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Your Marine School Needs You!

Falmouth Marine School has been particularly successful recently with an increase in both student enrolments and student achievements.

John Slaughter & Tim Fitter

Last year the College’s performance was recognised as being in the top 10% of colleges in the country with an average student success rate of 93%. As well as staff and students, one other important group of people contribute to the continuing success of the College - the Falmouth Marine School College Council.

The Council, who meet three times a year, help with all aspects of College life including enrolments and student achievements. The Council is made up of a Council Chair, who is appointed by the Board, The Head of College, two members of staff, two students elected from the Student Association, as well as nine members from the local community. The aim of the Council is to advise the College and make recommendations on the development and delivery of the educational provision appropriate to the needs of learners as well as industry and the local community.

Falmouth Marine School cares greatly about the local community and the College is keen to gain feedback from, and give local businesses a chance to air their opinions and ideas re the College, its students and the work it is doing.

The Council also choose one Falmouth Marine School student each year for the College Council Student of the Year Award for outstanding contribution to the local community. The Award, which is the most important of the day, is presented at the Falmouth Marine School Award Day in June. Tim Fitter on the Marine Science Foundation Degree was the recipient in 2009, for his commitment in engaging and representing the student voice, both in the college and within the wider community. John Slaughter, who left the Council last July after eight years as a member, due to moving away from Falmouth, presented the award to Tim along with a prize of £100.

Head of College Tom Shaw said: “Although the council only meet three times a year, the help they give to the Marine School can be considerable. We are always looking for ways to improve our links to the local community and to the main industries that we support. Having the right people on our council enables us to do this. I am keen to find enthusiastic volunteers from Falmouth, ideally with backgrounds in marine leisure, marine science, aquaculture, marine engineering, or small boat design/construction. I would be delighted to hear from anyone who would be happy to help.”

Dave Linnell OBE, Principal of Cornwall College commented: “Falmouth Marine School provide a great range of courses with a dedicated staff who are all strongly involved in local industry. Falmouth businesses employ many of our students and it is an important part of the College’s work to continue this successful relationship with the local community.”

To find out more about the College and the role of the council to see if you would be prepared to help out please contact the College on 01326 310310.