Headteacher opens specialist college to address education gap for students with autism

Experienced education leader Gemma Peebles became aware that some 16 to 18-year-olds were falling out of the education system and needed more support to find alternative routes and tailored support to maximise their capabilities.

Her entrepreneurial solution to the problem was to plough all her savings and garner support from businesses to start her own college in her hometown of Doncaster.

Harrison College, which provides specialist business, enterprise and employability post-16 education, opened in August 2019 with Ms Peebles and three students.

This year, the college has 29 students and a team of nine staff and is already winning recognition, making the shortlist for a national award.

The students are referred to Harrison College by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), NHS clinical teams, parents and schools, and may have autism or special learning needs.

What sets the college apart is that one third of the curriculum involves internship for the students with a local employer.

Ms Peebles said: “My approach to that is that a young person’s learning need or disability shouldn’t hold them back, and we can help them.

“Nobody else is doing what we do. We are unique because of the massive emphasis on employability and being destination and outcomes focused. Before Harrison College there was no dedicated provision in our area. Other establishments have placement programmes but not for our type of learner.

Studies show that fewer than one in four students with autism stay in education. Harrison College identifies what they can do, focusing on the positive things they have to offer employers and preparing them for work, beginning with coming to college in business dress every day.

“Those on the autistic spectrum are often very good an analytical work, looking at figures, data, details and also following instructions. These students have a lot to offer and we have a moral duty to support them and we are trying to change perceptions around what they can offer,” added Ms Peebles.

The idea for Harrison College began to take shape when she was working in a special school as a consultant in the further education sector.

She approached Doncaster Council who agreed there was a need that it could support financially by funding each student who attended, but the set-up costs would be down to Ms Peebles and her husband Michael, a former professional golfer and sports retailer.

“We did it on a shoestring with our own savings and donations from businesses,” she said. “We took a massive leap of faith and leased premises at Heaven’s Walk, where we have classroom spaces and have recently expanded upstairs to accommodate our growing staff and student numbers.

“In the long term we might look to build our own premises, but we are deliberately keeping the provision small and will more likely have more, small Harrison Colleges.”

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