Principal Mark Wardle To open Sept 2017 | Location Bodmin | |
Type Further Education college Associated with Truro and Penwith College Tagline New College. New Courses. New Choice. | ||
Callywith College is a Further Education college in Bodmin, Cornwall, due to open in September 2017.
Contents
- Proposal consultation funding and opening
- Courses and admissions
- Relationship to Truro and Penwith College
- References
It is being created with the assistance of Truro and Penwith College to serve students aged 16–19 from Bodmin, North Cornwall and East Cornwall. It received the go-ahead in February 2016, funded as a Free School.
Currently under construction just north of Bodmin town, close to the Bodmin Asda supermarket, the new college will eventually cater for 1,280 students, with 197 staff employed. A total of 660 places will be available in its first year.
Its aim is to “provide the outstanding Truro and Penwith College experience for young people in Bodmin and North and East Cornwall." The Principal-designate is Mark Wardle.
The first Callywith College prospectus was launched in September 2016. In its first year the College will be offering 25 A Levels, 11 vocational Level 3 Extended Diplomas and five Level 2 Progression courses.
Proposal, consultation, funding, and opening
League tables of educational results for 16-19-year olds in Cornwall have indicated that where students do not have easy access to either of Truro and Penwith College’s major campuses then outcomes for those students suffered. This led to the proposal that a new campus or college should be built in mid-to-north Cornwall to cater for this demand for a top-quality 16-19 education. At Truro and Penwith College 89% of pupils gained three A Levels, compared to 65% in the ten sixth forms in north and east Cornwall, and 78% on average in England, in 2015 league tables. As Truro and Penwith College already attracts 1500 students from mid and north Cornwall, who spend between an hour and two hours each way on a bus every day to reach its Truro campus, the desire by students to go to a high-achieving FE college had already been proven, and the building of a new campus or college further north in Cornwall would reduce the time these students needed to spend traveling every day to get a top-quality post-16 education.
This led to a consultation period, where Truro and Penwith College sought the views of the local community in Bodmin and elsewhere, and received feedback and input from students and the parents of students who might be hoping to go to the new development.
It was announced in February 2016 that Callywith College would be a Free School under the EFA national funding formula, and supported by Truro and Penwith College.
It is due to open in September 2017, with the application process beginning in September 2016.
Courses and admissions
In its first year the College will be offering 25 A Levels, including Art & Design: Fine Art, Art & Design: Illustration/Graphics, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Drama & Theatre Studies, Economics, English Language, English Language & Literature, English Literature, French, Geology, Geography, History, Law, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Media Studies, Philosophy of Religion & Ethics, Photography, Physics, Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology, and Spanish; 11 vocational Level 3 Extended Diplomas, including Applied Science, Art & Design, Art & Design: Photography, Business, Children’s Play, Learning & Development, Computing, Creative Media Production & Technology, Games, Animation & VFX Skills, Health & Social Care (Health Studies), Health & Social Care (Social Care), and Sport & Physical Activity Development; and five Level 2 Progression courses - Art & Design, Business, Health & Social Care, Information & Creative Technology, and Sport - for anyone who doesn't have the GCSE or E-Bacc grades to be able to do a Level 3 qualification such as A Levels or an Extended Diploma straight away. The new-build campus will have state-of-the-art resources.
The first Callywith College prospectus was launched in September 2016 and applications opened at the same time. Applications can be made either direct to the College or through local schools. Priority will be given to students whose applications are received by 31 January. In the event of oversubscription to Callywith College, a post-code system will apply when allocating offers. Waiting lists will be created once all places have been offered.
Relationship to Truro and Penwith College
Truro and Penwith College will own the Callywith College site and senior staff from Truro and Penwith College will lead Callywith College, implementing common systems and processes, ensuring the same levels of quality.
The first Principal-designate is Mark Wardle, who has for six years been the Director of Curriculum at Truro and Penwith College.