Changes to the curriculum and to student opportunities are being introduced by Linkage College in Greater Lincolnshire.
The independent specialist college for students with learning difficulties is introducing new courses from September 2016 to meet demand. Small animal care and hair & beauty will be important additions to Linkage’s Employability programme. The curriculum will also see the start of teaching GCSE Maths and English.
Plans are also being introduced to improve transport links to Linkage College sites at Grimsby, Toynton All Saints near Spilsby and a new location, Lincoln. Bus services will be launched to make it easier for students to reach their preferred site.
Meanwhile, visitors to college open days at the Weelsby Road campus in Grimsby will be able to view a new £430,000 facility. The annexe, linked to the main MacKenzie Building, opened to students at the start of the new academic year to provide physiotherapy and counselling facilities as well as two wetrooms and a medical room.
The two-storey facility will benefit students with physical disabilities as well as learning difficulties. The new annexe comes as Linkage prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2016 of supporting young people with learning disabilities.
Full details about the new services will be available at the open days from November. There will be guided tours by students from the customer service course around the ICT, drama and art rooms, horticulture, catering and hospitality areas, retail shop as well as Functional Skills classrooms and residential accommodation. There will also be information stands about the curriculum and details of Students’ Union activities. Members of the Transition team will be on hand to give assistance with information, advice and guidance on the next step for potential students.
Sally Warr, Assistant Principal – Support and Transition, says: “Many pupils from schools may have visited us before because they attended our annual Work Skills Week programme but, for others, the parkland setting provides the ideal place to come and study in. We’re delighted with the annexe at Grimsby as it’s a much-needed addition to what we offer at Linkage College, particularly because it widens the range of disabilities we can cater for.”
The open days at Grimsby take place on the following days from 10.30-4 unless otherwise shown:
Tuesday 3rd November,
1st December,
2nd February,
19th April (2-8),
7th June.
Toynton All Saints Open Days, 10.30-4:
Thursday 15th October,
12th November,
10th December,
11th February,
28th April (2-8),
16th June.
Meanwhile, Linkage has welcomed Alistair Campbell to the ranks at the college. The 31-year-old has joined as Vice Principal – Curriculum from Bournville College in Birmingham. He is responsible for developing the range of courses on offer at Grimsby and Toynton, and for introducing Linkage’s further education programme in Lincoln in 2016, ahead of the opening of the Boultham Park mini-campus in 2017.
Linkage College is operated by the learning disability charity, Linkage, and has the facility for around 120 students. Education began at the Toynton site in 1979 and the Grimsby-based campus, Weelsby, was opened in 1982.
For further details about Linkage College, please call 01472 372311, email transition@linkage.org.uk or go online to linkage.org.uk/college.