What makes our college so special?

With more than 180 years of experience in the teaching and training of deaf, hearing impaired and those with specialist communication needs, the College is at the forefront of specialist provision.

Our College specialises in meeting the needs of students who are deaf or hearing impaired and those with communication difficulties including Autism and Aspergers.

Our individualised learning programmes also offer a unique approach to students who have specific language and communication needs. Our holistic approach seeks to recognise your needs, wants and aspirations by creating opportunities to develop your talents to the full in a highly supportive, 'Total Communication' environment.

At our College you will receive the support and guidance to help you learn new skills alongside your peers in a community where understanding and being understood is paramount.

Our Background

Coming to College is one of the most exciting times of your life and it is important to choose the right place and programme to suit your individual learning needs. We offer the opportunity for a great learning experience in a communication environment that is designed to meet your needs.

We offer a wide range of programmes for students who require specialist communication and who want to gain job and life-related qualifications and for those who need to gain independence and develop their social skills. We cater for all abilities and learning styles, offering pathways to suit every ambition.

Our work pathway provides a distinctive, industry-focused learning environment for students who aim to enter employment whilst our life pathway and living pathway are designed to maximise personal and social development.

We have many years’ experience of successfully delivering specialist vocational and independence training programmes, which remain at the forefront of specialist provision in the UK, and we are extremely proud of the achievements of our students. In recent years our performance and reputation as one of the National Specialist Providers has strengthened. This has been reflected in our ‘OUTSTANDING’ Ofsted inspection in 2012 for residential social care and our 'GRADED GOOD' Ofsted inspection in 2014, which is largely due to the dedication and sheer hard work of our staff teams.

We set high standards for our students but we also want your time with us to be as enjoyable and fulfilling as possible. We pride ourselves on providing communication through a holistic approach with the best staff, the latest technology and great facilities. We’re a lively, caring College where you will have lots of fun, while receiving all the help and support you may need.

Our learning community has a rich cultural diversity where you will receive a warm welcome and enjoy a friendly, safe learning environment. We also believe your personal and social development is an integral part of being at College. We provide outstanding enrichment opportunities for our learners, both on the College sites and in the local and extended community.

We hope that you will take up one of the many opportunities to visit the College and we look forward to meeting you.