Background
Somerset Skills and Learning are contracted in Somerset to provide educational services to young people and adults, the provision includes training and development courses, apprenticeships, qualifications, community learning, workshops and short courses. The Portway Annex was one of their five centres in Somerset. The business model has been changing in recent years moving to a model where they subcontract the education and community learning to other community organisations including Heads Up and Project Factory CIC in Wells and Edventure in Frome. In the last year especially with the onset of the Covid Pandemic, SS&L have decided not to renew their contract with SCC and will provide community learning through the Connect Centre and Heads Up.
This building – situated next to The Connect Centre and The Little Theatre – is ideally placed to compliment the current provision for a community hub with a focus on education, enterprise and somewhere a number of community groups could use – building on an integrated vision of these spaces collaborating and working together to form a thriving community area in Wells.
History
The building was formerly part of the Blue School and is now Grade II Listed.
The History of Wells Blue School Portway Annex by Siobhan Goodwin
The building has been used as a school since 1900 and has an educational covenant. After the grammar school merged with the secondary modern school in the 70’s the building has retained its use as an educational centre. ‘Since the 1970s this building has been used as a Teachers’ Resource and Training Centre, a Community Education Centre, and is currently known as Somerset Skills and Learning Centre.’ The Portway Annex is the only building in the city that provides adult education services.
Portway Annexe Community Group 