Exeter College staff and students will be welcoming a group of teachers and senior managers from the Shanghai Information Technology College next week as part of a British Council funded International Skills Partnership project that will develop the digital multi media curriculum in both partner organisations.
The visit of media staff and curriculum managers from the college in China will see the development of media and animated projects between students in Devon and Shanghai as well as the chance to share good practice and teaching approaches.
“We're looking forward to the visit of our Shanghai colleagues.” said Katie Wild head of media and performing arts “we know that our curriculum needs to recognise that media related employment is developing across international boundaries. I am excited about building international opportunities which will enhance our learners' skills and employability and the collaborative projects and visits will extend the horizons for students and staff from both countries. With the combined skills and resources of the two colleges, both sets of students will have a unique opportunity to develop their expertise, readying them for employment in a global industry.”
The visit, which will agree the details of a film, digital and animated project will also involve the Animated Exeter organization, further cementing the link between Exeter and Shanghai – China's largest city.
Around 130 Exeter College Higher Education students will don their caps and gowns on Friday 24th October and take to the streets to process through the city for their Graduation Ceremony, which is being held at Exeter Cathedral at 3.00pm.
With the Cathedral providing the stunning backdrop to the formal ceremony, the College’s largest cohort of graduates to date will be joined by over 500 guests to celebrate their achievements at this spectacular event, including the Lord Mayor, representatives of Exeter College and its Board of Governors, VIPs from Devon’s schools, colleges, business and community partners and the graduates’ families and friends.
The guest speaker this year will be Professor Alison Wolf CBE, The Sir Roy Griffiths Professor of Public Sector Management at King’s College London and expert on vocational education and training and on the relationship between education, gender and the labour market. Professor Wolf has been awarded a life peerage this week in an announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office for her proven track record of public service. Baroness Wolf has also been involved in the development of the first specialist maths free school in London – an important link to Exeter since the University of Exeter and Exeter College have just opened the country’s second specialist maths free school in the city.
Also attending the ceremony will be senior representatives from the College’s partner Universities of Exeter, Plymouth, Kingston and St Mark and St John as well as City and Guilds and Pearson awarding bodies who, along with the Principal, Richard Atkins, will officially acknowledge the graduates of 2014.
The students, of all ages and from all over Devon and the South West, will be awarded qualifications ranging from BA to Foundation Degrees, HNCs and HNDs in a range of subjects offered at the College. Exeter College’s Higher Education provision includes Aircraft Engineering, Computing, Coaching and Fitness, Health and Social Care and Construction as well as university level qualifications for Education and Leadership amongst others.
This year students from the Flybe Aircraft Engineering programme will be remembering their talented and hardworking colleague, Richard Smith, who sadly passed away in the summer from a rare illness. Richard’s family will be collecting his certificate on his behalf from Dr Peter Barrington from Kingston University and the congregation will pay tribute to Richard.
Speaking of the ceremony, Exeter College Principal, Richard Atkins, praised the graduating students saying “I am delighted that so many of our higher education students have turned out to this celebratory event at the Cathedral. We have been offering higher education programmes for many years, including professional qualifications and degree programmes, in partnership with our Universities and awarding bodies and we are delighted to have our own dedicated graduation ceremony. Many of our students are juggling work and home commitments with their academic studies and this prestigious occasion, our seventh Ceremony at the Cathedral, truly reflects their achievements. We hope that the day gives a real sense of how proud the College is of our students’ success and we are delighted to have the opportunity to share this with their families and friends.”
Julie Skinner, Assistant Principal who oversees the university level provision said “This is one of the highlights of our year for our university level students and I am delighted that we are celebrating this special occasion with colleagues, families and friends. The day marks many individual successes such as Ursula Goliath, our graduate who has been selected for the Academic Partnership Prize from the University of Plymouth. We wish all our graduates all the best in their future.”
Local Pearson Teaching Award Winner in-line for UK Gold National Teaching Award
Andy Waite of Exeter College in Exeter, Devon is off to London to attend the star studded UK final of the Pearson National Teaching Awards hosted by TV historian Dan Snow…
Back in May of this year, Andy was recognised for his exceptional contribution to the teaching profession as one of just 59 Silver Teaching Award winners in the UK.
On Sunday 26th October, Andy Waite and the other Silver Award winners, will attend a glittering ceremony at London's Guildhall Great Hall, to find out which of them has been selected to win a National Pearson Teaching Award, also known as a Gold Plato Award. The ceremony, hosted by Dan Snow, and filmed by the BBC, will see the announcement of just 11 Gold Plato award-winners, representing the very best of the UK's teaching profession.
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.
The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC2 at 6pm on 2nd November as “Britain's Classroom Heroes”.
“The College's success is driven by many things, said Richard Atkins, Principal of Exeter College. “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 relentless focus on teaching and learning across the college, as recognized by our outstanding Ofsted inspection in January. We are very proud that Andy has been awarded a silver award as recognition of his passion for the success of his students and we all wish him well as he goes to London to hear if he has won the further recognition of a Gold Plato Award.
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 educational professional”.
Andy said “It is a real honour being nominated for such an amazing award. I was completely shocked to see the number of nominations that I had received from students, and their kind words which were extremely moving. On the day of being presented the Silver Award, I was totally speechless and struggled to say anything other than 'thank you!' It feels great to be recognised by the students and to know how much of a difference I have personally made to their learning experience and helped them to achieve their career aspirations in the travel & tourism sector.
“Teaching is like no job I have ever had! It is challenging, fast paced, every day is different and it has its ups and downs like any job, but the best part is seeing the students grow in confidence, develop their skills and help them understand that the world is a small place and that they can achieve anything they put their mind to! Many of my ex-students now travel the world for a career, and it's great to think I helped them in that process – that makes me feel particularly proud!”
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.”
President, UK and Core Markets, 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”.
The college's city centre theatre will be hosting a celebration event this week to honour the achievements and successes of the wide range of AS and Level 3 BTEC Certificate students at the college as they continue their studies for a second year.
Family, friends, college staff and governors will join the 31 award winners, nominated from seven faculties by their tutors and faculties, for the categories of academic excellence, contribution to their faculty, outstanding progress, tutee of the year or the overall faculty awards.
As well as the awards presented to the students by Philip Bostock, chair of Governors and John Laramy, Vice Principal, guests at the event will also be entertained as students from the seven faculties showcase a range of skills from dance performances, exciting film sessions, explosive chemistry demonstrations and challenging quizzes.
“We're really looking forward to the event.” said Emma Fielding Assistant Principal “Whilst our AS and BTEC Certificate students continue with us for two years, it is important that we mark their very important achievements at the end of their first year at the college and celebrate their transition from GCSE study at school to the challenges of the A level and BTEC Certificate programmes.
“The event allows us to celebrate the true academic prowess and determination of some of our brightest students as well as equally recognizing the contribution that so many of students make to the success of the college through their involvement in their tutor group, our learner voice programme and their support for others.”
Citations on the evening will include accolades of 'exemplary student' 'sunny disposition and enthusiasm for education' 'committed and punctual student contributing significantly' and 'aincredibly hard working'.
College staff from the faculties of Maths and Science, Art and Design, Humanities, Business and IT, Sport, Leisure and Tourism, English Languages and IB and Media and Performing Arts will join the 100 guests to celebrate the AS and BTEC Certificate students of the year and wish them well as they continue towards their final exams and assessments at the end of this teaching year.
Local and regional sports leaders will join college governors, staff, civic leaders, local sports partnerships and students to celebrate the official opening of the college's £1.4million Exwick Sports hub – the latest phase of the college’s £14million sports investment programme.
The Exwick Sports Pavilion provides modern classrooms and changing areas complementing the existing playing fields and court areas that offers college students and community groups cricket, football and tennis facilities.
This development is the latest in an investment programme of new sports and fitness facilities for the city and the local community following the refurbishment of a £1million gym in the city centre in 2012 and the college's management of Devon County Council's purpose-built Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre opened in 2013 through the proceeds of the sale of the Exeter Airport.
“We're delighted to be officially opening this Sports Hub” said Richard Atkins, Principal at Exeter College and chair of the Association of College Sports Committee. “It is an important development providing an additional focus for our own college sports courses allowing our expanding sports programmes to continue to succeed and it gives the continued support for improving community participation in sport in the city and the wider region. Working with Exeter City Council the community groups such as Exwick Villa Football Club, Cricket Club and Exwick Tennis Club will now also benefit from these secure modern facilities.”
“We're very proud of the successes of our individual sportswomen and sportsmen and our various sport teams. The pinnacle of our last sporting year was our rugby team being runners up at the Under 18s Nat West Vase finals at Twickenham and this latest investment will provide additional first class facilities for the teams to train and practise.”
Visitors to the official opening will hear from Karime Hassan, Chief Executive and Growth Director of Exeter City Council how the Sports hub, in partnership with the Council and local groups, is part of the plan to improve support for sports. Peter Chapman, head of the faculty of Sports, Leisure and Tourism will also outline the college's current plans for the Sports hub and the plans to complete a £6.5million sports hall complex in the city centre to replace the existing sports hall and how this will further enhance the sports facilities for the 870 students of all ages recruited each year to the faculty's range of full time and part time 16-18 and university level courses.
The Sports Pavilion will be officially opened by The Lord Mayor Cllr Percy Prowse.
Exeter College is part of a collaborative group staging Connected Exeter – a digital design weekend – across the city on the 18th and 19th October.
Working with the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), Exeter, along with the Phoenix, the Met Office and the Fab Lab at Exeter Library, the college will stage a number of design-based challenges in its Centre for Creative Industries (CCI) building situated off Queen Street, across the weekend.
The event is open to the public and aimed at young people of secondary school age up to college age who have a passion for the arts, engineering, science, technology and design. Participants can book a space on one of 10 challenges that Exeter College will run across the weekend and join in for as long or as short a time as they wish. They can also move from one challenge to another and also join the numerous challenges run at the other four sites in the city.
“The aim of this design festival is to brings together people with all sorts of creative interests and to give everyone an opportunity to get involved, learn new techniques and hone their skills” said Nigel Watts, head of art and design at Exeter College. “All interests, ages and abilities are welcome. The challenges will be explained at the beginning and then all visitors can contribute their ideas and skills and either stick with their team or move on to another challenge.”
The Exeter Connected event follows the huge success of the global SpaceApps Hackathon that the college participated in at the Met Office earlier this year, where they designed an interactive space suit. Their idea was so popular it won a global award, judged by NASA and the suit is now in production for the British Astronaut Tim Peaks. The suit will be on display over the weekend and visitors will be able to join in the challenge to develop it further.
The V&A Digital Programmes involvement is part of their outreach programme encouraging young adults to engage with art, technology, design and science. This is the first digital design festival in Exeter and the people involved are working on expanding the idea to other cities, with Connected Brighton already in discussion.
On Saturday 27th September Exeter College hosted its first Model United Nations Conference (ECMUN). These conferences are academic simulations of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda. The participants role-play as diplomats representing a country in a simulated session of a committee of the United Nations, such as the Security Council or the General Assembly.
With 88 delegates from 7 schools from around the South West welcomed to Exeter College, including Exeter School, Richard Huish and Queens College Tauton.
The USA team won the best delegation award from Bristol Grammar School and travelled back up the motorway with the brand new ECMUN trophy.
We look forward to hosting ECMUN again in September 2015.
Steffan Davies has beaten off competition from hundreds of entrants to win the South West Learndirect Intermediate Level Apprentice of the year of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2014. Steffan has been working at the prestigious Gidleigh Park Hotel for nearly two years. He started by doing an apprenticeship at Exeter College and has now progressed to a Commis Chef. Steffan, originally from Wales, competed in many competitions including Springboard's Future Chef and through this competition made contact with Michael Caines.
Gidleigh Park is home to the much loved two Michelin starred celebrity chef Michael Caines MBE. Michael continues to develop his cuisine using the very finest local produce and his exceptional culinary skills to great appreciation. Food and wine at Gidleigh Park are truly special. Michael Caines MBE is one of the UK's most inspirational chefs. In the Sunday Times Food List with Harden's Guides, Gidleigh park once again appears as the top best restaurant in the UK.
The National Apprenticeship Awards, now in their eleventh year, celebrate the achievements of the country's most outstanding apprentices and Apprenticeship employers. The award winners were announced at a ceremony organised by the National Apprenticeship Service held at Holiday Inn, Deane Gate, Taunton on 16th September 2014
Steffan said “I'm extremely privileged and honoured to be the winner of this award and happy to give something back to Gidleigh and Exeter College for all they have done for me over the last years. Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to give anyone a strong start in the working world and their careers by giving you the best of both worlds, the best training and the best working opportunities
Sue Husband, Executive Director Apprenticeships and Delivery at the Skills Funding Agency said: “Apprenticeships are thriving in England, and it's not hard to see why. They offer ambitious young people and adults unrivalled career prospects, and give businesses an exceptional route to grow a highly qualified and motivated workforce. “The National Apprenticeship Awards recognise the best of the best and are an excellent opportunity for individuals and employers to gain the credit they richly deserve for investing in their own futures. I am delighted that Steffan Drew has won this award and would like to congratulate him on this success. All of the finalists should be extremely proud of their achievements.”
College staff celebrating with Steffan as he picked up his award included John Wheeler head of hospitality and catering at Exeter College who said “We have seen apprenticeships grow year on year at the college and it's a fantastic way to learn and gain qualifications in our industry. Apprenticeships can offer so much for the learner and we find our students making the very most of all of the programmes they are on. Steffan is a prime example of this and has been involved in competitions, giving demonstrations at food shows, educational visits and trips both in the UK and abroad and support more junior chefs within the college. I am delighted Steffan has won this award and I'm sure he will have a fantastic career ahead of him.”
And Exeter College were celebrating a double win at the awards. Alcoa Howmet, one of the college's leading employer partners on apprenticeships, won the The BAE systems Large Employer of the Year (250 – 4,999 employees) award for their continued commitment to taking on and supporting apprentices.
All the South West winners will now proceed through to a final national judging stage and the highest scoring Apprenticeship employer entries nationally will have the additional honour of featuring in the acclaimed England's Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, which will be produced by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with City & Guilds.
The national award winners will be revealed during an awards ceremony at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham on the 13 November 2014.
A level students and staff at Exeter College, have continued a year of outstanding news with today's announcement of a 99.5% pass rate.
Over 780 students from across Exeter, Devon and Torbay received their A2 results today at the college and 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 illustrated by an impressive 114 A* grades at A Level.
Students taking the very popular traditional subjects of Maths and English Literature, for example, particularly excelled. Over 68% of the 136 A level Maths students gained impressive high grades A* A or B grades and 24% gained the highest A* grade. In English Literature 56% of the 188 students achieved high grades which are demanded by the top universities.
Other key results include high grades for Modern Foreign Languages (67%), Physics (63%) and Economics (56%).
All the Art A levels recorded 100% pass rate with the college increasing the number of its A level subjects celebrating 100% pass rates to 30 this year out of a total of 38 subjects.
Richard Atkins, Principal said, “Today's results are exceptional. We are particularly proud of the continued increase in the percentage of students getting the very high grades that are in such demand. This year Ofsted praised our commitment to supporting the progress of all our students through a balance of outstanding teaching and learning and the enormous range of our enrichment activities. These results are a further 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 outstanding A level Maths and Science Centre in the centre of the city due to open next year. The city's reputation as a centre for Maths excellence is further enhanced by our work with the University of Exeter and the opening this autumn of the new Exeter Mathematics School.”
Individual success stories span from Holsworthy to Torquay, and from Honiton to Barnstaple with straight A grade students excelling regardless of travel journey times to college. Many of these students are now planning to progress to prestigious universities across the UK.
Emma Fielding, the College's Assistant Principal responsible for A levels joined Exeter College from a 6th form college in Sussex last year. “I am very impressed with these results,” said Emma. “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 73% 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 a higher number have applied to university this year as a result of this support. We hope that these excellent results will mean our students can fulfil their ambitions whatever they may be. However, if their plans change, we have the support here to help them.”
“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 in the range of students we attract from across the city and the county and the wealth of subjects we offer. We celebrated excellent International Baccalaureate results in July and approximately 750 students are awaiting their level 3 BTEC vocational results, which will be their essential passport to continue on to the universities or employers of their choice. These results are a culmination of a truly exceptional year for the college with our Ofsted inspection in January acknowledging the college as Outstanding in all aspects and with our very recent award of BTEC College of the Year. 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 photography students have been out and about testing their skills on practical assignments as part of their work on the Foundation Degree Photography course which runs for two years.
Part of the practical assignment included visits to two dairy farms in the county (kindly assisted by the NFU press office and local contacts) to compare the difference between Robotic Farming (24 hour milking) and the old fashioned way using the milk parlour system from more than half a century ago.
The first farm visited by students Tim Hollings, Emily Crocker and Jade Clements was Buttermoor Farm close to the outskirts of Tiverton. Buttermoor Farm is run as a family business by Steve Radford, supported by his wife and son team controlling a herd of more than 200 fresian cows that are milked 24/7! As milk production is constant it proved a fascinating insight into milk production on a very large scale!
The second visit was the Manor Farm at Kennerley near Tiverton, visited by students Tim Hollings, Emily Crocker and Jade Clements. Manor Farm is a traditional Devon dairy farm run by Ian Pincombe along with his wife and son as a family business. They tend a herd of around 70 fresians, run on a smaller scale and this gave a good comparison to the first location, Buttermoor Farm. The students who visited Manor Farm were Tim Hollings, Emily Crocker and Jade Clements.
Another Part of the “practical assignment” included a visit to the Donkey Sanctuary in East Devon where a team of four students (Jade Clements, Nick Mathews, Katie Smith and James Kempster) were given an opportunity to photograph the work of the Sanctuary and covered a number of aspects including the daily schedule of groom Steph Mcmanus, the Donkey assisted therapy and a tour of the donkey hospital.
Nicola Russell, PR Assistant at the Donkey Sanctuary said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Exeter College students and to help them with their photography project. We wish them every success with their photography careers!”
