Ascent College background
The history of Ascent College, formerly known as Wargrave House School, dates back to 1969 when Bessie Berman presented her idea for a school specifically for children with autism, leading to the opening of the first residential weekly-boarding school in the North West of England in 1971, and subsequently expanding to include Lakeside House for post-16 education and the Lakeside Early Adulthood Provision (LEAP) for 16-25-year-olds.
Where did it all start?
Bessie Berman, our Founder and first principal, held a deep interest in special education, particularly autism. The lack of schools led her to present her ideas for setting up such a school specifically for children with autism at the General Meeting of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in February 1969. The Barrow and Geraldine Cadbury Trust provided a very considerable sum to start the school with further donations from the Society for Autistic Children, which became the National Autistic Society (NAS).
In September 1971, the doors of Wargrave House School opened and became the first residential weekly-boarding school specifically for children with Autism in the North West of England.
Throughout the next 20 years, the building continued.
In 1994, after several school extensions were required due to its success, the newly built Lakeside House opened at the rear of the current school, providing Post-16 further education. Finally, in September 2012, we opened our first Adult College for 16-25-year-olds, called Lakeside Early Adulthood Provision (LEAP).
The Preloved Shop & Café, part of our provision, opened at the Lyme & Wood Learning Hub based in Newton-le-Willows in the summer of 2022, enabling our students to gain skills in hospitality and retail. You can find more information about the project here.
However, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01925 224899 if you need further information.
Specialist college welcomes the local community for spring fayre extravaganza
Ascent Autism Specialist College, based in Newton-le-Willows, recently celebrated the beginning of a new season with its annual spring fayre. The spring fayre, which took place on the college grounds, welcomed students, staff, parents/carers and the local community to...
Ascent Autism Specialist College celebrate Neurodiversity Week with a jam-packed schedule of activities
Ascent Autism Specialist College, based in Newton-le-Willows, recently participated in Neurodiversity Celebration Week from Monday, 18 March to Friday, 22 March. The college, which provides specialist education to autistic individuals aged 16 to 25, is committed to...
Finalists in the Liverpool City Region Culture & Creativity Awards
Ascent Autism Specialist College, based in Newton-le-Willows, has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards at the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Culture & Creativity Awards 2024. The shortlist, which was announced earlier today, revealed that the college had been...
Breaking down barriers with employer-focused autism awareness training
Ascent Autism Specialist College, based in Newton-le-Willows, is helping employers break down barriers to work for autistic individuals with employer-focused autism awareness training. On Thursday, 9 November, Ascent College staff and student, Alicia, visited a...
Ascent Autism Specialist College teaching assistant receives national award
Sam Lowe, a teaching assistant at Ascent Autism Specialist College, has received a national award from Teaching Personnel. The SEN Teaching Assistant of the Year Award recognises and celebrates the hard work and dedication of teaching assistants in Special Educational...
Ascent Autism Specialist College shortlisted for three prestigious Educate Awards
Ascent Autism Specialist College, part of the Remarkable Autism Charity, has been shortlisted for three awards in the highly anticipated Educate Awards 2023 shortlist. . The Educate Awards is the largest education awards in the North West and celebrates the...
Community enterprise project awarded community funding from MRWA for the second year
The Pre-Loved Project, part of Ascent Autism Specialist College, has been awarded community funding for the second year running. The MRWA (Merseyside Waste and Recycling Authority) Community Fund aims to support eco-friendly and sustainable projects. For 2022/23 the...
Student named DoE ‘Voice of Neurodiversity’ Youth Ambassador
Student named Duke of Edinburgh’s Youth Ambassador Ascent Autism Specialist College student, Courtney, has been chosen as the voice of neurodiversity for the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Youth Ambassador programme. The DofE UK Youth Ambassador programme involves a...
Remarkable Autism awarded the National Autistic Society’s Beacon Status
Wargrave House School and Ascent Autism Specialist College, part of the Remarkable Autism Charity, have been awarded the National Autistic Society’s highest award accreditation, Beacon Status. The award, given to provisions that have already achieved an advanced award...
Ascent Autism Specialist College student gets a visit from a celebrated author
Fantasy author Wes. M Henshaw recently visited the Preloved Project in Newton-le-Willows to discuss his new book with students from Ascent Autism Specialist College. The distinguished author met with Ascent Autism Specialist College student; Courtney, a...