Swansea College
Encyclopedia
Swansea College was a further education college in Swansea
. It was one of the largest further education colleges in Wales
with over 15,000 students and employing approximately 1,000 staff. Swansea College merged with Gorseinon College
on 20th August 2010 to create a single sixth form and further education college for the Swansea area called Gower College Swansea
.
Swansea College provided preparation for a number of qualifications, including GCSE
s, the IB Diploma Programme
, A-levels and HND
s, as well as a number of vocation
al courses leading to BTEC
First and National Diplomas, NVQs and other similar qualifications. It also ran EFL programmes for non-native speakers of English
.
The College’s mission statement was: We will provide high quality, relevant provision for all our learners.
The College operated on several different sites in Swansea.
s, as well as a number of vocation
al courses leading to BTEC
First and National Diplomas, NVQs and other similar qualifications.
in sport
, leisure
, tourism
, business
, hospitality
or public services
.
The faculty also housed the Centre for Sporting Development which is dedicated to the physical, personal and intellectual development of student athletes.
or employment
. They gave the student a chance to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding that underpin the creation of Engineering
and IT
systems and services.
The faculty had fully equipped workrooms as well as specialist computer software.
Student-built websites include:
http://www.laugharne.info
http://www.childcompassion.co.uk
http://www.carmarthenspinners.co.uk
http://www.streetchiro.co.uk - Created by Nicky Thomas
Some coursework websites may be viewed at http://www.btecnatdip.co.uk
and Complementary Therapy could take part in work experience in a salon environment at either its Broadway or Cefn Hengoed Centre. Health
and social care courses were also offered.
to help to coordinate basic skills
and adult community courses throughout the city. Opportunities were on offer to help people improve their employability by encouraging confidence and developing skills for life.
, IOSH, CIEH, BIIAB
, OCR, RTITB, CMI, ILM, First Aid
and NVQ.
s throughout the year. There are different levels of apprenticeships available and on successful completion students are awarded with a nationally recognised Modern Apprenticeship framework.
Levels included:
Foundation Modern Apprentice (NVQ Level 2)
Advanced Modern Apprentice (NVQ Level 3/4)
Modern Skills Diploma (NVQ Level 4/5)
(for Staff Development in ILT
) in 1999-2000.
on 20th August 2010 to create a single sixth form and further education college for the Swansea area called Gower College Swansea
.
. The identities of both colleges will however remain and Gorseinon College will retain its campus in Gorseinon as a sixth-form college. Swansea College intends to vacate its present campus in Tycoch
and the intention is for the merged college to develop a new site in Swansea city centre
. The favoured site is Parc Tawe
which, it is hoped will enable the college to better serve the areas to the east of Swansea that it does at present.
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. It was one of the largest further education colleges in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
with over 15,000 students and employing approximately 1,000 staff. Swansea College merged with Gorseinon College
Gorseinon College
Coleg Gorseinon College was a further education college situated to the west of Swansea, in the suburb of Upper Loughor in Gorseinon. It was ranked as one of the best colleges in Wales and the United Kingdom. Recently the college was rated as 'outstanding' by Her Majesty's Inspectorate for...
on 20th August 2010 to create a single sixth form and further education college for the Swansea area called Gower College Swansea
Gower College Swansea
Gower College Swansea is the name of the further education college in Swansea, Wales, which was formed on 20th August 2010 from the merger of Gorseinon College and Swansea College Nick Bennett, the current principal of Gorseinon College, has been offered the post of principal at the new...
.
Swansea College provided preparation for a number of qualifications, including GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
s, the IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
, A-levels and HND
HND
HND may refer to:* Higher National Diploma, a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom* Hexanitrodiphenylamine, a World War II explosive with the chemical formula C12H5N7O12* HND, the ISO 3166-1 three-letter code for Honduras...
s, as well as a number of vocation
Vocation
A vocation , is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.-Senses:...
al courses leading to BTEC
Business And Technology Education Council (BTEC)
The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
First and National Diplomas, NVQs and other similar qualifications. It also ran EFL programmes for non-native speakers of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
The College’s mission statement was: We will provide high quality, relevant provision for all our learners.
Campus and Catchment Area
- Tycoch Campus – Sketty - Main site of the College, provided A level, IBIB Diploma ProgrammeThe International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
and all Vocational Courses ranging from NVQs to BTECBusiness And Technology Education Council (BTEC)The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
awards. - Llwyn-Y-Bryn – UplandsUplands, SwanseaUplands is a suburb of Swansea, Wales. It lies about a mile to the west of Swansea city centre, and falls within the Uplands electoral ward. It is centred around the A4118 road, which links Swansea city centre and Sketty. The main road begins as Walter Road from the east, and becomes Sketty Road...
- Site for visual and performing arts. - Kingsway Centre – city centre
- Business College- LlansamletLlansamletLlansamlet is the name of an electoral ward and a coterminous community City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. Llansamlet does not have a community council....
- Several other sites, including Sketty HallSketty HallSketty Hall is a venue used for hosting social functions, business functions and conferences in Singleton Park, Swansea, south Wales.The original building was built in the early 18th century as a private house. Over the years it has seen a number of extensions, modifications and changes of use to...
and local schools, were used for courses.
Faculties and Services
A Level and The Arts
The faculty was split into two areas - a specially designed 'B Floor' at the College's Tycoch campus and purpose-built Arts, Media and Performance suites at Llwyn y Bryn. The faculty provided preparation for a number of qualifications, including A-levels, the IB and HNDHND
HND may refer to:* Higher National Diploma, a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom* Hexanitrodiphenylamine, a World War II explosive with the chemical formula C12H5N7O12* HND, the ISO 3166-1 three-letter code for Honduras...
s, as well as a number of vocation
Vocation
A vocation , is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.-Senses:...
al courses leading to BTEC
Business And Technology Education Council (BTEC)
The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
First and National Diplomas, NVQs and other similar qualifications.
2008 results
- 99.3% of students passed their A Level courses.
- 15% of these had A grades, 47% A or B and 78 % A, B or C.
- 93% of students passed their AS Level courses.
- 100% of students passed the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Sport, Lifestyle and Business
Extra curricular opportunities were offered, including work experience, educational visits, visiting speakers and entrepreneurship guidance. Courses were designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills to progress into employment or Higher EducationHigher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
, leisure
Leisure
Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
, tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, hospitality
Hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers...
or public services
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
.
The faculty also housed the Centre for Sporting Development which is dedicated to the physical, personal and intellectual development of student athletes.
Engineering, IT and Technology
These courses were designed to provide students with a choice of routes into a range of disciplines for either Higher EducationHigher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
or employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
. They gave the student a chance to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding that underpin the creation of Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
systems and services.
The faculty had fully equipped workrooms as well as specialist computer software.
Student-built websites include:
http://www.laugharne.info
http://www.childcompassion.co.uk
http://www.carmarthenspinners.co.uk
http://www.streetchiro.co.uk - Created by Nicky Thomas
Some coursework websites may be viewed at http://www.btecnatdip.co.uk
Social and Vocational Studies
Students of Hairdressing, BeautyBeauty
Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology, and culture...
and Complementary Therapy could take part in work experience in a salon environment at either its Broadway or Cefn Hengoed Centre. Health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and social care courses were also offered.
Community Operations
Community Operations worked closely with partner organisations in SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
to help to coordinate basic skills
Basic skills
Basic skills can be compared to higher order thinking skills. Facts and methods are highly valued under the back-to-basics approach to education....
and adult community courses throughout the city. Opportunities were on offer to help people improve their employability by encouraging confidence and developing skills for life.
Training for Business
The Business College was the commercial arm of Swansea College. Many programmes carried national accreditation. Others were bespoke, tailored to the student's particular needs. The Business College was based in Swansea Vale and offers training courses such as NEBOSHNEBOSH
NEBOSH is a UK-based independent examination board delivering vocational qualifications in health, safety & environmental practice and management....
, IOSH, CIEH, BIIAB
BIIAB
The BIIAB is the wholly owned awarding body of BII , the professional body for the licensed retail industry.BIIAB’s parent company, BII, is a registered charity whose remit is to raise professional standards across the sector...
, OCR, RTITB, CMI, ILM, First Aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
and NVQ.
Work Based Learning
Swansea College offered modern apprenticeshipApprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
s throughout the year. There are different levels of apprenticeships available and on successful completion students are awarded with a nationally recognised Modern Apprenticeship framework.
Levels included:
Foundation Modern Apprentice (NVQ Level 2)
Advanced Modern Apprentice (NVQ Level 3/4)
Modern Skills Diploma (NVQ Level 4/5)
Level 3 Courses
- 99.3% on A Level Courses.
- 88% on National Diploma Courses.
- 80% on National Certificate Courses.
- 90% on NVQ Level 3 programmes.
- 100% on the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Awards
The College won the LSDA Beacon AwardAoC Beacon Awards
The AoC Beacon Awards Programme was launched in 1994 to recognises and promote the interdependence of further education colleges. The award is supported by the AoC short for the Association of Colleges which represents all FE colleges in England and Wales...
(for Staff Development in ILT
ILT
-Information and Learning Technology :ILT or Information and Learning Technology describes the methods of using technology to enhance the learning experience within education...
) in 1999-2000.
Merger with Gorseinon College
Swansea College merged with Gorseinon CollegeGorseinon College
Coleg Gorseinon College was a further education college situated to the west of Swansea, in the suburb of Upper Loughor in Gorseinon. It was ranked as one of the best colleges in Wales and the United Kingdom. Recently the college was rated as 'outstanding' by Her Majesty's Inspectorate for...
on 20th August 2010 to create a single sixth form and further education college for the Swansea area called Gower College Swansea
Gower College Swansea
Gower College Swansea is the name of the further education college in Swansea, Wales, which was formed on 20th August 2010 from the merger of Gorseinon College and Swansea College Nick Bennett, the current principal of Gorseinon College, has been offered the post of principal at the new...
.
. The identities of both colleges will however remain and Gorseinon College will retain its campus in Gorseinon as a sixth-form college. Swansea College intends to vacate its present campus in Tycoch
Tycoch
Tycoch is a suburban district of the City and County of Swansea in Wales. It is situated in the Sketty ward of the city, north-west of Sketty Cross. The area is chiefly residential...
and the intention is for the merged college to develop a new site in Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre in Swansea, Wales, contains the main shopping, leisure and nightlife district in Swansea. The city centre covers much of the Castle ward including the area around Oxford Street, Castle Square, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre; Alexandra Road, High Street, Wind Street and the...
. The favoured site is Parc Tawe
Parc Tawe
Parc Tawe is a retail park and leisure area in Swansea, Wales. It is located in the eastern area of the city centre on the west bank of the River Tawe in the Lower Swansea valley....
which, it is hoped will enable the college to better serve the areas to the east of Swansea that it does at present.