Next phase of £100m specialist school and college begins

The Seashell Trust cares for young people with complex disabilities

Work has started on the next phase of a £100m school and college for young people with complex learning difficulties.

The Seashell Trust in Stockport provides specialist education for 135 young people from across the country.

The charity opened a new school building in 2023 and work is now underway on a £30m college.

Around 40 people live on the site in Cheadle Hulme, which has 700 staff, and provide round-the-clock require 24 hour care.

Brandon Leigh is the chief executive of The Seashell Trust

The cost of caring for a young person at the Seashell Trust is typically around £70,000 a year, but it can cost much more.

Some children require three-to-one care.

Seashell Trust chief executive Brandon Leigh said many of the young people cared for had been premature babies who previously would not have survived.

He said: "Medical science is advancing and survival rates are improving for premature babies.

"That is creating a population who require an extra level of care and support.

"Our facilities need to match that.

"Seashell is now being transformed into a national centre of excellence with world-class facilities.

"Our new school has over 30 hoists, which allows students to be able to be moved with dignity.

"The building has excellent lighting and acoustics. It feels very calm and families have seen that benefit on their children".

The Seashell Trust is made up of the Royal School Manchester for children under 16, and the Royal College Manchester for young people up to the age of 25.

The charity has 700 staff, including many who are highly trained to care for children with some of the most complex needs in the country.

About a third of the cost of building the new campus was raised by selling off nearby farmland for housing.

The rest is coming from public fundraising and the generosity of wealthy donors.

Max Pennells is a student at the Royal College Manchester

Max Pennells, a 20-year-old student from Bramhall in Stockport, said the new building would be a big improvement:

He said: "I've been at Seashell for two years. The old building isn't very good. It's very hard to get through the doors in a wheelchair.

"The new building will have plenty of room to do exercises."

Max does work experience as a gardener at the National Trust-owned Dunham Massey, near Altrincham.

He now wants be a gardener when the leaves the Royal College.

"I like planting, weeding and working outside," he said.

Claire Sefton in front of what will be the new Royal College Manchester building

As well as educating young people, the Seashell Trust also provides services such as physiotherapy, language therapy, sports activities and family support.

Claire Sefton, the principal of Royal College Manchester, said the existing facilities were no longer fit for purpose.

She said: "There are small rooms with low ceilings and narrow corridors.

"Our students have a range of complex medical needs.

"Some require feeding though pegs.

"Some students need a lot of space and we're not able to provide that all of the time.

"Everything we do at the college is to prepare young people for adulthood.

"That might be in supported living or residential care.

"We just see opportunity for our young people - we don't see barriers.

"The new facilities will lead to better outcomes for our young adults."

The new Royal College Manchester building is due to be completed in 2026.