New facilities for neurodiverse Higher Education students at New College Swindon University Centre

She said: "After a long career in education, I saw retirement as an opportunity to try and give something back, a parting gift, that would make a small but lasting difference to students in Swindon, as well as increase access to high-level qualifications for learners from under-represented parts of the community."

With this year’s school and college results marking the anniversary of her retirement, September will see the opening of two new Higher EducaIon sensory study rooms at the college’s University Centre and Institute of Technology, which last year achieved a national Teaching Excellence Framework double silver rating for the quality of its provision. 

"The rooms will offer autistic and other neurodiverse students a calm and focussed environment where light, colour and sound can be self-controlled, with tactile surfaces and objects provided to meet individual needs for sensory stimulation. 

"The rooms, designed with expert input from the college and leading universities, will complement existing support, with a focus on the distinct needs of those undertaking higher-level study.

Nicola Pedley, Head of Higher Education at New College said, “We know that we have a growing proportion of students who are neurodiverse and need these spaces to get the best from their studies and experiences with us.”

Carole remains passionate about increasing higher education qualifications and skills in the town as part of Smarter Swindon and the Swindon Learning Together Partnership.

Carole said: “Family experience of being neurodiverse at university highlighted for me how much of a difference proper support makes. It’s so important to enable students to achieve their best during their studies and be successful in their transition into employment. 

"We also know that a higher proportion of neurodiverse students choose courses close to home. Provision of rooms like this is still variable at universities and very few colleges have them, so Swindon will be at the forefront.”

The number of known autistic students in UK universities is increasing year on year, with figures tripling in the past ten years. Research also shows that even when students do progress to HE, they experience lower study and employment outcomes, with higher levels of dropout and un- or under-employment.

Lynne Plested, New College’s Deputy Principal – Curriculum and Quality, said: “We pride ourselves on providing great facilities to help HE learners with their studies and we are delighted to be able to add this wonderful resource to the support already available. 

"We look forward to welcoming new and returning students back this September and see them benefit from using the new spaces.”

Carole’s fund will also be used to carry out research and provide training and support materials, targeted on improving career prospects for neurodiverse students, an issue highlighted in the recommendations of the review by former Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland earlier this year.