With Olympic medalists and other UK champions among its alumni, the good news just keeps coming for Exeter College, which is boasting another sporting triumph as the Jiu Jitsu team return home as Jiu Jitsu National Championship winners.
The Jiu Jitsu Club is part of the College’s Enrichment scheme, which invites students across the College to enjoy free additional activities above and beyond their academic or vocational studies every Wednesday afternoon.
In total, 24 students aged between 16 and 18 from the College entered the contest held at West Exe College, which included 300 competitors aged mostly between 16 and 60.
Those returning with medals were as follows: • George Greenwood, aged 18, of Exeter, who won Gold in the Orange Belt Male Heavyweight. George is taking A levels in Physics, Politics, Maths, and History at the College. • International Baccalaureate student Jack Dowell, aged 18, of Topsham, won Silver in the Yellow Belt Male Middleweight. • Sam Chamberlain, aged 18, of Exeter, won Silver in the Novice Male Lightweight. Sam is studying for his AS levels in Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, Biology and for his BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Music.
Their instructor, Dr Richard Catterick – who today holds a Fourth Degree Black Belt, runs classes from the Exeter Martial Arts, and is the most senior governing body instructor in the South West – began learning jiu jitsu 22 years ago while reading for his first degree at university. Delighted with the students’ success, Richard says: “Competition was very tough on the day and the students, who were a cross-section from across the College faculties and not only those specialising in sports, were up against teams from Exeter, Leicester, and Southampton Universities, as well as adult city teams from all over the country.”
“I am really pleased with our medal winners and what they achieved. All the students did themselves and Exeter College proud. Even those who didn’t win a medal still had a great experience on the day.”
To find out more about jiu jitsu and other classes for adults and children offered at Exeter Martial Arts, call Richard on 01392 663000 or visit www.exetermartialarts.co.uk.
Pirates and Pudsey Bear were the fancy dress themes for one of the many groups of students from faculties across Exeter College raising money for Children In Need today. Three classes of BTEC Level 2 Health And Social Care students – around 50 in total – were among those touring the College campuses and city centre with collection buckets, many of them in T-shirts they had spent hours designing especially for the occasion. Lucy Northcote, aged 16, of Crediton, had decided to turn herself into a Pirate Pudsey for the day and said of her costume: “My mum bought the pirate’s patch, I bought the waistcoat, I have borrowed the Pudsey Bear from my little brother James, and the neckerchief is actually one of my Grandad Norman’s handkerchiefs.” “Raising money for Children in Need is really important because of the children it will help,” she continued. “At the same time, it’s good fun.” Melissa Marks, aged 18, of Exmouth, added: “I watched Children In Need on television last year. It was sad in parts and I got quite emotional when I saw some of the footage of the children who need help. But at the same time they always make sure the day is a lot of fun. “It’s good to know that I’ll be helping some children like them with the money raised today. I’ve never done this before, so it’s all very exciting. We are going to raise as much money as possible and we are going to ask everybody we see.” Dressed head-to-toe in pirate attire, Heather Saunders, aged 16, of Feniton, continued: “I watch Children In Need every year on the television and I love it. You get to see all the different pop stars and actors performing for charity. It’s nice to think that all those famous people are really wanting to help raise money for children who need it too. “Today, we’re all going to go around town looking like Pirates and Pudseys and we are going to raise as much money as possible. I’m really looking forward to it – it’s not every day you get to dress as a pirate!” Lauren Fox, aged 16, of Bovey Tracey, had opted to dress as Pudsey Bear. Adding the finishing touches to her bright yellow face paint, she said: “It’s such an important day every year, because by helping Children In Need you are helping children who have all sorts of problems. It makes me feel good to know that I’m helping by doing this, particularly as some of the children are my own age.” Health And Social Care tutor Helen Brant was delighted with her students’ enthusiasm. She said: “Today, as part of their coursework, they are learning the skills of planning and preparation and teamwork that they will need when they go into their chosen careers. They are also learning more about both themselves and others through. “In addition to enjoying and achieving, they are making a very positive contribution to the wider community, and my colleagues and I are very proud of how much effort they have gone to to make this day a success.” Among the many other students studying on courses across the College hoping to raise as much money as possible for the famous children’s charity were those currently taking their Level 1 NVQs in Hair and Beauty and Catering at the College. They had made their own cakes and Pudsey Bear cookies and were selling them to customers from a number of cake stalls dotted around the campus all day. Laura Dellar, aged 18, of Exeter, was manning one of them along with Abi Freeman, aged 16, of Exeter, and Karla Ward, also aged 16 and from Exeter. She said: “I think it’s good because we have all worked together preparing for today, making the cakes and getting things ready. It is great being able to dress up and have fun knowing that all the money you are raising is for a really good cause.”
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS in Exeter city centre and Ottery St Mary will be able to join in a festive string-along over the next fortnight as amateur guitar players from Exeter College show off their fretwork skills for charity.
Members of Exeter College’s evening class Guitar Group will be giving up their free time over two weekends to strum some of the nation’s favourite seasonal songs and raise as much money as possible for Exeter Leukemia Fund (ELF).
They can be heard playing live outside Debenhams in Exeter from 12pm to 3pm on Saturday, December 4, and from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, December 12, at Otter Nurseries in Ottery St Mary.
Speaking on behalf of Skills Support and Adult Learning, Danni Goff says: “Not only are these two days going to be a lot of fun for all concerned, but they will also help give class members the confidence to play in public should they wish to do so in future. At the same time, they will be raising money for this hugely important charity.
“We hope that as many people as possible will be able to come along and offer their support as possible, and that they are able to find time to enjoy the music as a short break from their Christmas shopping.”
Foundation Studies students at Exeter College have raised over £200 by organising two 5km charity treks across Woodbury Common for the Help For Heroes charity, a charity close to their hearts.
Currently studying for their Level 1 BTEC diploma in Public Services, the students – led by team leaders Robyn Whittaker, aged 17, of Cheriton Bishop, and Reece Baker, aged 18, of Exmouth – called upon the support of other College colleagues, including those attending the Positive Pathways course and the Learn 2 Work programme, to also take part in the exercise.
During two one-day events, with Foundation Studies staff as course marshals, students paid £3 each to join the fundraising walk, which saw them braving the cold and drizzle cross-country to earn their Help For Heroes wristbands at the finishing line.
Afterwards, £203.27 was handed over to Lynda Milne, Exeter Area Co-ordinator for Help For Heroes, by Robyn.
Robyn said: “There was a little bit of rain for us, but it was a good day and I am really pleased with everyone who organised this, and everyone who took part. They all put in a lot of effort.
“Now we have done this once, it would be nice to organise an even bigger event and raise even more money,” continued Robyn. “As Public Services students, we understand why Help The Heroes is such an important charity to those it helps, and we all recognise that one day we might be in that situation ourselves.”
Lynda added: “I would like to thank all the students involved in these two events. The two group leaders took responsibility from the start, for everything from contacting me in the first place to tell me what they would like to do, to picking up collection buckets and wrist bands, and making sure everything ran smoothly on the day. They should be very proud of themselves.
“From the Help For Heroes point of view, every penny counts, and the chances are that the money the students at Exeter College have helped raised will one day help someone from their town or county.”
EVERYONE is invited to Exeter College’s next free Open Event, which takes place at its Centre for Creative Industries (CCI), off Queen Street, and on the nearby Hele Road campus in Exeter, tomorrow (Tuesday, November 30).
Between 5pm and 8pm, visitors will be able to find out more about the many courses and opportunities available, whether they are interested in studying for A levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB), vocational studies, apprenticeships, or Higher Education.
Throughout the evening, Principal Richard Atkins and Deputy Principal John Laramy will be giving a series of presentations entitled Preparing for 2011 Entry To College, giving an insight into College life, and staff and students from the faculties will be at hand to talk to about the various options and to offer useful advice.
EXETER COLLEGE Foundation Studies students have been encouraged to do a little ‘blue sky’ thinking and put forward ideas as to how the Exeter Urban Garden will look once completed.
Geoffrey Brown, newly-appointed as the project leader, was keen to welcome ideas, visions and inspiration from the College’s Foundation Studies Garden Group as to what they would like to see incorporated into the design.
Meeting with them today (Tuesday, November 30), he sifted through all their plans before asking the students to vote for items they collectively wanted to see featured in the garden.
Delighted with the huge array of suggestions put forward for the ‘Grand Design’ competition, Geoffrey said: “The students had such original ideas. There were thoughts about installing swings and a trampoline, chicken and rabbit runs, and a mock campsite in which to practice camping and bushcraft skills.
“A herb garden, raised beds, compost bins, a pond, a picnic table, and a farmers’ market where grown produce could be sold were also ideas brought to the table. And there was even mention of installing a Jacuzzi and a mini-golf course!
“While not all of these ideas are practical for various reasons, they certainly showed off the students’ imagination. We will now decide together how to take some of these ideas forward.”
Exeter College’s Sustainability Group received £25,000 worth of funding from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) in summer to proceed with the proposed Exeter Urban Garden Project on a designated site at its Hele Road campus.
Situated within mature, walled grounds behind some of the College’s oldest buildings to the front of the main site, the aim will be for students and staff to regenerate an area of disused land, transforming it into a vibrant, sustainable garden and outdoor learning space. It will be accessible to those who use the College on a regular basis, and the wider Exeter community by agreement.
As the garden develops, it is expected to become not only a focal point of the College’s ambitious Sustainability Programme, but also a best practice example of sustainable living for the wider Exeter community.
To be primarily used by those attending entry level, Level 1 and 2, and Skills For Living students, and pupils attending College through its 14-16 programmes for local schools, it will also provide an ideal open art space for students’ Creative Media and Design projects. Completion is expected in May 2011.
AROUND 160 Exeter College higher education students donned their caps and gowns on Friday 22nd Oct to attend their Graduation Ceremony, held at Exeter Cathedral at 2pm.
Joining them to celebrate their achievements were around 500 guests, including the Lord and Lady Mayoress, and representatives of Exeter College and its Board of Governors, including Principal Richard Atkins, as well as other Devon schools, colleges, and universities.
The guest speaker was Flybe’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim French, who addressed, among others, senior representatives of the universities of Exeter, Plymouth, and Marjon, the Exeter College graduates of 2010, and their families.
The students were awarded qualifications ranging from BA and PGCE to FdSc, FdA, HNC and HND, in a broad cross-section of subject areas offered at the College, including Business Management, Health and Social Care, Performance Production, Legal Practice, Sports Therapy, Education, Early Years, Engineering, and Construction.
The ceremony began with a procession of dignitaries attending within the Cathedral accompanied by music provided by Exeter College Wind Band.
Once the students had collected their certificates, they were invited to afternoon tea at the Thistle Hotel in the city, held within the Cavendish Room and Devonshire Suite.
Julie Skinner, Head of Higher Education at Exeter College, said: “This is the third Exeter College graduation ceremony. It is always a wonderful occasion for students, their families, and the city, in which we are able to celebrate the success of all our higher education students here at Exeter College.
“The cathedral is a beautiful venue which lends itself to such a prestigious occasion and we are looking forward to returning again this year.”
A CITY centre building that has played a vital role in Exeter’s history is destined for a bright future thanks to its recent purchase by Exeter College.
The Grade II-listed property at 26 Queen Street, previously home of the University of Plymouth’s School of Arts, is being transformed into the Exeter College Music and Performance Academy. Part of an exciting building programme at the College, it is due to open early next year.
And among those working on the site for South-West based building contractors Midas is Exeter College’s own carpentry apprentice Tom Perryman, aged 19, of Honiton.
In the first year of studying for a two-year NVQ Level 2 qualification in Carpentry, Tom divides his week between lessons at the College’s Construction faculty in Sowton and work-shadowing expert carpenter George Jepps on-site at Queen Street.
Rebecca King, Deputy Principal at Exeter College, is delighted that one of the College’s own apprentices is involved in the project.
She says: “It is very special that one of our own construction apprentices is able to contribute to the refurbishment of this wonderful building.
“The Music and Performance Academy will be a dedicated centre of excellence for the talented musicians and performers that Exeter College attracts from the Exeter and heart of Devon schools,” she continues.
“The recording studios, editing suites, performance spaces and music practice rooms are designed to cater for all kinds of music, from classical and jazz to rock and pop, and our popular music technology courses, and the facilities will mirror the equipment that our students will face when they are in the industry.
“Likewise, Tom’s experiences working on this building will benefit him as he continues his training with Midas.”
Excited to be involved in the renovation of such an old building, Tom agrees: “I’m really enjoying being an apprentice because it means that I’m gaining my skills while I’m working rather than just in a classroom. When you are among other people who are already experienced in what you want to do, you learn a lot more – and you can always ask questions if you’re not sure.
“I’m also getting to see carpentry of a kind that I wouldn’t normally see on a newer building. At the same time, I’m finding out about the sort of tools used back in the day, as well as about all the modern ones.”
George, who has worked in the building industry for almost 37 years and has been a carpenter for the last 20, first trained as an apprentice himself too so understands what it is like.
He says: “It’s nice having Tom around to pass on my knowledge to, especially as I remember how much being an apprentice helped me. We all have to start somewhere, so if you’re working with someone who can help you as you are learning, then all the better.”
Midas’ site manager Peter Chown – a man with 44 years’ experience in the construction industry and another former apprentice – is also very positive about apprenticeships.
He says: “As an apprentice, you are not pushed in at the deep end; instead, you are eased in gently and trained by professionals.
“From the industry’s point of view, it’s good too, because many apprentices go on to become site and contract managers and remain loyal to their employers. It makes good sense that if you are trained well by your employer, there’s more of an incentive to remain with them once training has been completed.
“Working on this project is proving to be really enjoyable for all of us, not only Tom; it’s not every day that you get to work on a building with as much age and character as this one.”
Still housing a portion of the City Wall in its basement, 26 Queen Street became the new site for The Exeter Dispensary in 1843, three years after the foundation stone was laid by Sir John Buller MP. The stone can still be seen today on the corner of Northernhay Street and Queen Street.
The original dispensary, in Frienhay Street, was founded in 1818 by Dr Henry Blackhall to provide relief for the poor suffering from fevers and contagious diseases, and for children who were unfit to be admitted to the Devon and Exeter Hospital.
More recently, it became office for the National Health Service towards the end of the 20th Century, before the University of Plymouth moved into the building at the start of the 21st Century.
Now undergoing a refurbishment worth an estimated £600,000, Exeter College Music and Performing Arts students will have the use of approximately 465m² of space when the first classes begin there in early 2011.
TO demonstrate Exeter College’s clear commitment to understanding and promoting sustainability and ethical values among its students, staff and the wider community, it officially gained Green College status on Friday, November 12. To celebrate the occasion, an event was held in The Conservatory, at which several speakers, including Paignton Zoo Environmental Expert Peter Morgan, discussed the importance of environmental awareness in business and education. Around 100 guests – a mixture of College staff, students and guests from external organisations, including The MET Office, the University of Exeter, the Express & Echo, Devon County Council and Exeter City Council – were treated to a Fairtrade and locally-sourced buffet from ProServe. They also enjoyed an exhibition of stunning sustainability-themed artwork, photography, and animation, created by CCI Art and Creative Media students, and live jazz, provided by Music students. The event culminated in Principal Richard Atkins signing the official Green Colleges Declaration with representatives of the Association of Colleges (AoC) and Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) acting as witnesses.
STUDENTS at Exeter College will be given a taste of what it’s like in the cut and thrust world of business this week, as it celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 15 to 21).
As well as being challenging and informative, the activities – which are being organised, run and funded by the YESS Programme and are open to all 14-19-year-olds and not just those studying at the College – are intended to be fun. And this year’s programme certainly promises to be both enjoyable and enlightening for all concerned.
Beginning the week-long celebrations today, the School Roadshow will be encouraging students to think outside the box through the Business Ideas From A Banana project.
On Tuesday, Deborah Meaden and Co will have to move aside and make way for a new set of Dragons, as teams of students pitch their ideas towards a panel made up of College staff and local business representatives Dragon’s Den style.
The Power of A Woman In Business is the subject matter for the Live Debate, taking place at the College on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, there will be an opportunity to look at Social Enterprise and the chance to start a real business and help make a difference to others’ qualities of life at the same time.
Finally, wrapping up the week’s activities on Friday, it will be Home Enterprise Day when students will been shown how to run a business from their own house.
Jenny Lyons, Head of Business and IT at Exeter College, says: “At Exeter College, we pride ourselves in preparing young adults for employment as well as university. These enterprise events have been set up in direct response to feedback from employers who want to ensure future employees are equipped with the skills to be productive in the workplace.
“In a more competitive job market, it is essential that students do all that they can to stand out from the crowd and develop desirable business skills from a young age.
“The staff and students in the Business and IT Faculty are excited about celebrating Enterprise Week as it is an opportunity to showcase our talent and to share ideas with students who are not necessarily studying Business.”
She adds: “Business and entrepreneurship skills are relevant in all industries and this is our chance to inspire others to realise the relevance and importance of developing such skills.”
