The college is actively involved in the development of assistive technology, including student participation in the Tech Novice Cafe, run for members of the public who are not confident in computer use.

The college was established in 1871 by the English philanthropist Thomas Rhodes Armitage and the American anti-slavery campaigner Francis Joseph Campbell, who lost his sight as a young boy.

The word normal, more commonly used in American English, referred to the teacher training offered by the college,[5] with Campbell recruiting many of his teaching staff from the United States.

[11] However, because of the threat of a German invasion, the authorities soon advised another move, and this time, with 24 hours' notice and the help of the London Society for the Blind, a temporary home was found for RNC in Dorton, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

[9] The college did not return to London because the Upper Norwood site – which was being used as a hospital following RNC's move to Kent – was bombed in 1940 during the Blitz,[5] then acquired by the authorities.

[20] The blocks were originally built when the campus was being used as a teacher training college during the 1960s and were updated to include modern facilities such as larger student bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and space for televisions and computers, and improved social areas.

[23] A£10 million fundraising campaign, Building Brighter Futures, was created to raise the funds required to complete the project,[24] and construction work began in the summer of 2007.

It includes a bistro and conference facilities, and commenced operation in April 2009,[26] and was officially opened on 24 June by BBC Sport presenter and Daily Mail columnist Des Kelly.

[29][30] RNC was the subject of a 2007 documentary for the Channel Four series Cutting Edge, which followed three young students (Steve Markham, Daniel Angus and Selina Litt)[31] during their first term at the college.

[32][33] The film examines their individual journeys towards greater independence as they encounter the unique challenges that being visually impaired presents,[34] as well as how they deal with the everyday issues that affect all teenagers, such as sex, relationships, partying and their future plans after graduation.

[31] The documentary, Blind Young Things, was first aired on 30 April 2007,[34] and won a Royal Television Society award for Channel Four and the Cutting Edge team in 2008.

[37] During the heavy winter snowfall of 2009–2010 the college's sports facilities were utilised by the Hereford United team for training after the bad weather conditions made using their own grounds at Edgar Street difficult.

[38] In January 2010 two students from the college appeared with the fashion consultant Gok Wan in an edition of the Channel 4 series How to Look Good Naked...with a Difference, where they took part in a photo shoot.

[39] In February 2010 the college secured a £90,000 grant from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service to install a music video production studio enabling bands to record material and showcase their work.

[29][42] Responding to these concerns in July 2008, the then principal Christine Steadman told In Touch, the BBC Radio 4 news programme for visually impaired listeners; "It's about what the local authorities, what the learning and skills council, what the Welsh Assembly for government will purchase from us.

"[42] In an interview in January 2010, the then principal Geoff Draper said that piano tuning would be taught at the college if there was a demand for it, and suggested RNC could look to bringing in international students to fill places.

[46] Speaking in a 2009 interview with In Touch Ian Pickford, who was brought in as interim principal following Christine Steadman's departure, claimed that the atmosphere of the college had changed and issued a challenge to any student or member of staff who was still unhappy to meet with him to discuss their concerns.

[47] Financial concerns were raised in 2009 over the cost of the new leisure complex, and because of a change in the source of student funding from the Learning and Skills Council to Local Education Authorities.

[48] The device is connected to a computer and run with a programme CD, and has a tactile surface which produces touchable icons that provide audio feedback when they are pressed.

[55] In the early 1990s two RNC lecturers, Clive Ellis and Tony Larkin, invented the Hoople, a hoop-shaped mobility aid for blind people which performs a similar role to a white cane, but is designed for use in a rural environment and on rough terrain.

[59] ClearText, which enables visually impaired users to browse the web more easily by making text easier for them to read, was developed in conjunction with the college.

[65] There are no formal academic requirements for entry into RNC, but potential students are invited to attend an assessment at the college before being offered a place to determine the level of support they will need during their studies.

Topics covered here include the use of a white cane and becoming familiar with the surrounding environment, using public transport safely and confidently, cooking and laundry skills, and using cash machines or making chip and PIN credit card transactions.

There has also been a reduction in the number of A-levels available for study owing to changes in the types of courses that education funding bodies supporting students at RNC are willing to pay for.

[82] In December 2008 the Hereford Times reported that the college would be home to a sculpture by the Herefordshire-based contemporary artist Walenty Pytel that he would create using an original drawing produced by an RNC student.

[83] The piece, depicting a man running in a Futurist style and titled the 4Runner was unveiled in September 2009 and stands on a 14 feet (4.3 m) plinth outside the entrance of the sports and leisure complex.

[100] In 2008 the BBC sports presenter Gabby Logan and Daily Mail columnist Des Kelly both became Patrons of the England Blind Football team.

[105] Graduates of the college include David Blunkett, British Labour Party politician and former Home Secretary,[106] and Alfred Hollins, English composer and organist.

[108] The actor Ryan Kelly, who in 1997, became the first completely blind student to join the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School,[109] and plays the role of Jack "Jazzer" McCreary in Radio 4's The Archers, attended RNC.

"[113] Proctor stated further every year some young people get places at the Royal National College but fail to follow through with them, frequently due to insufficient funding and since their families are, "tired of fighting and can't face another battle".