It is situated in 20 acres (81,000 m2) of Sherwood Forest, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the town of Mansfield.

The college was originally established as an institution for the training of injured men in war and for hurt miners.

In 1947, the Duke of Portland transferred 15 acres (61,000 m2) of his land in Sherwood Forest to the Duchess's Charity through a gift.

Along with these moves, a Workers Contributory Fund was established that encouraged local Nottinghamshire employees to contribute one penny a week towards the estimated £100,000 required to open the college.

There were no stairs in the student areas, all doors were wide enough for wheelchairs, and bathrooms and bedrooms were fitted with aids.

These students included ex-miners and ex-servicemen, and their disabilities range from quiescent tuberculosis and poliomyelitis to limb amputees.

Workshops produced their own line of gift local-cut-oak products with the theme of Sherwood Forest and local legendary hero Robin Hood.

To celebrate Portland's 40th anniversary, Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the college in June 1990.

The royal party spent the day at the college, presenting awards at the prize-giving, and Elizabeth II also laid the groundwork for a new residential unit, which would eventually be called the 'Laurels'.

In the College's Golden Jubilee Year, a hydrotherapy pool and fitness centre were added to Portland's campus facilities.

In 1997, the college principal, Mike Syms, put together the concept of an Information and Communication Technology learning centre.

The college won an award for 'Best Local Academy' for the year 2000 in the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.