Truro and Penwith College has received the Association of Colleges Beacon Award for Governance and Leadership for the college’s improvement since it merged.

The award, sponsored by the Education and Training Foundation, recognised the college for its skill in bringing together the management teams and governing bodies of two colleges performing at different strengths. The merged college, Truro and Penwith College, was graded as outstanding by Ofsted in February 2016.

The AoC Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK further education colleges. They reward colleges that go above and beyond in providing high-quality technical and professional education. Award winners must also offer something exceptional to students and the wider community.

Judges of the award praised the college for keeping students at the centre of the new college culture, which has already led to improvements in performance, and said this would raise aspirations and create a stronger college.

David Walrond, principal of Truro and Penwith College, said: “Leaders and governors here are delighted that the outstanding work done in Cornwall in redeveloping a college and its community has received national recognition and will be shared as best practice across the whole sector.

"This is a particularly welcome award because it celebrates the crucial work of governance in successful colleges, and governors’ huge contributions to delivering the best education and skills do not always get the recognition they deserve. The award is also a great boost to all working hard towards the opening of a new further education campus at Callywith, Bodmin, this September.”

David Russell, chief executive of award sponsor Education and Training Foundation, said: “The AoC Beacon Award encourages the sharing of effective practice and ideas. We know that effective leadership and robust governance are essential to deliver excellence across an organisation.

“Leaders and governors have particular responsibility in times of change. In this award, we were looking for exemplars where governance and management have been transformed to the benefit of learners, employers and the community the college serves.

“We hope the winners will, by their example, encourage other leadership teams and boards of governors to aspire to be excellent. The Education and Training Foundation is keen to help them achieve that.

“Leaders and governors need to understand the legal, cultural, financial and workforce issues these mergers involve, and the need for capacity in their leadership to deal with them. We warmly congratulate Truro and Penwith College on their award.”

Dame Pat Bacon, chair of the AoC Beacon Awards, added: “Truro and Penwith College is an outstanding representative of the excellent work happening in colleges across the country. It’s a privilege to be part of an awards programme that recognises the energy colleges put into supporting their students, staff, employers and local communities.”

The college received its certificate from David Hughes, chief executive of AoC, at an event in London.