Plumpton College

Plumpton College, based in East Sussex on a rural 900-acre campus, is a further education provider that specialises in land-based and agricultural courses. The college has learning and work-based centres and partnerships located across the region.

Background and history

The college was established in 1926 after the closing of the original East Sussex college in 1915. It went under the names East Sussex Agricultural Institute, then East Sussex School of Agriculture. However, it became best known as the Plumpton Agricultural College, and grew extensively until an diversification of its course provisions prompted a name change.

Location and accessibility

Located in East Sussex, not far from Lewes, the college can be accessed via a range of transport. Regular trains run to nearby Lewes where a connecting bus can be caught. There are college-provided bus services, as well as local council-ran buses which run regularly in and out of Plumpton. Car permits are granted for students wishing to travel to campus by their own means, but biking and walking promises a longer journey duration due to the college's rural location.

What's on offer?

Teaching was originally focused in the agricultural sector, but has since diversified, and the college now offers a range of land-based courses to study from. Most are vocational and/or work-based, often working in partnership with local schools and businesses. The 900-acre estate on which the campus is located offers plenty of practical learning opportunities, while there is also an outdoor excursion centre in Snowdonia, Wales. Additionally, out-centres can be found in Netherfield , Robertsbridge, Flimwell and Stanmer Park, Brighton.

The college specialises in land-based and related subjects, with a lot of the courses on offer integrating work placements and partnerships with local businesses.

The college has two types of apprenticeship schemes available: level 2 intermediate and level 3 advanced.

Finance and funding

Fee remission is available for over-19s provided conditions are met by the student, whereas there are also bursaries available for 16-18s. Additional help with travel costs, residential support funds, meal tickets and care to learn schemes are also on offer from the college.

The Wine Centre opened in 2007. The purpose designed centre consists of a commercial and research winery, two laboratories, a lecture theatre, a wine evaluation room and a room for special events.

The Equine Centre, a state-of-the-art facility is ideally located on the 900-acre campus and consists of two well equipped yards, a traditional yard of 20 boxes and an American Barn' designed yard with 40 boxes. There are two indoor schools, a large outdoor school, horse walker, mechanical horse and cross country course.

The Wales Farm Estate is the main College Farm and extends to 900 hectares and comprises 340 Holstein cows, a modern high welfare pig unit, 500 breeding ewes, a Sussex suckler herd and a wide range of arable crops. The college estate is home to a wide range of ecological diversities.

The Library was completed in 2009 as part of the West Wing development. The library contains over 10,000 books on land-based subjects and a wide selection of periodicals. 3,000 e-books are also available on campus.