Our STE(A)M story

Collaborative across curriculum and cross community practice towards a sustainable future

What does it mean to be STEM Assured?

It means we offer learners a STE(A)M education. We are the only ones in Devon who do this and we have the 'badge' to show that an independent organisation has judged us as 'best practice' in doing this. It means therefore we have the confidence to sell ourselves as such and celebrate what we do to be 'STEM centred'.

If we are offering all learners a STE(A)M education, it means that we promoting a STE(A)M designed curriculum, and all learners will have the opportunity to learn STE(A)M skills, ready for the workplace.


Our Story

As a college we have a long history of focusing on STEM, through the curriculum we support and the skills we foster in our staff and young people. We recently renewed our STEM Assurance status, but had been STEM Assured from 3 years previously.

We recognise ourselves as STE(A)M - with the arts embedded deeply within the science, technology, engineering and maths subjects. Art is recognised, and therefore highlighted, as far as curriculum design is concerned, as well as the philosophical acknowledgement of the value of arts, in all it s forms. Art is essential in problem solving - as well as essential for the creation of a world in which we, as humans, want to live in!STE(A)M is for the promotion of a sustainable world for all of us.

The STE(A)M agenda is therefore very much at the heart of the College, as indicated by the College Strategy of 2018-2021.

This Petroc STE(A)M strategy intends to be:

  1. Connected: creating synergy across the college offers to ensure sustainability and scalability of provision, and by rationalising, where possible, provision and resources to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of delivery and reach across the areas where the college operates. The STE(A)M Strategy advocates the need for additional cross-curricular activities where innovation in curriculum development, enrichment, access and delivery by learners and employers can be further enhanced;
  2. Contextualised: serving the local priorities and needs of employers and learners by providing contextualised STE(A)M provision and solutions aligned to support the local economies and communities where the college operates;
  3. Contemporary: embracing horizon scanning to ensure new and emerging technology areas of economic growth are developed and curriculum is continuously nourished to support employer needs and learners expectations.