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Royal National College for the Blind

The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) is a co-educational residential further education college based in the English city of Hereford. It was established in 1871 by the philanthropist Thomas Rhodes Armitage and the American anti-slavery campaigner Francis Joseph Campbell, who lost his sight as a young boy. Founded in London as The Royal Normal College and Academy for the Blind, the college had a number of homes before moving to its present campus in Hereford.

RNC is regarded as a leader in the education of visually impaired students. Following an Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills inspection in 2005 RNC was one of only eight colleges in the United Kingdom to be awarded the prestigious Beacon Status in recognition of the outstanding quality of its teaching. Alongside regular further education subjects and vocational training, the college offers training in independent living and personal development. The college has also been actively involved in the development and use of assistive technology to aid visually impaired people in their everyday lives. There are approximately 200 students whose ages range from 16 upwards. The college is a registered charity, its current Patron being Charles, Prince of Wales, and it is the home of the England blind football team.