College Transition

A group of young people with learning difficulties have created a short film to help with their transition to college.

Six out of the 11 young people in Class 15 at Redbridge High School, in Liverpool, will be leaving school and going to Knowlsey Community College in September and they hope this video will help introduce them to new friends and staff.

Caitlin Palmer, 18, who hopes to study Hair and Beauty at college, is part of the group and explained why they are doing the project.

‘I have a friend who cannot see, but she can still speak to you, and feel you, and understand you and she wanted to tell people that,’ Caitlin said.

‘I hope the film will let people know what we are like and understand the feelings we have.

‘I am a wonderful woman and I am really good at making friends – I can make people happy.’

All of the students have a disability and some find it hard to communicate.

At Redbridge they have been supported by specialist staff, some of whom hold a great deal of information about the young people.

Staff and students have therefore been working hard to ensure the transition to mainstream college goes as smoothly as it can.

Fixers has helped the young people create an informative video they will show staff and fellow peers at Knowlsey Community College.

‘We are going to ask the teachers to watch it,’ Caitlin explained.

She hopes the video will allow people to see past her disability and treat her with respect.

‘I do not like it when people call me names,’ she said. ‘I do not like being skitted – I want people to remember to be kind.’

This project was funded by the Baily Thomas Charitable Trust.

To find other resources on this topic, and watch Fixers films, click on the image below.