Government's funding decision following the independent evaluation is a vital endorsement of Corseford College's pioneering approach to specialist post-school education. 'We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their co-operation and unwavering commitment in making this possible. 'This success reflects the dedication of the college's staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs. 'The funding secures Corseford College's future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.'
The National
07-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Future of dedicated complex needs college secured for 2 years
The pilot scheme at Corseford College in Renfrewshire will receive up to £1.4 million to continue until 2027. SCOTLAND'S first dedicated college for students with complex and additional needs has been granted funding for another two years. The college offers opportunities to young people aged 18-25 whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream college and gives them the chance to carry on with education after leaving school. Since it launched in 2022 the pilot scheme has received more than £1m from the Scottish Government, which has helped give 35 students with complex and additional needs the chance to continue learning. READ MORE: My travels helped me explore the musical connection between Scotland and Poland Further education minister Graeme Dey said: 'Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago. 'This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College's future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported. 'We are keen to explore a sustainable approach for specialist provision going forward, and the continued pilot at Corseford will help inform this. 'The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future. 'We are determined to support Scotland's young people with complex additional needs and disabilities. 'Last month, we published our first national strategy that ensures young disabled people can access the help they need as they transition to adulthood. Our continued funding for Corseford will support this work.' The Scottish Government said 41 young people will benefit from specialist support at the college in the 2025/26 academic year starting in August. Capability Scotland, which runs the college, welcomed news of the funding. Its chief executive Brian Logan, said: 'The Scottish Government's funding decision following the independent evaluation is a vital endorsement of Corseford College's pioneering approach to specialist post-school education. 'We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their co-operation and unwavering commitment in making this possible. 'This success reflects the dedication of the college's staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs. 'The funding secures Corseford College's future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.'
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Future of Scotland's only ASN college secured until 2027
Scotland's first dedicated college for students with complex and additional needs has been granted funding for another two years. The pilot scheme at Corseford College in Renfrewshire will receive up to £1.4 million to continue until 2027. The college offers opportunities to young people aged 18-25 whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream college and gives them the chance to carry on with education after leaving school. Since it launched in 2022 the pilot scheme has received more than £1 million from the Scottish Government, which has helped give 35 students with complex and additional needs the chance to continue learning. Further education minister Graeme Dey said: 'Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago. Read more: Scotland's only ASN college saved by Scottish Government budget deal Additional Support Needs in schools – Read every article here New college is 'enhancing life' for disabled young people failed by education system 'This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College's future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported. 'We are keen to explore a sustainable approach for specialist provision going forward, and the continued pilot at Corseford will help inform this. 'The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future. 'We are determined to support Scotland's young people with complex additional needs and disabilities. 'Last month, we published our first national strategy that ensures young disabled people can access the help they need as they transition to adulthood. Our continued funding for Corseford will support this work.' Corseford College The Scottish Government said 41 young people will benefit from specialist support at the college in the 2025/26 academic year starting in August. Capability Scotland, which runs the college, welcomed news of the funding. Its chief executive Brian Logan, said: 'The Scottish Government's funding decision following the independent evaluation is a vital endorsement of Corseford College's pioneering approach to specialist post-school education. 'We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their co-operation and unwavering commitment in making this possible. 'This success reflects the dedication of the college's staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs. 'The funding secures Corseford College's future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.'
The Herald Scotland
18-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
ScotGov urged to back expansion of ASN college model
The college was founded by Capability Scotland and is supported by funding from the Scottish Government. It is the only specialist college for people with complex additional needs and offers "a tailored further education programme" for young people with additional support needs between the ages 18 and 25. Courses are available in areas such as building-based skills development, education, community access, and more. Under the existing funding arrangements, Corseford College has capacity for forty students, with all places currently allocated. Speaking to The Herald, Head of College Liz McConnachie explained that each year she has to turn down around as many applications as she accepts, and warns that there is little if any alternative provision for those who cannot be accommodated. Ms McConnachie also highlighted geographical constraints, noting that people in most of Scotland are unable to access Corseford College, making the lack of similar centres in other parts of the country an especially pressing concern. Graduate Lauren Wishart with Capability Scotland Chief Executive Brian Logan (Image: Gordon Terris) The inaugural graduation ceremony recognised thirteen students who have completed their programmes. It also saw three individuals honoured with further recognition: an Honorary Graduate Prize was given to Jamie Thomson and Olivia Turner, and a Maria Brownlie Award, given in honour of a former student who passed away last year, went to Ali Chaudhry. READ MORE Parents say lack of inclusive further education must change Families still have to fight the system for pupils with ASN Speaking after the graduation event, Capability Scotland Chief Executive Brian Logan said that parents and staff are very proud of the young people involved, and that the day had been a 'real celebration of everything that they've achieved.' He went on to explain that Corseford's unique model had been developed and made successful thanks to the 'perseverance' of staff, and called for everyone who needs it in Scotland to have the right to the same type of support. 'That transition – to move from childhood into adulthood – is really challenging and at the moment, with the exception of Corseford College, there's no real opportunity for people to continue their educational journey. That right should be there for everyone. It's about equity and about inclusion, and without the type of provision that we have that opportunity to learn and grow.' 'We have demonstrated that this model is successful, we know that there is demand for this type of provision right across the country, we get applications from other parts of Scotland which we – at the moment – can't service. We know the demand is there. We know the model is successful. Our ask is that this is replicated across the country so that everyone has this opportunity, and that we put the funding on a much more sustainable footing. 'It's unfair that there are people across the country being denied this opportunity. We think we can set up satellites based on the Corseford model across the rest of Scotland. We want to do that and we want to work in partnership with the government to make sure that it is delivered.' Despite being opened by a Scottish Government minister (Jamie Hepburn MSP), Corseford had been facing the threat of closure when pilot funding ran out this year. However, the recent budget deal between the SNP, Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats secured a further £700,000 to keep the facility operational. Some of the 2025 graduates of Corseford College. L-R: Sophie James-Rae, Darren Fitzpatrick, Fraser McAlpine, Jamie Thomson, Ali Chaudhry, and Bryan Brownlie. (Image: Gordon Terris) During a recent session of the Scottish Parliament's Education, Children and Young People Committee, Minister for Further Education Graeme Dey revealed that the government has received a report that has reached 'broadly positive conclusions as to the impact' of Corseford's model. He added: 'I would be optimistic that we will have something very positive to say about this fairly quickly.' Asked whether ministers are planning to fund the establishment of more specialist colleges like Corseford, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: 'The Scottish Government has received the independent evaluation report for Corseford College and we are currently considering its content. As the Further Education Minister has indicated, there will be further detail provided on this shortly.'
BBC News
12-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Teen with learning disabilities made to pay Corseford College costs
The mother of a young woman with a severe learning disability says her council is demanding £166 a month to support her daughter attending college. Lorna Greenaway says her 19-year-old daughter has a mental age of five and has been attending Scotland's only dedicated college for school leavers with complex needs for two Ayrshire Council, which pays for Gemma's care and support in relation to college, has instructed debt collectors to claw back thousands of pounds in costs, dating back to when she turned 18. The council said it followed a reassessment of what she was entitled to, but Gemma's mum believes her daughter should not have to pay to get an education. The Corseford College campus, based at Inchinnan in Renfrewshire, takes students with complex needs up to the age of 25 from local authorities across the west of education is paid for by the Scottish government but local authorities pay for care, support and transport. Final demand Students from seven other local authority areas do not pay anything to their council to attend Corseford but East Ayrshire wants Gemma to pay back £5,500 to cover the past two years as well as next told the BBC the charges were based on a reassessment of Gemma's disability last year, Gemma has been receiving invoices from her local authority in relation to her place at charges relate to "support" she receives in college plus transport costs but the council has not provided any detailed has also not explained why the charges date back to when Gemma turned 18 or why it has decided to charge when other councils do has now received a final demand from a debt recovery agency - who say they will only speak directly to her. But her mum says this isn't possible as Gemma's ability to communicate is around the level of a five year said "My understanding is that no student in Scotland pays for education."I think it's an injustice to these young individuals with disabilities that they have to pay for their education." Students attending Corseford can take part in vocational courses and qualifications, improve literacy and numeracy abilities, and learn vital IT skills. The site is run by the disability charity Capability Greenaway said Gemma's favourite part of the day was meeting her friends and art said there had been a clear improvement in Gemma in the two years she had attended courses McConnachie, head of Corseford College, said finances can prove a stumbling block for their said: "Different local authorities have different approaches to it."Some councils are very accommodating, they look at the opportunities at Corseford College as being a positive transition and destination to continue education. "Others see the college as being day care – which it's not." In a statement, East Ayrshire Council said: "There is no charge attributed for the college attendance. The attendance is not viewed as day care." The council said that if an individual requires transport to the college or additional support then this is said the costs could be taken from disability benefits, as long as they were above a certain Greenaway said she remained "stressed at the constant demands" to make payments, and she was concerned about setting a said: "I feel if I pay for Gemma, any other student that follows through from East Ayrshire to this college, they will have to pay as well."She added that the whole situation is "definitely" forcing her to reconsider her daughter's future education."It is getting to the stage that for Gemma to continue there, it's probably going to have to come from our source of income," she said.
