Young people are taking part in a unique outreach project in which they are leading and participating in a scientific research project on chemicals in plastic food packaging.

Teenagers in Devon are being mentored by experts at the University of Exeter, and gaining first-hand experience of all aspects of scientific research, from project planning to public engagement.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust and supported by the NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, the citizen science project will see the Year 12s design a study to assess the effects of reducing consumed levels of a common additive to plastic food and drink packaging – Bisphenol A (BPA). Previous studies have suggested that exposure to the chemical may cause changes to how some of our genes behave.

Professor Lorna Harries, at the University of Exeter Medical School, said: “This is a unique way to get teenagers excited about science. We’re hoping to inspire the next generation of researchers by giving them the chance to get involved with every stage of an exciting and relevant research project.”

More than 120 students from six schools have designed and taken part in a week-long diet to consume fresh or unpackaged foods, which ends this week. Teenagers are known to be the group with the highest levels of BPA in their bodies, and studies have indicated that levels of several common chemicals associated with food packaging can be reduced by up to 70 per cent in just one week by simple dietary measures. The students gave blood and urine samples before and after the diet. They will assess the results by looking at BPA levels in urine and the expression of genes that are responsive to BPA. Laboratory chemicals for the study are being supported by Life Technologies and BD Technology.

As well as analysing their findings, the students will be co-authors on a research paper that will be submitted to an academic journal for publication. They will also devise and deliver a programme of community and public engagement to communicate the project more widely.

Izzy, a student at Exeter College, said: “Sticking to the diet was really hard. A lot of food didn’t have clearly labelled packaging so we couldn’t always tell if it contained BPA or not. Things we take for granted, like going for a coffee, were a nightmare. It’s not just about the packaging of the drink itself, but also the beans before they’re ground.”

Fellow Exeter College student Lewis said: “I practically turned vegetarian for the week because meat packaging was so unclear. I made some simple changes, like using BPA-free bottles for water and avoiding cans and tinned food. It’s great to be involved in this project – we’re not just participants, but researchers too. We’re learning so much and it’ll be great experience to be named on the resulting research paper at the end.”

Professor Tamara Galloway, at the University of Exeter, said: “This project is exciting because it gives young people a chance to see the impact of simple changes in their diet in relation to this commonly found chemical.”

Exeter College had cause for celebration when figures for 2014/2015 were released, showing a record number of 707 Apprentices starting with the college.

Apprentices earn on average £200 per week and Exeter College currently have 1,500 Apprentices placed, meaning that local employers contribute over £13 million in wages to apprentices alone (excluding training costs).

Exeter College have 60 different apprenticeships on offer with 150 vacancies at top class, outstanding businesses. Current Apprenticeship vacancies are listed on the college’s website – http://bit.ly/ExCollAppVac

Exeter College Principal Richard Atkins says “Learner success rates on our apprenticeship programmes continued to improve last year, and have now reached exceptionally high levels when compared with national standards. These programmes would not exist without the active involvement and support of local businesses and we thank them sincerely for working with Exeter College to provide such fantastic work place opportunities for our students.”

In the past three years, Exeter College has seen a 75% increase in number of Apprentices. These apprentices cover the four counties of the South West peninsula covering Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

Exeter College boosts a network of 850 businesses and has an established reputation working with some of the best businesses in Exeter, including Exeter City Council and South West Water among others.

“Having been involved with Exeter College Apprenticeship scheme for over three years, I can highly recommend their Business Solutions service. Exeter City Council has had eight apprentices successfully complete a variety of qualifications in an assortment of work roles from Business Administration levels 2 and 3 through to Level 3 in Civil Engineering. The Business Solutions team work tirelessly to support both apprentices and employers throughout their programmes and we are very happy to be continuing our relationship with Exeter College.”

June Callister, Learning and Development Partner at Exeter City Council

“We have been working with Exeter College over the last few months to progress our Apprentice programme, they have always been very commercially aware and understand what businesses need to achieve with any new recruits. The process is very slick and they have made the task of recruiting new candidates very easy for us so the process is a pleasure!”

Nick James, Practice Manager at Kitsons

The Business Solutions team can identify suitable Apprentices and provide a complete service to make it simple for businesses to recruit and train an Apprentice. Businesses interested in taking on an Apprentice should get in touch with the Business Solutions team on 01392 400400 for more information.

Exeter College Music Academy are very proud to be announcing their new website and have been showcasing it to new prospective members at this week’s Freshers Fair. The new website is another step to making it easier for members of the academy to stay up to date on what’s going on in the academy and showcase their own work. The site features videos from enrichment groups and solo students and gives new members the chance to sign up and pay for membership online. Visit it here at http://www.exe-coll.ac.uk/MusicAcademy/

Over 1,500 people from across Devon took part in the recent Love to Ride Cycle Challenge – collectively cycling 123,811 miles, the equivalent of cycling around the world almost five times.

More than 90 Devon businesses and organisations took part in the three week competition in June which aimed to introduce as many new people to cycling as possible.

The challenge inspired 290 people in the county to cycle for the first time in over a year, with the aim of helping their workplaces clock up the greatest percentage of staff taking part. By the end of the competition, over 10,000 cycle journeys were recorded by participants who cycled to work, or for leisure and fitness.

The organisation with the most staff taking part was Exeter College, with 102 staff cycling as part of the challenge to win the category for organisations with 500+ staff, and finishing 12th overall nationwide. Other winners, based on the size of their organisation, include Environment Agency South West, who also finished 2nd in their category nationwide, Devon Wildlife Trust, Regen SW and Trewin Design Architects.

Participants were rewarded for their efforts with a range of prizes from local retailers in Devon, and they were presented with certificates from Devon County in recognition of their achievements. The overall workplace winners received trays of cakes from the Exeter bakery ‘Emma’s Bread’, which were delivered using an electric bike and delivery trailer.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for cycling, said: “The Devon Cycle Challenge has proven to be an incredible success and I’m delighted that it has helped people to get back on their bikes and rediscover the benefits that cycling has to offer, from improving health, to tackling congestion and saving money. Following the success of this challenge, Devon County Council will be running another challenge in September as part of ‘Ride to Work Week’.”

The Devon Cycle Challenge is part of a package of measures being delivered by Devon County Council using Local Sustainable Transport Funding from the Department of Transport, to encourage more people to walk, cycle, travel by public transport or car share.

A full list of team and individual winners is available here.

A level students and staff at Exeter College have recorded another year of outstanding A level results with today's announcement of a 99.4% pass rate.

Over 900 students from across Exeter, Devon and Torbay received their A2 results today at the college – a 5% increase on the previous year – and almost a half have achieved the high grades A*, A and B grades, enabling them to progress to top universities in the future.

With these results Exeter will continue to rank amongst the country's top Sixth Form Colleges as one of the largest and most successful A level centres in the southwest. The college celebrated 100% pass rates in 30 of its 39 A level subjects. The college also recorded an increase in the pass rate and high grades rate for its AS students which means that it is ideally placed for the linear A level reforms coming into effect in the future.

The college’s students recorded particular strengths in the key facilitating academic subjects with 62% of English Literature students and 61% of Maths students gaining the impressive high grades of A*, A or B which are demanded by the top universities. Spanish A2 results illustrated the strength of the modern foreign languages subjects at the college with 88% of students amassing the high grades whilst 59% of Fine Art students and 63% of Music students recorded the high academic grades showing the breadth of subjects and success at the college.

The A level results announced today follow the high academic success of the college’s International Baccalaureate results announced earlier in the summer with, for the first time in the college’s history, a student achieving the highest possible score of 45 out of 45 points in the internationally recognised and demanding qualification, where only 0.3% of students worldwide achieve this phenomenal result.

Richard Atkins, Principal said, “Today’s results are exceptional. We are particularly proud of the number of students getting the very high grades that are in such demand. These results are a timely reminder of the hard work of our students and staff, which means that our students are ideally placed to progress to the UK’s top competitive universities as well as taking up exciting and challenging job opportunities.”

Commenting on the significant successes in particular subjects, Richard Atkins continued, “We are delighted with the results across the college but the Maths and Science results particularly endorses our decision to invest in this crucial curriculum area with the development of an A level Maths and Science Centre in the heart of the city due to open this year, complementing our existing partnership with the University of Exeter on the Exeter Mathematics School which opened last year. I am also delighted to see that students from such a wide range of previous schools have been so successful here at the college with over 40 of them with straight A* and A grades ranging from Coombeshead in Newton Abbot to Pilton and Park Schools in Barnstable and from QECC in Crediton to Tiverton – all excelling regardless of the travel journey times to college – as well as over 20 students from our partner Exeter secondary schools.”

Emma Fielding, the College’s Assistant Principal responsible for A levels said, “I am very impressed with these results. Students here at Exeter College join both an academically rich programme and can take additional opportunities such as the Extended Project which, with a record of 79% A*, A or B grades this year, greatly enhances their chances in the race for the top university places. We also have a very strong enrichment programme that helps students test out new interests, community activities and skills that are an essential part of preparing them for their university and career applications. Our dedicated progression teams and tutors have worked with A level, vocational and Access to HE students throughout the year to support their next steps into employment or higher education and we hope that these excellent results will mean our students can fulfil their ambitions whatever they may be.”

“I’d like to congratulate all the students and staff at Exeter College who have worked so hard this year,” said Richard Atkins. “Today is about A level results, but we continue to demonstrate inclusivity through the range of students we attract from across the city and the county as well as the wealth of subjects we offer. It is not only our A level and IB students looking to start new career and education routes but also our level 3 BTEC technical and professional students who are awaiting their results which will be their essential passport to continue on to the universities or employers of their choice. Most importantly today we celebrate with individual students from across Exeter, Devon and Torbay who have fulfilled, and in many cases, exceeded expectations and we wish them all well in the next stage of their careers.“

Exeter College is seeking former students who can inspire and motivate the current generation to academic success, improve their career confidence and provide a valuable insight into the world of work.

The college is one of nearly 400 state schools and colleges across Britain which have registered with the education charity Future First to set up networks of former students or alumni whose talents they can harness to support today’s students.

Future First’s vision is that every state school or college should be supported by a thriving, engaged alumni community that helps it to do more for its students.

More than 100,000 former students across Britain have already signed up to stay connected with their old school. They’re inspiring young people in a number of ways; as career and education role models, mentors or e-mentors, work experience providers, governors or guest speakers.

The college is keen to contact former students who left recently for higher education or employment as well as those in established careers, alumni who live nearby and those who have moved away.

“More than 39 per cent of state school students don’t know anyone in a job they’d like to do,” said Alex Shapland-Howes, Managing Director of Future First. “If they see that someone who went to the same college, grew up in the same community, has achieved a fulfilling and satisfying job, it helps them see it’s possible for them too. It’s really important for all students to be motivated to succeed in the working world and hearing first hand from relatable people in interesting jobs can make a huge difference.”

Emily Packer, Progression and Employability Leader said: “We signed up to Future First’s network to give past Exeter College learners a chance to share their knowledge and experience of the labour market with our current students. We also care very much about responsible recruitment to our college and the Future First network can help prospective students gain insight into the many ways our young people have used their study to start inspiring careers. This network will be vital in helping us to broaden students’ horizons and equip them for the world of work. We also really hope that former students will benefit from these links, finding out more about their college and being able to contribute to the college community.”

Would you like to share your career journey? Former students can sign up to Future First’s alumni scheme via the website www.futurefirst.org.uk and clicking on the “Former Students” links.

For further information about Future First, visit www.futurefirst.org.uk , contact our Press Officer Sue Crabtree on sue@futurefirst.org.uk, our Director of Operations Melanie Robinson on melanie@futurefirst.org.uk or call one of the team on 0207 239 8933.

Exeter College is celebrating adding another top quality accolade to its list of awards for teaching, learning and student support as the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has confirmed the quality and standards of provision at Exeter College following its review in April 2015.

A team of QAA reviewers visited Exeter College and judged that its academic standards, the quality and enhancement of its student learning opportunities, and the quality of information about its university level learning opportunities all meet UK expectations.

The higher education review particularly identified the comprehensive and consistent academic support for students that enables them to fulfil their potential as a feature of good practice, as well as the work of the college to ensure that its university level courses meet the needs of local, regional and national employers.

“We're very proud that our university level provision has been recognised nationally with this exceptional quality report,” said Julie Skinner, Assistant Principal.

“I'm particularly pleased that the QAA team noted that employability is a focus of Exeter College's provision at a strategic level, and that it is a priority within both the college’s strategic plan and the higher education strategy. “Ensuring that our university level programmes are relevant to individual student’s needs and the employment needs of the area is crucial and is reflected each year, as the report highlights, in very high employment success rates.”

“We are also delighted that the College is praised for the support we provide to our students and this reflects the feedback we get through their Learner Voice.!”

“Each year our university level students process through the city of Exeter to their graduation celebration in the Cathedral and this reports proves that we are right to be proud of the provision offered at Exeter College.”

QAA's Higher Education Reviews are carried out by experts from other universities and colleges. Every review team includes a student reviewer, because QAA believes that students should be partners in the quality assurance of their education.

The team that reviewed Exeter College included Elizabeth Shackels (South West College), Dr Philip Bassett (Glyndwr University) and Neil Mackenzie (student reviewer from the University of Leeds).

The QAA Quality Mark will now join the college’s Ofsted Outstanding Award, BTEC College of the Year and Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year – accolades all gained within the last 18months. In addition to these teaching, learning and assessment awards the college has gained additional national recognition with its support services.

In a glowing report the Matrix team praised the standard the information, advice and guidance provided to students before they start at the college and as they progress through their courses and training. The college’s information and learning services provision has also scooped a national award this year with their Grade 1 excellent award for its outstanding support for teaching and learning from the nindepenedent national watchdog ColRiC.

Exeter College first ran the Six Book Challenge in 2013 with 48 participants, almost all English as a Second Language (ESOL) students. In 2014 the number rose slightly to 65, again mainly ESOL students. This year we are proud that numbers rocketed to 194 and for the first time it attracted a more varied spread of learners, including adult GCSE English students, APEX, Skills for Living, Functional Skills, and those participating in literacy workshops.

Everyone that completed the task told us that the challenge had been a valuable experience, increasing both their confidence and enjoyment and they said they would continue their reading journeys. Some had even practised reading to children or elderly relatives, so not only the participants benefitted but the pleasure was spread more widely!

In 2016 we hope to engage our 16-19 GCSE English learners with the new Reading Ahead brand to encourage wider reading and to give them the confidence that they are actually already reading everyday – it doesn’t just have to be books.

Exeter College Principal Richard Atkins has joined a select group of local, national and international distinguished guests this week when he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (Hon LLD) from the University of Exeter. Graduating on Wednesday 15th July 2015, Mr Atkins said:

“I am delighted to have been chosen to receive an honorary degree from the University of Exeter in recognition of my long career in teaching, and in particular my 14 years as Principal at Exeter College. My family thoroughly enjoyed joining me at the graduation ceremony.

In recent years Exeter College has enjoyed significant success and confirmed its position as one of England’s top performing Further Education Colleges. This success has been the result of the long term hard work and relentless focus on student success achieved by the college staff and governors, and this recognition for me personally reflects our combined achievements and those of our students.”

Mr Atkins receives the accolade in a year which has seen him serve as the President for the national Association of Colleges (AoC) alongside his role as college Principal.

Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor at the University of Exeter presented Mr Atkins with his Honorary Doctorate and said “It is a great honour for the University to present Richard Atkins, Principal of Exeter College for the past fourteen years, with an honorary degree in recognition of his outstanding work in the field of education, regionally, nationally and internationally.

We are recognising today an innovative, passionate and visionary educational leader who has, quite simply, had a transformative impact, both on the city of Exeter and on the life chances of the many thousands of people who have benefitted from his vision during his distinguished career in further education. Richard has won many plaudits for Exeter College, which has gone from strength to strength under his leadership.”

Click here to read the full oration

Josh Ellis, an Exeter College plumbing apprentice from Exmouth, has been crowned the national VQ (Vocational Qualifications) Learner of the Year at a prestigious event in London this week.

Josh Ellis, who earlier in the year won the South West regional Learner of the Year, took the top spot this week in what is quite a year for the 21 year old. Josh started a level 2 apprenticeship with Exeter College and Exmouth based plumbing firm Westmancoat Plumbing and Heating in September 2012.

In November last year he won through the local and regional heats of the WorldSkills UK competition and, after heading to the NEC to participate in a gruelling three day skills challenge, scooped the WorldSkills UK Plumbing Gold medal at a glittering gala finale in front of thousands of competitors, industry representatives and skills judges. In the same year he was named Exeter College's Plumbing Apprentice of the Year.

Now his exceptional ability and hard work has been recognised by the Edge Foundation as VQ Learner of the Year part of the VQ Day celebrations – a national event that celebrates vocational achievement and the benefits of technical, practical and vocational learning to both the individual and the UK economy.

Reflecting on the VQ award which was presented by TV presenter Diarmuid Gavin, Josh said: “It's just nice to be recognised for all the hard work that I've put in. Doing an apprenticeship was definitely a better route for me than university as I'm much better at hands-on training. I would definitely recommend it to other people.”

In the citation read out to the audience at the awards ceremony including Lord Baker, MPs and industry leaders Josh was praised for his World Skills UK final achievement with his work deemed ‘near perfect' by the judges. The citation continued – “since then Josh has progressed to level 3 due to the exceptionally high standard of his work .. and he is successfully juggling a very high demand for his work with his further studies at college”.

Paul Sommers, Josh's employer at Westmancoat Heating and Plumbing in Exmouth is delighted that his small team are now sporting further national accolades. “Josh has been with us for nearly 3 years and came straight from school. He is an excellent member of the team and it's not just his technical plumbing skills which means he is an asset to us. We get lots of very positive comments from our customers who congratulate him on his general manner saying ‘it is a pleasure to have Josh working in our house'. He has exactly the right balance of personal and technical qualities I look for.”

Josh's tutor, Chris Bennett – Plumbing and Electrical Team Leader said “I'm really pleased that Josh has been recognised with yet another national award since this celebrates his hard work and exceptional ability. Josh has had an outstanding year and I was very proud to be with him at the WorldSkills UK competition when his technical skills and personal qualities under intense pressure earned him the prestigious UK World Skills Gold. Despite all these accolades Josh is a very modest apprentice, always willing to learn and open to new ideas and training – a real strength. He is always the first to help explain to other apprentices his work and skills and it is great that someone who doesn't ‘shout from the rooftops' has received this national award. He is a shining example of how successful apprenticeships can be when a keen trainee is supported by a partnership of committed employer and high quality college training.”