{{Short description|College in Devon, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Use British English|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox university | name = Petroc | image = Plogo.jpg | established = 2008 (merger of North Devon College and East Devon College) <br /> 2009 (renamed Petroc) | closed = 5th January 2026 | city = Barnstaple and Tiverton | country = England, United Kingdom | campus = North Devon and Mid Devon | principal = Kurt Hintz <ref>{{cite web|website=Petroc|url=https://www.petroc.ac.uk/content/news/interview-with-sean-mackney|title=Interview with Sean Mackney|date=August 2019|access-date=19 November 2019}}</ref> | type = Public<br/>Further education<br/>Higher education | website = {{URL|http://www.petroc.ac.uk/}} | coor = {{coord |51.072|-4.069|type:edu_region:GB-DEV|display=inline|name=Petroc-North-Devon}}<br/>{{coord |51.065|-4.083|type:edu_region:GB-DEV|display=inline|name=Petroc-Brannams}} <br/>{{coord |50.912|-3.492|type:edu_region:GB-DEV|display=inline|name=Petroc-Tiverton}} }}
'''Petroc''' was a further education (FE) and higher education (HE) college in Devon, England, with a catchment area covering more than {{convert|1500|sqmi}}. It had the largest A-level sixth form in North Devon. The college served up to 11,000 students each year, on a wide range of full and part-time courses (from entry level to higher education in partnership with Plymouth University), including distance learning and work-based training.
Petroc was formed from the merger North Devon College and East Devon College on 1 August 2008. North Devon College was the nominal survivor of the merger, however that name was deemed unsuitable for the merged college due to its expanded catchment area.<ref>{{cite web|website=Petroc|url=https://www.petroc.ac.uk/college-information/about-the-college/history|title=College History|access-date=19 November 2019}}</ref> The merged college was renamed Petroc in 2009.<ref name="FormationFEWeek">{{cite news |last=Offord |first=Paul |url=https://feweek.co.uk/2015/05/20/two-devon-colleges-facing-combined-4m-budget-shortfall-for-201516-consider-merger/ |title=Two Devon colleges facing combined £4m budget shortfall for 2015/16 consider merger |work=FE Week |location=London |date=2015-05-20 |access-date=2018-02-27 }}</ref> The college is named after St Petroc, a saint with numerous dedications throughout Devon and the patron saint of the Devon flag.
In 2015 the college was graded ‘good’ by Ofsted.<ref name="Ofsted">{{cite web |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/130646 |title=Petroc |publisher=Ofsted |access-date=2018-02-04 }}</ref> In 2017 it was rated as Silver within the Teaching Excellence Framework.<ref name="NDGTEF">{{cite news |last=Howells |first=Sarah |url=http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/petroc-barnstaple-wins-tef-award-1-5075642 |title=Petroc wins awards for ‘excellent’ teaching |work=North Devon Gazette |date=2017-06-24 |access-date=2018-02-04 }}</ref>
Petroc had two campuses. The North Devon Campus was in Barnstaple. The College had a third campus also located in Barnstaple, in the Roundswell area, and takes its name from Brannam Pottery, the company which formerly occupied the site, but this campus closed in July 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |title=PETROC TO SELL BRANNAMS CAMPUS |url=https://www.petroc.ac.uk/about-the-college/news/petroc-to-sell-brannams-campus/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=College History |url=https://www.petroc.ac.uk/about-the-college/history/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and is now occupied partially by a branch of HBH Woolacotts. The Mid Devon Campus was in Tiverton, and became a campus of Exeter College as a result of the 2025 merger.
==Merger with Exeter College== In December 2025 the college announced that it would merge with Exeter College to form the Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group (ENDC), meaning that from the 5th of January 2026<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merger Confirmed |url=https://www.petroc.ac.uk/about-the-college/news/merger-confirmed/ |url-status=live}}</ref> the North Devon campus reverted back to using the name of North Devon College. That was used prior to 2008 and the mid-Devon campus became a sub-campus of Exeter College.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{kml}} * {{Official website|http://www.petroc.ac.uk}}
{{Universities and colleges in South West England}} {{Schools in Devon}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Petroc (College)}} Category:Buildings and structures in Barnstaple Category:Tiverton, Devon Category:Education in Exeter Category:Further education colleges in Devon Category:Educational institutions established in 2008 Category:Educational institutions established in 2009 Category:2008 establishments in England Category:2009 establishments in England