The Royal National College for the Blind

The Royal National College for the Blind is a further education college based in the English city of Hereford. All of the students are blind or partially sighted. Alongside regular further education subjects and vocational training, the College offers training in independent living and personal development.

History
The College was established in 1871 by the Victorian philanthropist Thomas Rhodes Armitage and the American anti-slavery campaigner Francis Joseph Campbell (who lost his sight at the age of five). At that time, the College was called "The Royal Normal College and Academy for the Blind" (with the word "Normal" referring to the teacher training offered by the College) and was at first near Crystal Palace in London, later moved to Upper Norwood. In its early days, the College was considered very progressive and experimental in its approach to education. By the end of the 19th century, the College had over 200 students.

The 20th century saw the College move location several times, before settling in Hereford. The first of these moves occurred at the beginning of the Second World War, when the College was forced to leave its London site and move to Rolvenden in west Kent. However, because of the threat of a German invasion, the authorities soon advised another move, and this time, a temporary home was found in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

The College never returned to London because the Upper Norwood site was bombed during the Blitz, and it had to temporarily close until a permanent new home could be found. This was eventually done and the College relocated to Rowton Castle in Shrewsbury. It remained in Shrewsbury for many years, gradually acquiring more premises in and around the Shropshire town, but in 1978, more suitable accommodation was found and the College moved to its current home in Hereford. The Hereford site is a former teacher training college and enabled the College to house its teaching and learning accommodation on one site.

Courses Offered
The College is divided into several different areas of teaching:


 * Leisure, Therapies and Sport (including courses and qualifications in massage, complementary therapies, and sport treatment and management).
 * Music, Media, Performance and Art (including courses and qualifications in music technology, piano technology, media and art).
 * Information and Communication Technology (including courses and qualifications in office skills and the European Computer Driving Licence).
 * Business, Administration and Customer Service.
 * GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications.
 * Skills For Life (including Braille reading).

Cutting Edge Documentary
The Royal National College for the Blind is the subject of a 2007 documentary for the Channel Four series Cutting Edge, which follows three young students during their first term at the College.