Portland College is an Independent Specialist College, providing residential
education and training for students aged 16 and over with disabilities
and/or learning difficulties. Many of our students have extremely complex
and multiple physical disabilities and needs encompassing a wide range of
congenital conditions, acquired injuries and conditions. In addition a
significant proportion of individuals looking to re-train back into
employment have emotional, behavioral and personal difficulties, as well as
their primary medical condition. The College works in collaboration and
partnership with a wide variety of agencies and does not see itself working
in isolation but rather as part of a fully inclusive society.
Portland’s ethos is an extremely positive one very much based on minimising the
effects of the disability by continual investment in learning and technology,
and by focusing on the potential and the aspirations of each individual, rather
than the disability.
We strive to develop every learner’s unimagined potential with a personalised programme that can include work experience and volunteering. The personal curriculum is underpinned by a broad range of accredited qualifications in independence, literacy, numeracy, sport, arts, business studies, computing, small animal care and horticulture
Each year we need to raise substantial sums of money to provide equipment,
support and improve the infrastructure of our College. We undertake much of this
through commercial ventures on campus, but also rely on fundraising and the
generosity of individual donators and corporate support. This support enables us
to continue to provide opportunities for people with disabilities and to
maintain the high standards we set for the College.
