The future of Scotland’s only dedicated college for young people with learning disabilities has been secured with additional government funding.

Corseford College, operated by disability charity Capability Scotland and based in Johnstone, opened its doors to students in 2022.

Since then, it has supported 35 young people with complex and additional needs to continue in education beyond school.

Now, thanks to £1.4m from the Scottish government, the College will continue to offer students tailored education, therapies and life skills support until at least 2027.

The extension follows an independent evaluation which highlighted the valuable support the College provides to young people with complex needs.

Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said the continued pilot will help shape the future of specialist provision across the country:

“Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago.

“This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College’s future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported.

“The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future.”

The announcement comes weeks after Corseford College celebrated its first group of graduates.

A total of 41 young people are now expected to attend Corseford for the 2025-26 academic year starting in August.

Capability Scotland says demand for places at the College continues to rise, showing the demand for specialist education places.

The charity has encouraged local authorities and the Scottish government to continue to build on its inclusive education model and replicate it across Scotland.

Capability Scotland Chief Executive, Brian Logan, said the new funding is a “vital endorsement” of the College’s pioneering approach to specialist post-school education.

“We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their cooperation and unwavering commitment in making this possible.

“This success reflects the dedication of the college’s staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs.

“The funding secures Corseford College’s future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.”

The funding was announced the week following the publication of a government strategy looking to improve young disabled people’s transitions to adulthood.

Minister Mr Dey said the continued funding for Corseford College will support this work.

 

Read more: Scotland’s first complex needs college opens; ‘Leaps’ needed to secure change for disabled people; Holyrood committee fails to back Disability Transitions Bill 

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