• Specialism:
  Developing independent living and social skills through a vocational curriculum
• Residential/Day:
  Residential
• Course Start Dates:
  Intakes each term
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  37 weeks
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  265
• Age Range:
  16 – 25

General Description of College:
A large residential college, with 265 students, Derwen promotes the educational, vocational, personal and social development of young people with a wide range of learning difficulties and disabilities. Set in rural Shropshire, yet easily accessible by road and rail, the College has a modern, attractive campus that includes accommodation with different levels of support; many students live off-campus in the local community with appropriate levels of support and there are some day places available.

The Curriculum:
The continued commitment to excellence is clear in the carefully designed curriculum, which meets the needs of students at different stages of development. Individual programmes are structured to enable each student to grow and prepare for the challenges of the future. All programmes follow the standard academic year and include the Foundation Learning strands: vocational skills, personal and social development and functional skills and are nationally accredited. Each course lasts three years, with the transition review early in the final year to ensure effective planning for post-college provision.

Specialist Facilities:
All facilities are first class and of the highest specification, far exceeding the standards set by the Care Standards Commission. The uncompromising strategic review ensures continued quality and the College is graded as outstanding in Ofsted’s recent Report.

Statements:

1. opportunities to follow a vocational course
2. a programme to help learners to look after themselves more independently
3. a personal development programme
4. opportunities to improve literacy, numeracy and/or communication skills
5. opportunities to improve Information and learning technology skills
6. specialist training to enable independent travel
7. opportunities to experience real work situations
8. a transition programme into independent living
9. a transition programme into supported or open employment
10. expertise in working with learners with Asperger syndrome
11. expertise in meeting the needs of students with severe learning difficulties
12. expertise in meeting the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties
13. expertise in supporting learners with a wide range of physical disabilities
14. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
15. expertise in working with learners with autism spectrum disorder
16. guidance and counselling services
17. specialist staff to meet personal care requirements
18. in-house speech and language therapy
19. in-house physiotherapy
20. nursing services available 24 hours a day