We aim is to prepare students for life outside college and teach them skills that they can use throughout their adult life.
To do that, we draw on a range of unique community partnerships. These include:
Work experience placements
Over 34 local employers support students at St Piers College in their quest to become employable, engaged members of society. From hair salons and fitness centres to local galleries and other small businesses, students experience valuable work experience and gain key skills in the process.
Competitions
What’s not to love about getting wet and muddy, working together and trying to beat other teams? That’s what ‘It’s a knockout’ is all about – and it’s become something of a fixture in the St Piers College calendar every year. We also take part in the annual
Jim Green Memorial Competition held at the South of England Agricultural Society.
Art exhibitions
Displaying their art in public is a source of real pride for many of our talented artists at St Piers College, and that’s possible thanks to our links with local galleries and private businesses.
Agricultural shows
Thanks to our stunning rural location, there’s no shortage of agricultural shows for students at St Piers College to visit – from the South of England show to Ardingly and Edenbridge. We even exhibit our own prize Oxford Sandy and Black pigs from
our farm!
College collaborations
We’ve got strong reciprocal links with Central Sussex and East Surrey colleges, which means students from St Piers College are able to take mainstream courses.
Support for charities
Charity work is a really rewarding way for students to work together and experience the sense of achievement that comes from raising money. We regularly raise money for St Martins in the Field, St Lucia School, Children in Need, Comic Relief, Jeans for Genes Day, Fairtrade Day, various animal charities and the RNLI.
Sports and activities
In line with our ‘healthy body healthy mind’ attitude, we make regular outings to outward bound centres, such as
Blackland Farm. This is a great way for students to experience different activities and challenge themselves – and trips are always full!
Performing arts
Drama is one of our most popular subjects, and there’s always a play or production going on at St Piers College. In recent years, thanks to our links with other colleges and societies, students have been able to join forces with other young budding actors and actresses to put on joint projects – and they’ve been hugely successful.
Residential visits
We think the end of each academic year is worth celebrating! That’s why every summer, our residential house staff arrange trips away, from long weekends to full weeks. In recent years, students have been to Center Parcs, Disneyworld Paris and Butlins.
Community visits
To help prepare students for life outside of college, we encourage them to experience as much of our local area as they can. Whether it’s a trip to the local cinema or a session at the fitness club, it’s fantastic to have such a warm and friendly community right on our doorstep and we make the most of it whenever we can.
I have undertaken work experience in shops, I have gained a lot of independence, especially in caring for myself. I can travel on my own and I have learned how to communicate with people, I am more confident. 
