UK Quality Mark for Truro and Penwith College

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has confirmed the quality and standards of provision at Truro and Penwith College (the College) following its review in March 2016.

A team of QAA reviewers visited the College and judged that its academic standards, the quality and enhancement of its student learning opportunities, and the quality of information about its learning opportunities all meet UK expectations.

The review identified some examples of good practice, which were:

• the comprehensive financial and mentoring support available to students to develop entrepreneurship and enable business start-ups

• the timely and constructive assessment feedback to students.

The review made some recommendations for improvements, for example:

• the college should provide detailed information on the recognition of prior learning for current and prospective students
• the academic appeals procedure should be articulated to secure alignment with Pearson requirements.

Truro and Penwith College Principal, David Walrond, said: ‘We are delighted that QAA has recognised the very high quality of our higher education courses, the outstanding success of our degree-level students, and the skills and expertise of their teaching staff.  

‘We are very proud to be providing so many local people with the means of gaining high quality foundation and honours degrees. These graduates are gaining qualifications which are highly valued by employers and which enhance Cornwall’s socio-economic prospects. The results of the QAA review also endorse Ofsted’s recent findings about our post-16 offer. Both these external judgements about our work confirm that across the further and higher education phases there is an outstanding education on offer here, in a welcoming and inclusive environment, where staff and students work in successful partnerships.’

QAA’s Higher Education Reviews are carried out by experts from other universities and colleges. Every review team includes a student reviewer, because QAA believes that students should be partners in the quality assurance of their education.

The team that reviewed Truro and Penwith College comprised Dr Helen Corkill (University of Bedfordshire), Brian Whitehead (independent reviewer) and Oliver Wannell (student reviewer at Cardiff University).

A successful review means that the College can display the QAA Quality Mark, indicating to UK and international students that the College meets national requirements for standards and quality.