Food producers and sponsors joined proud families to mark the end of the second cohort of Michael Caines Academy students at Exeter College with a celebratory banquet reflecting the standard of the many prestigious establishments the students have experienced during their two year programme in the Academy.

And for the first time the talented chefs and front of house students were on the receiving end of world class hospitality as the younger first year Academy students were put through their paces in the training kitchen during the day with the Academy's founder and mentor – Michael Caines MBE – one of the College's famous alumni.

The Academy, set up in 2011, nurtures the region's future generation of talented restaurateurs, chefs, restaurant managers, waiters and front of house staff. The celebration event, at the college's @34 restaurant, also honoured the essential contribution of the many food producers and partners who make the Academy unique. Together with sponsors City and Guilds, 3663, Robert Welch, Paramount Personnel and Intoto Kitchens these producers ensure students access a perse timetable of culinary activities from foraging to fine dining as well as honing their skills through workshops and masterclasses.

“The Academy offers a fantastic opportunity for young people who can demonstrate a real passion for the industry and the ambition to excel,” said Michael Caines addressing the 60 guests at the four course banquet. “Our aim is to drive and inspire these students to achieve the highest level of excellence and to raise the profile of all aspects of the hospitality industry. They have been challenged throughout their time at the college and I'm very proud of their continued ambition, they are shining examples and are now ambassadors not just for the Academy and the college but also for this important sector.”

Lydia Uglow joined the celebration event after her six weeks placement at the prestigious Ritz Hotel, London “My first impression was wow! It's always busy and and I have learnt so much so far and I know I will take a lot away with me from this experience. This standard is something I will aspire to be like in the future.”

“I am delighted to welcome everyone to this special event in which we celebrate our graduating MC Academy students” said Richard Atkins, Principal, “The new hospitality and catering building, originally opened in 2008, gave a new ambition and energy to this area of the college and the MC Academy and our recent enhanced skills kitchen has continued this success. Other colleges have academies with celebrity chefs but we are proud of the commitment and dedicated support Michael gives to the students, the Academy and the college as a whole through his additional work as Governor.”

Whilst the 14 second year students discussed their future work and training plans, the first year Academy students delivered the mouthwatering VIP menu of chicken terrine, crab ravioli, Dartmoor Lamb and raspberry mousse to the appreciative guests.

Local students Rosie Birch and Reanna Kileen McGuirk from Exeter College have won Outstanding BTEC Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Student of the Year and Outstanding BTEC Public Services Student of the Year, respectively, at the National BTEC Awards. Exeter College also secured the overall Outstanding BTEC College of the Year Award, at the ceremony held in London on 3rd July 2014.

The ceremony was held in recognition of the nearly one million students around the country who are studying BTEC qualifications this year. Pearson, who own Edexcel, the awarding body for BTECs, received over 1000 nominations across the 20 award categories for this year's Awards.

Now in their fourth year, the Awards were hosted by DJ and Presenter Jameela Jamil, at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London. The attendees (who included the winning students, teachers, and leaders in education) also heard from philanthropist and presenter, Katie Piper, and were treated to a dance performance from BTEC students.

Ahead of the Awards Ceremony, the winners, their family, friends and nominators attended a Parliamentary reception in the House of Lords, hosted by Government Education Spokesperson Baroness Sharp.

Mark Anderson, Managing Director, Pearson UK said, “The National BTEC Awards are a fantastic way to celebrate all that is excellent in vocational education and I always enjoy meeting these truly inspirational teachers and students.

“Every year, thousands of BTEC students go on to university and good jobs that really value their skills. They achieve great things in a wide variety of industries vital to the economy, ranging from business and engineering to ICT and healthcare.

“At a time when the value of vocational learning at school and college is continuing to be robustly debated, we believe the example set by these Award winners is part of a growing body of evidence that clearly demonstrates their valuable contribution to both the education system and the broader economy.

“It is vital to support and celebrate the hard work and achievements of outstanding BTEC students and their teachers. This year's judges were impressed by the quality and number of nominations we received, but Exeter College really stood out as being truly exceptional.”

Rob Bosworth, Assistant Principal at Exeter College, said: “We're delighted that Exeter College has won this prestigious award and that our students achievements and staff commitment have been recognised nationally as best practice.

“Employability and progression are embedded at the heart of our curriculum design and delivery, ensuring that all our full-time vocational courses have a line of sight to industry. We are proud of our extensive BTEC provision which underpins this, providing credible and purposeful qualifications for students progressing in their vocational careers.

“Our outstanding success rates and increasing student recruitment numbers are further evidence that we continue to fully embrace the ethos and values of BTEC.”

Award winner Rosie Birch said: “I feel so honoured to have won this award not only for myself but for everyone at Exeter College”. I had the best two years of my life at college, meeting wonderful people and gaining so many amazing opportunities and memories. I can't believe how quickly it went and how much fun it was. Winning this award was the icing on top of the cake.”

Award winner Reanna Kileen McGuirk said: “I am ecstatic to have won such a prestigious award. My Lecturers at Exeter College guided me through, providing me and my peers with the best knowledge and skills to aid us in our futures. I am pleased I have been able to make them proud, as well as my family and friends who have been a huge support”.

Article written by Exeter City Council

A lucky Exeter art student has won the opportunity of a lifetime – to design posters, adverts and a video to promote the three Rugby World Cup 2015 games being played at Sandy Park.

Robert Boyd, aged 19, of Newton Abbot had his designs picked by Exeter City Council ahead of others at Exeter College.

As part of the preparation for Exeter being a Host City for Rugby World Cup 2015, the City Council set a design brief for the students of Exeter College to design a poster to promote the three games being held in Exeter.

The students pitched their ideas to Victoria Hatfield, Economy & Tourism Manager for the City Council.

The Council was so impressed with the quality of Robert's work that they commissioned him to develop his submission further; to design a poster, adverts and video to promote the three games held at the ground.

Robert's designs will be launched in September to coincide with 1 year to go to the start of Ruby World Cup 2015 and the launch of ticket sales. It is hoped that the designs will also be used by England 2015 and Visit England as part of their national and international marketing activity.

Robert, who is currently undertaking a Foundation Degree (FdA) in Graphic Communication at the college said: “I really enjoyed working on this live brief. It was quite an open brief so it allowed me to be imaginative and whilst I do like rugby I’m hoping that my photo-based idea, which is not of a typical rugby fan, will get everyone involved – a little like the Olympics. Now that my idea has been chosen from the rest of the class by the City Council I’m now working on delivering the project!”

Nigel Watts, Head of Faculty of Art and Design at Exeter College , said: “We were delighted that the City Council asked our students to be involved in celebrating and promoting Exeter as a Host City for Rugby World Cup 2015, “We’re so excited that

Robert's work has been chosen for this exciting event.”

“Exeter being a Host City for Rugby World Cup is not only important for the city and rugby followers but for also raising the city's profile worldwide. This type of work project is essential in ensuring that our students hone their skills by working to client briefs. These real-life experiences are one of the number of ways we equip students to be work-ready for the challenging and competitive art and design industry. We’re really looking forward to seeing the posters and visuals around the city!”

Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: “We are delighted to beworking with Exeter College and Robert on promoting Exeter as a Host City for Rugby World Cup, Robert's designs hit the brief. The quality of his work was outstanding and how his designs could be translated into posters, adverts, online and for video. We hope this commission gives Robert some valuable experience and adds to his portfolio for when he finishes his studies at Exeter College.”

For more information on Exeter and three Rugby World Cup games at Sandy Park, please visit www.heartofdevon.com/rugbyworldcup2015

Exeter College is holding a dedicated fair for adult learners in the region on Monday 30th June. The college will showcase all of the Higher Education courses it has to offer along with the wide variety of Adult Learning courses.

The event will take place at the Hele Road campus from 5pm – 7pm where visitors will be able to talk to tutors, find out more about study options and discover the huge range of courses that can be studied at the college or in community and school venues across the city from September. The new Adult Learning course guide will also be available.

Adults thinking of re-training, seeking a career change or looking to try something new will be able to get quality advice and guidance to choose the right course. Subjects on offer include counselling, teacher education and hairdressing as well as a range of leisure courses such as spinning (indoor cycling), cake decorating and silver jewellery making.

University-level courses will also feature, with courses accredited by the universities of Exeter, Plymouth, Kingston and Marjon. Advice and guidance will be available on how to apply, accommodation and finance and lecturers will be available to discuss subjects.

Charlotte Thurlow, Higher Education Adviser at the college says “Higher Education at Exeter College is a really good opportunity to study locally and affordably. We have expanded our range of courses, including Early Years, Sports Therapy and Journalism and Practical Media. Importantly, for those who feel they may have missed out on going to university, we will also be offering information on our Access to HE programmes which are a recognised entry route for those who don’t have the formal qualifications universities are looking for.”

Please click here to download a programme to plan your visit

An apprentice grabbed top spot in the Seniors World Skills competition after two of the college's budding painting and decorating stars headed to City College Plymouth. SkillBuild is the UK's biggest construction competition that showcases skills in 10 craft occupations and gives the competitors the opportunity to challenge for a place on the World Skills team.

Neither apprentices from Exeter College – Connor Lovering, 17 and Alex England, 23 – had entered the annual competition before but that was no problem particularly for Alex England, who grabbed top spot in the Seniors Category and now waits to see if he qualifies for the national finals with, ultimately, the possibility of competing in the World Skills 2015 competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

SkillBuild, managed by CITB the sector skills council, is the largest multi-trade competition in the country for construction trainers and apprentices and the regional heat in Plymouth attracted over 100 contestants. Competitors worked on test plans which take a day to compete which challenged them on both theoretical and practical skills needed within the industry.

“We're delighted with the commitment of both Connor and Alex to the competition”, said Stephen Elwell, construction lecturer “It means extra work and energy on top of their college training and their jobs with local employers Pollington Decorators and Lamars Decorating Contractors. Connor competed in the new entrant category working well on a difficult 3 part project and Alex excelled in his seniors group with a marking out, freehand painting and stencilling challenge.”

“We've increased the number of students across the faculty who are entering these prestigious competitions since it raises the profile of the construction skills, focuses on very high standards and provides a unique experience for trainees stretching their professional skills under competition pressure. Connor and Alex were selected as the best of the best of our apprentices and there is a real buzz within their college groups raising the standards of their work which enhances their skills in the workplace.”

Andy Waite of Exeter College, Devon, has been announced as a Silver Teaching Award Winner in the category, The Award for FE Lecturer of the Year

Selected from over 20,000 nominations received by the Pearson Teaching Awards in 2014, Andy’s celebration is one of just 55 taking place in schools and colleges across England, Ireland and Wales on Thank a Teacher Day, 16 May 2014, when prestigious Silver Pearson Teaching Awards will be presented to outstanding local heroes of education.

The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers and teaching, founded in 1999 by Lord Puttnam, they recognize the life-changing impact of an inspirational teacher on the lives of the young people they teach.

About Andy Waite

Nominated for this Award by no fewer than 11 of his appreciative students, Andy is a dedicated, gifted and inspirational teacher. His specialist subject area is Travel and Tourism which he teaches with great skill and flair. However, he also inspires his students with confidence, self- belief and the realisation that, if they try, they can achieve success! Teaching Awards judges said, “His personality, energy and enthusiasm shone through all the elements of our visit to the College, and the glowing testimonies from the students, staff and colleagues were extremely impressive, he is an exceptional educationalist”. One grateful ex-student’s nomination read, “I would like to thank Andy Waite for helping me find employment as cabin crew as this is something i have wanted to do for a long time. I finally got my job for Thomas Cook and cannot wait to start flying. I don’t think I could have done it without him. Thank You!!!” Andy is a very deserving winner of this prestigious Award.

Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, president of the Teaching Awards said, “I am genuinely proud and honoured to be the president of the Teaching Awards. I owe so much of what I’ve done to my fantastic teachers at school and university and it is exciting to join in celebrating what is probably the most important profession of them all.”

We are delighted to be celebrating Thank a Teacher Day today with 15 lecturers being recognised for their contribution to outstanding teaching and learning at Exeter College,” said John Laramy, Vice Principal, Exeter College. “The award recipients, who were nominated by students at the college for this prestigious national award, include Andy Waite who, after an assessment visit, has won a Silver Teaching Award in the Further Education Lecturer of the Year Category – he is now being considered for the Gold Award announced in October.”

“The college’s success is driven by many things. We attract hard working and committed students who, working with our professional and dedicated staff in industry standard facilities record exceptional successes each year. At the heart of this success is a focus on teaching and learning across the college, as recognized by our outstanding Ofsted inspection in January. This national accolade recognises Andy’s passion for the success of his students and I feel this is reflected in classrooms and workshops throughout the college and in the community.”

Andy will now join fellow Silver Award winners at the UK final of the Teaching Awards at London’s Guildhall on 26th October, where 10 Silver Award winners will receive a Gold Award. The ceremony will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC.

Rod Bristow, President of Core Markets at Pearson, said: “Everyone can remember a teacher who inspired and challenged them so it's important to say thank you. It is great teaching that makes the biggest difference to learning and that's why great teachers must be recognised”.

Art and Design students from Exeter College's UAL Art and Design Diploma programme are celebrating after NASA judged their space suit design as the “best concept” in a worldwide competition!

The students took part in the international Space Apps Challenge 'Hackathon' over Easter. The competition, hosted by the Met Office in Exeter, attracted 9 teams from universities across the country. The only FE College team to take part, they chose a challenge set by NASA, to design and make fashionable and functional spacewear, for astronauts working on the International Space Station, in a weekend – competing with teams in London and across the world at the same time.

Joined by software developers and technologists, their product prototype featured internet connectivity linking the user to their family, friends and followers back on earth. A vision board sewn in to the sleeve would deliver weather updates and social networking alerts and a 'wearable hug' feature would allow family to send a message to the suit to physically squeeze the wearer when they are thinking of them.

The team were joined by experts in design and space materials from the University of Dundee and the Unlimited Space Agency and had a unique opportunity to hold a Skype consultation with British Astronaut Tim Peake, travelling to the International Space Station in 2015, who later tweeted them to say “fantastic job… can't wait to try it out”. In the live question and answer session, the students were able to quiz him about his preferred colours and style of the space suit.

The concept won the local award for Best Concept and was also nominated as the 'People's Choice, with further voting taking place on Twitter. All the winners of Best Concept Awards around the world were later judged by the Kennedy Space Centre and NASA, with the Exeter team winning the category overall. The winners will have the opportunity to attend the September launch to the International Space Station and have been asked to continue making their designed space suit for possible use in the future.

To read more about the award visit:
https://2014.spaceappschallenge.org/awards/

For more information on the SpaceApps challenge visit:
http://bit.ly/unSpaceSuit
You can see the photos from the weekend here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/aburt/sets/72157643912809064/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123353696@N08/sets/72157643989466813/

I want to say how amazing the first two visits from your students have been. Moira's group on Monday got us off to a flying start at Jack Simpson. The residents and staff were thrilled by the visit and the students chatted away to the residents easily and comfortably. One of the residents told me how polite and gentle they were. It was great to see some residents in the lounge who don’t usually come out of their rooms and really good to see the gentlemen have a massage too. One gentleman had four. He said it was like Christmas had come early.

Yesterday at Barnfield House, Nicky's group worked in a much smaller space. They were amazing too. It was very hot and they were squeezed in like sardines but I only saw smiling faces and there wasn’t a single hint of a grumble. Fantastic! Again the staff pointed how lovely it was to see two of the residents downstairs which was unusual for them. Your students also went into rooms in pairs to see residents who find it difficult to move around. We had carers with them and doors were flung open, but they used their initiative when the cream needed to be in lots of different places at once and they worked on one hand each so the students were always busy. They were friendly, warm and engaging which is tricky to do with some of the residents challenging health problems. When Nicky was filing the nail of a resident who finds life particularly hard, I heard the lady say, “It's a pleasure to have you here”. I can’t even type that without feeling emotional.

So thank you for sharing your fabulous students, for spreading joy, easing joints, giving the gift of time and attention where it is so appreciated.

Best wishes

Joey Lee

Kissing it better Local Area co-ordinator

Exeter College is delivering a specialist FREE plumbing manufacturers day and open event at our Devon and Exeter Construction Training Centre, Falcon House, Falcon Road, Sowton Ind Estate on Thursday 22nd May.

This event is dedicated to showcasing new products for employers in the plumbing and heating trade, particularly the Baxi gas training centre, and giving them the chance to see demonstrations from high profile manufacturers such as Magna-clean and Rothenberger as well as meeting the Baxi training team who are giving practical demonstrations and technical advice on fault finding and servicing their wide range of boilers.

The event starts at 8am with free light refreshments and the morning sessions will also consist of power flushing and pipe freezing equipment demonstrations, the chance for employers to liaise with technical specialists and also to take advantage of one off discounts – manufacturers plan to offer up to 20% discount on various products such as Kane flue analyzers. There is also the opportunity to register on the next FREE boiler training day at the Baxi Training Centre at the Construction Centre at Sowton.

Alongside the technical advice, specialists from the college's employer engagement team will be on hand to give advice on apprenticeships and grants, work experience and professional short courses.

Contact 01392 400391 to ask for more information or to confirm attendance.

Students from the college's elite Michael Caines Academy got the opportunity to work with the region's top chefs this weekend as they provided the essential sous chef and back up support for the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink.

Joining the celebrity and local chefs and restaurateurs on the main cookery theatre stage, the students were able to witness close up competitive cook offs and masterclasses on a wide range of culinary skills from seafood preparation to specialist Indian foods.

Supporting the menu of chef stars such as Peter Gorton, TV chef Lesley Waters, Michelin starred Nathan Outlaw, as well as their own mentor and leader Michael Caines MBE, the students were at the Festival for the third year running, gaining that all important experience of seeing the area's most successful chefs at work. “Still trying to get over the fact that I got to work with Peter Gorton at Exeter Food Festival on stage,” tweeted Stephanie Colvin with the MasterChef replying “thank you for your help – you did a great job.”

“This Festival is now a firm favourite on the Academy calendar” said John Wheeler who leads the Michael Caines Academy “it's a great way for the students to see so many different talented chefs over the weekend – it's a crash course in different styles of catering and fine cuisine and also the importance of understanding ingredients and local produce.”

The Food Festival, now in its 11th year, is led by the Festival Board including the Academy's mentor Michael Caines MBE and has grown into an event of regional and national importance. 'Yet at its heart it remains a community happening,” said Michael Caines ” a success because producers, chefs, exhibitors and the food-loving public all come together to celebrate and enjoy the goodness and excellence of food and drink in the south west.”

Other praise for the MC Academy students came from fellow sponsors of the Food Festival Into-to Kitchens “Brilliant work again this year for MCaines Academy assisting all the chefs, thanks and well done” and Paramount Personnel “As always the students have done the college and themselves proud.”