A specialist centre for young people who have high needs is set to open at The Sheffield College’s Peaks Campus next year.
The facility is due to launch in September 2024 and it will have long term capacity for around 300 high needs students from across the city.
Peaks Campus will be refurbished and solely focus on provision for 16 to 24-year-olds who have high needs and require specialist support to progress.
The new centre will provide a curriculum that prepares students for adulthood, independence, employment and community participation.
It will draw on the experience and opportunities from a range of educational and non-educational partners, leading to meaningful and appropriate progression pathways.
Angela Foulkes, Chief Executive and Principal, The Sheffield College, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Sheffield City Council and other experts in the city to lead on the launch of new high needs provision at our Peaks Campus.
“We are delighted that Peaks Campus will be retained for educational purposes and will continue to play a vital role in the community and city, and that we have a long term sustainable solution for the site.
“The transformation of the campus into a new facility that young people and the city needs will ensure that no one is left behind and enable us to provide more places for students who have high needs.
“We are committed to preparing young people for adulthood and employment and supporting them to develop their independence.
“We will offer students the very best experience in a supported environment that is bespoke to their needs. We are consulting with experts in the area, local schools and community partners to ensure our offer is fit for purpose and meets demand.”
Councillor Dawn Dale, Chair of Education, Children and Families Policy Committee, Sheffield City Council, said: “We are pleased that The Sheffield College want to develop Peaks Campus in this way. The Sheffield College and the council recognise the growing numbers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and are taking action to support them.
“Peaks Campus would offer a brilliant opportunity to increase our post-16 provision for young people with SEND and support our young people to fulfil their ambitions for adulthood.
“There is a huge amount of potential for this to be an innovative and exciting development involving partners across the city. We look forward to working with The Sheffield College and our partners, and seeing this ambition become reality.”
Sheffield City Council and the college have identified a vital and growing requirement in the city and wider region for further post 16 high needs places as SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) needs continue to grow.
The new centre will provide additional capacity for high needs students from September 2024 rather than replacing existing provision.
Peaks Campus, on Waterthorpe Greenway, will be refurbished. The new facilities will include adaptations to the building to meet the needs of the students such as quiet spaces, sensory rooms and an independent living suite.
Student recruitment to the new centre will be phased and start with 100 places being offered in September 2024 with the ability to increase the places available in future years.
The plan to turn Peaks Campus into a specialist centre results from discussions during a stakeholder consultation process, conducted by The Sheffield College earlier in the year, about the future of the site and how it could be best used to meet the needs of the city.
The college confirmed in June 2023 its decision to move students, staff and courses from the campus from September 2023 following a stakeholder consultation process.
At that time a total of 300 students, including 65 high needs learners, were based at Peaks Campus completing mainly vocational courses. Peaks Campus-based courses and high needs provision continued and relocated to the college’s other campuses for the start of September 2023.
Students who moved from Peaks Campus were provided with a range of guidance and support. No staff were put at risk; they were offered redeployment to the college’s other campuses.
For more background information, please visit our Peaks Campus FAQs.
Pictured: The Sheffield College’s Peaks Campus will become a dedicated specialist centre for students who have high needs.
