SHEBBEAR College has been awarded Associate College Status by the Royal Society— the only school in the south west to have been selected for this prestigious status.

The Associate Schools and Colleges scheme is a UK network of teachers who share their experience and work with colleges in order to help promote excellence in science and mathematics teaching.

Andrew Colville, the college's head of biology, will be given access to resources and expertise from the world-leading science institution.

Mr Colville has been the recipient of two consecutive partnership grants from the society to set up a school based recycling company. He was also invited to exhibit at the society's 350th anniversary science exhibition attended by the Queen and Prince William.

It was this that led the society to invite Shebbear College to be its representative in the South West.

Mr Colville has already started working with colleges in the region by taking a group of sixth form students to St Petroc's College in Barnstaple to help them set up a biodiesel production facility and recently spoke at a conference at Bath University sharing his experience at developing cross-curricular activities.