Petroc
Encyclopedia
Petroc is a further education
college
in Devon
, England, with a catchment area covering more than 1500 square miles (3,885 km²). It serves up to 20,000 students each year—including distance and work-based learners all over the UK—from entry level courses, through FE, higher education
and beyond. The college employs more than 1,000 people. Its main campuses are in Barnstaple
and Tiverton. The college also undertakes research and development projects, often working with European partners. The organisation works with thousands of businesses, training apprentices, delivering short courses, facilitating Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and providing conference facilities. Many of its premises are open to the public; including restaurants, hair, beauty and complementary therapies salons and entertainment venues.
The current Principal and Chief Executive as of 2011 is David Dodd who was previously Principal of North Devon College
. A 2006 Ofsted
inspection accorded North Devon College a Grade 1 (outstanding),
while at East Devon College in 2007 Ofsted judged leadership and management to be inadequate.
Campus (formerly North Devon College
) is a large site, on top of Sticklepath Hill overlooking the town with a view across the estuary of the River Taw
. A Levels, Foundation Degrees other academic courses, a wide variety of vocational studies (including Apprenticeships), recreational learning opportunities and supported learning activities are provided at the main campus and a number of other sites in Barnstaple (see below). Courses are available in all curriculum areas except land-based studies.
Facilities at the Barnstaple Campus include a theatre, construction, motor vehicle and engineering workshops and a sports hall. The Acorns Nursery, Sanctuary Spa, and Tawstock Restaurant are training facilities that are open to the public. Other sites in Barnstaple include the Braunton Road Campus, Pottington Campus and School of Management (Queens House). The Hair Academy and Brannams Campus (including The Factory – a music venue – and The Goodwin Gallery) at Roundswell include facilities that are open to the public.
Recreational learning, such as evening classes and weekend workshops are delivered at most Petroc sites and a number of other locations in the wider community, in and around Barnstaple including Pilton Community College.
The majority of 16-19-year-old students in North Devon attend Petroc and the college collaborates with The Park Community School
, Pilton Community College, Braunton Community College
, Bideford College, South Molton Community College, Great Torrington Community School, Ilfracombe Arts College, Chulmleigh Community College, Holsworthy Community College and Budehaven School (in Bude
, North Cornwall). Around 600 students are enrolled in higher education programmes, studying full and part time degree courses and HE modules. The College is part of the University of Plymouth Colleges
partnership.
) campus with its main site on Bolham Road was formerly East Devon College
. It offers A-Levels
, other academic courses, a wide variety of vocational studies (including apprenticeships) recreational learning opportunities and supported learning activities.
Facilities include science laboratories, art and design studios, a performance/exhibition space, construction, plumbing and electrical workshops, a lecture theatre, a conference centre, a nursery, a hair, beauty and complementary therapies salon, professional kitchens and a restaurant. The nursery, salon and restaurant are training facilities that are open to the public. Motor vehicle and motorcycle courses are housed in an industrial unit on Tiverton Way, which is approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) from the main campus.
Students are mainly drawn from Tiverton High School
, Uffculme School and Cullompton Community College but learners also come from a number of other schools, such as Honiton
, Axe Valley
in Axminster, West Somerset Community College
in Minehead and Court Fields
in Wellington, Somerset.
Since 2010 Petroc and Tiverton High School work in partnership to raise students' academic achievements at GCSE and A Level through the 'Tiverton Campus Sixth Form' initiative.
Pené Prior, the Head of College at the Tiverton Campus, is also one of Petroc's Deputy Principals.
, Branhams Campus and Tiverton Way (which is also in Tiverton). Some students are based in Exeter
at the Academy of Music and Sound.
The College used to have a site in Honiton
, but this no longer exists. The Students have be re-distributed to Tiverton Way satellite campus.
and East Devon College
. The institutions merged on August 1, 2008 and were officially known as North Devon College until renaming as Petroc in 2009. The college is named after St Petroc, the patron saint of the Devon flag. The name was chosen by the governing body, from a shortlist of names that emerged from a branding consultation. It was selected for sounding both ancient and modern and its strong connections to Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. The name was approved by the UK Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in 2009. The renaming project won two Transform Awards in 2010, and is a registered trademark.
Barnstaple and Tiverton both have a Students' Union executive team. These are made up of part-time officers who are students at the college. Each executive team's officers are elected bi-annually by secret ballot which is conducted through the college's intranet system. The officer roles differ between sites, but President and Vice President are positions which constitutionally cannot be abolished or changed. Each site also has a member of staff who serves as their SSLO (Student/Staff Liaison Officer) and Administrator.
While the President and Vice President spend most of their time managing the rest of the team and representing the Student Union at NUS UK events which take place throughout the academic year, the other officers have their own specific areas to run. They each run campaigns throughout the year. Last year these included Go Green Week, LGBT Talk Week, Black History Month and other specific area-orientated campaigns. The point of these campaigns is to encourage students to get involved in helping to make a difference to their own lives and the lives of others.
Each site also organises events throughout the academic year. The Barnstaple executive organises parties including 'Tech Dances' and, in 2010, a fundraiser for the Haiti relief effort which was attended by Nick Clegg
. The Tiverton executive also organises parties and charity events throughout the year, including an annual Rag Day in October, and a Summer Ball.
Both Students' Union Sites are affliated to NUS UK and the officers from each Students' Union site take their campaign ideas from NUS UK Campaigns.
All students who attend the college (including full-time, part-Time, apprenticeship and evening students) automatically become a member of the Students' Union. This entitles them to attend Students' Union events and much more.
Individual students can opt out of membership, although this right is rarely exercised. Individual societies within the college can also disaffiliate from the Union, although this right has never been exercised.
The Tiverton site is led by an 11-member Executive Committee, which is made up of part-time officers, who serve while continuing their studies.
The Barnstaple site is led by an 12-member Executive Committee, which is made up of part-time officers, who serve while continuing their studies.
The satellite campuses of Brannams and Tiverton Way do not yet have student representatives on the main union sites.
The Students' Union also hosts a Learner Voice Forum, where every tutor group sends their own representative to a bi-monthly forum where they put their ideas and concerns to both the Students' Union and also Managers from Petroc's senior management team. The student body then gets published feedback from all parties involved.
based at the Barnstaple campus. It broadcasts on 87.7 MHz FM between the hours of 8:30 and 16:30 on college days. It holds a Restricted Service Licence
to broadcast on FM.
Tiverton Site also has its own Music Box, where students can host their own programs for broadcast within the Student Common Room. This is PPL-Licensed but has no broadcasting licence for FM Broadcasting, unlike Barnstaple's Fresh FM.
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England, with a catchment area covering more than 1500 square miles (3,885 km²). It serves up to 20,000 students each year—including distance and work-based learners all over the UK—from entry level courses, through FE, higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
and beyond. The college employs more than 1,000 people. Its main campuses are in Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
and Tiverton. The college also undertakes research and development projects, often working with European partners. The organisation works with thousands of businesses, training apprentices, delivering short courses, facilitating Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and providing conference facilities. Many of its premises are open to the public; including restaurants, hair, beauty and complementary therapies salons and entertainment venues.
The current Principal and Chief Executive as of 2011 is David Dodd who was previously Principal of North Devon College
North Devon College
North Devon College was a further education college in Barnstaple, North Devon. It is now part of Petroc.-History:North Devon College first opened in 1952....
. A 2006 Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
inspection accorded North Devon College a Grade 1 (outstanding),
while at East Devon College in 2007 Ofsted judged leadership and management to be inadequate.
Barnstaple
The main BarnstapleBarnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
Campus (formerly North Devon College
North Devon College
North Devon College was a further education college in Barnstaple, North Devon. It is now part of Petroc.-History:North Devon College first opened in 1952....
) is a large site, on top of Sticklepath Hill overlooking the town with a view across the estuary of the River Taw
River Taw
The River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge.-Watercourse:...
. A Levels, Foundation Degrees other academic courses, a wide variety of vocational studies (including Apprenticeships), recreational learning opportunities and supported learning activities are provided at the main campus and a number of other sites in Barnstaple (see below). Courses are available in all curriculum areas except land-based studies.
Facilities at the Barnstaple Campus include a theatre, construction, motor vehicle and engineering workshops and a sports hall. The Acorns Nursery, Sanctuary Spa, and Tawstock Restaurant are training facilities that are open to the public. Other sites in Barnstaple include the Braunton Road Campus, Pottington Campus and School of Management (Queens House). The Hair Academy and Brannams Campus (including The Factory – a music venue – and The Goodwin Gallery) at Roundswell include facilities that are open to the public.
Recreational learning, such as evening classes and weekend workshops are delivered at most Petroc sites and a number of other locations in the wider community, in and around Barnstaple including Pilton Community College.
The majority of 16-19-year-old students in North Devon attend Petroc and the college collaborates with The Park Community School
The Park Community School
The Park Community School is a mixed 11-16 state comprehensive school in Barnstaple, North Devon, England. It is maintained by Devon County Council. Most of the school's 1,440 pupils progress to further study at Petroc.-History:...
, Pilton Community College, Braunton Community College
Braunton Community College
Braunton School and Community college was opened in 1937 with 140 pupils, it has grown Massively and is now a state comprehensive school in Braunton, North Devon, England. It has around 750 pupils aged 11 to 16...
, Bideford College, South Molton Community College, Great Torrington Community School, Ilfracombe Arts College, Chulmleigh Community College, Holsworthy Community College and Budehaven School (in Bude
Bude
Bude is a small seaside resort town in North Cornwall, England, at the mouth of the River Neet . It lies just south of Flexbury, north of Widemouth Bay and west of Stratton and is located along the A3073 road off the A39. Bude is twinned with Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, France...
, North Cornwall). Around 600 students are enrolled in higher education programmes, studying full and part time degree courses and HE modules. The College is part of the University of Plymouth Colleges
The University of Plymouth Colleges network
The University of Plymouth Colleges network is a partnership between the University of Plymouth and local colleges to deliver a range of higher education courses in Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, as well as the Channel Islands. The network began in 1989 with the Polytechnic South...
partnership.
Tiverton
The Tiverton (DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
) campus with its main site on Bolham Road was formerly East Devon College
East Devon College
East Devon College was a further education college situated in Tiverton, Devon, England. The college operated on four sites; the main campus being located in Tiverton, with three additional sites being located in Honiton, Exmouth and Tiverton. In 2005 the college enrolled 3,144 learners, of which...
. It offers A-Levels
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
, other academic courses, a wide variety of vocational studies (including apprenticeships) recreational learning opportunities and supported learning activities.
Facilities include science laboratories, art and design studios, a performance/exhibition space, construction, plumbing and electrical workshops, a lecture theatre, a conference centre, a nursery, a hair, beauty and complementary therapies salon, professional kitchens and a restaurant. The nursery, salon and restaurant are training facilities that are open to the public. Motor vehicle and motorcycle courses are housed in an industrial unit on Tiverton Way, which is approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) from the main campus.
Students are mainly drawn from Tiverton High School
Tiverton High School
Tiverton High School is a state secondary school located in the town of Tiverton, Devon, England. The school is a specialist visual arts college....
, Uffculme School and Cullompton Community College but learners also come from a number of other schools, such as Honiton
Honiton Community College
Honiton Community College is a comprehensive school located in Honiton, Devon, England. The college educates around 1,050 students, of whom 125 are in the sixth form. Specialist status in science was awarded in 2005....
, Axe Valley
Axe Valley Community College
The Axe Valley Community is a state non-selective mixed community college with 890 students, located in Axminster in the South West of England. The school has benefited in Business & Enterprise specialism since September 2004 and has provided Post 16 education since the opening of a Sixth Form in...
in Axminster, West Somerset Community College
West Somerset Community College
The West Somerset Community College is a fairly large comprehensive school in Minehead, Somerset, England. It provides education for students aged 13–16 in the main school and 16-18 in the sixth form...
in Minehead and Court Fields
Court Fields Community School, Wellington
Court Fields Community School is located in Wellington, Somerset, England. The school teaches students from 11 to 16 and does not contain a sixth-form....
in Wellington, Somerset.
Since 2010 Petroc and Tiverton High School work in partnership to raise students' academic achievements at GCSE and A Level through the 'Tiverton Campus Sixth Form' initiative.
Pené Prior, the Head of College at the Tiverton Campus, is also one of Petroc's Deputy Principals.
Other sites
The College has additional sites in HolsworthyHolsworthy, Devon
Holsworthy is a market town in the north west of Devon, England. It is situated near the county border with Cornwall, and is 9 miles from the coastal resort of Bude. It is on the intersection of the A388 and A3072 roads, and lies on the River Deer, a tributary of the Tamar...
, Branhams Campus and Tiverton Way (which is also in Tiverton). Some students are based in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
at the Academy of Music and Sound.
The College used to have a site in Honiton
Honiton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
, but this no longer exists. The Students have be re-distributed to Tiverton Way satellite campus.
History
Petroc was formerly North Devon CollegeNorth Devon College
North Devon College was a further education college in Barnstaple, North Devon. It is now part of Petroc.-History:North Devon College first opened in 1952....
and East Devon College
East Devon College
East Devon College was a further education college situated in Tiverton, Devon, England. The college operated on four sites; the main campus being located in Tiverton, with three additional sites being located in Honiton, Exmouth and Tiverton. In 2005 the college enrolled 3,144 learners, of which...
. The institutions merged on August 1, 2008 and were officially known as North Devon College until renaming as Petroc in 2009. The college is named after St Petroc, the patron saint of the Devon flag. The name was chosen by the governing body, from a shortlist of names that emerged from a branding consultation. It was selected for sounding both ancient and modern and its strong connections to Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. The name was approved by the UK Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in 2009. The renaming project won two Transform Awards in 2010, and is a registered trademark.
Petroc Students' Union
The Petroc Students' Union is constitutionally one Student Union, but both sites' Unions operate independently.Barnstaple and Tiverton both have a Students' Union executive team. These are made up of part-time officers who are students at the college. Each executive team's officers are elected bi-annually by secret ballot which is conducted through the college's intranet system. The officer roles differ between sites, but President and Vice President are positions which constitutionally cannot be abolished or changed. Each site also has a member of staff who serves as their SSLO (Student/Staff Liaison Officer) and Administrator.
While the President and Vice President spend most of their time managing the rest of the team and representing the Student Union at NUS UK events which take place throughout the academic year, the other officers have their own specific areas to run. They each run campaigns throughout the year. Last year these included Go Green Week, LGBT Talk Week, Black History Month and other specific area-orientated campaigns. The point of these campaigns is to encourage students to get involved in helping to make a difference to their own lives and the lives of others.
Each site also organises events throughout the academic year. The Barnstaple executive organises parties including 'Tech Dances' and, in 2010, a fundraiser for the Haiti relief effort which was attended by Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
. The Tiverton executive also organises parties and charity events throughout the year, including an annual Rag Day in October, and a Summer Ball.
Both Students' Union Sites are affliated to NUS UK and the officers from each Students' Union site take their campaign ideas from NUS UK Campaigns.
All students who attend the college (including full-time, part-Time, apprenticeship and evening students) automatically become a member of the Students' Union. This entitles them to attend Students' Union events and much more.
Individual students can opt out of membership, although this right is rarely exercised. Individual societies within the college can also disaffiliate from the Union, although this right has never been exercised.
The Tiverton site is led by an 11-member Executive Committee, which is made up of part-time officers, who serve while continuing their studies.
The Barnstaple site is led by an 12-member Executive Committee, which is made up of part-time officers, who serve while continuing their studies.
The satellite campuses of Brannams and Tiverton Way do not yet have student representatives on the main union sites.
The Students' Union also hosts a Learner Voice Forum, where every tutor group sends their own representative to a bi-monthly forum where they put their ideas and concerns to both the Students' Union and also Managers from Petroc's senior management team. The student body then gets published feedback from all parties involved.
Radio broadcasting
Fresh FM is a student-run radio stationCampus radio
Campus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based...
based at the Barnstaple campus. It broadcasts on 87.7 MHz FM between the hours of 8:30 and 16:30 on college days. It holds a Restricted Service Licence
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event...
to broadcast on FM.
Tiverton Site also has its own Music Box, where students can host their own programs for broadcast within the Student Common Room. This is PPL-Licensed but has no broadcasting licence for FM Broadcasting, unlike Barnstaple's Fresh FM.