City of Bristol College and LPW partnership launches Post-16 provision for young people facing educational barriers

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City of Bristol College is partnering with LPW to launch a new Post-16 education provision designed to support young people who are disengaged from mainstream education and at high risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET).

LPW College will launch in September 2026 following City of Bristol College awarding LPW a subcontract to deliver the new provision. It has been developed to provide a clear, longer-term progression route for young people, including those already engaged with LPW through its alternative education and community-based youth work programmes.

The new provision will support young people who have experienced barriers to education, including those with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs and those facing complex personal or educational circumstances.

LPW College will be built around LPW’s established principles of relational practice, trauma-informed approaches and a zero-exclusion ethos. The aim is to create a safe, welcoming and aspirational environment where young people can build confidence, develop independence and prepare for successful transitions into Further Education, training, apprenticeships or employment.

In its first year, the provision aims to support 70 young people through a phased start, with 50 places intended for young people from South Bristol and 20 for young people from North Bristol.

The curriculum will be designed specifically around the needs, interests and aspirations of individual learners. Following an initial assessment of each young person’s needs, interests and engagement levels, professional assessments will be used to develop personalised timetables and programmes of study.

Young people will follow one of three tailored pathways, designed to reflect their individual circumstances and level of engagement. The curriculum will combine education with personal development, employability and wellbeing support and will include English and Maths, careers education, digital skills and opportunities to gain accredited and non-accredited qualifications.

The provision will particularly support young people who are:

• Disengaged from mainstream education
• Currently enrolled with an alternative learning provider, including Hospital Education
• Identified as having SEMH needs
• Facing complex barriers to education, training or employment

Alongside classroom-based learning, LPW College will work to build strong partnerships with employers, training providers and other education settings, helping learners to develop the skills, confidence and experience they need for their next steps.

City of Bristol College Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Julia Gray, commented: “We know that for some young people, the traditional education system has not always provided the right environment or support needed for them to thrive. Our partnership with LPW gives us an opportunity to create a genuinely personalised Post-16 pathway that starts with the individual young person and focuses on what they need to succeed.

“By combining high quality education with wellbeing, personal development and employability support, we can help more young people in Bristol re-engage with learning and progress towards Further Education, training, employment and greater independence.”

Alexis Angus, Interim Chief Executive at LPW, said: “At LPW, we provide safe, emotionally supportive and enriching spaces where children and young people: build trusted and trauma-informed relationships; grow in confidence and independence; overcome challenges; and have ownership of their learning and future.

“With the launch of LPW College in September, are really pleased to be able to offer Post-16 education which extends the learning pathway for our current students, and will welcome new  learners that seek a smaller, personalised and supportive environment.”

The LPW College team will include teaching staff, higher-level teaching assistants, work experience coordinators, SEND support, engagement workers and other specialist roles to ensure that young people receive the individualised support they need.

The partnership forms part of a longer-term commitment to improving outcomes for young people across Bristol by creating meaningful progression opportunities and supporting learners throughout their journey into Further Education, employment and independence.

The LPW website can be accessed here https://www.lpw.org.uk/ and the relevant enquiries email is: mailto:enquiries@lpw.org.uk.