This month we have had the honour of officially opening Vinchel Lodge, marking the completion of a major refurbishment of the ground floor of the Sixth Form accommodation.

This newly transformed space is designed to provide a bright, accessible living area for students who are blind or vision impaired.

The refurbishment has been made possible through the generous support of The Vinchel Foundation, which supports people who are blind or vision impaired in the UK and internationally, along with their families and carers. The Foundation has a focus on education of blind and vision impaired young people and on the advancement of scientific knowledge of causes and treatments for vision impairment.

The new ground-floor space features a three-bay kitchen area, carefully tailored to different sensory and functional needs, encouraging students to build independence and essential life skills. A newly added games room with a pool table provides a social area for relaxation, while the spacious main living area, complete with six sofas and ambient lighting, creates a comfortable environment for students to gather and engage with one another.

During the official opening, Alastair Tulloch, trustee of The Vinchel Foundation, along with other guests, were inspired by the newly renovated space. Alastair Tulloch expressed his delight in the partnership. 

“We are incredibly proud to support the development of Vinchel Lodge and to see the positive impact it will have on the students' learning and personal growth.” Alastair Tulloch, Trustee of The Vinchel Foundation. 

Rachel Perks, Principal, “We are thrilled to officially open the Vinchel Lodge, we are so grateful to The Vinchel Foundation for making this possible. This space represents more than just a building – it symbolises our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible environment for our students to learn, grow and thrive. The opening of Vinchel Lodge marks an exciting milestone in our mission to empower students with vision impairments, and we look forward to seeing how this new space will support their continued success."