Stars of tomorrow

National successes for creative students of all ages at Plymouth College of Art.

Students and staff at Plymouth College of Art are celebrating a wave of outstanding results, from undergraduate satisfaction levels in the National Student Survey (NSS) to a recent short Ofsted inspection at the college’s Palace Court campus for 16 to 19-year-olds.

“This year, 37% of Plymouth College of Art UAL Level 3 Diploma students obtained a distinction…”

BA (Hons) students scored the college in the NSS as significantly above national average, with 91% overall satisfaction rating for learning resources, including access to high-quality specialist resources and equipment when needed. Such resources include Fab Lab Plymouth and a range of creative industry-standard workshops and facilities, reflecting the college’s £12+ million five-year investment on capital projects, studio facilities and technical resources.

In fact, in the 2017 NSS the college scored higher than the national average for seven of the eight main NSS categories, which extensively covers academic support, learning opportunities and student voice.

Undergraduate students this year have also caught the attention of industry professionals with their award-winning work, following exhibitions at notable events such as D&AD New Blood, The Contemporary Craft Festival and New Designers 2017 in London. Students have won internships with legendary designers such as Dame Zandra Rhodes and at London Craft Week, as well as winning illustration awards such as ‘Designer of the Year’ and the photography ‘Lensculture: Emerging Talent Award’, highlighting the diverse and impressive standard of work being produced at the college.

A recent short Ofsted inspection in the college’s pre-degree Palace Court campus maintained the college’s rating as ‘good’, a testament to the strength of all aspects of teaching, learning and support for 16 to 19-year-old students taking UAL Level 3 Extended Diplomas at the college. The Ofsted report commended the high standard of work produced by students in all subjects, recognising that studying on Plymouth College of Art’s Post-16 programmes is a high quality experience within which students have the opportunity to begin an exceptional career in the creative industries.

This year, 37% of Plymouth College of Art UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma students obtained a Distinction, which is equivalent to three A*s at A-level or 168 UCAS points. This is significantly higher than the national average, reflecting the hard work and innovative creative practice that has seen students winning national awards at exhibitions such as Origins 2017 in London and Into Film 2017, as well as taking part in groundbreaking projects at Tate Modern and working with leading industry figures such as Katie Greenyer, Creative Director of Pentland Brands, the London-based fashion group whose labels range from Red or Dead to Ted Baker Footwear.