South Devon College is a successful £31 million turnover Further and Higher Education College located in Paignton with further campuses at Torquay, Newton Abbot, and South Devon Marine Academy based on the River Dart. At the heart of our local community, every year, the College helps over 10,000 learners of all ages achieve their ambitions and progress into employment, apprenticeships and continuing education. We are passionate about outstanding teaching and learning and the ability to transform lives and are committed to improving and increasing local social and economic prospects.

We are led by our mission, “To inspire our community through learning for all” and driven by our values of Aspiration, Inclusion, Innovation, Support & Progress. As such our priority for young people is to ensure high-quality education provision which leads to positive outcomes including qualification achievement, academic progress and positive personal development and progression to positive destinations.

We are the largest local provider of Further and Higher Education and as such are a key anchor and civic institution working in partnership and collaboration with key stakeholders to facilitate long term growth and prosperity in our area through education and learning. In 2023, South Devon College was reaccredited with a Platinum award by Investors in People.

The College has a dedicated University Centre – University Centre South Devon or ‘UCSD’ – within its Paignton campus and was granted Foundation Degree Awarding Powers (FDAP) in 2019. The University Centre offers employability focused degree courses, in partnership with the University of Plymouth, in an exceptionally supportive environment.