Exeter College has donated ten boxes of pre-loved books to underprivileged areas of South Africa as part of the Help a South African School project.
The English, Languages and International Baccalaureate (ELB) faculty at Exeter College has decided to join an international effort to help address the issue of illiteracy in South Africa.
Only around 22% of South African schools have libraries, and many are in need of vital resources to aid learning. Lots of South African children experience a broken journey through school. Around 27% of public schools still don’t have access to fresh running water, while just 12% have access to computers.
By linking up with the Help a South African School project with Hortgro, the ELB department at Exeter College is playing a part in the distribution of books to some of the poorest parts of South Africa, creating opportunities for the country’s young people to read and write.
The Help a South African School project aims to give books to those most in need across South Africa, including textbooks and literary books. Exeter College has responded to this urgent need, and staff and students donated pre-loved books to the cause. Now unwanted books could enjoy a new lease of life with a new generation of learners across South Africa.
Discontinued books from the College’s Learning Resource Centres were collected and put towards the good cause, as well as a few from the personal collections of staff and students.
Books were collected up before the College closure and are on their way to a new home in South Africa.
Exeter College Offers Accommodation to NHS Workers
Exeter College has opened the doors of its Clock Tower accommodation to NHS workers in need of a place to stay during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
The accommodation officially opened in September last year for students who travel longer distances to College but following the recent move to exclusively online learning, all students have now returned home and the recently-refurbished former hotel is now available for alternative use.
Following a thorough deep clean, the Clock Tower building, which is on New North Road in the heart of Exeter, will be open for NHS staff to use as accommodation during the fight against the Coronavirus.
College staff have taken time themselves to deep clean the building ready for NHS use and up to 22 NHS workers can stay there at any one time. This should prove vital as many NHS workers seek to self-isolate to protect family and loved ones during this global pandemic.
Exeter College Director of Student Experience Kristyn Woodward said, “We’re a college for the community and during these challenging times we wanted to do everything we can to support the region through this crisis.
“By opening the Clock Tower for use by NHS staff we hope that we can at least play our small part in the global response to this pandemic and help the hugely talented and dedicated NHS staff by providing a roof over their head and a place to stay that’s nearer the hospital in these difficult times.
“Staff at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are working incredibly hard to save lives on the front line, and as a community organisation we felt it’s only right that we offer everything we can to help them and the NHS.”
The Clock Tower accommodation will now be available exclusively to NHS staff for the duration of this crisis, with all bedrooms being en-suite and communal kitchen facilities also available.
In addition to offering the Clock Tower during this crisis, Exeter College has also played its part in providing much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to front line NHS staff. Nearly 300 pairs of safety goggles from the College’s Maths and Science Centre are now in use across Devon’s GP practices, and disposable safety gloves and aprons have also been donated to the cause to be used on the front line.
Anyone interested in taking up the offer should contact their HR department at the NHS, who have all the relevant details on accessing the accommodation.
Outstanding Student Achievements Celebrated at Exeter College Awards
The Exeter College Student Awards has celebrated the successes of outstanding students – marking yet another stellar year.
Twenty-four exceptional college student award winners from across Devon were honoured at a glittering gala dinner held on Thursday, January 10th 2019.
The award winners covered the broad range of programmes on offer at Exeter College, including A Levels, the International Baccalaureate, Technical Programmes, part time programmes and an increasing range of Apprenticeships.
The college was delighted to welcome Rob Baxter, Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby and Exeter College alumnus, as the guest speaker at the awards.
The college would like to thank the many sponsors who supported the inspirational event, held at Exeter’s Mercure Rougemont Hotel.
The awards mark the culmination of an outstanding year at the college, highlights include the college’s best ever results, a top ranking for employer satisfaction, Exeter College being named top college for STEM nationwide, and, with the support of the LEP, the official opening of a state-of-the-art £3 million Advanced Engineering Centre.
To cap it all, Exeter College was recently named as a finalist for the coveted title of ‘FE College of the Year 2019’ in the national Tes FE Awards.
John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “The annual Exeter College Student Awards marks the culmination of yet another-record breaking year for the college. Demonstrating the impact of fantastic students and apprentices, working with truly great staff.
“It gives us the opportunity to acknowledge, in particular, those students who have excelled in their studies, preserved under difficult circumstances, or have contribute positively to their peers, faculty, college and the wider community.
“We recognise that our success is not luck, an absolutely key ingredient is our partners and employers. We are extremely proud of the college’s role in our community, which is reflected by the wide range of sponsors for our awards. Thank you to all of our supporters.
“This year we were delighted to welcome, as our guest of honour and guest speaker, Rob Baxter, Exeter College alumnus and Director of Rugby at Exeter Chiefs.”
Rob Baxter, Director of Rugby at Exeter Chiefs, said: “As someone who had previously attended Exeter College I was delighted to be invited to speak at an awards dinner that recognised and celebrated the achievements of so many young people.
“Some of their stories are truly inspirational and to see the support the students have, not only from their college faculties, but also from the wider business and civic community really brought home the positive work the college does within the city of Exeter and the wider community.”
The award sponsors at the event were: Arconic, Bishop Fleming, Devon County Council, DevonLive, Exeter Airport, Exeter Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Exeter City Council, Flybe, Foot Anstey, InExeter, Kislingbury Property Consultants, Mi-space/Midas, National Citizens Service (City Community Trust), Pearson, Santander, Savills, SWComms, Visit Exeter. Westlake & Spence.
We are also grateful for our other event supporters, Purple, The Cover Cupboard, and Pollards Print.
Thanks also go to Exeter Live Better for supporting the drinks reception at this year’s Student Awards.
Outstanding Student Achievements Celebrated at Exeter College Awards: Pictured from left to right: Nicola Wood, Abbie Densham, Eleanor Harvey, Emily Piper, Harry Sewter, John Brimicombe, Silvia Christoforou, Oliver Daw, Lois Coram, Jessica Dennis, John Laramy (Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive), Natalie Hardwidge, Rob Baxter, (Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby and Exeter College alumnus), Jane Horton, David Allen OBE (Chair of the Board, Exeter College), Keely White, Tom Burrows, Meagan Green, David Carver, Sophie West, Charlotte Atkinson.
Don’t Miss! Follow in the footsteps of Exeter College’s student award winners. Don’t miss our last cross college Exeter College Open Event of this academic year, this Wednesday, 16th January, 2019 5pm – 8pm. Register today: exe-coll.ac.uk
Award winners:
Access and Higher Education – Nicola Wood – Exmouth
Adult Learner – Natalie Hardwidge – Broadclyst
Art and Design – Lois Coram – Silverton
Business and IT – Ashleigh Bedford – Newton Abbot
Construction – James Plant – Newton Poppleford
Engineering, Aerospace and Automotive – Eleanor Harvey – Exeter
English, Language and International Baccalaureate – Vincent Radley – Exeter
Flybe Academy – Charlotte Atkinson – Newton Abbot
Foundation Studies – Jessica Dennis – North Tawton
Healthcare, Childcare and Public Services – Emily Barnacle – Lympstone
Hospitality, Hair and Beauty – John Brimicombe – Exeter
Humanities – Keely White – Exeter
International – Kunchaya Soinak – Thailand
Journalism Academy – Silvia Christoforou – West Hill
Maths and Science – Abbie Densham – Exeter
Media and Performing Arts – Leah James – Exeter
Michael Caines Academy – Oliver Daw – Newton Abbot
