Northampton College celebrates SEND as an education ‘superpower’
Northampton College will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary strengths of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with a new event at its Booth Lane campus next week.
‘SEND as a Superpower’ will be held on Wednesday, 3 December and will form part of the national Power of Specialist Further Education campaign, challenging misconceptions, celebrating achievements and highlighting the vital role specialist provision plays in transforming young lives.
The event will bring together external stakeholders including representatives from the University of Nothampton, West Northamptonshire Council and community partners to experience first-hand how tailored programmes help students build confidence, independence and skills for life and work.
Guests will be invited to meet learners, view creative projects and see activities that demonstrate how specialist support empowers students to thrive. Students and staff will be dressed as their favourite superheroes throughout the day.
Principal of Northampton College, Jason Lancaster, said: “Too often, SEND provision is misunderstood or overlooked, but the reality is that our learners are achieving remarkable things every single day. Their talents aren’t defined by limitations – they are powered by them.
“SEND as a Superpower will show policymakers, partners and the wider community what we see all the time: when young people are given the right environment, the right support and the belief that they can succeed, they unlock potential that benefits not just themselves, but society as a whole.
“This event underlines our ongoing commitment to inclusion, ambition and excellence and will prove that SEND is not a barrier, but a catalyst for possibility.”
A key feature of the day will be the ‘My Superpower’ student showcase, where young people from across the college’s Supported Learning and Foundation programmes will share personal stories, artwork, digital content and written pieces illustrating the strength, resilience and individuality that define their learning journeys.
A collaborative mural inspired by Van Gogh will be on display, and visitors can also enjoy a pop-up café serving themed treats such as ‘confidence cookies’, ‘motivational mince pies’ and ‘big-up brownies’.
Guests will tour the Digital and Academic Resources Centre to see how learners use innovative digital tools and library schemes in maths, English and digital literacy, demonstrating how specialist FE opens doors to future opportunities that might previously have seemed out of reach.
