As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we are looking back on some key events which have helped us to become the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.  

In April 1991 it was reported that, for the first time, the majority of young people in Britain had decided to stay on in education after finishing school at 16. The south west was above the national average, with Exeter College leading the way for further education institutions.  

Educationalist Professor Ted Wragg said at the time, “Here in Exeter we are very fortunate – Exeter College offers every kind of course for school leavers. It can cater for everything from vocational courses to A Levels.” 

This is something we continue to pride ourselves on in 2020. We offer a range of different course types for different learners, from Apprenticeships, A Levels and vocational courses to the International Baccalaureate and new T Level qualifications.  

Professor Ted Wragg said in 1991, “We underestimate the influence of parents. More parents are now recognising the value of further education and training and are supporting their children, and we hope they will continue to.” 

Indeed, further education has grown and developed since 1991, and our education offer has grown and adapted with the needs of industry and the local community.  

As well as being a government-appointed early adopter of new T Level qualifications, we are also hosting a new South West Institute of Technology Digital and Data Centre that’s part of a wider bid to revolutionise digital, engineering and manufacturing technology education across the region. The Centre will play host to industry-standard digital technology and will provide learners the skills to move directly into the workplace or further study. Construction is underway and is scheduled to be completed in early 2021.  

Find out more about the Digital and Data Centre at Exeter College.  

Check out everything we’ve been doing to celebrate 50 years since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college.  

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50