Landmarks Specialist College officially opened its Nottingham campus, Mapperley Park House, on Friday 5th June, marking an exciting milestone in the college’s continued growth across the East Midlands.
The celebration brought together learners, staff, partners, families, and supporters for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony led by CEO Larry Brocklesby and Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome praised the work taking place at Landmarks Specialist College and the impact it is having on learners across the region.
“It has been a real privilege to meet the leadership team and the learners attending the college,” she said. “I am honoured to be cutting the ribbon at this official opening.”
Following a tour of the campus and an opportunity to meet learners and staff, Nadia reflected on the visit, describing it as “a great start to the day.”
“It has been brilliant visiting and seeing all the work that Landmarks do in so many different areas. It’s amazing to see the opportunities available to learners and the positive impact the college is having.”
Guests were invited to tour the campus, meet learners and staff, and learn more about the opportunities available at Landmarks Specialist College. While learners have already been thriving at the Nottingham site, the event provided an opportunity to formally celebrate the campus and its growing contribution to the city.
Principal and CEO Larry Brocklesby welcomed guests and reflected on the significance of the occasion.
“I think the event has gone really well. It’s great to see so many supporters join us, and we’re really proud to have developed this provision in Nottingham.
We have always had a strong relationship with Nottingham. Ever since the college was founded in 1995, Nottinghamshire has been a key supporter of Landmarks and the work we do with young people.
One of the most significant milestones for me was Nottinghamshire being the first local authority to support the development of Supported Internships as part of our curriculum.
That support has helped us create meaningful opportunities for learners, and today we can clearly see the positive difference those opportunities are making within the community.”
Landmarks specialist college provides specialist education and support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), helping learners develop independence, gain qualifications, and prepare for employment and adult life.
Throughout the afternoon, visitors saw the college in action, hearing first-hand from learners and stafff about their experiences and the positive difference Landmarks has made to their lives.
Campus Manager Brian Harrison also reflected on the success of the opening and the opportunities the new campus will provide for learners in Nottingham.
Speaking after the event, Brian said: “It went really well. Everybody seemed very impressed with the facilities, and I can see why. It’s a fantastic campus with some really exciting curriculum areas.
It was great to be able to show people around, introduce them to our learners and staff, and give them a first-hand look at what makes the Nottingham campus so special.
We’re proud of what has already been achieved here and excited about what the future holds for our learners and the wider Nottingham community.”
Campus Manager Brian Harrison said one of the highlights of the celebration was the opportunity to spend time with Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome and hear her views on the importance of SEND education.
“It was great getting to know Nadia and hearing how passionate she is about ensuring young people with SEND have access to the opportunities and support they deserve,” he said.
During her visit, Nadia spoke about the challenges many young people with SEND continue to face and the importance of specialist provisions such as Landmarks.
“I think the landscape for SEND children and young people is really difficult at the moment and has been for a long time,” she said.
“Sadly, that means many young people are effectively excluded or missing out on education. Everyone deserves access to education; it’s just that the right adjustments need to be made. People deserve to have those adjustments continue into employment and later life as well.
That’s why I’m really glad that facilities like this exist, to give young people the opportunities they deserve.”
As guests departed, there was a clear sense of excitement about the future of the Nottingham campus and the opportunities it will create for learners across the county.
While the official opening marked an important milestone, it also celebrated the success the campus has already achieved. With learners already thriving at Mapperley Park House, staff are looking forward to building on that success and continuing to provide life-changing opportunities for young people in Nottinghamshire for many years to come.