Mercury College

We are a specialist college offering education for students aged 18 to 25, with complex care needs including behaviours that challenge and a learning disability, often in association with autism.

We offer person-centred education and support, including a full range of Therapeutic Services based on site, for students in an environment that complements their individual needs, capabilities and aspirations whilst allowing them the opportunity to progress and reach their full potential.

We accept students from all over the UK providing both day and full residential college placements.

Currently the college is based at two campuses in the city of Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Each is in very different surroundings. One is set on the outskirts of a rural village, whilst the other is in the heart of a community. 

We deliver learning programmes that are imaginative and designed to enable students to acquire and apply the knowledge and practical, transferable skills they need in order to succeed in life. This is achieved through a structured yet flexible approach underpinned by a personalised therapeutic support plan tailored to meet students’ needs. 

All students, as part of their programme will receive; life skills training, functional English and Maths, along with a selection of social enterprise projects to be involved in as part of our employability and vocational training options.

Each student will get to build an exciting and evolving enrichment package into their personal timetable, tailored to suit their individual needs and preferences. All courses will be accredited where applicable and where this is not possible the RARPA model will be used to ensure progress and achievement can be monitored, celebrated and measured against their EHCP outcomes.

We are an inclusive college who aspire to shape peoples’ lives through experiential learning with exciting and innovative project-based activities, providing high quality holistic, therapeutic support to ensure our students’ success. Our aim is to look outwards rather than inwards, widening participation and improving social integration.

Functional skills will be built into the curriculum and are an essential basis of everyone’s development. These functional skills may include: communication, application of number, information communication technology, working with others, problem solving and improving own learning and performance. 

Students will be offered the opportunity to take part in learning experiences in the local and wider community. A successful external learning experience can greatly enhance the college curriculum and help motivate the student and staff.

Achievements will be recognised and acknowledged on a daily basis. Progress is monitored through the formal assessment process, and equally importantly, successes will be celebrated by friends, staff and family.

Mercury College opens up a range of community learning opportunities for all of its students. We have a range of different learning environments, classrooms and well-equipped learning spaces to complement the wide variety of available activities and to create positive learning opportunities.

Our Campuses at Mercury College

The curriculum offer at each campus takes full advantage of what their very different surrounding areas have to offer. Mercury College opens up a range of community learning opportunities for all of its students. We have a range of different learning environments, classrooms and well-equipped learning spaces to complement the wide variety of available activities and to create positive learning opportunities.

Juno Campus Curriculum Focus
• Catering
• Hospitality
• Retail
• Independence/Life skills
• Community link projects
• Enrichment: Sports and fitness.

Flora Campus Curriculum Focus
• Land-based studies:
– Horticulture
– Environmental sustainability
• Upcycling and Recycling
• Joinery
• Enterprise and employability
• Enrichment: Duke of Edinburgh Award

Therapeutic Services

Mercury College has access to an in-house team of therapists and clinicians employed by Hesley Group. The Applied Psychology Team is made up of Psychologists and Behaviour Therapists, with support from assistants. The team aims to understand the emotional, social and behavioural needs of a student to reduce any distress and promote positive wellbeing. They work with the students, their families and school staff to develop a PBS plan, which communicates their preferences, strengths andneeds in relation to achieving the best learning outcomes possible. 

The Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Therapy Assistants get to know each student well through doing activities together and completing formal and informal assessments with them and their family and college staff.

The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Team aim to support each student’s speech, language and communication needs. We value all types of interaction and the SLTs and Therapy Assistants aim to reduce barriers to communication and learning by promoting an inclusive communication approach.