With an annual turnover of nearly £19m, the college offers a wide-ranging curriculum to over 2500 students annually as well as operating related commercial businesses within which our students learn, and which contribute to college running costs as well as offering students an opportunity to explore their industries from a workplace perspective. Currently, over 400 staff are employed across the college which operates predominantly near Lewes, in the southeast of England.
Plumpton College was awarded ‘Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care Apprenticeship Provider of the Year” at the 2024 FE Week and AELP Apprenticeship Awards 2024, following a sector-leading 96% achievement rate in 2023. Our expert trainers, modern facilities and strong employer partnerships help us to prepare a skilled workforce who are ready to enter employment in land-based industries.
Students from the horticulture faculty won a gold medal at the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair in 2024, addressing the theme of ‘Gardening in a Challenging Climate’, promoting our extensive sustainability work across all areas. This was also noted with two awards for Vineyard Sustainability from NFU Mutual at their inaugural awards ceremony in 2023.
Our most recent Ofsted inspection saw Outstanding results across multiple key areas of the college, including adult education, apprenticeships, personal development and inclusive learning for students with high needs. Ofsted also praised Plumpton’s ongoing investments and how this demonstrates the college’s commitment to cutting edge education and training provision to meet the developing and future needs of the land and environment sectors.
Ongoing investment in our facilities and in digital infrastructure is an ongoing priority for Plumpton College; we invested close to £300,000 in digital technology in 2023/4, and in February 2025 we proudly launched our brand-new, state-of-the-art Veterinary Studies Centre. This centre is part of a major shift which will future-proof Plumpton’s provision and provide innovative and cutting-edge training and commercial equipment so that students can benefit from unmatched opportunities whilst studying at the college. Our development continues into 2025/6, with brand-new animal enclosures and facilities under construction to provide more varied opportunities for students studying Veterinary and Animal Management courses.
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