About Us
NCW is a unique educational setting for children and young people who are blind or vision impaired. As a residential non-maintained special school, we have children from all over the UK and further afield, who have access to education tailored for learners who are vision impaired.
In the UK, fees are largely met by local authorities of the child’s home and we also accept privately funded students from the UK and around the world.
Our students have access to teachers and resources often unavailable in mainstream education and learning is continued and embedded over evenings and weekends where a programme of extra curricular activities, support towards independent living and friendships which last a lifetime all combine to give a child the skills, confidence and attitude to become successful and thriving young adults.
NCW provides:
- Academic focus for students with a visual impairment
- Expert subject teachers qualified to teach the visually impaired
- A ‘Waking Day’ curriculum – learning doesn’t stop at the end of the school day
- An individualised approach for every student
- An ethos which puts students first
- A robust safeguarding environment
- Increased student employability through academic achievement and social skills
- High aspirations for every person
- Outreach Service offering training and advice to mainstream settings
The College prides itself on:
- Providing opportunity for the academically gifted
- Maximising educational outcomes for all visually impaired children
- Fitting each student with skills for life that result in them being independent, self-confident and able to lead productive and fulfilled lives
The College accepts students with a wide range of visual impairments and some students have additional needs such as a hearing impairment, Asperger’s Syndrome or have limited mobility. Places are usually funded by the student’s Local Authority.
NCW Students have a wide range of academic ability following the National Curriculum at Key Stage 3, following onto GCSEs and AS/A2 courses. The College offers some entry level and vocational courses in key stage 4 and 5 and some 6th formers follow vocational programmes at a local college supported by NCW staff. Students also have Independent Living Skills (ILS), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mobility, Braille and PE lessons, and some students follow ASDAN courses (personal, social and communication skills).
Accommodation for years 7 to 11 is in one of two junior houses, each with several bedrooms, a study room, sitting room and communal kitchen – staying as full or weekly boarders, or attending daily. Once in sixth form students in the Vinchel Lodge are encouraged to be self-sufficient and independent, in preparation for their journey beyond NCW
