From September 2020 Phoenix Autism Trust will be starting an independent college – Phoenix College – supporting young people with autism,  having been successful in its application to the Department for Education (DfE).

This new College will house those learners currently studying with us on the New City College site at Poplar (Formerly Tower Hamlets College.)

Our time at the Tower Hamlets College (now New City College) has been a very successful and happy partnership. Phoenix School approached the College some six years ago.  The proposal was to set up a partnership with the Phoenix Autism Trust for a college provision specifically for young adults with autism. This resulted in our joint initiative:  PATH (Phoenix Autism at Tower Hamlets College,) and provided continued, welcome opportunities for learners 19 and above.

Starting in September 2015, this provision has grown from strength to strength with learners continuing to grow and flourish into adulthood and developing their independence and confidence alongside qualifications.  PATH and New City College have continued to work closely together on a range of initiatives which have been mutually beneficial both to those we teach and to each other.

Due to legislative limitations on Phoenix provision, PATH students have previously been enrolled at New City College with Phoenix School subcontracting staff through Phoenix Autism Trust to work with them. The College has welcomed these learners as full members of the College community.

However, Phoenix Autism Trust has now applied successfully to the DfE to open an Independent Specialist Provision, Phoenix College, from September 2020 specifically to cater for learners 19 and above. Phoenix Autism Trust will therefore be moving existing learners to this provision once building work is complete and a transition programme has been developed.

The Phoenix Autism Trust recognises the tremendous support that they have had from New City College during the last six years and thanks them for their continued support in transitioning current learners over the next 5 months. New City College in turn has very much enjoyed the opportunity to work with such inspiring and rewarding young people. There will be a joint opportunity to celebrate this partnership with our learners and their families in due course.

It is planned that Phoenix College and New City College will continue to build on the close relationship that we have developed over the past 6 years.