Bodmin College

50°27′32″N 4°42′40″W / 50.459°N 4.711°W / 50.459; -4.711

Bodmin College
Address
Map
Lostwithiel Road

, ,
PL31 1DD

England
Information
TypeAcademy
Established1870 as a college; 1 January 2011 as an academy
Department for Education URN136383 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of GovernorsJason Coad
PrincipalSamantha Fairburn
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1,464 (333 Sixth Form)
Colour(s)Black,Yellow and Red
Websitewww.bodmincollege.co.uk

Bodmin College is a secondary academy school that serves the community of Bodmin, Cornwall, England. The principal is Samantha Fairburn. The college converted to an academy on 1 January 2011. In 2023 Bodmin College became part of the multi-academy trust CELT; the Cornwall Education Learning Trust.[1]

Curriculum

[edit]

In 2007, the college decided to change the GCSE curriculum by introducing a three-year course rather than the conventional two years. Students now choose their GCSE options in Year 8, and take end of year exams in the summer term of year 11. The first year of students to do this finished their GCSE course in the summer term of 2010. As of 2023, the school is currently in the process of reverting to a two-year course.

Bodmin College is also notable for having only three lessons per day, with each lasting 100 minutes, compared to the typical 4-6 lessons of most British schools. In 2023 it was announced that a 4-lesson schedule will replace the existing system in September 2023.

Sixth form

[edit]

The college has a sixth form college, catering for approximately 300 sixth form students.

The Sixth Form offers 26 A-Level courses, 17 BTEC/vocational courses, as well as Arts Awards, and Sports Academies in football, rugby, and netball.[2] Some of the vocational courses, including beauty therapy, hairdressing, ICT practitioner, and construction, are based on a campus about 200m away.

Higher education

[edit]

Bodmin College recently began offering three degree-level courses in partnership with Falmouth University and Bodmin Town Council. These courses are Digital Media, Creative & Professional Writing, and Business Management.[3]

A 2-year Digital Media foundation degree has been operational for a number of years, now with the option of an additional 1-year course to complete a BA (Hons).

Robot Wars

[edit]

The college entered the BBC TV programme Robot Wars, with the robots Roadblock and Beast of Bodmin, winning Series 1 with Roadblock.

School musical productions

[edit]

In recent years the College has produced a musical production most years. They are collaborations between the Drama, Dance, Art, Textiles, and Music departments of the school. Productions include Avenue Q in 2015, The Lion King in 2016, Aladdin in 2017, Chicago in 2019, Mary Poppins in 2020,[4] and Ghost the Musical in 2022.

The 2023 production, Sister Act, was widely praised,[according to whom?] with one year 13 student being awarded the Al Hodge Young Musician Award.

The 2024 production, Frozen, is currently on show.

Notable former pupils

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "CORNWALL EDUCATION LEARNING TRUST - GOV.UK". Get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. ^ [1] [dead link]
  3. ^ "Bodmin College HE". Bodmincollegehe.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Students steal the show with amazing Mary Poppins performance". Bodmincollege.co.uk.
[edit]