Our Houghall, in Durham, underwent an impressive £13.25 million redevelopment and reopened in 2016. It is now a top destination for those seeking to study a diverse range of land-based courses. In fact, we are the largest provider of land-based training in the region!
Students at Houghall can choose from a variety of programmes, such as veterinary nursing, land and wildlife management, tree surgery, horticulture, agriculture, equine and small animal care.
We also offer foundation-level qualifications for SEND students, as well as our Derwent Autism Provision.
Check out this video showcasing Houghall's stunning transformation!
476 Acre Estate with Working Farm - our agricultural students get real, hands-on experience of life on a farm, complete with real animals and a wide range of professional farming equipment available
Purpose-Built Small Animal Care Centre - inside, students gain authentic experience of handling and caring for many different small animals including hamsters, rabbits, chinchillas, tortoises (and a few more scary animals such as snakes and spiders too!)
Commercial Dog Grooming Salon - students on our popular dog grooming courses learn the tricks of the trade by bathing and styling dogs with our professional-grade dog grooming facilities
Specialist Veterinary Nursing Facilities - as well as our animals at the small animal care centre, students on our veterinary routes can also learn all about veterinary science through our excellent facilities as used by real vets
22-Bay Dog Kennels and Dog Agility/Walking Area - many of our staff house their dogs during the day at Houghall, allowing students plenty of hands-on time with the dogs and their individual needs
Agricultural Centre - including pig and cattle units with forage store and existing sheep unit
Equine Centre - boasting 28 stables, training workshops, a tack room, an all-weather menage and an international-standard 40 x 40m indoor arena
Science Labs - revamped as part of the redevelopment, our new science labs are packed with all of the equipment our students need for experiments
Horticulture Lab and Glasshouses - learn how to care for a wide variety of common and more exotic plants
Specialist Arboretum and Pinetum - with a wide variety of different trees all requiring their own care, our arboriculture students can learn practically how to care for all kinds of trees
Floristry Studios - experienced florists guide our students on everything from the creation of specialist bouquets for events to unique floral designs
Learning Resource Centre - an extensive library and IT suites give students all they need for their studies outside of the classroom
Refectory - head over to The Mix refectory to relax between lessons or to pick up some of our delicious food, made from scratch every day by our dedicated catering team
Social/Informal Breakout Learning Space - whether you'd like to catch up with your friends or just relax and read a book, you'll feel at home with Houghall's excellent new facilities
Peterlee Campus
