New College Worcester
New College Worcester (NCW) is a residential school and college for young people who are blind or partially sighted, aged 11-19.
Underpinning all that we do is the recognition that a young person’s needs are about more than just their visual impairment. That is why we offer every student a tailored programme of education, mobility and Independent Living Skills to support them in reaching their full potential, both in and beyond the classroom.
Our students can access the full range of National Curriculum subjects, plus a variety of outdoor and leisure activities, from acoustic rifle shooting to rock climbing. In short, they benefit from a wealth of opportunities, which promote self-confidence in an enjoyable way.
Over the years, NCW has developed an enviable reputation for academic achievement. Our teachers are all specialists in their subject and additionally qualified to teach children and young people who are visually impaired. They also have a remarkable flair for developing our students’ self esteem, which is vital to learning. The result is young people who flourish, both as students and individuals.
Outreach Programme – Supporting Visually Impaired Students across the UK
NCW runs an Outreach Programme which provides cirriculum, support, advice. training and information to schools and colleges, offering practical solutions and resources for teachers and visually impaired students in mainstream settings.
As part of the Outreach Programme, we have a dedicated Outreach Officer, who responds to hundreds of enquiries from professionals seeking help for various things such as enlarging written material, braille, mobility, tactile diagrams, access technology, practical lessons and social and emotional support.
NCW staff also lead training for professionals working with visually impaired students and run a three day residential GCSE revision course for visually impaired students from all over the UK every Easter holiday.
Fundraising
The College covers the basic costs of tuition and residence through the student fees charged to local authorities and the Learning and Skills Councils.
All capital developments, investments in new technologies and new projects are funded through fundraising activities, grants and donations.
Fundraising has raised money for a range of College activities from a life changing trip to Nepal, braille and magniciation devices, music workstations, to the refurbishment of residential lounges and kitchens.
The College is also planning larger developments, including the refurbishment and extension of ILS (Independent Living Skills) facilities and the extension and improvement of our multigym and sports facilities.
College History
In 1866, a school for boys, Worcester College for the Blind, started at the Commandery. They rented the Sidbury wing of this house which had acted as Charles II’s headquarters before the Battle of Worcester. The need for more space led the College to move in 1887 to Slaughter’s Court, a house in Powick. However, this was still rented. In 1902 Worcester College gained a permanent home on the Whittington Road site. The school site had been purchased by Miss Eliza Warrington from the Sebrights in 1897.
An important change came in 1936 when the then National Institute for the Blind undertook all financial responsibility for the College. After the passing of the 1944 Act, Worcester College for the Blind was designated as a grammar school for blind boys.
The establishment of Worcester College for the Blind in 1866 gave boys the opportunity to progress on to higher education, but there was no such establishment for girls until Chorleywood College was set up by the National Institute for the Blind in 1921. The school was located in the Cedars, a large Renaissance-style mansion in Hertfordshire. After the Education Act of 1944, the school was designated as a grammar school for girls.
In 1987, Worcester College for the Blind, a boys’ school, merged with Chorleywood College for Girls, and the school site became the home of RNIB New College Worcester. In June 2007, the new school became independent as New College Worcester.
