Newnham College - Access Statement

Sidgwick Avenue 

The main entrance into the College is on Sidgwick Avenue. This road can be very busy with car and bicycle traffic. The pavements along Sidgwick Avenue are not level or very accessible due to tree roots.

There is level access across Sidgwick Avenue from the College site to the Sidgwick Site.  The access guide for the Sidgwick Site can be found here.

Transport options

There are Universal bus stops in Grange Road and West Road. The bus service connects the West Cambridge site, the city centre, railway station and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Services and shops

In nearby Newnham Village there is a small supermarket, butcher, grocer, bakery, pharmacy and Post Office. There is also a petrol station five minutes from the College which has a cash machine. In the centre of town there is a wide range of shops including a small Sainsburys supermarket (Sidney Street). 

Health and Wellbeing

The College Nurse and Wellbeing Advisor are based on the ground floor of Pfeiffer building, across the paved footpath from the Porters’ Lodge. For accessibility details, see AccessAble. Weekly clinic times are advertised in Newnham News (the College's weekly newsletter) in term. There is a doctor's surgery in Newnham Walk (see map).

Safety in an Emergency

Fire doors and detection equipment are in place in all buildings. If you need help to evacuate in an emergency and an individual personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) needs to be developed for you, please contact the Porters' Lodge. The Head Porter organises appropriate PEEPs and ensures that they are tested in twice-yearly fire drills. 

If required, the College can provide vibrating pillows, flashing light signals and other ways of warning you in the event of an emergency.

The College is aware of the anticipatory requirement to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, who should fill in the online form for the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) before starting their course or as soon as possible afterwards. 

Shortly after an offer of a place is made new students will be asked to declare any accessibility requirements by the Admissions Office (undergraduates) or the Tutorial & Academic Office (postgraduates). 

Requests for any particular type of accommodation or need should be made as soon as possible; medical evidence will be requested.

Accessible accommodation for postgraduates is very limited. If your accessibility needs cannot be met the College will advise you on next steps.

Students with disabilities may request necessary adaptations in any room, including but not limited to sit-stand desks, ergonomic chairs, orthopaedic mattresses, shower chairs, vibrating pillows, flashing beacons (for fire alarm), fridges/freezers for medication, etc. to meet their needs. Such requests may be made at any time via the College Nurse, the Domestic Bursar or the Student Accommodation Officer.  

Students’ disabilities sometimes also change over the period of the course. We therefore also encourage students to draw their access needs to our attention as soon as possible so that any difficulties can be resolved. Most students move rooms from one academic year to the next, but students with disabilities can be granted permission to remain in particular rooms that meet their needs, or can move to a different room in-year where available.

Newnham has invested heavily in building work in the last few years, and has substantially improved physical access to the whole College. Accessibility arrangements are frequently reviewed.

Wheelchair-accessible rooms

There are four ground-floor access rooms in the Sidgwick Building. These are allocated to both undergraduate and postgraduate students with access requirements and are located in the centre of the College, close to the Porters’ Lodge, Library and Buttery. All have doors and handles which are designed to be easy to open. They have lever handles with in-built card access which can easily be reached from the level of a wheelchair user. The fire doors along the corridor route leading to these rooms are held open magnetically, allowing for easy access to and from these rooms. The doors are closed only in the event of a fire alarm. These rooms have double beds, handwash basins with hand rails, and a counter top fridge, a sit-stand desk, ergonomic chair, and an adjustable clothes rail in the wardrobe. Other adaptations can be made to these rooms including, but not limited to: flashing fire alarm beacon, alarm pull chord, hoist, and vibrating pillow alarm. Although these rooms are not en suite, they are opposite two fully accessible shower rooms. If required, one of the accessible shower rooms can be allocated for use by a single student. These rooms are also opposite a student kitchen which has a lower section of counter top, with a hob and sink incorporated for wheelchair users. 

There are five accessible-ready ensuite rooms in the Dorothy Garrod building (four single and one double). Four of these rooms are allocated to undergraduate students and one may be allocated to a postgraduate student. Two are on the first floor and three on the second floor. Access is via two lifts (X and Y staircases) and there are evacuation chairs and refuge points located in these areas. Further adaptations can be made to these rooms to suit the individual needs of students. 

There is one accessible ground floor ensuite postgraduate double room in No.2 Wordsworth Grove and an accessible kitchen associated with this. The route to this property is more difficult as the property is located offsite and has uneven footpaths and a gravel drive. 

Assistance

Accommodating an assistant or an assistance dog may be possible. Assistance dogs must be registered and trained appropriately in line with UK law, e.g. as a guide dog. Please discuss this at the time of application with the Student Accommodation Officer, as an advance notice will be required to allow the College to assess whether a need can be met.

Early arrival and vacation stays

Early arrival is possible, arranged on an individual basis. Staying over summer vacations is also possible, subject to tutorial approval, at the usual room rates. Depending on your circumstances and the room occupied, you might be asked to change rooms. This possibility should be discussed in advance.

College grounds & buildings in general
There is level access at all main entrances, and level or ramped access to all areas. Most buildings and public rooms are accessible as a result of recent adaptations. Temporary ramps can be provided if necessary.

Iris Café / Bar and Party Room 
There is level access through two sets of double doors from the Porters' Lodge, and two accessible toilets nearby. There are also spacious, moveable chairs and tables and some sofas. The Party Room is located in the basement and can be accessed via a lift. There is an ascending evacuation chair in the basement refuge area. 

Buttery
Level access, spacious, with helpful staff, who would be able to assist any students who may not be able to serve themselves and carry a tray. Next to College Dining Hall. 

College Dining Hall
Level access, spacious, with moveable chairs and tables (no benches).

Common Rooms
The JCR is on the first floor of Clough and has lift access and an accessible toilet nearby. The MCR is on the ground floor of Old Hall and has a ramped entrance from the garden. There is also an internal rear entrance that has level access. The SCR is on the ground floor of Clough with level access to the internal corridor and stepped entrance to the garden.

Gardens
Level access to gardens. Mostly gravel paths and lawn. Generally level throughout to the sports field and tennis courts. There are benches and seating areas around the garden and deck chairs provided in the summer. 

Laundry rooms
There are laundry rooms located in all the postgraduate houses and in all the main site buildings (except Clough). See the map for the location of these. 

Library
Level access through card-access double automated doors. Spacious, with good sized workspaces. There are three levels (basement, ground and first) accessible via a lift. There are evacuation chairs located in the refuge points. For more information on access arrangements in the library: https://newn.cam.ac.uk/student-hub/newnham-college-library/accessibility

Music Practice Rooms
These are located on the ground floor of the Old Labs and are accessible via gravel paths to level access.

Sport facilities
There is a College Gym on the third floor of the Dorothy Garrod Building, accessible via a lift. Induction sessions are arranged through the JCR Sports and Societies Officer (students) and the Domestic Bursar (staff and senior members). There are also a tennis courts and a sports field across the garden from Old Hall, with level access from gravel paths.

Toilets and Bathrooms
There are two accessible toilets on the ground floor close to the Iris Café and Porters’ Lodge, one on the ground floor next to the Buttery, and one opposite the Jane Harrison Room (opening February 2025). All adapted rooms have adapted bathroom facilities either ensuite or close by. Shower chairs can be provided in bathrooms where necessary.

Computer facilities

Special hardware or software for visually impaired users can be acquired as necessary.

Signs and wayfinding

Clear grey and white signs in all public buildings, and signs with maps in the gardens. The Porters can accompany visitors to a particular room if necessary.

Hearing loops

There are hearing loops in the Porters’ Lodge, Iris Café, Supervision Room 1, the Pavilion Meeting Room and the Cynthia Beerbower Room.  

Alarms

Flashing alarm beacons can be installed in rooms and vibrating pillows are available on request.

Arrangements for students with Specific Learning Difficulties or other issues are made on an individual basis, in conjunction with the University’s Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre. Discuss your needs with your Tutor. 

Many access improvements have taken place over the last few years, and future adaptations will be made according to individual need.