Cambian Dilston College

Tailored Support, Positive Futures: Empowering Every Student, Every Day!

Welcome to Cambian Dilston College, an independent specialist college providing a high standard of education and care for students aged 16 to 25 with moderate to severe learning disabilities. We successfully support students with a broad range of complex needs including medical needs and challenging behaviour.

Cambian Dilston College is situated in Northumberland, close to the towns of Hexham and Corbridge, with easy access to Newcastle City Centre. We offer day placements and up to 52-week residential placements. We pride ourselves on our commitment to providing high quality and person-centred education and care using specialist approaches and individual learning programmes, utilising our unique on-site learning, leisure and residential facilities.

We support students to gain the skills and confidence they need to move onto the next stage in their lives, whether that is gaining employment, moving towards independent living or progressing to further study. Following the key principles of 16+ study programmes every student has an individualised learning programme, designed to support their development and progression in line with their future aspirations.

A Home Away From Home

We understand that residential colleges can never replace home but we make every effort to create a welcoming, family environment where learners feel safe and comfortable, and have all the facilities they may need.

At Cambian Dilston College we are lucky enough to have an amazing environment in which to teach and care for our students. Our college buildings are surrounded by 9 acres of grounds which provide not only a unique teaching setting but also the back drop to providing a gentle, caring, therapeutic environment for students to enjoy, relax and develop within. The environment allows us to give students freedom safely and securely, and the site is tailored to develop life skills, access to the community, travel skills and independence.

Our student accommodation provides individuals with the opportunity to experience living away from home and developing skills for independence such as cooking, shopping, doing laundry, supported travel training and community awareness. Gaining these skills will enhance their experience of moving onto Independent Supported Living if they choose this as a future option.

Students are able to do activities in groups, offering an opportunity to foster new relationships and life skills. Our on-site Inclusion Officer plans activities outside of the curriculum for students to engage in on evenings and weekends for a truly all rounded experience.

Animal Care

To accompany our amazing outdoor environment, we are privileged to provide care for a range of animals on our college farm. Animals offer sensory experiences as well as practical learning skills; our students participate in practical tasks as well as classroom-based sessions, learning about animals and how to care for them.

Our animals include; alpacas, lambs, pygmy goats, geese, canaries, hens and quail. Our students adore our animals, and find peace in greeting them and spending time on the farm.

We will have new features and new animals joining us soon, offering new experiences for our students. This will include our first lambing on site, and a donkey sanctuary!