The Power of Specialist Further Education – Jess’ Story

At mainstream it was super fast-paced and not easy to keep up with, not to mention super crowded and loud. There was never a real ‘safe space’ – the designated one was in detention – with the other ‘naughty’ students.

They weren’t very accepting with my recent autism diagnosis insisting I was just attempting to copy my eldest sister who was diagnosed a year prior. One teacher claimed I was faking it for attention and attempted bribery to ‘fix’ my behaviour. Due to all of that I ended up resenting my own autism for many years.

When I finally escaped mainstream and moved to a specialist school, it was a shock – in the best way. The environment was so inclusive. Staff were supportive, and no one singled you out for being different; they encouraged it. Classes were smaller, which made learning way less stressful. It felt like I could finally breathe and focus without constantly being judged.

When I first started college, I was doing it via specialist to attend a mainstream with support. It was a nightmare – no one listened to me, and they kept applying me to the wrong course. I barely lasted a week before eventually dropping out.

After a lot of messing around with my previous college, I was finally offered a place at Homefield. I was anxious about starting somewhere new, but once I settled in, I realised how supportive and welcoming it was.

The amazing staff created an atmosphere where I felt truly supported. They even introduced me to lessons I never would’ve tried on my own, gently encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone. Because of that, I’ve grown in confidence and become more outgoing.

At the beginning of this academic year, I started work experience internally with the communications team. They’ve helped me understand what a real workplace feels like, giving me deadlines like you’d have in a normal job and making me feel like part of their amazing team.

If specialist schools and colleges didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have come as far as I have over the past nine years. I would’ve missed out on my qualifications and never become as outgoing as I am today. I’d still be struggling with being misunderstood – seen as that ‘naughty’ kid who was faking everything.

Specialist further education can make all the difference. It gives young people a place where they’re understood, supported, and encouraged to be themselves. With smaller classes and staff who genuinely care, students have the opportunity to grow in confidence, discover new strengths, and finally feel like they belong. For those who struggled in mainstream, specialist settings can turn things around and help them flourish in ways they never thought possible.