Exeter College and Petroc College confirm major change from January

Exeter College and Petroc College have confirmed that they will formally merge on Monday 5 January 2026, following approval by both institutions’ boards of governors.

The merger will create a new organisation called the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group. 

As part of the change, Petroc College will be renamed North Devon College, while Exeter College will retain its existing name. Sixth form provision will continue to be delivered in both Exeter and North Devon.

Under the new structure, John Laramy CBE, currently Principal and Chief Executive of Exeter College, will become Group Principal and Chief Executive of the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group. 

Jade Otty, Deputy CEO of Exeter College, will become Group Deputy CEO and also take on a senior leadership role at North Devon College. 

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Petroc’s interim principal and chief executive, Kurt Hintz, will leave on 5 January to take up an interim leadership role at Havant and South Downs College.

The new group will also develop a Centre for Progression in Tiverton, building on existing provision at the site. 

The centre is intended to support young people with additional needs and those who require a different educational setting to re-engage with learning.

Once established, the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group is expected to become one of the largest place-based further education groups in the country, serving more than 16,000 learners, employing close to 2,000 staff and generating an annual turnover of more than £100 million. 

Both colleges will continue to operate from their current campuses, with no immediate changes planned for existing students.

Adam Watt, Chair of the Corporation at Exeter College and Patricia Denham OBE, Chair of Board at Petroc shared that they would “like to thank everyone who contributed to the public consultation on the proposed merger of Exeter College and Petroc.”

“During the consultation period, we welcomed the valuable input of our stakeholders, recognising the importance of the success of this merger to everyone involved.”

“The feedback received was encouragingly positive and has reaffirmed our commitment to deliver a merger that we believe will provide a brighter future for education in Devon.” 

Adding to this, they said: “Where concerns or questions have been raised, we will ensure they inform our implementation plans and strategic planning going forwards.”

The merger follows a public consultation which received 303 responses, including 229 from Petroc stakeholders and 74 from Exeter College. 

Respondents included parents and carers, students, staff, employers, schools, higher education institutions and local government representatives.

Of those who responded, 203 people (67 per cent) said they supported the proposed merger, 33 respondents (11 per cent) said they did not support it, and 67 respondents (22 per cent) said they were unsure. 

Parents and carers, Petroc students and Petroc staff made up around two-thirds of all responses.

Support for the merger was strongest among parents and carers, Petroc staff and employers. Among Petroc students, 42 supported the merger, 11 opposed it and 24 were unsure. 

Feedback from Exeter College staff and students showed a more mixed response, though support still outweighed opposition.

The consultation also sought views on the proposed name of the new corporation and the names of the colleges within it. 

The majority of respondents supported the name Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group, with many describing it as clear and reflective of a place-based approach. 

Some respondents said the name was not particularly creative, while others suggested Tiverton should be referenced more prominently. 

It was clarified that the corporation name would be a legal entity, while colleges would continue to operate under their local identities.

There was also broad support for the proposed names Exeter College and North Devon College. Respondents highlighted the importance of place-based naming and, in some cases, referred to the historical reputation of North Devon College and the established brand of Exeter College.

Written comments submitted during the consultation highlighted perceived benefits of the merger, including the ability to share best practice, improve consistency and quality across Devon, strengthen resilience in a challenging funding environment, and expand provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities. 

Several respondents also pointed to transport challenges across rural Devon and said a stronger local offer could reduce the need for long-distance travel.

One respondent said it was a “sensible, place-based approach that recognises the location of the group whilst recognising who contributes.” 

While another commented that it was a “great opportunity to create strong, high quality, consistent academic learning for learners across Devon”. 

Others said the merger could help spread Exeter College’s established reputation more widely, with one response stating: “Exeter College has an incredible reputation – if this success can filter through the region it would be a good thing.” 

Another respondent said the merger would help young people in North Devon avoid long and unreliable journeys to alternative colleges.

Support was also expressed for the proposed Centre for Progression in Tiverton, with respondents describing it as “an area that is very much needed” and welcoming the focus on provision for young people with additional needs.

Concerns raised during the consultation included transport challenges across Devon, fears about reduced competition between providers, and the potential loss of each college’s individual character. 

Some respondents said there was a risk that larger organisations could feel “less personal”, while others emphasised the importance of protecting Exeter College’s existing standards and ensuring that SEND provision remains accessible across all sites.

The consultation also sought views on the proposed name of the new organisation. 

Most respondents supported the name Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group, describing it as clear and reflective of the colleges’ geographic focus, although some said it was not particularly imaginative. 

There was broad support for the decision to retain the name Exeter College and adopt the name North Devon College, with several respondents noting the importance of local identity. 

One respondent said: “North Devon College is a name I love,” while another said it “ties to the local community and area”.

On the date of the merger, all assets and liabilities currently held by Petroc will transfer to the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group, which will be the renamed corporation of Exeter College. 

The colleges have said they will continue to publish updates on the merger process through their websites.