A renowned centre for specialist study, West Dean College offers an inspiring year-round programme of degrees, short courses and conservation CPD including historic building conservation and repair, coatings and consolidates for masonry and masonry cleaning. Courses are conducted in exceptionally well-designed and equipped workshops by tutors who are practitioners and cater for all levels of ability.

The Orton Trust organises weekend courses for stonemasons at its workshop. The subjects covered are Masonry skills, restoration and memorial carving, lettering and the use of lime mortars, drystone walling.

The school provides diploma/degree and post-graduate degree courses in architectural stone carving, ornamental wood carving, conservation studies, fine art painting and sculpture together with part-time courses in stone carving, wood carving, gilding and letter carving. Carving course tutors: Alan Lamb, James Salisbury, Paul Jakeman, Richard Onions.

Provides vocational training in stonemasonry and other building trades including: CITB/City & Guilds Intermediate (ICA) and Advanced (ACA) Construction Awards in Stonemasonry, NVQ 2&3, Foundation Degree in Historic Building Conservation.

A wide variety of courses are offered by the Trust, varying from year to year as the repair to the mansion progresses. Masterclasses for conservation professionals are offered in stone, vaulting, window glass and stone slating repairs, together with week/fortnight/month placements for students on recognised construction courses. Public courses are also run yearly in lime mortars, lime plasters and renders and other traditional building techniques.

Stonemasonry skills training by verified instructors and assessors, including new and restoration stone carving, letter cutting and the CSkills awards Level 2-3 and advanced Stonemasonry Apprenticeships.