Exeter College celebrates academic excellence at annual awards
Exeter College has announced the winners of its 2026 Academic Awards, recognising the outstanding achievements of first-year learners across the College.
Twenty-seven winners were announced at the awards on Tuesday 30 June, celebrating the excellence, commitment and progress of learners across academic subjects including A Levels and BTEC qualifications.
In 2025/26, close to 13,000 learners enrolled at Exeter College. The year also saw record numbers of learners submitting UCAS applications, as well as record numbers of applications by learners to study at Oxford or Cambridge.
The ceremony took place at the College’s new Centre for Law and Social Sciences and brought together staff, learners and guests to celebrate success across seven faculties. It also featured student performances from Exeter College faculties including Maths and Science, Media and Performing Arts, and Humanities.
Awards were presented for Academic Excellence, Subject Excellence and Outstanding Progression, reflecting the breadth of talent and achievement across the College.
Alongside faculty and subject awards, individual awards were presented for Classics, the Harvard Book Prize, the International Baccalaureate and Reach Academy, as well as EXtra Student of the Year and Tutee of the Year.
College alumnus, Tom Atkins, was the guest speaker for the evening, providing thoughtful and humorous words of wisdom for the award winners. Tom graduated from Exeter College in 2022 and has since read an MSc in Social Policy with Innovation at the University of Bristol, worked for the British Red Cross, and walked international runways as a model. Tom is now a CEO and co-founder of a Bristol based technology company tackling the global shortage of microchip designers.
Exeter College learner, Harrison Jordan, received a Subject Excellence award in Sport and Physical Education. Harrison said:
“It’s been a really good year. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s my first year at the college. It’s been really good, and I’m very pleased to have won this award. I’ve really enjoyed the different components of PE and learning completely different things about the world of sport in each of them.
“I’m really looking forward to my second year. I’ve really enjoyed this year, so I’m hoping next year will bring more of the same, both academically and sporting as well.”
Tasmin Self, an International Baccalaureate learner at Exeter College, received the Reach Learner of the Year award. Tasmin said:
“It feels really nice to win an award. It feels like the college appreciates the students themselves and what they do around college, and it’s also motivation to keep going next year and continue achieving.
The Reach Academy has provided me with a multitude of opportunities, such as internships and university programmes, that I don’t think I would have had access to had I not been part of Reach. I’m excited to do next year. I think I’m aware how daunting it will be, especially on the International Baccalaureate, but I am really excited to continue achieving.”
Speaking at the awards, Exeter College Assistant Principal, Billie Stokes, said:
“We are here tonight in the company of an inspiring group of young people – students who have not only achieved outstanding academic success, but who also have incredibly bright futures ahead of them. Tonight is about celebrating excellence, hard work, and the many contributions our award winners have made to Exeter College.
“Each year, our students continue to amaze us with their talent, creativity, energy, and compassion. We feel incredibly fortunate to work with such vibrant and thoughtful young people; they are at the heart of what makes Exeter College such a special place.
“While much of this evening focuses on academic achievement, it’s equally about recognising the wider impact our students have made in their support of one another, their engagement across college life, and the example they set for others.”
Exeter College’s 2025/26 Academic Award Winners:
- Sunny Stroud, Academic Excellence, Art and Design
- Theo Whitehill, Subject Excellence, Art and Design
- Tilly Whinnett, Outstanding Progress, Art and Design
- Tate Ferreday, Academic Excellence, Culture, Languages and Economics
- Tyler Strong, Subject Excellence, Culture, Languages and Economics
- Matt Hibble, Outstanding Progress, Culture, Languages and Economics
- Mateen Kay, Academic Excellence, Human Social and Political Sciences
- Emilia Coyne, Subject Excellence, Human Social and Political Sciences
- Marissa Ellis, Outstanding Progress, Human Social and Political Sciences
- Sophie Brown, Academic Excellence, Information Technology, Digital and Data
- Mateusz Jedrysek, Subject Excellence, Information Technology, Digital and Data
- Charlie Turner, Outstanding Progress, Information Technology, Digital and Data
- Benjy Mungall, Academic Excellence, Maths and Science
- Amy Nixon, Subject Excellence, Maths and Science
- Syeef Kabir, Outstanding Progress, Maths and Science
- Max Thomas, Academic Excellence, Media and Performing Arts
- Fay Driscoll, Subject Excellence, Media and Performing Arts
- Jess Pack, Outstanding Progress, Media and Performing Arts
- Lihan Laubscher, Academic Excellence, Sport and Physical Education
- Harrison Jordan, Subject Excellence, Sport and Physical Education
- Willow Shaw, Outstanding Progress, Sport and Physical Education
- Mia Wyatt, Extra Student of the Year
- Chloe Dolphin, Tutee of the Year
- Jess Mandeno, Classics Learner of the Year
- Martha Dade, Harvard Book Prize
- Abel Fisher-Cavell, International Baccalaureate Learner of the Year
- Tasmin Self, Reach Learner of the Year
Find out more about Exeter College at a 2026/27 Open Event. Register online for more information.
