Turnaround Suffolk Rural college campus has top class year

Suffolk Rural at Otley, near Ipswich - which is now part of Suffolk New College - was named further or higher education provider of the year at the inaugural EADT education awards in November.

The college has also been shortlisted for the Incenco Award for Education for Sustainable Development. It now goes through to the annual Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon awards which will take place in spring 2024.

The campus used to be part of Easton and Otley College - which was carved up in 2019/2020 after failing two Ofsted inspections. It then became the land-based courses centre for Suffolk New College - and has been rebuilding its reputation since.

Among its notable achievers this year was floristry student Emily Robbins – who runs Robbins Flowers in Debenham.

She scooped a top floristry award at the first ever Land-Based and Environmental Learner Awards organised by LANTRA and LANDEX.

The college also enjoyed a successful Suffolk Show where its green fingered horticultural team won gold for its garden design while Henry Bull and Nathan Wallace won an inventive farming competition at the show.

Despite a "hugely positive" year for the college, staff and students were rocked by the devastating passing of their former principal Viv Gillespie in March of this year.

New chief executive and principal Alan Pease said: “Viv is much missed but my determination to continue her legacy motivates me every day.”

Viv was a keen gardener and over the summer, the Suffolk Rural campus opened a memorial garden in her honour outside the front of the college.

The work was funded by the Cedric Morris Foundation and staff and students worked to a design by horticultural lecturer Nick Nicholson to create the garden.

The campus staged two large events - the annual Big Day Out which saw large numbers enjoy a family fun day, while in April, the Spring Family Farm Day welcomed around 2,500 guests.

In December, lecturer John Attridge paid a visit to Otley and Witnesham primary schools dressed as Farmer Christmas. He arrived on a tractor to hand out gifts and festive cheer.

Infrastructure at the Suffolk Rural campus was improved with new signage and flooring for the outdoor equine centre. An outdoor gym was built, a play area for goats completed and agricultural and catering facilities received several upgrades.

Students supported charities including Children in Need with foundation learners taking part in a sponsored walk raising hundreds for this national benevolent cause. The college has other campuses in Halesworth, Leiston and Ipswich.

Mr Pease said: “We want to become a sector-leading organisation and therefore we have invested significantly across all of our campuses.

“Thanks to that investment, we believe we are worthy of being called a top class education and training facility for the communities that we so proudly serve.

“I feel a tremendous amount of pride to be CEO and principal of Suffolk New College, Suffolk Rural and our On The Coast campuses.

"Every day I hear powerful stories about people of all ages who have benefited from the support we provide.

"From a great grandmother who passed her GCSEs at the age of 78 to a foundation student who felt like a superhero after raising some money for charity and then spotting himself on the front page of the EADT. Stories like this inspire my team and I to continue to be the best as we journey towards outstanding.

“Thank you to everyone for their support in 2023. We look forward to working with you and supporting you in the coming months and years."