Truro and Penwith College

"Truro College" redirects here. For the Wesleyan Methodist institution which operated between 1879 and 1931, see Truro School.

Truro and Penwith College

File:Truro and Penwith College logo.png
Established	2008
Type	Further Education college
Principal	David Walrond
Location	Truro Penzance Carnon Downs Haven House Newquay
Website	www.truro-penwith.ac.uk

Truro and Penwith College is a Tertiary College located in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It was the first Further Education or Tertiary College in the UK to be awarded 'Designated Outstanding Status' by Ofsted. Truro College opened in 1993 and merged with Penwith College in 2008. Truro and Penwith College is a member of the Combined Universities in Cornwall partnership and the Plymouth University partner college network. The principal is David Walrond.

The College’s aim is: ‘to work with every student to help achieve the best possible results, providing the best possible learning experience leading to the highest possible level of achievement.’ In the academic year 2011–12 Truro and Penwith College achieved some of its best A Level results ever, its highest ever International Baccalaureate results, its best ever vocational course results, the largest and most successful degree-level cohort in its history, and some of its best sporting achievements.

It is the top non-selective state school for the International Baccalaureate in the UK, and in the top five of all state school providers of the IB nationally. Two of its students got the highest marks in the country for their respective A Level subjects, English Language and Law, in 2012.

In 2012–13 the College continued its excellent results, bucking the year’s national trend of a 0.3% decline in A and F grades at A Level, with a 0.7% rise in A or A* grades. More than 420 students were awarded A* grades, a total of 123 students achieved at least three grade As or better, and 39 students achieved four straight A or A* grades at A Level.

On BTEC extended diploma courses in 2013, a record 256 students achieved at least a triple distinction (equivalent to 3 grade As at A Level), and 162 students achieved the highest grade possible, the triple distinction star.

History

Truro College was founded in 1993 as a new-build campus in the Gloweth area, between Truro and Threemilestone in Cornwall. Penwith College was founded in 1980 in Penzance, and was known until 1990 as Penwith Sixth Form College. Following the merger in 2008, a £30 million programme of investment has resulted in many new state-of-the-art buildings on the Penwith campus, while the opening of new facilities on the Truro campus also continues. The new White Building for Art and Design, and new Seaton Building for Construction and Automotive Engineering were both opened on the Truro campus by HRH the Duke of Gloucester in October 2012.

The original principal of Truro College, and later Truro and Penwith College, was Jonathan Burnett. He retired in 2010, succeeded by David Walrond.

Courses

Truro and Penwith College’s wide range of courses include: Further Education such as A Levels, Vocational Qualifications (including BTEC Diplomas, National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Apprenticeships), Foundation Studies, and the International Baccalaureate; Higher Education such as Honours Degrees, Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas, education qualifications, and other professional qualifications; and a large range of part-time courses for anyone wanting to develop their career, their skills and their personal development further.

The College’s Academies and Study Plus programmes also encourage students to develop themselves and their interests beyond their primary studies.

Results and Achievement

Truro and Penwith College has external judgements rating it as having excellent provision. It has been awarded ‘Outstanding’ status by Ofsted, ‘Beacon’ status for excellence in education, is matrix accredited, is an Investor in People, an Investor in Careers, and has received the Training Quality Standard. In 2012 the College had a 99% overall pass-rate at A Level (vs. a national average of 97.8), with a 100% pass rate in 32 subjects, and 237 A* grades awarded.

2012 saw Truro and Penwith’s best ever International Baccalaureate results, with 100% of pupils passing with an average point score of 36, equivalent to more than four As at A Level. Thirteen students scored more than 40 points, equivalent to more than four A*s at A Level. The College is recognised as being in the top 5 for the IB nationally.

The College achieved its best ever vocational results in 2012. On BTEC Extended National Diploma courses 235 students achieved at least a Triple Distinction (equivalent to 3 grade A’s at A Level) which equates to 50% of students, vs. a national average of 31%. 126 students achieved the highest grade possible, the new ‘Triple Distinction Star.’

Sixteen of the College’s students were offered places at Oxford or Cambridge in 2012, while twenty were in 2013.

In 2013 Truro and Penwith College’s over 1,000 A Level students achieved a pass rate of 99 per cent, nearly 1 per cent above the national average, and the College saw its proportion of students achieving A or A* grades rise by 0.7 per cent, against a national trend of a 0.3% decline.

A record number of students achieved the highest grades in their vocational courses in 2013. On the BTEC extended diploma courses, a record 256 students achieved at least a triple distinction (equivalent to 3 grade As at A Level), and 162 students achieved the highest grade possible, the triple distinction star.

Campuses and buildings

Truro and Penwith College is known for its state-of-the-art new-build buildings and facilities The main campuses are the Truro campus, between Truro and Threemilestone, and the Penwith campus in Penzance. The Tregye campus, near Carnon Downs, hosts some Outdoors, Jazz, and Art and Design courses, and some part-time courses, amongst others. It also has student accommodation. The College has a presence in Truro city centre, with the Haven House Community Learning Centre and Business Centre, both in Quay St, and in Newquay at the Newquay Community Learning Centre, in the Old Chapel, Chapel Hill.

The buildings at the main Truro campus are named after rivers in Cornwall and the buildings at the Penwith campus are named after coves. Most have a reception area, a study centre, library and ICT suite, along with cafes or refectories, and seating areas inside and outside.

The buildings on the Truro campus are: Mylor—science, and music, dance and performing arts, Tresillian—science and humanities, Calenick—hair and beauty, including commercial salons, Kenwyn—mathematics, IT and computing, media and film studies, Helford—English, foreign Languages, and International Baccalaureate, Allen—general teaching building and Student Services, Pecuil—business, law, accounting, Fal—Higher Education (including Honours Degrees, Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas, education qualifications, Success courses and others), Lynher—sport, outdoors, and health and social care, Gannel—the Cornwall Cricket Centre (in partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board), Red—music practice space, White—art and design, and Seaton—automotive, construction and engineering.

The buildings on the Penwith campus in Penzance are: Lamorna—Higher Education, Halldrine—computer facilities and seminar room, Treneere Manor—grade II* listed Manor House containing administration, Penberth—general teaching and IT rooms, Nanjizal—art and design, Gwenvor—construction and automotive engineering, Sennen—library, general teaching rooms and main reception, Zennor—lecture theatre, drama studio, hair and beauty salons, Senara restaurant and training kitchen, music rooms and recording studio, and conference centre, and Porthcurno—general teaching rooms, sports hall, fitness suite, science labs, and library. Truro and Penwith College opened two new buildings on the Truro campus 2012, the White Building, a new centre for art and design, and the Seaton building, a facility for Construction, Automotive and Engineering. Both were officially opened by HRH The Duke of Gloucester. The White building has large studio spaces and was built due to the rapidly expanding science and technology teaching at the College needing more space. As science and technology has now taken over the Mylor building, art and design has gained a bespoke new-build building of its own. The Seaton building was built in response to the growing interest in and demand for construction and automotive engineering. Both buildings continue Truro and Penwith College’s reputation for new facilities.

Sport

In the academic year 2011–12 Truro and Penwith College had some of their best sporting achievements ever. The Penwith College Football team won the league and cup double in 2011–12, winning Division Two of the British Colleges’ Sport League and the Cornwall Schools’ FA under-18 Cup in two unbeaten campaigns.

The Truro and Penwith College Rugby Academy team reached the final of two international tournaments in 2012. They lost 17–15 in the final of the Middle East Schools International Rugby Festival in Dubai, while winning the trophy for the most sporting team in the tournament. Later they reached the final of the Sanix World Rugby Tournament in Japan, losing 37–24 to Kelston Boys High School, the New Zealand Under-18 champions. In recent years the College Rugby team has won the British Colleges U19 Knock-Out Cup, National 10's, South West Colleges League and Samurai 7's, and the Daily Mail RBS Cup at Twickenham in 2009.

In 2012 three Truro College students signed direct from college to the Cornish All-Blacks Rugby team— winger Luke Tidball, back row Matt Bollwell and second row Joab Murphy.

In 2013 the Cornish Pirates completed a loan deal for Exeter Chiefs Academy players Tom Hendrickson, Max Bodilly, Matt Bolwell and Mike Roach, in a deal where they could continue their studies at Truro College while also on the books of a Premiership club and training and playing Championship rugby.

Former Truro College student Jack Nowell was voted the LV= Breakthrough Player for the 2012–13 season in the Aviva Premiership. Jack Nowell and fellow former-Truro College player Luke Cowan-Dickie helped England win the IRB Junior World Championship in 2013.

The Truro College Netball Academy had one of their best seasons ever in 2012, being County U19 Champions, SW Regional Schools finalists, British Colleges National Tournament Silver medallists, Winners of British Colleges Super League South, and Runners-Up in the BCS Super League National Finals.

Six Truro and Penwith College students were part of the South West regional girls’ rugby team that won a silver medal at the British Colleges Sport finals, and helped the South West region win the Wilkinson Sword trophy overall.

External links

• Truro and Penwith College website