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Welcome to our Specialist College

We work with young adults aged 16-25 years across a broad spectrum of social, emotional and mental health challenges and use our knowledge, experience and expertise to help them ‘become the best they can be’.

Welcome from the Head of Further Education

 

I am pleased to introduce the William Henry Smith Specialist College and share our unique way of working, which enables young people to achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives of their own choosing.

Our multidisciplinary, bespoke approach, places our young people at the centre of everything we do. Our highly skilled and specialist teaching, support and therapeutic team, work with each young person to ensure their needs are fully met and that every achievement takes them closer to reaching their individual goals.

We prepare our young people for adult life, through person-centred academic and vocational study programmes, leading to them becoming more independent and improving their quality of life. By working together, we increase resilience, confidence, self-esteem, emotional intelligence and well-being: the cornerstones on which strong and successful long-term futures are built.

We welcome visitors throughout the year and look forward to hearing from you.

Leanne Clarke
Head of Further Education

What do we offer?

At the William Henry Smith Specialist College, we support young adults aged 16–25 with a wide range of social, emotional and mental health needs. Everything we do is designed to help our learners become the best they can be through a bespoke, multidisciplinary approach.

Above all, our programmes are built around each individual. We don’t just focus on education, we also develop life skills and confidence, helping learners to transition smoothly into adult life with the skills they need to thrive.

 

Education & Development

We create individual study programmes that combine academic and vocational learning, guided by the ‘Preparation for Adulthood’ framework. Our focus is on building independence, resilience, confidence, emotional intelligence and well-being so that every learner is ready for a fulfilling future.

Bespoke Support & Therapeutic Care

Our learners benefit from the support of a highly skilled team of teachers, support staff and therapeutic professionals, working together in a trauma-informed way. We also take safeguarding seriously, with dedicated professionals, including a Social Worker and Family Intervention Support Worker, to ensure both learners and families feel safe and supported.

Preparing for Adulthood

We provide a comprehensive careers programme that includes one-to-one guidance, workshops, careers fairs and real-world work experiences. Our approach is aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks, ensuring every learner can make informed choices and explore opportunities for further education, training, employment or independent living.

View Our Prospectus

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