The Exeter Foundation has launched its first Devon Sporting Legacy Project Grant to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Devon Sports Awards.

The Foundation, which is the official charity of the Exeter Chiefs, is making £20,000 available to match fund an existing organisation’s project fund to assist them with the achievement and completion of their sporting legacy project.

The funds will be available for a Devon-based project, which will help enhance the local area and community.

Chairman of the Exeter Foundation, Tony Rowe OBE, said:

We have generated this opportunity to champion local community and grass-roots level sport, whilst at the same time creating a legacy here in Devon. It is hoped that the successful recipient of the funds will be a landmark project to encourage the development of sporting projects, which will benefit the future sporting stars of the county.

Set up six years ago, the Exeter Foundation recently celebrated raising £1 million, which has been distributed to over 75 different charities and organisations.

The funding has been shared to a series of wide-ranging projects and schemes, including eight different vehicles, a boat, six children’s play areas, an outdoor learning centre, wheelchairs for the Exeter Hawks Wheelchair Rugby team and the refurbishment of two separate hydrotherapy pools.

Mr Rowe added:

The aim of the Foundation is to create a lasting legacy for everyone that we help and we look forward to receiving the applications for the Sporting Legacy Project Grant,

Interested parties are invited to request an application form by contacting Aimee Arscott on enquiries@exeterfoundation.org.uk or calling 01392 427427. The deadline for applications is midday Friday, 28th April.

The winner will be announced at the Devon Sports Awards dinner, which will take place at Sandy Park on Friday, June 30. Guest speaker for the night will be double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell OBE.

The awards are organised by The Exeter Foundation and Active Devon, in partnership with Exeter College.

For more information about the Exeter Foundation, visit www.exeterfoundation.org.uk

You can now request our 2018-2019 university level prospectus online and find out what it's like to study at our Centre for University Level Studies.

Students who study with us are able to do their degree differently. We work in partnership with our well-respected university partners and awarding bodies, enabling our students to study in Exeter and at the same time benefit from quality and a wide range of courses. Not only have that, but we have small class sizes, one to one support and flexible study arrangements with a personalised approach to teaching which differs from a traditional university environment. Plus, our teaching staff have all worked to a high level in their industry, employment sector or on a self-employed basis so students benefit from both their vocational and academic knowledge and expertise.

Within Exeter College’s Strategic Plan 2016-2020 the college sets out four key areas of focus for the next five years. One of the dimensions is its Centre of University Level Studies, aiming to provide exceptional higher education provision by meeting key objectives including the creation of a distinct university identity, environment and ethos. The launch of the new prospectus is a key step in this mission.

The Strategic Plan goes on to explain:

Across the board there is a renewed focus on the role of such provision in raising personal as well as professional aspirations and in enhancing social mobility and wellbeing within local communities and regional areas. Raising awareness and aspiration and facilitating access are, therefore, critical.

Exeter College has offered courses at university level for some years now and along with its partner universities including University of Exeter and Plymouth University, it offers a diverse range of qualifications, including BA (Ord), BSc (Hons) Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas and Higher National Certificates in over 25 university level programmes.

The 2018/19 Centre for University Level Studies prospectus is now available online and to pick up from Exeter College’s receptions across the city.

There is still time to apply to start a degree with us for entry this September 2017 call our HE Advice team today on 01392 400909 for more information and advice. You will also have the opportunity to come and speak to us at our University Level and Adult Learning Open Event on 20th June 2017, 5pm-7pm.

Former college student Joe credits the fantastic quality of teaching and support he received whilst studying on an Access course at Exeter College for helping him on his path to success in education. Joe describes his tutors as having “amazing and extensive knowledge of their subject areas and couldn’t do enough to help and guide us all.”

Since studying on the Access to Higher Education Diploma in Science at Exeter College, Joe has gone on to study for his BSc in Chemistry at Plymouth University.

Joe says that Access to Higher Education courses “develop a want to better yourself through education. It gives you the opportunity to become capable of independent learning and thrive in areas of academia you enjoy and struggle with.”

Joe’s Science Diploma is just one of six Access diplomas offered by the college – also available are Humanities, Social Care, Art and Design, Healthcare and Education. Access to Higher Education is the perfect route to university level study for adult students looking to get back into education and who may lack the formal entry requirements. It is also the ideal way to kick start a change in career or to develop your study skills.

To find out how Access courses at Exeter College could change your life for the better too pick up a copy of our latest Centre for University Level Studies Prospectus or visit www.exe-coll.ac.uk/Access

Exeter College has announced plans to invest £70 million over the next 20 years in creating an ‘Exceptional’ college.

Under the plans, the college has set out a clear vision for its continued upward trajectory from an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ college to be an ‘Exceptional college’. The college launched both a new strategic plan and a 20 year master plan at an event at Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) on Thursday March 9.

The strategic plan sets out a journey to move from Outstanding to Exceptional over a five year time period, addressing the opportunities that A level, technical education and Apprenticeship reform offer, as well as continuing to grow University Level and adult training and learning for the local community. Exeter College is now nationally, the 8th largest provider for 16 to 18 education, providing a wide curriculum offer for Exeter, Devon and the wider region.

The event also marked the launch of a 20 year property master plan, providing more than 30% increased teaching capacity addressing future skills needs such as digital and data for young people.

The £70m vision over 20 years has been developed in partnership with Keystone Projects, strategic property and project management advisers to the education sector, with AWW architects and GVA Grimley planning specialists. Initial, illustrative artist impressions have been drawn up to invest in the college estate, subject to extensive further consultation with the local community.

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “The new Strategic Plan sets out to meet the academic, education, and skills needs for the city and region. An exceptional student experience remains the focus of all we do.

“I am also proud that we are the only English college in The Sunday Times Top 100 Not-for-Profit Organisations to work for in 2017. This is a significant achievement, recognising how key our staff are in delivering our vision.”
Philip Bostock OBE, Chair of the Board, said: “We are delighted to have produced this initial vision for our long term future, taking on board ideas from our staff, students and governing body.

“The master plan cements our commitment to remaining a city centre college and we look forward to further developing our ideas with the city council, the local community and funding partners over the coming months.”

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Frank family going into hiding, Exeter College BTEC Performing Arts students will be performing Dreams of Anne Frank by Bernard Cops, at the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter in May.

75 years ago in 1942, Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl, was forced into hiding with seven others in a secret annex in Amsterdam. Dreams of Anne Frank, a beautifully re-imagined play by Bernard Cops, vividly brings her story to life in a poignant, beautiful and highly charged drama. Through movement, live music and song the play re-imagines and explores Anne Frank's hidden world; a world in which she lived, fell in love, and dreamt of freedom.

Winner of the Time Out award for best children's production during its London premiere, this imaginative play with music demystifies and humanizes Anne Frank's story of tremendous bravery.

Exeter College BTEC Performing Arts students look to celebrate Anne Frank’s vitality, while at the same time stimulating us to not only question the past, but to confront the very same issues of discrimination and prejudice that surround us today. Anne’s diary, and this play about her life, commends the spirit of creativity that thrives despite being confined and hidden from society. Dreams of Anne Frank is the cornerstone of a season of work at the Barnfield Theatre, by Exeter College’s Drama and Performing Arts Department, in May 2017.

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank

We spoke to our performing arts students to hear what they’ve learnt from this project:

“In the last 75 years prejudice and discrimination have not been eradicated, it’s been normalised. One of the most painful forms of prejudice I’ve encountered is against young people. When walking along a street reading the BBC politics page on my phone I was told by an old lady to stop facebooking and learn something. Large marches and political events are needed. It’s just a case of having the courage of speaking your mind and letting people know your opinion. If everyone speaks up instead of sitting back and turning a blind eye we can positively challenge acts of discrimination and prejudice.” Chesney Fawkes-Porter

“From exploring the play and it’s themes I’ve learnt that people can be controlled and conform to fit in. Therefore people’s beliefs and values may not be their own as so much is fed to us by the media.” Seumas Mackinnon

“I feel that in today’s society too many people turn a blind eye when they see something that isn’t right.” Molly Mae Courtney

Exeter College BTEC Performing Arts students present Dreams of Anne Frank
By Bernard Kops and Music by David Burman
Performances taking place at the Barnfield Theatre on:
• Wednesday 3rd May 10am
• Thursday 4th May 7.30pm
• Friday 5th May 7.30pm
• Saturday 6th May 2.30pm & 7.30pm
• Sunday 7th May 2.30pm
For tickets please call the Box Office: 01392 271808 or visit www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk
Adults £9 / Concessions £7 / Family of four £25

Thirty Exeter College students have successful completed their British Sign Language qualification this academic year.

All of the students passed their final assessment and completed the course, which is run by SignUp BSL.

SignUp BSL is a social purpose business. Their vision is of a society where Deafness is not a barrier to independence, achievement or fulfilment. SignUp BSL are dedicated to advancing that vision by increasing the awareness and use of British Sign Language in the community, and by being a positive employer of Deaf people.

Exeter College offers students the opportunity to take part in a range of enrichment activities. Enrichment is an organised set of exciting activities that give students the opportunity to get a new skill, experience new hobbies, achieve a qualification, and make new friends.

There are more than 35 different types of enrichment opportunities available, ranging from volunteering with our Exeter College Volunteers programme, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Ten Tors, sporting activities, to our Student Choir, music ensembles, Debating Society, or learning British Sign Language.

Six Exeter College students have been selected to study at the University of Oxford for one week over the summer holidays. The selection process involved submitting a personal statement detailing the students’ interest in their chosen course and motivation to attend UNIQ. A total number of 3960 applications were made to UNIQ from schools and colleges all around the UK in 2017 of which 875 were selected to attend.

The summer school is run by the University of Oxford and gives first year A level students a realistic view of Oxford student life. UNIQ participants live in Oxford colleges for one week while attending lectures and seminars in their chosen subject. Participants also take part in a variety of social activities in the evenings with like minded Oxford hopefuls from other colleges across the UK.

The Six students that will be attending have chosen Biochemistry, Human Sciences, Politics Philosophy Economics, Engineering, and Middle Eastern Studies to focus on during their visit to the Russell Group university. They have chosen to undertake the experience to further their knowledge in their chosen subject areas as well as improve their chances of being accepted into Oxford university through workshops that they will attend during the event.

Five of the six students are members of the college’s Reach Academy. The Reach Academy is an Exeter College initiative to help academically gifted students successfully aim high in their university and career ambitions.

Following on from being nominated for four TES awards, we are delighted to announce that Exeter College music teacher, James Tarling was highly commended in the category of Teacher of the Year.

Only a very small number of highly commended awards were given out at the national awards in London. The most outstanding colleges, training providers and individuals in the Further Education sector were recognised at the recent TES FE Awards. Apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfron joined more than 700 guests for the ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

Speaking about receiving the accolade, James reflected that he thought it was an acknowledgement of the college’s focus on student and staff wellbeing.

James said: “It felt great to be nominated and to be highly commended. For me, it is a real acknowledgment of the work we have been doing over the last three or four years on student and staff wellbeing. We’ve been focusing on mindfulness and student mental health across the college. This is becoming increasingly important to learning and learners in the 21st century.

“I have been a learning leader for the past few years and I’m really proud of my course, which is Music Technology. It is a course people are really keen to do. We have great resources, absolutely fantastic outcomes and in a sense, the award was an acknowledgment of all those things.

“At Exeter College there is a positive culture that people want to do well, and want to be great teachers.”

Claire Fox, the Director of the Institute of Ideas, visited Exeter College recently to speak to a packed audience of around a hundred students and other guests.

This high profile speaker spoke about the importance of free speech in a lecture held in the college’s new lecture theatre.

The Institute of Ideas runs the Debating Matters Competition, a national debating competition held for sixth form students. The contest is known for being one of the toughest debating competitions in the country. Last year, a team of Exeter College students impressed at the coveted national finals in London.

Speaking during her visit, Claire Fox, who is the Director of the Institute of Ideas, said: “The college is to be congratulated for creating an atmosphere of intellectual enquiry and robust exchange of views, proving that debating really matters.”

Our students beat off tough competition to win their place at the national finals of Debating Matters in 2016 after being crowned winners of the West and South Wales region.

English Literature Coordinator Martin Owen, who organised the visit and talk by Claire Fox at the college, said: “We are delighted to have Claire visit the college and talk to our students on this very serious issue.

“It is really important to engage students with challenging ideas – and events like this help to do so. Many thanks to Claire and the Institute of Ideas for supporting us with this and also helping to establish an Exeter Salon, hosted at the college in the near future.”

Last week the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and Exeter College hosted the Apprenticeship Expo 2017 for a successful third year. The Apprenticeship Expo is the largest event of its kind in the South West during National Apprenticeship Week. The college’s Sports Hall was transformed into a 1,000 square metre exhibition space resulting in a record number of attendees.

National Apprenticeship Week, which is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, is designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the economy.

The Apprenticeship Expo is the only event of its kind in the South West, run by an Apprentice, dedicated to showcasing businesses to the future workforce. Companies who employ Apprentices were invited to be part of the biggest and the best Apprenticeship event in the South West. The Expo enabled them access to nearly 2,000 of the next generation of Apprentices from across Devon and show them why their business is the one to work for.

Sixty businesses exhibited at the event including Exeter University, South West Water, South West Ambulance Service, Midas, Gregory Distribution Ltd, Redrow Homes and representatives from the Armed Forces. These and many others were on hand to offer face to face guidance on the employment opportunities within their companies. Some employers took the opportunity to launch new Apprenticeship Programmes at the event. These included a new Aeronautical Engineering Apprenticeship Programme at Flybe as well as multiple new and exciting roles at Arconic Power and Propulsion.

From the exhibiting companies an outstanding 1,736 new Apprenticeship opportunities were pledged for the next year, proving the importance of events such as these. Not only for the businesses recruiting but also the young people in attendance and in the South West. This figure, from a small percentage of the businesses in Devon portrays the volume of potential opportunities to earn and learn locally within the next year.

The event is supported annually by the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and Health Education England. Richard Daulton of the National Apprenticeship Service, said,

“We are delighted to be supporting this event after the huge success of last year’s Expo. The Apprenticeship Expo is a fantastic opportunity for young people and parents to engage with some of our most successful and supportive employers from the region. As more and more businesses identify the unique benefits that Apprenticeships bring to their organisation it’s essential they recruit the right candidate to fill these roles.”

Mike Blakeley, Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement said

“The ongoing support and commitment of Apprenticeship awareness by the businesses in Devon and Cornwall is at an all-time high. Without doubt the awareness of the reforms of Apprenticeships has created a mind set for companies to look into the value and benefits that Apprenticeships will bring. Having nearly 2,000 young people attend an event such as this really shows the growing interest of young people and parents alike in employment with high quality training. It’s really becoming a golden era for Apprenticeships.”

The Apprenticeship Expo is open to anyone interested in finding out more about Apprenticeships. For more information please visit us here or call 01392 400800.