College Environment

Our environment offers a plethora of sensory touchpoints and facilities to support our students and offer as many opportunities to participate in and enjoy activities as possible.

Our environment offers a plethora of sensory touchpoints and facilities to support our students and offer as many opportunities to participate in and enjoy activities as possible.

Image

Key areas include a forest school base within the woods, offering a natural environment for sessions, acres of horticultural grounds including raised beds and poli-tunnels, a green house, a bird hide and feeding stations.

On-site facilities include:

  • ICT Suites

  • Sensory Room

  • Café

  • Bakery

  • Workshop for Art, Pottery and Woodwork

  • Outdoor Classroom and Teaching Space

  • Vocational Learning Kitchen

  • Forest School

  • Outdoor Gym

  • Horticultural and Estates Management

  • Animal Care Facilities

We are truly blessed to also have our very own animal farm on site, with adorable alpacas, lamas, pygmy goats, geese, hens and chickens to name a few. 

Running throughout the grounds there are several paths and roadways that students and staff use to relax, explore and exercise.  We have a wide selection of bikes and large go-carts that students can enjoy riding during sessions and in the evening.

We have an outdoor gym, large trampoline and swings in our recreational park, providing students with the opportunity to keep fit and burn off any excess energy in a safe and fun environment. Another great space we have available for students is our outdoor football pitch.

To ensure that everyone can enjoy the outdoors whatever their mobility or energy level we have provided many benches and seating areas throughout the grounds to enable everyone to socialise, day dream or just relax on.

Indoors, we have our student café. The café provides a great opportunity for our students and staff to dine together in a comfortable seating area.

The café also offers our students an opportunity for work experience, whereby they can work in the café kitchens or on the counter, and learn about the preparation and serving of food and drink.

Working closely with the Hexham Farmers Market in Northumberland, our students also work together in our café kitchen to cook and bake home made products for sale to residents in the local area, utilising fresh home grown produce obtained from our very own farm and gardens such as fruits, vegetables and herbs. 

Outside at Cambian Dilston College

Animal Care

To accompany our amazing outdoor environment, we are truly privileged to provide care for a range of animals on our college farm. 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. This supports in regulating emotions. 

Students benefit from a supportive and respectful culture that enables them to thrive and progress to the next stage of their lives.

Ofsted Report June 2025

My son had a very positive experience at Cambian Dilston College. His self-confidence, personal skills and abilities that developed during this time have helped him to become a happy, competent young man. The staff were wonderful at supporting him to ensure he achieved his full potential. He also made many new friends. The transitions team gave lots of good advice, guidance and assistance to ensure that his wishes were accomplished. They organised work experience, appointments, and helped him to view potential placements before he finished his course and were always quick to respond to questions from me, ensuring I was fully informed.

Parent

Enquire about Dilston College

School and College Enquiries

Enquire about a place at one of our schools or colleges, arrange visit or ask a question about one of our services in the form below and one of our friendly team will be in touch.

By choosing 'Yes', you are opting into the Cambian mailing list in relation to our children’s services only. We will never sell or share your personal information to any third parties. You can opt out at any time.