The Principal of Exeter College, Richard Atkins, has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours Listing announced today.

The New Year’s Honours list recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK.

Richard Atkins, who joined the college in 2002, has been recognised for his service to further education having spent 35 years working in further education and schools as a teacher, lecturer and manager. He was previously principal at Yeovil College for seven years. Prior to his principal role in Somerset he worked in teaching and management roles in schools and colleges in York, Surrey and Sussex. He has held a number of national positions within the further education sector, including sitting on the Association of College’s board from 2007 – 2013 and as a commissioner on the Commission for Adult and Vocational Teaching and Learning. Most recently, Mr Atkins completed a year as President of the Association of Colleges – the national representative organisation for England’s 330 further education, sixth form and specialist colleges representing college interests to government and it is for this work, as well as his work at Exeter College that he has been honoured. He was presented with an honorary degree in 2015 from the University of Exeter in recognition of his outstanding work in the field of education – regionally, nationally and internationally.

Exeter College was both the first tertiary college in the UK to be set up in 1970 and the first college to gain an ‘Outstanding’ from Ofsted in a pilot no notice inspection in 2012 and then was re-inspected in 2014, again being graded as Outstanding across all areas. The College was also awarded FE Provider of the Year in 2012 by the Times Educational Supplement, BTEC College of the Year 2014-2015 and Apprenticeship Provider of the Year 2015.

“I am very proud of this personal honour,” said Mr Atkins “since I strongly believe that it is a reflection of the hard work and achievements of the college’s students and the dedication of the staff and governors at the college whom I have had the privilege to work with over the last 14 years here in Exeter. The College’s successes have attracted local and national attention and these accolades and the individual successes of our students and staff have given me a huge sense of pride and passion for the College which touches so many lives in the city, across the wider Devon area and the region.”

Mr Atkins will be retiring in March 2016 and announcing his retirement Philip Bostock, Chair of Governors recently said “Exeter College continues to record strong student recruitment, exceptional results and a sound financial profile year on year. Richard Atkins, as Principal, has been the powerhouse for the sustained focus on teaching, learning and assessment at the college.”