Aoife and Ruth’s Story

“It’s important that students are front and centre of everything we do.”

Subjects studied:
Aoife – A Level Law, Modern History and English Literature (Student Governor for students of the Truro campus as a member of the Quality of Education and Skills Committee.)

Ruth – International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Chair of the Council 26)

Leadership roles:
Student Governor and member of the Quality of Education and Skills Committee
Chair of the Student Council

For Aoife and Ruth, being a student at Truro and Penwith College is about more than academic achievement. Through their leadership roles, they help ensure that student perspectives are heard and reflected in decisions that shape College life.

Aoife serves as Student Governor for the Truro campus and is a member of the Quality of Education and Skills Committee. In this role, she represents student views on matters affecting the student experience and helps ensure that decisions made by the Board of Governors reflect the needs and interests of learners.

Alongside her studies in A Level Law, Modern History and English Literature, Aoife hopes to pursue a career in the legal profession and sees student representation as an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

Ruth, who studies the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, is Chair of the Student Council. Working closely with students and College leaders, she helps gather feedback, promote student engagement and ensure that student voices remain central to discussions about College life.

Together, Aoife and Ruth recently welcomed Carl Riding as he began his first official day as Principal of Truro and Penwith College.

Having already spent several weeks visiting campuses, meeting students and speaking with staff, Carl sat down with the two student leaders to discuss his first impressions of the College and his priorities for the future.

During the interview, Carl described Truro and Penwith College as a vibrant and caring environment where positive relationships between students and staff are immediately visible.

“The behaviour is exceptional,” he explained. “The interactions between students and staff are very positive.”

For Aoife and Ruth, the conversation reinforced the importance of student voice within the College community. Carl spoke openly about his commitment to listening to students and ensuring they remain at the centre of decision-making.

“Talking to students more and listening to the student voice” was one of the key actions he identified for his first month as Principal.

“We must be a student-focused organisation,” he said. “It’s important that students are front and centre of everything we do.”

The interview also reflected Carl’s desire to be a visible and approachable leader.

“That’s what I want to be known as going forward,” he explained. “A visible Principal that people feel they can approach.”

For both Aoife and Ruth, the opportunity to interview the College’s new Principal demonstrated the value placed on student leadership at Truro and Penwith College. It also highlighted the important role students play in shaping the future of their College community.

Through their involvement in governance and student representation, they are helping to ensure that learners have a voice, that positive change is informed by student experiences and that future generations of students continue to benefit from a supportive and inclusive environment.

As Carl begins his journey as Principal, Aoife and Ruth will continue to represent their peers, champion student perspectives and help strengthen the partnership between students and College leadership.