Exeter College links up with Food4Heroes to provide meals for NHS staff

Exeter College has offered its state-of-the-art industrial kitchen facilities to Food4Heroes; a charity that provides free nutritious meals to frontline NHS staff during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The College’s @34 training kitchens will now be in use, providing nutritionally balanced, free meals to NHS staff. These meals will include a vegetarian and a meat option and allergens will be listed on the dishes provided. Meals distributed to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital will be in microwavable containers for NHS staff to take home.

Food4Heroes launched in response to the Coronavirus crisis when footage emerged of NHS workers finishing long shifts and finding limited stocks available in their local supermarket. Since then, Food4Heroes has worked around the country with NHS Trusts to set up initiatives to support frontline NHS staff with nutritious microwaveable meals.

The @34 kitchens have the facilities to provide up to 200 meals a day, and Food4Heroes will be working with the NHS Trust to make sure they’re producing the correct volume of food to meet demand. Food4Heroes will also be working with other local, certified suppliers with a minimum 4* food hygiene rating to support catering, if required.

How you can help

For the Exeter College kitchen to operate successfully as part of this effort, Food4Heroes is now looking for volunteers with a minimum of a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate to help prepare the food in the kitchen. Ideally, chefs would be able to commit to producing two meals a week. However, this could alter depending on how many volunteers and businesses come forward to support Food4Heroes.

Details and support for chefs will be available once the process is finalised.

To help with Food4Heroes at Exeter College, contact Steve Tipping on steve@food4heroes.co.uk for further details.

Donate to Food4Heroes

To keep this free for all frontline NHS staff, Food4Heroes is seeking donations to cover the costs of ingredients, travel and other unavoidable expenses. Donations can be made to specific regions, ensuring that local money is spent on local NHS support. You can find additional details on the Food4Heroes website. Donations for the South West are being raised on Crowdfunder here.

Supporting the NHS

Exeter College is helping to support those working in the NHS with PPE equipment distributed from the College’s Maths and Science Centre. The production of face shields is also underway in association with PPE4Exeter, a community organisation leading on the creation and distribution of vital PPE equipment to community-based health and care workers.

Accommodation is also available for NHS staff to use at the College’s Clock Tower Boarding House.

PPE4Exeter Campaign Raises over £3000 of £26,000 target in first weekend

A grassroots community project has raised an incredible £3000 in aid of their production of vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for community-based health and care workers in their first weekend. They are hoping to continue raising around £1000 a day to keep up with the demand for face shields in the local community.

The PPE4Exeter project was launched last week to raise money for the materials needed to produce face shields for use by vital community services during the Coronavirus crisis. To date, they have distributed over 1200 face shields to a variety of staff working on the frontline.

PPE4Exeter is an agile network of local creatives, engineers, technologists and business innovators who are working together to make and distribute face shields to those who need them most on the front line within the community.

Fronted by Fiona Rourke from Exeter College’s School of Art and Design, PPE4Exeter has teamed up with Andy Wells and Gareth Lambert from the Department for Engineering, Aerospace and Automotive who have also been producing PPE for healthcare settings. They are using their combined expertise to fill the sizable gap in the market occupied by small to mid-range charities and organisations who cannot bid for large deliveries of PPE independently.

Working with 3D printing, laser cutting and injection moulding technologies, the group is currently Crowdfunding to keep the vital supply of materials going. As little as £5 is enough to create and distribute one reusable face shield, protecting a valuable community keyworker.

Alongside Exeter College, the team is partnered with Kaleider, University of Exeter, FabLab Devon (Libraries Unlimited), RD&E Innovation Team, Exclusive3D and Preston Street Films to help deliver a target of a further 5000 face shields to the local community in the next 4 weeks.

Exeter College’s effort is widespread. It has already supported the distribution of PPE to local centres, with over 800 lots of safety glasses, facemasks and gloves making their way to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital this month. This was following the announcement that the College is offering accommodation to NHS workers in their Clock Tower boarding house for the duration of this crisis.

Find out more about PPE4Exeter.

Donate now to their Crowdfunder.

Information correct as of 21st April 2020

Make a Flying Start with Exeter College in 2020

We know lots of students are keen to get a head start on their College subjects before joining us, and that’s why we’ve developed Flying Start; our suite of pre-enrolment learning content to get you thinking about your new subjects with us.

Flying Start is for all school leavers with a conditional offer to study a full-time Level 2 or Level 3 course with us in 2020. This year, due to the Government closure of all schools and colleges in response to the spread of the Coronavirus, we have launched the content early. In turn, this will give our new learners more time to enrich their education by thinking deeply about the subjects they have chosen to come and study for the next academic year.

“Flying Start provides some small introductory pieces of work, as well as some suggested background reading on subjects,”
Jade Otty, Vice Principal

Flying Start is designed by your subject leaders with the aim of getting you thinking at an advanced level ahead of joining us in September. With Flying Start, you’ll find questions to consider, tasks to complete and some background research you might want to undertake before enrolment.

Remember, Flying Start is designed to support you in to studying with us, help you explore your chosen subjects and get you started on exciting course content.

Although not compulsory, many students enjoy learning more about their chosen subjects ahead of joining us and find the learning content useful ahead of beginning their studies.

Completing the activities as part of Flying Start can be fitted in around existing GCSE level work and can get you motivated ahead of joining us full time in September.

Exeter College Vice Principal Jade Otty, who leads on academic performance at the College, said, “In these turbulent times, we wanted to bring forward Flying Start for our next intake of learners to give them a real flavour of what they’ll be studying with us.

“We’re really proud of Flying Start and find that it helps to increase student confidence about joining us and can help answer some questions students might have about subject content.

“Flying Start provides some small introductory pieces of work, as well as some suggested background reading on subjects. This can be especially useful for students joining us on subjects that they might not have studied at GCSE level, but is definitely worthwhile for all our learners to get to know what they’ll be learning about when they join us.”

Applicants to Exeter College with a conditional offer to study with us should check their email account for the first of two batches of Flying Start activity sheets from us in the coming days. The second round of content will launch around the May half term.

Apply now to study with Ofsted Outstanding Exeter College to get access to your suite of Flying Start learning content.

Check out the complete breakdown of the exam boards for Exeter College courses.

Find out how exceptional learning is continuing with Exeter College while we’re closed.

April 2004: Green Light for Centre for Creative Industries

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first-ever tertiary college, we’re looking back on some key events which helped us to become the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today. 

In the early 2000s, we committed to our ambitious expansion programme, ensuring that our students had the best opportunities and facilities available. Nearly two decades later we continue to grow, with our new Digital and Data Centre to open early in 2021. 

Then… Planning Approved for Centre for Creative Industries (April 2004)

In 2004 we were given the green light to build our Centre for Creative Industries (CCI), establishing an inspiring learning environment for our visual and performing arts students. 

Exeter College worked with the council and city residents to produce plans for a state-of-the-art three-story education centre adjacent to Exeter’s cultural quarter to act as a hub for our creatively gifted students.

Consisting of a 160-seat theatre, art and design studios and exhibition space, the CCI encompasses industry standard facilities and today forms an integral part of Exeter’s academic infrastructure. 

Richard Atkins CBE, our Principal at the time, said, “We are trying to work in partnership with other schools to invest significantly in educational buildings in Exeter.

“This Centre is a very important part of our plans. The arts are very popular with young people, and we want to offer them good facilities.” 

Since completion, the Centre of Creative Industries has helped thousands of the south west’s students on their education journey and remains at the cutting edge of creative education in the country.

And Now…  Construction Continues on Digital and Data Centre

Sixteen years later and Exeter College continues to invest in the education offering in Exeter, with construction currently underway on a new Digital and Data Centre. To be completed in early 2021, the centre will form a part of a wider South West Institute of Technology (SWIOT) plan to revolutionise digital, engineering and manufacturing technology education in the south west.

The £10.3million building, based at our Hele Road campus, will be a modern learning environment complete with state-of-the-art digital learning laboratories. This will provide students with quality higher level technical training and prepare them for work or further study in the digital sector. 

The Digital and Data Centre will be at the heart of Exeter College’s digital education, providing new opportunities to learn about data analytics, cybersecurity and software development.

Digital and Data Centre Flythrough

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50 

Looking after your health and wellbeing at home

Exeter College is closed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, but the exceptional learning continues for our students.

In this blog, Jake Cole, our Emotional Health and Wellbeing Advisor, has sourced some top tips on how to look after yourself during a challenging period. Please also see advice from Young Minds, the NHS, and Mind.

Connect

This is a huge one – everyone needs to socialise! Even if it’s not possible to pop to your friend’s house, make sure you continue to connect with them online.

Make plans to video chat with people or groups you’d typically see in person. You can also arrange phone calls, texts or online messages.

If you’re worried that you might run out of stuff to talk about, make a plan with someone to watch a show or read a book separately so that you can discuss it when you contact each other.

You can also get yourself a study buddy. Team up with a friend from College to discuss your work and swap revision notes. Not only will this help you connect with others, but it will also make learning from home a lot more enjoyable.

Routine

With so much uncertainty, sticking to your routine can really help you to maintain a sense of normality. It can also help to reduce anxiety and troubling thoughts.

You might want to add extra activities into your day that make you feel calm but try to keep to your daily schedule as much as possible.

Figure out what you need to be working on. Write it down with timings on to paper or into an app like Outlook Calendar.

Choose how long your work segments are. I like to work in 90-minute segments but do what works for you.

Keep Active

Almost any form of exercise will stimulate the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain and will help you to focus your mind. For this reason, try and build physical activity into your daily routine.

Most of us don’t have exercise equipment like treadmills where we live, but there are still activities you can do. Try cleaning your home, dancing to music, or following along to an online exercise class.

Regular physical activity can also improve symptoms of anxiety, depression and help you sleep better.

Be aware of your health

Eating regular meals and staying hydrated will help. You should also take breaks throughout the day to talk to someone or do something you enjoy.

Be aware of your screen time too. It’s good to have a few hours a day where you are not looking at a screen – perhaps try calling a friend, reading a book or doing some housework.

Find things that help you feel calm

Like at any other time, it’s important that you are not only looking after your physical health but your mental health too.

Acknowledge how you’re feeling. We know that things might continue to feel overwhelming or scary, so it’s good for you to talk about this where possible.

Think about some activities that can help when you are feeling overwhelmed like breathing techniques, writing down how you feel, playing music, or talking to a friend. Try not to overexpose yourself to the news.

To draw away from any stress you’re experiencing, write down three positive things at the end of each day. You can also look for opportunities to help others – doing good feels good.

Extra Resources

There is lots of additional advice on the NHS website.
Check out our WHAM page on the portal for further health and wellbeing information.
Headspace (the mindfulness app) is offering free resources to help people during this time.
The charity YoungMinds offers mental health help and support.

You can also contact the college’s wellbeing team via email at studentexperience@exe-coll.ac.uk.

Remember that these new approaches can be difficult at first. Keep going, you will find a way to make them work if you stick with them.

Ultimately, it’s down to finding out what works best for you. If you have any additional tips that you think could help others during their studies, share them using the hashtag #ExeCollTogether.   

Find out how exceptional learning is continuing at Exeter College during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Six Tips on How to Study at Home

Just because the Exeter College site is closed, it doesn’t mean the learning stops.

If you need some help to get the most out of your study time from the comfort of your own home, then look no further.

Thanks to our expert staff, your exceptional education can continue. But, in order to help you get the most out of digital learning, we’ve put together some top tips to help you study from home.

Got your own tip for working from home? Use #ExeCollTogether on social media and we’ll share the best ones!

Get Organised

Before you begin your study session, make sure you’re prepared. Get your books out, line up your stationery and login to your laptop. Make sure you have everything you need before you get going.

Plan Ahead

Create a schedule and plan out your new daily habits; this new routine will become second nature before you know it. Next, think about what you want to achieve in your study sessions and set realistic goals for each. Finally, make sure you set yourself reasonable breaks… you need time to chill out, and those snacks aren’t going to eat themselves.

Get a Study Buddy

Make sure you’ve got a good support network. Everyone needs help and encouragement. Getting yourself a study buddy can make learning easier and a lot more fun. Bounce ideas off each other, share resources or compete in revision quizzes. Connect with a college friend and you’ll reap the benefits in no time. It’s also important to stay social during this time, so put time aside to have a chit-chat with your friends online!

Rule of Three

This is the perfect choice for all of you list lovers. The Rule of Three means that you reduce your list to three small tasks at a time. Once you’ve finished those three things, you can give each item a satisfying crossing-out before making a new list. This can help you break down your larger tasks into more manageable and achievable chunks.

Find a Suitable Space

Unfortunately, this suitable space probably isn’t your bed. Set yourself up at a desk or a table, and you’ll be so much more productive. Try and make sure you’re in a quiet place with limited distractions. By all means, make sure you have someone on hand for encouragement and support, but try and set clear boundaries. It’s hard not to procrastinate when you have people coming in for a chat every five minutes.

Look Smart, Think Smart

Sitting in your snuggly onesie all day sounds like a dream. But make sure you’re honest with yourself – is this going to make you more likely to slip into bad habits? Getting up and getting ready straight away can help set the mood for a productive day. Look smart, think smart.

Ultimately, it’s down to finding out what works best for you. If you have any additional tips that you think could help others during their studies, share them using the hashtag #ExeCollTogether.

Find out how learning is continuing with Exeter College during the lockdown.

Get the latest information on government guidance regarding awarding qualifications in summer 2020.

#ExeCollTogether – How Exceptional Learning is Continuing at Exeter College

Following the Government announcement that all schools and colleges would be closing to the majority of students from 4.30pm on Friday, 20^th March, Exeter College’s plan of action on delivering exceptional learning digitally has launched.

Our staff have been preparing for this eventuality for some time and students and teachers are now transitioning their learning to an online format using Microsoft Teams, Moodle and College email addresses.

“We all have a passion for technology, and we’re collectively geared up to continue supporting staff and students via remote working and learning,”
Paul Knee, ICT Manager

Since the Government announcement on last Wednesday, over 390 new online Microsoft Teams have been set up for classes for remote learning, with over 3600 students already prepared to continue their learning for the coming weeks. These figures are expected to rise dramatically as the transition continues.

Our staff were given time to prepare online content for learners, and our digital services teams (ICT, Innovations and Learning Media Services) have been working tirelessly together to ensure, where possible, students can continue their learning as seamlessly as possible.

Although we’re no longer physically together, the College community continues. It’s for this reason that the Exeter College social media accounts will be using #ExeCollTogether to share tips and advice from our staff and learners on how they’re getting the most from their learning at home during this uncertain time.

In addition to teacher-led online activities and learning experiences, students have also been encouraged to form independent online study groups to help keep each other on track with work and maintain online social contact with friends.

Students on Apprenticeship courses with us have been directed to a Remote Working Guide to support their studies during this interruption.

Exeter College ICT Manager Paul Knee has been coordinating our digital teams with the rapid transition to online learning through Microsoft Teams and Moodle. He said, “We had been planning for a College-wide move to Microsoft Teams in September, but given the exceptional circumstances of recent weeks, we accelerated this programme to support the urgent need for remote teaching and learning now via the initiative we call Teams Classroom.

“We all have a passion for technology, and we’re collectively geared up to continue supporting staff and students via remote working and learning.”

Exeter College Digital Innovation and Engagement Manager Anthony Martin has been leading the drive to digital transformation. He said, “We have been preparing for changes to the workplace of the future and exploring ways of engaging our learners in more immersive digital technology.

“The preparations being put in place follow our existing Digital Transformation Strategy, which has been developed by the team, and would lead to a September rollout of new digital learning platforms. We’re obviously making that transition in a lot quicker time frame than we had imagined or would have liked, but we do already have a lot of the technology in place to support staff and students to make a success of this.

“We’re creating a package to support our tutors and get them using their digital skills in an efficient way. We’ve also enabled staff to share their best practice with each other in Microsoft Teams so that everyone is learning together.

“At present, we’re creating a one-size-fits all system for staff and students, but as time goes on, things will adapt and shift to suit certain courses and learning styles. Sessions will be taught via Teams, video and audio remote lectures, screen sharing and interactive presentations, as well as some independent study activities.

“We’re keen to ensure this whole process is as seamless as possible for students and that’s why we’re really focusing on supporting everyone to make the best possible start to this that they can. It’s a determination of mine that nobody is left behind.”

Some online learning sessions have already taken place as students and staff get used to this new way of delivering education. Anthony said the feedback from sessions which have already taken place has been positive.

“It’s early days, but four or five groups have already given feedback and they’re delighted with how it is working. The students are excited to use the tools, which is great to hear as we move in to this new learning environment. Their feedback is of great comfort to the team, knowing students feel supported in using these tools effectively and helping them continue their studies,” said Anthony.

“It won’t be perfect from day one but, from what we’ve put together for everyone, it’s certainly going to help the transition.”

For more information on the closure of Exeter College, please see our Coronavirus Guidance page.

Exeter College Student Accepted at Prestigious American University

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today. In this piece, we talk to one of our current high-flying students who has been accepted into a world-leading university…

An Exeter College student is set to jet across the Atlantic to study with Harvard University after being offered a place with the world-renowned Ivy League university.

Charlie McNamara, 18, is currently in the second year of her International Baccalaureate (IB) with Exeter College and, after a lengthy application process, has been one of around just 5% of applicants to be accepted to study with Harvard.

“I was so happy when I found out that I just burst into tears,” said Charlie, who will be studying for a Liberal Arts degree.

“I logged in to the system to find out, and I just read ‘congratulations’ on the screen and burst into tears as all my work had paid off. It was a huge challenge even to make the application, and I didn’t make any assumptions about getting in, but I knew I wanted to try and I’m so glad I did.”

Charlie, who has lived in Devon all her life, has been successful in applying for financial aid with the University, which will see the world-renowned institution pay over 90% of her expenses around tuition, accommodation, travel and subsistence. Harvard tends only to accept around 2,000 applicants in a year, making Charlie’s achievements even more remarkable.

It has been a long road to Harvard for the 18-year-old, with the application process taking around a year to complete and significant exams, interviews and forms to fill out along the way.

“Harvard was always the dream – my absolute first choice,” said Charlie.

Charlie will be taking up her place at Harvard in September 2021

“I started working on how I could do all this over a year ago. I had to take the American SAT exams and their application process was a lot more personal than here in the UK. They asked for a lot of information on my background, my hobbies and my interests, as well as my education history.”

With successful SAT results behind her, Charlie then had to make her case to Harvard in a process that is notoriously difficult to get through. With support from the Exeter College Reach Academy, staff members and her family, Charlie had everyone backing her to make a success of the application.

Charlie continued: “Everyone was wonderful in helping me get in, and I’m just so grateful to have this opportunity.

“I’m incredibly proud of myself and I can’t thank people enough for helping me.”

It could have been a very different education journey for Charlie. She originally applied to study A Levels with Exeter College but was convinced at her enrolment appointment to consider moving to the International Baccalaureate as a way to continue exploring the subjects she enjoyed most and gain an internationally-recognised qualification.

Charlie heeded the advice of her lecturer and never looked back, studying six subjects within the IB as well as a core unit. Her studies saw her take on English, Maths, French, Global Politics, Psychology and Environmental Science as well as spend time on creative, active and community-focused projects.

The former West Exe student said, “When I arrived at enrolment, the lecturer asked me to think about the International Baccalaureate as an option because of what I was saying I was interested in. I decided to try the IB for a few weeks, but once I started I didn’t even think of doing anything else!”

Speaking about her time with Exeter College, Charlie said, “The teaching here is really good. I enjoy the style we’re taught in on the IB. It’s very interactive, and they allow for personalisation within the classroom.

“The teachers seem to enjoy teaching and that makes it more fun for us. It’s a very challenging course, with a lot of work, but everyone is so supportive.”

Charlie will find out her results on the IB this summer and will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the College’s IB results last year when 100% of students passed and over half of the students achieved the grades requested to study at the University of Oxford.

Charlie’s Exeter College Tutor Clara Rodriguez said, “We’re incredibly proud of Charlie and what she has achieved. To get an offer at one of the best, if not THE best, universities in the world is a huge accomplishment, and we’ve all been smiling since we found out the good news.

“Charlie has been an exemplary student and we can’t wait to see what she achieves going forward.”

Charlie’s four year study programme at Harvard will start in September 2021 after she takes a year out to spend some well-earned time with her family. She will get the chance to specialise her Liberal Arts degree at Harvard during the course, and one day hopes to move into humanitarian aid or international relations as a career.

Interested in Exeter College?

Find out more about the International Baccalaureate at Exeter College.

Want to find out about everything Exeter College has to offer? Register today for the Showcase. It’s your one-stop-shop of everything Exeter College has to offer under one roof.

Progress Reports Available on the Parent Portal

The latest Progress Reports for all full time students are available to view for all parents and guardians on the Parent Portal.

We introduced the online Parent Portal at the start of the academic year as a way of enhancing communication between the college and next of kin contacts. As well as the newly released Progress Reports, parents and guardians can view their young person’s attendance, timetables and access tutor contact information.

The latest Progress Reports will inform you on how your young person is getting on with life at college and show predicted grades, attendance and effort grades from subject tutors.

Visit the Parent Portal now to log in or sign up and view the Progress Reports.

If you haven’t signed up already, you’ll need:

The unique Parent Portal reference number found on your personalised letter (these were sent out in October to the learner address)
Your young person’s date of birth
Your young person’s student reference number at Exeter College, which can be found on their college ID (it will start 9900)

If you have lost your letter, or if you are a listed next of kin that lives at another address to the learner, you can still register using the date of birth and student reference number.

Please note, where you do not have the parent portal reference number it may take a day or two for the account to be activated.

Date for the diary

Awarding bodies have recently informed us that the 24th of June is national exam ‘Contingency Day’. This means all students need to be available to sit an exam on this date in case awarding bodies have to reschedule exams due to a significant event/disruption.

Exeter Chamber of Commerce has appointed Mike Blakeley, Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement at Exeter College, to its board. The appointment comes as Exeter is recognised as the City of Apprenticeships, with the fastest growing number of Apprenticeships, topping 57 other cities across England.

“I hope to build links between our network of employers and the Chamber,”
Mike Blakeley, Exeter College Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement

In his role at Exeter College, Mike Blakeley oversees the delivery of 2,000 Apprenticeships at any one time, from Penzance to Paddington. His team works with 950 businesses, with Apprentices gaining skills and training across 90 different subjects. In addition, Mike works with some of the players of Exeter Chiefs to develop their second career skills. He has been instrumental in the launch of GOAT Lager, a partnership between England International Luke Cowan Dickie and former chief, Harry Strong.

Matt Roach, Chair of Exeter Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “We are pleased to welcome Mike to the Chamber board. Mike will bring a vast range of skills and experience to the board, helping us to continue to work with all sectors of business and particularly to ensure the pivotal link between business and education is at the centre of our work.”

Mike Blakeley said: “I am delighted to join the Exeter Chamber board. I hope to build links between our network of employers and the Chamber, and to focus on how the Chamber can help to develop the next generation of business leaders in the city.”