Congratulations to our rugby and mixed hockey teams – national AoC champions!

Exeter College Rugby achieved the 'treble' in AoC British Colleges Rugby terms by winning the AoC British Colleges Elite Cup against Llandrillo College at Stourbridge.

A 34-20 victory over their Welsh counterparts was built on a solid offloading game and some astute and accurate kicking from the impressive Billy Searle at fly half, who also gained the man of the match award.

Full back Dom Thorne and Second Row Matt Handford were also impressive in a huge team performance that made coaches Jon Hill and Ross Morshead contemplate a possible 'quadruple' of trophies in what has been a most remarkable of seasons to date! It is not over yet with the College still able to achieve the 'quadruple' with the league play off's in the next two weeks.

Exeter College Rugby won the South West and Wales Colleges League, and also added the AoC British Colleges 7's Trophy to their cabinet with victory at Bath University last month.

The College play AASE league opponents in Myerscough College (Sale Sharks) in the League Play Off Semi Final next Wednesday (6th May), 4pm kick off at Cullompton Rugby Club. The winners will compete in the AoC British Colleges League Final at Allianz Park on May 13th.

And meanwhile in Sheffield the college's mixed hockey team were also crowned AoC National cup champions beating Greenhead College 3 – 2

Exeter College Journalism Academy Student, Imogen Matthews sits down and talks to the cast of Arabian Nights.

From Richard F. Burton’s translation of 'One Thousand and One' Nights', ‘Arabian Nights’ is brought to you in a new adaptation by Exeter College’s BTEC Performing Arts Department. The production, which is hot off the back of last year's sell out run of C.S Lewis’s ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’, tells the classic tales of; ‘The 'City of Brass,' Sinbad the Seaman' and 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’ like you've never seen or heard before. Meet the play's protagonist, Shahrazad, whose husband the king, executes each of his wives after only a single night of marriage. Believed to be the greatest storyteller of them all, each night Shahrazad begins to tell the king a different tale, but does not end it. Will her stories be enough to save her?

Well, when I sat down with two of the company's principal cast members to find out what we could expect from the show, they promised it would be an exciting night of theatrical storytelling. Describing the play as both 'explosive and exciting', they informed me that they have introduced many new elements which are set to surprise the audience. Including a possible new character…

Bethany Burns who plays Shahrazad, and Bethany Court, who plays Shahrazad’s sister, in the production explained that they have taken this piece down a spiritual route and have touched on themes which are more relevant to modern day audiences, “We split into smaller groups to each tell a different story, combining all of the different creative and dramatic elements. These I am told, include lots of interesting movement pieces and music. “The play is mainly devised and experimental.”

Overseen by director Nigel Paul, they told me that this magical production has something that the whole family will be able to enjoy. “We have made lots of new discoveries, we’re really proud of it!” These are a few of the reasons you should follow Shahrazad on her journey to discover her fate- spinning fabulous tales about genies, princesses, ghouls and monsters, as the production takes you inside the king’s tent, for a night of Arabian enchantment.

Arabian Nights is showing at the college’s Yard Theatre, off Queen Street in Exeter from Monday 11th to Saturday 16th May. Tickets are priced from £5 and suitable for those aged 7 years +. Tickets are available from the Box Office at the Exeter Northcott Theatre please visit www.exeternorthcott.co.uk/arabian-nights

Win tickets to a performance of your choice!

We have devised a magical plot, the play first written in the 1800s is being truly brought into the 21st Century with a magical digital competition to win free tickets.

To be in with the chance of winning tickets to a showing of your choice explore the website to find the hidden Arabian Nights story books, click on the story book, listen to the synopsis recorded by the talented cast and enter your details for a chance of winning! Good Luck.

Exeter College Rugby became British Colleges Champions having dominated the AOC British Colleges 7's at Bath University at the weekend.

Eight gruelling games against all of the other regional college winners in Britain, saw the College side go unbeaten with a 100% win record against the likes of Loughborough, Cardiff, SEEVIC, Worcester, Hartlepool, and John Symonds Colleges.

The side was captained by Dom Thorne and included Billy Searle, George Gosling and Jack Rouse, who have all been playing national league rugby this season. Callum Gill also celebrated his inclusion in the England Deaf Squad with his gold medal to show for his efforts as part of the squad.

It has been a truly remarkable season for the college who have just won the British Colleges league (South West and Wales), having beaten the Likes of Filton, Hartpury, Coleg Cymoedd (Cardiff) and Coleg Sir Gar (Llanelli) Colleges.

The college side have also reached the British Colleges Cup final and will play Oaklands College (Saracens) or Llandrillo College in the final at Stourbridge RFC on April 29th.

With plenty of rugby still to play, Exeter College are also in with a chance of achieving the 'treble' or even the 'quadruple' as they are also involved in the AOC British Colleges league play off's which culminate in the final being played at Allianz Park in May.

It is only four weeks since the college team were awarded the amateur team of the year at the Express and Echo Awards Night for last seasons NatWest vase campaign that culminated with a final at Twickenham.

The college's sports academy is used to celebrating top of the league places, team and individual gold medals and other sporting accolades.

This year however, is proving to be exceptional with top spots and final places right across the board for over eight sports providing a real buzz across the college and within the popular sports, leisure and tourism faculty.

Exeter College’s 1st XV elite men’s rugby team, only just crowned as the Express and Echo's amateur team of the year, are now also hailed as Champions of the AoC Sport Premier Rugby Union League being two points above their nearest rival South Gloucester and Stroud College with a game in hand. The team are now heading to Stourbridge RFC in the AoC British Colleges Premier Cup Final playing against either Coleg Llandrillo or Oaklands College at the end of April after having beaten Coleg y Cymoedd 34-17 in the semi final. The team are also Wales and South West league winners and will play either the winner or runner up of the North and Midlands Leagues on Wednesday 22nd April. The successful team, many of whom played in the Nat West Vase Cup final last year at Twickenham, are also representing South West Colleges in 7’s at the National Colleges Championships in Bath at the end of March

The Badminton mixed team were also crowned AoC National Cup winners after they travelled to High Wycombe’s Badminton High Performance Centre in Buckinghamshire and beat Cirencester College 6 – 4 following their semi final triumph against Bilborough College in Birmingham.

The 7 strong Netball Academy team have also reached the final of the AoC Sport National Cup and will play the winner of SEEVIC Womens’s 1 v Greenhead College Women’s 1 at Wolverhampton University at the end of April after beating Truro College 47 – 44 in the semi final at the Riverside in Exeter this week. The 1st team are currently in 2nd place in the AoC Sport Elite netball Super League and the team, representing the South West, finished 4th at the National Schools event in Bournemouth.

Hockey has had an excellent season despite being a relatively new Academy for the college. The men’s team sit in second place in the AoC Sport Category 2 league and will represent the South West Colleges at the National Colleges Championships at the end of March in Bath. The women’s team also sit in second place and the mixed hockey team’s win against Farnborough College 2-1 this week in the semi final means they are heading to Abbeydale Sports Park on April 29th meeting for the AoC National final The team are also celebrating sending six students to represent England Colleges this season.

The Basketball Academy, developed as a partnership with Exeter Eagles and Exeter Nomads, narrowly missed out at the Exeter and District Basketball League play-offs losing 71-61 to Exmouth Jesters men's at the weekend but went on to win 74-56 against its strong rival of Truro College this week keeping their second place in the AoC Sport South West Category 2 league.

Meanwhile the college’s football academy team is in second place in the league with 3 games in hand with the women’s team heading to Bath at the end of March representing South West colleges in the National Colleges Championships. The women’s team are also in the process of gaining an official partnership with Exeter City Ladies FC, helping to raise the profile and standard of women’s football.

The colleges’ Mixed Martial Arts Academy continues to grow and the squad scooped a silver and two bronze medals at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Junior national Championships at the beginning of March, whilst the Golf Academy finished fourth in the ISGA league with two of the team representing South West Colleges at the national Colleges Championships in Bath at the end of March.

And it’s not just team sports that are excelling in the Sports Academy. The elite academy is proud to have a world record holder in its midst. Local powerlifter Shachar Head who trains in the college’s sports academy has just returned from the British Drug Free Powerlifting competition in Stafford lifting an impressive 157.5kg squat and massive 175kg deadlift – breaking British, European and World records in the teenage 18-19 class with Shachar also coming away with the title 'Best Unequipped Female Squat' which makes her the number 1 pound for pound squatter in the country.

“This has been a brilliant season for so many of the sports in our academy this year and could get even better with all the finals on the horizon,” said Pete Chapman, head of sport, leisure and tourism “We were all really proud of our rugby team that got to the Nat West Vase final last year but this year all the other sports teams have been equally hard working and successful and to have got into 4 AoC national finals is exceptional as well as 45 of our students have been picked to represent South West Colleges at the National Colleges Championships. In the year when the college has opened its new Sports Hub in Exwick as well as about to finish its new Sports Hall in the centre of the city – these outstanding sports results are another reason to celebrate the commitment of staff, students and our partners to excellence in sports in the college and the community.”

Over 100 students from the city’s college took to the stage at Exeter Phoenix on Wednesday evening in a musical showcase celebrating the diversity of the musical styles they are learning.

Made up of a combination of current and past music and enrichment students from all levels and staff, the production was also supported by music technology students and the college’s own higher education film and television students – mirroring the range of talents needed to deliver the high quality standard music events demanded by industry and public. What was unusual about this musical event was the sheer breadth of musical styles performed throughout the evening with big band, brass, jazz, rock and chamber orchestra pieces filling the bill – all types of musical expertise offered at the college.

The event attracted over 130 guests, including Exeter College staff and Governors, guests from local schools and colleagues from the music industry, along with college applicants and parents and friends of the students performing.

David Golby, Deputy Head of the faculty of Media and Performing Arts, said:

It was a fantastic night for all involved, the Phoenix had a great buzz and it was an excellent opportunity for the students to perform to a large crowd and demonstrate their outstanding musicianship.

To view photos from the evening please click here

Click here to find out more about the Music Academy
Click here to visit our 16-18 course search

Shachar Head is number 1 pound for pound squatter in the Country and breaks more World Records!

Local powerlifter Shachar Head enjoyed an excellent first competition of the New Year when she attended the British Drug Free Powerlifting single lifts competition at Beaconside Leisure Centre Stafford. As the World Single Lifts championship are in Telford this year, there was a huge field hopeful of a coveted world championship spot.

Renowned more for combined lifts or 'full power' event competitions, Head took on the squat and deadlift as single lifts in preparation for the British Full Power Championships which will take place at the same location in March. The preparations could not have gone better as Head lifted a 157.5kg squat and hoisted a massive 175kg deadlift. Both were British, European and World Records in the Teenage 18 – 19 year old class and the squat also broke all of the longstanding Drug Free Federation records in the Open category. Shachar also came away earning the ‘Best Unequipped Female Squat’ which makes her the number 1 pound for pound squatter in the country.

Head has been training with the supportive team at Winners 2000 in Newton Abbot, as well as honing her lifting techniques with local strongman Guy Servis at The Plymouth Performance Gym.

Shachar also trains at Exeter College with the A.C.E.S sports academy where she completes more remedial and fitness based sessions. Head adds;

The college lecturers have given me so much support, especially whilst battling glandular fever and helping me get fit again. They're so supportive and always give me the time I need off for competitions.

While training in Plymouth Head has also been working with the Marines/Navy team who are based at HMS Drake, Plymouth and also train out of PPG. Head praised the help given to her on the day “with Powerlifting it can be a very individual sport and the Navy team helped me immensely at the competition on Saturday, they were extremely supportive”.

Head's expenses for the trip were met by local sponsor, Haulier, Hottot Transport, and she was quick to thank their directors Rob and Sean Hottot “without the goodwill and assistance from local businesses like Hottot Transport and my other local sponsors these competitions would be a lot more difficult to attend. For instance I am attending two competitions in Stafford in a month, without Hottot Transports assistance I would never have been able to attend both” Head added.

Back home and reflecting on her achievements Head can now look forward to an exciting year with the British Full Power, the World Single lifts, 4 Nations in Glasgow and a possible trip to Sicily for the World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation Full Power Championship. On top of this she hopes to commence studies for a Sports Degree at the University of St Mark and St Johns in Plymouth in September.

While preparations are being finalised across the country to celebrate national Apprenticeship Week, Exeter College has scooped an early accolade in being crowned Apprenticeship Employer Gold Award winner in the Apprenticeships4England Training Provider finals held at the Grand Connaught Rooms Hotel, London last night.

The Awards give organisations the chance to be recognized and rewarded for their commitment, hard work, achievements and success in delivering Apprenticeship programmes in England and the college beat off Stafford, Walsall, North Herts and Burnley colleges to the top spot.

“We’re really proud that our committed approach to apprenticeships has been recognized in this way and this reflects all the hard work of our apprentices, supportive employers and teams of staff.” said Mike Blakeley head of business solutions and enterprise at the college “We have over 1,000 apprentices across 33 pathways in seven sectors having grown nearly 40% with success rates averaging over 83% in the last three years – 16% over the national average. ”

“It is critical to us that every apprentice receives outstanding support, encouragement and motivation at every stage and we focus our delivering an apprenticeship programme that exceeds their expectations, adapting the training and delivery to suit individual apprentices’ needs. We could not have achieved this award without our local and regional employers who help our apprentices gain successful, long term employment. ”

“Employers appreciate the quality that this award recognizes and a record number of Exeter-based businesses are recruiting apprentices with well over 100 current vacancies for apprentices with Exeter College.”

“Apprenticeships are a fantastic training model and hugely important to commercial success.” said Simon Charles, group human resources and health and safety director Flybe at the college’s skills awards event. “They give young people the chance to work for a real employer, earn a real salary, gain a real qualification through Exeter College and, importantly, to learn valuable life skills.

“This award has capped an amazing 12 months for Exeter College, said Ian Fitzpatrick, assistant principal. “This follows our Ofsted outstanding grade in January 2014 placing us in the top 10 16-18 providers with our national status further enhanced by being awarded BTEC School/College of the Year 2014/15. Our apprenticeship programmes are a crucial area of work for the college and using feedback from our employers, the forums and the apprentices themselves we are committed to continuously improving how they are delivered for the benefit of the apprentice and particularly the local employers. Our economy is dependent on up to date skills across so many business and service sectors and the role of apprenticeships are central to this.”

The celebrations will be continuing throughout the national Apprenticeship Week next week with an Apprenticeship Expo, sponsored by the local apprenticeship forum and hosted at the college’s Technology Centre on March 12th comprising of 50 local and regional employers keen to profile their work with apprentices and showcasing vacancies for the future. And it’s not just apprentices that are getting information and advice about their future. Students from across the college will also benefit from a range of careers and employment activities during the college’s dedicated progression and employability month of March delivering a number of activities throughout the Prepare for Work initiative.

Thousands of Exeter College students are benefitting from a month of events and activities to help them plan for their future.

The dedicated Progression and Employability Month during March is being supported by the national Prepare for Work initiative and will see students gain access to a careers fair, mock interviews, university advice and guidance and specialist career talks.

Divided in to four weeks focusing on careers, apprenticeships, higher education and advice and guidance, the packed programme of events ensures students are prepared for their working lives, whatever their ambitions.

Progression and Employability Leader at Exeter College, Emily Packer, said

It is great to be able to put a college wide focus on progression and employability for a whole month, in addition to the support that we offer throughout the year. We are really excited about the events that are planned, particularly those that are involving employers from across the region and national organisations that can offer practical advice to our students on how to get the career they want

Regional and national employers will be attending a special careers fair at the Rougemont Thistle Hotel on Queen Street on the 11th March and up to 100 students will have their interview skills put to the test with employers giving mock interviews and coaching. The Progression and Employability Team will also be running pop-up advice hubs and lunchtime employability games and workshops throughout the month.

The activities are supported by the Prepare to Work initiative, developed by the National Skills Academy for Financial Services and supported by Barclays.

Chris Hearn, Head of Education at Barclays Corporate said:

As a long-term supporter of the Further Education sector, we’re proud to be working with the National Skills Academy to offer Prepare for Work as part of our larger commitment to build the enterprise, employability and financial skills of the next generation through 5 Million Young Futures

The month of activities coincides with National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week and those that are interested in progressing on to an apprenticeship are also encouraged to attend the Apprenticeship Expo event, hosted by Exeter College, at the Technology Centre, Monkerton, on the 12th March, 4-8pm. The event will feature 50 employers from across the region and is sponsored by the NHS, Alcoa Howmet, the National Apprenticeship Service and the SW Apprentice Ambassador Network.

Please click here to view the Progression and Employability Month programme

Please click here to find out more about our Progression and Employability Team

Exeter College Principal, Richard Atkins, has announced that he is to retire from his post at the end of 2015.

Mr Atkins joined the college in 2002 and since that time has overseen significant growth in student numbers, improvements in educational standards and investments of over £60m in new buildings and facilities for students. In recent years the College has achieved a series of national successes, including two visits by Ofsted which judged the college as outstanding, winning the Times Educational Supplement Further Education Provider of the Year title in 2012 and the Outstanding BTEC School/College of the Year 2014.

Mr Atkins said:

I have thoroughly enjoyed my 14 years as Principal of Exeter College, it has been a real privilege to hold this post at one of England’s leading colleges. I have been fortunate enough to work with many wonderful students, great staff and supporting governors, which has made the job a real pleasure. Exeter is a great city to work in and the college has benefitted from many strong partnerships with local schools, employers, the University of Exeter and the City and County Councils.

I shall miss the College a lot when I go, but it will be business as usual until December.

Mr Atkins has spent more than 35 years working in Further Education and schools as a teacher, lecturer and manager and, before joining Exeter College, was previously Principal at Yeovil College for seven years. He is also currently the President of the national Association of Colleges, representing England's 330 FE and Sixth Form Colleges nationally and internationally.

The Governors of the College, led by the Chair Philip Bostock, will now begin the recruitment process to appoint a new Principal.

1 Event, 50 Employers, 100s of Apprenticeship vacancies

The Apprenticeship Expo 2015 comes to Exeter on the 12th March. Hosted at the Exeter College Technology Centre at Monkerton, this event brings together over 50 of the region’s top employers, including Mercedes Benz, FlyBe, First Great Western, the Army and BT, to showcase their commitment to employing young people in the region and the benefits of Apprenticeships.

The event, supported by the National Apprenticeship Service, the NHS, Alcoa Howmet, South West Water and Exeter College, is the first of its kind in the region. With 100s of vacancies available it is envisaged that those youngsters who have thought about Apprenticeships as an opportunity to earn while they learn will be able to take their next steps onto a successful and rewarding career.

Richard Daulton of the National Apprenticeship Service said:

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 candidates to fill these roles

He added, “Interacting with the next generation of Apprentices in this unique way will not only enhance their prospects of securing employment but will also provide first class advice and guidance on Apprenticeships and the great opportunities they bring.

Employers have risen to the challenge laid down by the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, a regional group of employers who champion Apprenticeships within their business networks, to exhibit at the event. Over 50 employers have committed to attending the expo and they see the event as an exciting and innovative way of engaging with their next generation of employees. Many see their current Apprentices as key to spreading the benefits of their programmes. One such organisation is South West Water, whose Organisational Development Manager Nigel Fenn says:

The Apprenticeship Expo will provide a chance for future apprentices to meet our current apprentices and find out what it’s really like to work for us, the benefits of Apprenticeships and the prospects that lay ahead. We know that we have no better ambassadors for our programmes than these young people.”

More and more employers are developing programmes in conjunction with colleges to support their business needs. Nigel Fenn added, “South West Water has an impressive track record in developing and employing apprentices. Apprenticeships provide expertise relevant and specific to our business. Our programme has definitely addressed the skills shortage we have faced in recent years. We value our apprentices and the contribution they make. And we certainly encourage the innovation and fresh approach they bring to the team dynamics. With so many of our graduating apprentices undertaking further study, we see the programme as a ‘win win’ outcome for both the apprentice starting their career and for South West Water as an employer of such talented employees.”

South West Water is one of the many exhibiting businesses who are positive about offering Apprenticeships in a range of operational and business support roles and who are committed to ensuring the widest range of career opportunities for young people in the region. The Apprenticeship Expo 2015 will give young people and their parents an opportunity to not only find out about job roles in the region, but the progression prospects that Apprenticeships bring. As Nigel adds:

A number of our senior managers served their Apprenticeship with South West Water. It goes to show that combining work with vocational study can lead to real success.

Further Details:

Date: 12th March 2015
Time: 16.00 – 20.00
Venue: Exeter College Technology Centre
College Way
Monkerton
Exeter
EX1 3PZ