Exeter College students completing technical and applied Advanced Level programmes have achieved outstanding results including an overall pass rate of over 98%.  

Sixth form students at the College can study a wide range of challenging vocational and technical subjects that are co-designed with industry partners in sectors as varied as Aeronautical Engineering, Nursing, Education, Civil Engineering, Science, Creative and Performance Arts, TV and Film, Business and Tourism and Hair and Beauty. 

Significant reform in technical education means that these sixth form learners faced challenging national exams just as their peers taking A Levels at the College did. This year these exams were especially rigorous, as national benchmarks were set to return to pre-pandemic levels. Even in this tougher assessment regime, technical learners at the College have continued to excel due to their hard work and support from the College’s industry-specialist teachers.  

These students use technical or vocational subjects as their passport to university, to an apprenticeship, to their next level of study or directly into employment.  

John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Exeter College, said; 

“We are very proud of the amazing range of technical and applied courses at the College. Whatever a young person’s ambition and passion, we have the right course for them. I am therefore especially pleased to see exceptional results right across this broad range – the consistently amazing results show that our students can follow their dreams with the support of amazing teachers, whatever course they choose.  

“The College has invested heavily in industry-standard facilities, and today the impact of this is evident in the exceptional results that learners have achieved.” 

Exeter College’s Vice Principal, Jade Otty said;   

“We are delighted for our learners getting results today. Our curriculum experience is exceptional because our fantastic, highly-skilled teaching staff share their passion and industry insights to ensure that learners master not just the theory, but also the practical application, of the knowledge and skills required to excel in their chosen vocation.  

“Our teachers do this every year, but I would like to acknowledge especially this year that this has been accomplished whilst providing nurture and care for a cohort of young people whose schooling was especially disrupted by covid. For these learners, their first experience of formal assessment and exams was at College.” 

Sam Hillman, Assistant Principal, responsible for technical and vocational programmes, said;   

“I am exceptionally proud of our vocational and technical learners today. They have not only excelled academically but have mastered practical skills that will serve them well as they embark on their next steps.  

“A huge thank you must also go to our employers, who work with us across our brilliant range of technical and vocational programmes to provide inspirational and enriching experiences.” 

T Levels, a new type of technical programme introduced in 2020, are welcoming their second year of results. Exeter College T Level students studying the Construction, Health and Education & Childcare pathways achieved an exemplary 100% pass rate. High grades were also impressive: 100% of students on Health T levels achieved high grades, and a staggering 45% achieving a distinction.  

T Level student Joseph Bartlett (pictured above) studied the Construction T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning. He is now studying for a Degree Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying with Ward Williams Associates, where he completed his industry placement. He said; 

“I always knew I wanted to do a course in Construction and the T Level offers a variety of jobs you can progress to in the industry.  

“I’ve started my degree apprenticeship already, and I’ll be doing that for five years. 

“My Exeter College experience has been great; I would recommend it and the T Level as you can use what you’re learning in class straight away and put it into practice on your industry placement.” 

Hollie Brooking studied the T Level in Health. She plans to take a gap year and then take up the place she has secured on the highly competitive master’s degree in Paediatric Nursing at Birmingham University. Speaking about her T Level, she said;  

“It was a fantastic course. My Royal Devon University Hospital work experience placement was incredible. I was in theatres watching surgeries and got a range of experience on different wards.  

“Exeter College has been a great experience; I would recommend it.” 

The Aeronautical Engineering programme also saw remarkable success with a 100% achievement and 35% securing a distinction grade. In Sport and Exercise Science, where a large proportion of learners combine their studies with the amazing Sports Academy offer at the college, 87% of students managed to secure at least one Distinction grade alongside their training and competitive games.  

In the very different field of the creative arts, learners also excelled with 100% achievement and a third gaining the very highest distinction grade. Learners from this course progress to the highest echelons of art universities. For example, Wilbur Mason studied the Extended Diploma in Creative Practice and achieved a Distinction. He is going to the prestigious Central Saint Martins to study a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design. Wilbur said; 

“I’m very pleased to get a distinction at the end of my course, it makes me feel like all the work paid off.   

“Being in a collaborative, subject-specific building like the Centre for Creative Industries (CCI) has definitely prepared me for a university environment. Exeter as a city has also been a good stepping stone towards university life in general.    

“I’ve found all my tutors so supportive; they really helped me to achieve my goals. I’ve also made some amazing friends being at college.” 

Learners at the College on technical courses have also been successfully supported to places on degrees that might more usually be accessed by A Level routes. For several years running, Exeter College learners from the Applied Science BTEC course have secured places on the highly competitive and demanding degree of Medicine. This year BTEC student, William Turner, from North Devon studied the Extended Diploma in Applied Science and has been offered a place to study Medicine at the University of Leicester. He said; 

“I’m feeling happy, excited, and a bit shocked but happy overall! 

“I’ve made lots of good friends, it’s a really fantastic college and the environment is great. Staff are very supportive here, if you have a question, you can go and speak to them – whether it’s about college or something else. 

“I’ve been on a bit of a journey, I wanted to do forensics, then I switched to research and then switched to Medicine, but college supported me through that and my university application.” 

Exeter College and the College Governors would like to thank and congratulate the class of 2023 and thank staff, parents and partners for making this a year to celebrate.