Exeter College merger goes live as major education group launches across Devon

Exeter College and Petroc College have officially merged, forming the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group (ENDC), a move leaders say will reshape further education provision across Devon.

The merger formally took effect on Monday 5 January 2026, bringing together two of the county’s largest education providers under a single group structure while retaining their individual identities. 

Petroc College will now operate as North Devon College, while Exeter College continues under its existing name.

Together, the new group serves more than 16,000 learners, employs nearly 2,000 staff and operates with an annual turnover of over £100 million, making it one of the largest place-based college groups in England.

College leaders say the merger was driven by the need to strengthen financial resilience at a time of national funding pressures, while also creating the scale needed to expand education and skills provision across Devon.

Exeter College Principal and CEO John Laramy CBE, who now becomes Group Principal and CEO of ENDC, said the merger would allow the colleges to respond more effectively to government policy, devolution and local skills needs.

“Merging creates a larger group, provides additional resilience against funding reductions and enhanced capacity to capitalise on opportunities that stem from government policy and devolution,” he said.

“The group will have a commitment to aspiration for learners through inspirational teaching and learning, with outstanding place-based sixth forms in Barnstaple and Exeter, ensuring a coast-to-coast college group that can be accessed across Devon.”

For current students, leaders have stressed that there will be no immediate change to day-to-day college life. 

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Learners will continue their studies at their existing campuses, with teaching, timetables and support services continuing as normal.

Mr Laramy said the merger brings together “two renowned tertiary colleges with a shared commitment to delivering high-quality education”. 

Adding that North Devon College will now be better positioned to expand progression routes, strengthen A Level and apprenticeship pathways, deepen employer partnerships and invest sustainably in staff, facilities and learner support.

While short-term disruption is not expected, the longer-term ambition is to broaden opportunity. 

The group plans to develop a co-ordinated Devon-wide offer across apprenticeships, adult education and higher technical qualifications, designed to meet local and regional workforce needs.

Leaders say the increased scale will also allow the group to introduce new curriculum areas aligned with key industries, while offering expanded opportunities in adult education, higher technical education and apprenticeships.

One early development linked to the merger is the opening of a Centre for Progression in Tiverton, building on existing provision at the site. 

The centre is designed to support young people with additional needs and those who require a different approach to re-engage with education.

“This will support young people who need a different experience to re-engage with learning,” Mr Laramy said, noting that demand for this type of provision has been growing across Devon.

Staff across both colleges are expected to see increased collaboration rather than immediate structural change. 

College leaders have said the merger is intended to support long-term stability and career development, rather than job losses, with both Exeter and North Devon campuses remaining central to their communities.

The colleges say local communities and employers are also expected to benefit through stronger partnerships and a more joined-up approach to skills training.

“There will be a co-ordinated Devon-wide apprenticeship, adult and higher technical offer,” Mr Laramy said. 

“Working with employers and stakeholders to deliver education closely aligned to local needs will help improve social mobility and economic prosperity.”

The move follows months of consultation and planning, with a public consultation in 2025 drawing strong engagement from students, parents, staff, employers and community partners. 

Feedback highlighted potential benefits including access to specialist facilities, a broader curriculum and stronger employer links.

Students have responded positively to the announcement. Ella Morris, a first-year Business student at Exeter College, said the merger felt “reassuring rather than worrying”.

“It sounds like it could mean more options after college, especially if courses and apprenticeships are better connected across Devon,” she said.

In North Devon, engineering student Tom Reynolds welcomed the emphasis on local skills. “A lot of people don’t want to move away to get good training,” he said. 

“If this brings better facilities and more links with employers, that’s a big plus.”

Local residents have also been watching developments closely. Margaret Collins, who lives near Exeter College’s Hele Road campus, said she hoped the merger would bring investment without losing local focus.

“If it brings more opportunities for young people, that’s good for the city,” she said. 

“My hope is that Exeter doesn’t lose its sense of local identity in a much bigger organisation.”

College leaders insist that maintaining local identity has been central to the merger, with education offers shaped around the needs of Exeter, North Devon and the wider county.

Nationally, mergers of this kind are becoming more common as colleges seek greater financial stability and the ability to invest in new facilities and emerging curriculum areas, including green technologies and offshore wind.

As the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group begins its first year of operation, its impact will be measured not just by size, but by whether students, staff, employers and communities across Devon see tangible benefits in education, skills and opportunity.