VOCATIONAL subjects, new buildings, and a full range of adult continuing education courses may all be in store at Okehampton College. The college held its first Community Partnership Day this week, attended by students, parents, teachers, governors, local business people and representatives from Bicton College and vocational training centres in Plymouth. Governors' chairman Ian Courtney said: 'Nearly 60 people were there all together. We were really delighted.' The aim of the day was to ascertain what the community wants from the college and, in turn, how it can support it. For the last six months, the college has been planning how it might provide vocational courses in hair and beauty, bricklaying, childcare, and similar subjects — one particular aim of the day was to speak to local employers and ascertain the real need for those courses in the town. The answer from businesses was a resounding 'yes'. Mr Courtney said there was lots of willingness to get involved in helping with the project on the part of employers. 'Hopefully, we might eventually get business in the area helping with things like role-playing days.' He added that part of the college's plans was to eventually build a new building on its site for the teaching of vocational courses, and that this, if possible, would be planned with the aid of advice from local businesses. Those attending the day also heard about the college's hopes to offer a wide choice of adult courses in future, if there is a demand for them in the town. Mr Courtney said: 'Adult courses have been really cut back recently, unless they lead to some sort of certificate. We wanted to find out whether people would be interested if we were to offer conversational French, or cake decorating, just as courses that adults can take for fun and to meet people.' Those present indicated that this was something that would be welcomed in the town. Other feedback the college received from the day focused on the need for it to publicise its activities more, and make it more commonly known that the Octagon Theatre and sports facilities there were fully available for public use outside the school terms. The day was attended by Devon County Council's director of children and young people's services, Anne Whitely. She praised the college as one of the few institutions in the county to be actively implementing the government's call for 'extended schools', offering services such as breakfast clubs and homework clubs outside traditional school hours, as well as advice on social issues. Mr Courtney said the school was was delighted by the recognition. 'We do feel as the only senior school here in Okehampton that we have a duty to be an excellent school,' he said. It is hoped that the Community Partnership Day may be run at the school in the future as a regular event.
