Top Class Results for Exeter College Construction Students
Exeter College students completing their Construction T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning have achieved fantastic results, with 100% pass rate and top progression into employment or higher level study in the industry.
Sixth form students at the College can study a wide range of T Levels that combine classroom theory, practical learning and a three month industry placement to ensure students have the skills to thrive in the world of work.
This year’s Construction cohort have excelled both in their studies and placements and have also benefitted from a rich variety of experiences during their time at College. For example, a visit to the Glendinning quarry at Linhay Hill allowed students to find out about new technology which helps to increase the sustainability of quarrying. Students have also gained valuable insights into the industry through presentations and workshops by guest speakers, such as the Morgan Sindall Group.
Joseph is now studying for a Degree Apprenticeship.
Students have gone on to secure excellent higher education and employment opportunities. For example, Joseph Bartlett (pictured above) is now studying for a Degree Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying with Ward Williams Associates, where he completed his placement.
Joseph said; “I’ve started my Degree Apprenticeship already, and I’ll be doing that for five years. My Exeter College experience has been great; I would recommend the T Level as you can use what you’re learning in class straightaway and put it into practice on your industry placement.”
Students visit Glendinning Quarry at Linhay Hill
The success of the T Level Construction students mirrors a highly successful year all round for technical and vocational students at Exeter College. These students use technical or vocational subjects as their passport to university, to an Apprenticeship, to their next level of study or directly into employment.
For further information about study opportunities at Exeter College, visit an Open Event.
Adult Learners Excel with Outstanding GCSE Results
As thousands of young people around the country collected their GCSE results yesterday, adult learners also logged on to find out how they did. At Exeter College, adult learners take GCSEs in English, Maths and Biology every year.
Sarah Mandeno, Head of Faculty for Adult Learning at Exeter College, said;
“We are very proud of our adult learners’ progress and achievements this year. They have done brilliantly.
“Our teachers deliver an amazing learning experience and learners today have been full of praise for the outstanding teaching and support they have received.”
The College has also seen outstanding success from its 16-18 students who have collected GCSE results this week.
Adult learner, Nathan Mitchell-Campbell(pictured left above) collected his results today and achieved a brilliant 7 in GCSE English and a high 4 in Maths. He now plans to take GCSE Biology before progressing to the Access to Science course at Exeter College with the hope to study Marine Biology at university. Speaking about coming back to college, he said;
“I think as an adult, you have a much firmer choice and you’ve lived a bit, so you have an idea of what you’d enjoy and what you’d like to go into. I found as an adult I was able to make those choices more consciously and dedicate the energy where I needed it, compared to doing it when I was younger.
“It was a very relaxed environment. If I needed help, I could ask and see where I went wrong. The teachers were very kind and knowledgeable – it was just two people having a conversation and that’s why I found it so relaxing and got the grade I did.”
Alinu collected her GCSE results this week and hopes to move on to an Access course.
Alinu Dinu(pictured above) took GCSEs in Maths and English, achieving an incredible grade 5 and 4. Alinu, who currently works in care, hopes to do the Access to Science course with the aim of becoming a nurse. She was full of praise for the teaching and support she has received at Exeter College, saying;
“The schooling here is completely different than in Romania. You receive a lot of support and encouragement. In the beginning, I found it very, very hard. It’s not my first language. But my teacher, she was amazing. She supported me the whole time and gave me extra things to study, so I can improve myself. Thank you to our teachers. We did it!”
There is a variety of reasons for coming back into education, from wanting a change of career, to wanting to support children as they take their own GCSEs.
One such learner is Donna Drew(pictured below left) who originally wanted to take GCSE Maths to support her son. She is interested in teaching and is considering taking a PGCE next year.
Donna with one of her teachers on GCSE results day
Today she achieved a grade 5 in Maths. Speaking about coming back into education, she said;
“The teachers are so supportive, aware of people’s different learning styles and skills. I’ve really enjoyed helping some of the people in my class with subjects I understood that maybe I could break down for them and that ignited that teaching bug again, approaching things from different angles.”
This success follows on from the achievements earlier in the summer by the College’s Access to HE students. This year, 95% of learners completed their programme and achieved the full 60 credits available.
In addition to this 100% of Access to Business, Healthcare and Science students completed and achieved the full 60 credits, while 80% of the Access to HE Humanities students achieved 100% Distinction credits.
Top-class Technical and Applied Results for Exeter College Students
Exeter College students completing technical and applied Advanced Level programmes have achieved outstanding results including an overall pass rate of over 98%.
Sixth form students at the College can study a wide range of challenging vocational and technical subjects that are co-designed with industry partners in sectors as varied as Aeronautical Engineering, Nursing, Education, Civil Engineering, Science, Creative and Performance Arts, TV and Film, Business and Tourism and Hair and Beauty.
Significant reform in technical education means that these sixth form learners faced challenging national exams just as their peers taking A Levels at the College did. This year these exams were especially rigorous, as national benchmarks were set to return to pre-pandemic levels. Even in this tougher assessment regime, technical learners at the College have continued to excel due to their hard work and support from the College’s industry-specialist teachers.
These students use technical or vocational subjects as their passport to university, to an apprenticeship, to their next level of study or directly into employment.
John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Exeter College, said;
“We are very proud of the amazing range of technical and applied courses at the College. Whatever a young person’s ambition and passion, we have the right course for them. I am therefore especially pleased to see exceptional results right across this broad range – the consistently amazing results show that our students can follow their dreams with the support of amazing teachers, whatever course they choose.
“The College has invested heavily in industry-standard facilities, and today the impact of this is evident in the exceptional results that learners have achieved.”
Exeter College’s Vice Principal, Jade Otty said;
“We are delighted for our learners getting results today. Our curriculum experience is exceptional because our fantastic, highly-skilled teaching staff share their passion and industry insights to ensure that learners master not just the theory, but also the practical application, of the knowledge and skills required to excel in their chosen vocation.
“Our teachers do this every year, but I would like to acknowledge especially this year that this has been accomplished whilst providing nurture and care for a cohort of young people whose schooling was especially disrupted by covid. For these learners, their first experience of formal assessment and exams was at College.”
Sam Hillman, Assistant Principal, responsible for technical and vocational programmes, said;
“I am exceptionally proud of our vocational and technical learners today. They have not only excelled academically but have mastered practical skills that will serve them well as they embark on their next steps.
“A huge thank you must also go to our employers, who work with us across our brilliant range of technical and vocational programmes to provide inspirational and enriching experiences.”
T Levels, a new type of technical programme introduced in 2020, are welcoming their second year of results. Exeter College T Level students studying the Construction, Health and Education & Childcare pathways achieved an exemplary 100% pass rate. High grades were also impressive: 100% of students on Health T levels achieved high grades, and a staggering 45% achieving a distinction.
T Level student Joseph Bartlett (pictured above) studied the Construction T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning. He is now studying for a Degree Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying with Ward Williams Associates, where he completed his industry placement. He said;
“I always knew I wanted to do a course in Construction and the T Level offers a variety of jobs you can progress to in the industry.
“I’ve started my degree apprenticeship already, and I’ll be doing that for five years.
“My Exeter College experience has been great; I would recommend it and the T Level as you can use what you’re learning in class straight away and put it into practice on your industry placement.”
Hollie (left) and Laura (right) collected their results for the T Level in Health today.
Hollie Brooking studied the T Level in Health. She plans to take a gap year and then take up the place she has secured on the highly competitive master’s degree in Paediatric Nursing at Birmingham University. Speaking about her T Level, she said;
“It was a fantastic course. My Royal Devon University Hospital work experience placement was incredible. I was in theatres watching surgeries and got a range of experience on different wards.
“Exeter College has been a great experience; I would recommend it.”
The Aeronautical Engineering programme also saw remarkable success with a 100% achievement and 35% securing a distinction grade. In Sport and Exercise Science, where a large proportion of learners combine their studies with the amazing Sports Academy offer at the college, 87% of students managed to secure at least one Distinction grade alongside their training and competitive games.
Wilbur Mason is heading to Central Saint Martins to study a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design.
In the very different field of the creative arts, learners also excelled with 100% achievement and a third gaining the very highest distinction grade. Learners from this course progress to the highest echelons of art universities. For example, Wilbur Mason studied the Extended Diploma in Creative Practice and achieved a Distinction. He is going to the prestigious Central Saint Martins to study a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design. Wilbur said;
“I’m very pleased to get a distinction at the end of my course, it makes me feel like all the work paid off.
“Being in a collaborative, subject-specific building like the Centre for Creative Industries (CCI) has definitely prepared me for a university environment. Exeter as a city has also been a good stepping stone towards university life in general.
“I’ve found all my tutors so supportive; they really helped me to achieve my goals. I’ve also made some amazing friends being at college.”
William Turner is heading to the University of Leicester to study Medicine.
Learners at the College on technical courses have also been successfully supported to places on degrees that might more usually be accessed by A Level routes. For several years running, Exeter College learners from the Applied Science BTEC course have secured places on the highly competitive and demanding degree of Medicine. This year BTEC student, William Turner, from North Devon studied the Extended Diploma in Applied Science and has been offered a place to study Medicine at the University of Leicester. He said;
“I’m feeling happy, excited, and a bit shocked but happy overall!
“I’ve made lots of good friends, it’s a really fantastic college and the environment is great. Staff are very supportive here, if you have a question, you can go and speak to them – whether it’s about college or something else.
“I’ve been on a bit of a journey, I wanted to do forensics, then I switched to research and then switched to Medicine, but college supported me through that and my university application.”
Exeter College and the College Governors would like to thank and congratulate the class of 2023 and thank staff, parents and partners for making this a year to celebrate.
Class of 2023 Continue the Legacy of Excellent A Level Results
Exeter College A Level students logged on this morning to find out their AS/A Level results. The class of 2023 excelled with an overall A Level pass rate of 99.6%, compared to 97.2% nationally, and a staggering 25 A Level subjects had 100% pass rate. The College has exceeded every metric of its 2019 results (the last pre-pandemic results), which has nationally set the benchmark for this year’s results as awarding bodies return to pre-covid grading.
Of particular note is this year’s overall high grades at 59% (A*/A/B), which is over 6% ahead of the 2023 national average. An amazing 172 students achieved straight A*/A’s. This is especially impressive considering that this is the cohort who were in their two final years of school when the pandemic hugely disrupted education.
Given the picture nationally, we are exceptionally pleased that fewer learners this year missed their university offer than last year. This success means that the class of 2023 exceeded the standard set by even last year’s record-breaking cohort.
John Laramy CBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Exeter College, said;
“I am delighted with this year’s A Level results, in every measure our students have achieved results that exceed those achieved before the pandemic.
“I would like to congratulate the class of 2023, who despite not sitting GCSE exams and having a turbulent final two years of school, have navigated these challenges and shown commitment, skill and tenacity to achieve truly excellent results.
“I would like to thank the expert staff, who have in equal measure over the last two years used their talent and care to help our students to achieve these outstanding results.”
Exeter College’s Vice Principal, Jade Otty said;
“Our learners this year should be very proud of their results – they have worked so hard with the support of our fantastic teaching and support staff to more than catch up on the learning and experiences they missed previously.
“The way in which our subject-expert teaching staff have supported this cohort’s confidence and skills through ‘Excel’ (our bespoke exam support programme) has been incredible and hugely appreciated by our learners.”
Billie Stokes, Assistant Principal with responsibility for academic programmes at the College, said;
“We are exceptionally proud of our A Level learners. Not only have they maintained the standards of excellence achieved by the college’s pre-pandemic cohorts, they have done so whilst engaging brilliantly with all the amazing experiences that college has to offer so that they have emerged as mature and confident young people ready and excited for their next steps.”
There were impressive results from right across the College’s varied curriculum offer. For example, in Maths, the largest cohort of A Level students, 32% of students achieved the top two grades of A* or A, and in Further Maths, 37% of students achieved an A*. 38% of Physics students achieved an A*/A and in A Level Economics 70% of students got high grades.
Joshua Dargan collected his results today.
A Level student Joshua Dargan (pictured above) studied Economics, Sociology and Politics and achieved A*, A, A. He plans to go to London School of Economics to study International Social and Public Policy and has embraced all aspects of his college experience, including talking to governors. He hopes to enter the world of Politics.
“The last two years have gone so quickly and been amazing. The people and the learning – together they make learning fun. Even though you only know some teachers for a year, you get a personalised learning experience. I loved discussing world economic affairs with my teachers. The last two years have been a real highlight of my life.”
Howard Carter collected his results today and is progressing to the University of Exeter.
A Level student Howard Carter studied Environmental Science, Biology and Geology and achieved triple A*. He will now go to the University of Exeter to study Environmental Science. Howard describes his college experience as brilliant and goes on to say;
“From start to finish it’s been brilliant. I’ve had enthusiastic teachers which make it easy to learn, when you enjoy the subjects you’re doing, that’s half the battle. The work I have done has paid off today and I’m really excited about the future.”
In the creative subjects, Fine Art and Graphic Design both excelled with 71% of Fine Art students achieving high grades and an impressive 25% of Graphic Design students achieving an A*. In Music 69% of students achieved an A*, A or B.
In the Humanities and Social Sciences learners also excelled. History and Law saw an impressive number of high grades, with students achieving 76% high grades and 69% respectively. 66% of Literature, 63% of Classics and 61% of Spanish students achieved an A*, A or B.
A Level student Evie (right) was delighted with her results.
A Level student Evie Fairclough-Kay studied History, English Literature and Fine Art and took the Extended Project in her final year. She achieved two A*’s and two A’s and will be progressing to Oxford University. She said;
“I am going to study History and English combined honours at Regents Park College in Oxford. I would really like to go into journalism, that may change, but I’m going to just enjoy everything as it comes.
“My experience at college has been awesome. I’ve worked really hard and met lots of amazing people and it’s all paid off today.”
Exeter College and the College Governors would like to thank and congratulate the class of 2023 and thank staff, parents and partners for making this a year to celebrate.
Exeter College Students Excel in the International Baccalaureate
Exeter College students studying the International Baccalaureate (IB) received their results last week, with two students achieving an impressive score of above 40 points (out of a maximum 45).
The IB qualification allows students to study six subjects (three at higher level and three at standard level) across a wide range of disciplines spanning languages, humanities, maths, and sciences and is usually the preserve of private and academically selective providers globally.
This year 25 students took the highly academic IB and achieved an average point score of 35, which is significantly higher than the world average.
Principal and CEO, John Laramy CBE, said;
“The IB is an amazing academic programme of study which pushes students in a fantastic array of subjects.
“Students often praise how this group of students and staff feels like family. I would like to thank the staff who lead, coordinate, and teach on the IB programmes for their dedication and support.
“These results are a credit to the students; I am delighted that Exeter College continues to perform way above the world average.”
Eleanor Keay, with her parents, on IB Results Day
Student Eleanor Keay is planning to travel before deciding on an academic route. She said;
“The IB has been a phenomenal course both in terms of my academic and personal development. The teachers are passionate about their subjects and always there for support.
“The interdisciplinary nature of the course is excellent for developing well-rounded students: despite my subjects having seemingly little overlap (English, History, Spanish Higher Level, Maths, Environmental Science, and Global Politics) I found there to be overlap that really furthered my understand of the subjects.
“The small cohort size set within the large background of Exeter College cohort gives students a strong relationship with peers and tutors while still having access to a wide variety of extracurricular activities at the college – mine included Debate Society, Law Society, and History Reading Society.
“My results have opened lots of doors – partly because of this I am taking a gap year to develop my Spanish in a native environment, as an Au Pair in Spain and through volunteering/backpacking in South America. I have very broad academic interests, but will probably study some combination of Social Anthropology, Politics, History, Spanish and Environmental Science. In the future I would like to work in the foreign service, for IGOs or NGOs or in Education”
Grace Pamplin with Assistant Principal, Billie Stokes
Student Grace Pamplin also collected her results today. She is planning to progress to the University of Reading to study History. Speaking about how much she enjoyed the IB, she said;
“The diversity of subjects, the support you get from the teachers and the tight-knit community that the IB is, it just felt like a nice community to foster knowledge and confidence in your abilities.
“The best times in lessons were when we were debating and with the teacher support, the whole experience was amazing.”
Bille Stokes, Assistant Principal, added;
“Our IB learners have worked incredibly hard to achieve these results and we are so proud of them all.
“The IB is a fantastic stepping stone into the world, with many students choosing further study in the UK or abroad. Exeter College wishes all our IB students all the best for their bright future.”
Reform tertiary education and kickstart the great British recovery
A groundbreaking new report from Association of Colleges, ‘Opportunity England‘, has called on whoever wins the next general election to create a new system for lifelong learning from the age of 16 to make sure that the country can rise to the challenges of a sluggish economy, flat-lined productivity with widening skills gaps, and the prospect of millions of people being left behind as technology takes over our lives and work.
The report suggests that colleges, universities and other providers should be regulated through one tertiary system to avoid excess regulation and unnecessary competition and to enable a clear strategy to support all adults get the skills they need throughout life. The new national post-16 education and skills strategy should be developed in partnership with learning organisations and a range of other institutions including local government, employer groups, unions and community organisations. Devolution will play a vital role in this overhaul, with devolved authorities having the opportunity to push local priorities to help bolster communities as well as regional and national economies.
Colleges are clear that this is not about pitting themselves against universities or training providers, instead it’s about them working better together so that all parts of the post-16 skills eco-system thrive to deliver for the country. They urge the focusing on five central elements:
A new statutory right to lifelong learning
An apprenticeships system that works
A curriculum for all
A workforce strategy
Investing in our future
‘Opportunity England’ also shows how with a proper commitment, government can:
Drive economic growth and improve productivity
Overcome regional inequalities
Offer better life and work opportunities for all
Bring about the green transition
Deliver the health and social care workforce revolution
Build safe, cohesive and integrated communities
David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges said:
“The challenges the country faces are numerous and well-known. What we need to focus more on are the opportunities. The next Government has the chance to unleash the power of colleges to re-balance the country, grow the economy, become world leaders in green technology, harness the potential of people of all ages and make sure that millions of people are not left behind as technology takes over our lives and work. But that requires a boldness and clarity of vision which our report outlines.
Whoever holds the keys to Number 10 will need to do things differently – business as usual is not working. We need a new approach to education and skills and we need a revolution in lifelong learning. If colleges did not exist, the government would have to invent them, to upskill the next generation, to re-train existing workers, and to drive forward innovation in business and technology. Now is the opportunity to use them and kickstart the great British recovery.”
Prestigious Michael Caines Academy Celebrates Successful 10 Years at Exeter College
Designed for budding head chefs and those aspiring to a career in front of house, the Exeter College Michael Caines Academy gives students the opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s best. On 21 June, the College celebrated the Academy’s 10 year anniversary with a special evening dedicated to students past and present and to its patron, Michael Caines MBE.
This competitive Academy provides students with a mix of challenging practical and theoretical workshops, with high profile experiences and masterclasses from leading chefs to promote excellence in hospitality and catering. The Academy now boasts over 160 graduates with a 100% pass rate.
Michael Caines MBEDL, said;
“We had the vision 12 years ago to start the process of setting up the academy and we now have 10 yearsof graduating students, many of them making an impact on the industry. It is the right thing to do; to pause and reflect and celebrate the achievements of all these students but also the Colleges achievements in having the vision to set the academy up. The academy has been part of the excellence that has been created here for students.
“Cooking with the students at the dinner here in the College is a very special moment for me, for the graduating students, the parents and guardians, and of course the lecturers that have all added their enthusiasm and passion for nurturing this generation of students that have come through the College.”
Speaking about the Academy’s success, he said;
“It takes partnership and commitment, that’s why we have an Outstanding College here, that’s what makes colleges Outstanding. Going that extra mile for their students – it does not surprise me that Exeter College continues to grow because its focus on excellence across all the areas and the celebrations make students feel like they have been a part of something special, which of course they have. It’s a very proud moment for us all.”
Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, John Laramy CBE, said;
“As an ex-student and Patron of the College, Michael fully understands the ambition and ethos of the College. In working with us to create the Michael Caines Academy he has embodied our pursuit of excellence.
“He is an aspirational role model for all our young people, not just those who have an interest in hospitality. His passion, energy and dedication mean that students at the College have benefited not just from his talent and expertise, but from the partnerships and networks that he has so successfully cultivated over his career. Oxford and Cambridge are often identified as the pinnacle of academic study, for me the Michael Caines Academy has set the same bar, but for the technical discipline of hospitality and catering.
“The opening of the world class Lympstone Manor has also created new opportunities for the students on the Academy. The thing that makes this Academy different is that Michael has not just added his name, he has invested his knowledge and time, which has made a massive difference to the College and our students.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Michael for his amazing and ongoing contribution to the College, his wisdom and energy have ensured this partnership has been a sector leading success. The people in the room tonight are absolute proof of that.”
During the evening guests were treated to a special three course meal, prepared by Michael and the first year Academy students. Alumni were invited to stage to talk about their experiences in the Academy and what they are doing now before graduating students were presented with certificates.
Grace Blake-Grove, 2023 Michael Caines Graduate, with Bindu Arjoon, Exeter College Chair of Governors and Michael Caines MBE
Grace Blake-Grove, graduating student, said;
“My time at the Academy has been exceptional, from the things I have learnt to the amazing lecturers and young chefs on the course with me.
“A huge highlight of the last two years was our course trip to Italy. Surrounded by all my friends, culture, and great food, it was not only an educational trip but a moment we could all bond over.
“Though I am sad to be leaving, I hope to gain a place at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, where I completed my six-week work placement this year, an opportunity I was fortunate to have received thanks to the Micheal Caines Academy.”
John Brimacombe is pastry chef for Acleaf at Boringdon Hall, who were recently awarded a Michelin Star. Speaking about his favourite memories of the Academy, he said;
“A lot of the trips were genuine fun, you become really good mates with your class. When you go to some of these incredible places, for example we went to Lucknam Park, it is a great experience with not only industry leaders but your friends as well which is pretty enjoyable.
His advice for students looking to work in the industry is;
“Just question everything and enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, there is no point. Have fun. There are easier jobs out there, but they aren’t as rewarding.”
Michael Caines MBE in the kitchen with Michael Caines Academy 1st year students.
Part of the success of the Academy is also due to the staff at Exeter College who work to deliver Michael’s vision and support the students through their time at College.
Ian Biggar, Programme Lead and Tutor at Exeter College, said;
“The opportunities this partnership with Michael has provided to our students is invaluable. It means we can be as confident as possible when they leave us that we have provided them with everything they need to succeed.
“The passion and drive that Michael and the team here instil in our students will see them through even the toughest days of their career.”
Paul Carne, Programme Lead at Exeter College, said;
“We are incredibly lucky to have worked with such a variety of talented students over the years who have gone on to do exceptional things and make a real impact on the hospitality industry.
“Thanks to the passion of Michael and the commitment from the College, we know this will continue and we are excited about what is to come.”
Congratulations to all our graduating students. This year’s students are;
Bethany Addicott
Oliver Ashfield-Donaldson
Grace Blake-Grove
Meg Burnell
Ellie Fairchild
Talia Hutchings
Freya Hole
Sophia Joakim
Joshua Power
Joe Sandham
Isobel Simpson
Jasmine Timms
Tomasz Waszkiewicz
Maddie Webb
Bryher Wilson
Thank you to the sponsors of this event, without their kind support, events like this would not be possible.
Timewade have won the biggest esports event of its kind in the South West, after a showdown of over 30 corporate teams hosted by Exeter College.
The Exeter-based IT firm came out on top in an energetic Rocket League tournament, with the Exeter Chiefs rugby team, Bishop Fleming and the Ted Wragg Trust among those taking part.
The festival was supported by ultrafast broadband provider Jurassic Fibre, software engineering firm Rowe IT, tech marketing agency Program and fan engagement platform Filmily.
Heat events took place at Cornwall College, City College Plymouth, South Gloucestershire College and Bridgwater & Taunton College ahead of the final showdown in Exeter.
Alongside the gaming, attendees to the event took part in an industry roundtable discussing the future of the industry in the South West and an interactive cyber escape room run by the Police SW Regional Cyber Crime Unit.
Rob Bosworth, Vice Principal and Deputy CEO at Exeter College, said: “The esports movement is building, and I believe colleges have an essential role in maintaining the momentum.
“It’s been fantastic to build on the success of last year’s Esports Festival and bring colleges and businesses from across the South West together. In the last year we have seen esports grow in the UK with it now being represented at events like the Commonwealth Games so we can see it is vital to provide students with the opportunity to perform in this type of arena.
“We are seeing our esports students go on to a wide range of successful careers due to the highly transferable skills they are learning here at college. I look forward to seeing where the Esports Festival 2024 will take us!”
Exeter College students were involved in making sure the day ran smoothly. Charlie Stone, currently studying A Levels, is hoping to progress to the HNC in Esports at the college next year. He said;
“Today’s been interesting because I’ve met people I never would have interacted with, met businesses I didn’t know existed in the South West and it’s nice to know they are committed to pushing out esports.
“I’ve been helping out officiating all the games, making sure they run smoothly and sorting out any tech issues which is great experience and it’s been a brilliant atmosphere.”
Robert Thornberry, studying the HNC in Applied Computing said;
“Today I have been doing a bit of everything from camera work to making sure the tech is working andrunning between the live games and the live streaming space.
“It’s great work experience working on an event like this because you have to be a good communicator and solve problems on your feet just like you would in a real work environment.”
Esports is one of the fastest-growing parts of the tech economy, with Newzoo predicting the industry’s total audience to surpass 640 million by 2025.
The South West is well placed to take advantage of this booming industry, according to Tech South West, a membership organisation that supports and connects the tech ecosystem in the South West.
Tech South West co-founder Dan Pritchard said: “The global rise of esports brings opportunities for gamers, event organisers, developers and creatives to pursue great careers in tech, and the South West of England is well positioned to support and take advantage of this growth.
“With strong universities, tech hubs and college groups, we are building a strong pool of creative and tech talent. We are delighted to be working with Exeter College and our partners to showcase the opportunities the industry brings to the South West tech ecosystem, its young people, and the regional economy.”
Software Development Students Develop Training App for the Royal Navy Leadership Academy
Students at Exeter College studying the Software Development in Apple Swift Programming Skills Bootcamp have developed an app for the Royal Navy Leadership Academy (RNLA). As part of the course students were set a live brief and allocated tasks which culminated in them presenting their app to the Royal Navy.
The brief was to simplify and digitise the marking and scoring system used in the RNLA when carrying out assessments in the field. Seven students worked on the project, they were all allocated tasks such as graphic design, navigation flow, and the data model.
Paul Barnard, Quality Assurance Chief for the Royal Navy Leadership Academy said;
“The brief was to digitise our marking scheme that we utilise in the Royal Navy Leadership Academy. We call it ORCE, which stands for observe, record, classify, evaluate. Currently its being done by paper, so instructors are out and about with students trying to write down in the wind, rain etc.
“This app will massively help the instructors. They will be able to standardise their reports as well as saving huge amounts of time. We’re quite set in our ways and thought some fresh ideas would help, it’s always better to have a variety of people looking into solving a problem as they all bring something else to the table.”
Speaking about the students work, he commented;
“What they have achieved in such a short amount of time is amazing. We weren’t expecting them to be this far down the track at all. Within 4 weeks they have produced a prototype with some really good ideas.
“We’re about 85% of the way there so the next step is to finish it, take some students out in the field so they can see how it’s used and the problems we encounter, and fine tune what they have already produced.”
Students received feedback directly from the Royal Navy.
Chloe Baker is one of the students working on the project. Her role was in designing the user interface and all the graphic design elements including the layouts of the screens and a colour scheme. She said;
“It’s been fed back today that the design is really in keeping with the Royal Navy brand, which is nice feedback to have. I think the thing I enjoyed the most about the course was knowing it was a real live brief that was going to be used within the RNLA. Knowing it will benefit people and knowing your contributing towards helping such a large organisation is great.”
She added;
“The bootcamp has really helped me with a good base of coding knowledge, coming into it having never written code. From the course I’ve learnt that I really enjoyed the user interface design and the graphic design side of the app development.”
The project came about when a previous student, who had studied on the Software Development Skills Bootcamp and then the Apple App Development Skills Bootcamp, reached out to the Navy via his innovation role at Capita. The Royal Navy recognised that this collaborative approach of working would benefit them and give students invaluable industry experience.
Chris Pegg, Apple Certified Educator at Exeter College, said;
“The students have just blown me away at the pace they have worked on the brief and how they have gelled as a team. They are all different ages (ranging from early 20’s to 75), and life backgrounds yet they have worked in unison and built lifelong friendships. For adult learning it’s so pivotal that the learning experience be cemented in real world examples – and what a lovely side product to have lifelong learning connections generated along the way.”
Speaking about the benefit of the students working on a live brief, Chris said;
“The benefit of this is not just so they complete something that is needed, but they get to work through real world problems. It gives them accessibility to problems that would develop naturally in industry, and not just in the classroom. It also builds upon soft skills like resilience, communication, independence, and collaboration, which are invaluable in tackling these challenges.”
New support for mature students helping them to make the next steps to education or work
New support for mature students across Devon is helping them to make the move on to university and new careers. Experts from the University of Exeter and Exeter College are working together to provide access to specialist information and advice.
The new Mature Access Pathway allows them to experience what university life is like and polish their study skills through workshops, talks, and on-campus activities. There is also access to academic staff, mentors, and current undergraduate students who have given information, advice, and guidance they need to make an informed decision about their future.
The course was set up after University of Exeter analysis showed mature students can lack confidence in applying to higher education and often prefer to study for a degree locally. The review showed the need for mature students to meet those in the same situation and to get targeted information about finances and life as an undergraduate.
The Mature Access Pathway, which was set up this academic year, includes social events and advice about money and living matters. It also includes help on how to choose the right course and study skills. It forms part of the timetable of all Access to Higher Education students at Exeter College.
During the first year 83 students took part in the pathway, which is led by Roisin Quinn, Student Access and Further Education Relationship Manager at the University of Exeter, Marianne Readman, Adult Learner Experience Manager on the Exeter College Partnership Board and Suzy Bell, Access to Higher Education lead at Exeter College.
So far 35 of those who took part applied to the University of Exeter and they were given a guaranteed contextual level offer. University of Exeter mature students get extra support, including an enhanced induction programme and access to mentors.
Ms Quinn said: “Our aim has been to increase progression to university from mature students in Devon– to many Higher Education institutes not just the University of Exeter. We provide support and information to support them to progress to many institutions and courses.
“We hope this will now be a key part of the support for mature students in the South West which will give them the confidence, knowledge and support to go on to higher education.”
Participants take part in face-to-face sessions at Exeter College and the University of Exeter where they get advice on applying for university, study skills such as reading, note-making and paraphrasing, researching, academic honesty and referencing, academic writing skills and higher education assessment.
Ms Readman said: “This opportunity to collaborate with a partner university to support our learners to achieve their ambitions is a fantastic addition to all of the hard work of Exeter College staff to ensure a great experience for all our Adult Learners.”
Ms Bell said: “It has been a pleasure to work closely with Roisin and the University of Exeter to create and launch the Mature Access Pathway. It has been such a success in terms of supporting students making the transition to university. It has also enabled students to further develop essential study skills, find out about the types of support available at university level, and receive additional guidance throughout the university application process.”
Kay Botham, 32, is studying Access to Business. She has applied for Business, Management and Marketing, and Accounting and Finance at University of Exeter. She hopes to go into an element of marketing such as publishing marketing or events. Before this Kay had been out of education since she was 19 and says the pathway has been “greatly beneficial”.
“It gives you that extra insight which gives you a push. Being able to sit in lectures created such a spark at the right time as I was doing my UCAS application at the time. It confirmed it was what I wanted to do.
“Meeting people at the University of Exeter and being able to ask them questions was helpful. A couple of them had progressed from the Access course last year and they were so knowledgeable. We have had some nice honest conversations with them.
“It’s stressful. I have 3 kids, I work, and I do this. But as soon as I said I wanted to go to the University of Exeter I felt like all my tutors at College rallied behind me to make it happen.”
Leon Hill is 23 and studying Access to Humanities (English Literature, History and Politics). They are hoping to study Film at Falmouth University.
Leon said: “I chose Exeter College because I had friends who came here when they were 16 and really enjoyed it. It’s been worth me making the journey from North Devon which is one of the reasons why I appreciate the programme being incorporated into the course, rather than an additional thing.
“I found the visit to University of Exeter really helpful in demystifying the uni experience. I appreciated being able to go and realise universities are not as scary as I had imagined. It was good to get a feel for how things may feel if I went there.
“Going back to studying has been a challenge, but it is not unreasonably difficult. It is manageable alongside other life commitments if you do pace yourself. I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been a very understanding, welcoming environment. It was a really good decision to come back into education and to do it at Exeter College.”
