A group of Gower College Swansea hairdressing students have gone from singing into their hairbrushes and into the recording studio with a charity single. With Swansea's homelessness levels being the highest in Wales, Broadway students are hoping the song will raise awareness of the city's homeless community.

Level Two hairdressing student Karen Horton was inspired to pen ‘Life on the streets’ after witnessing the plight of one of the cities many homeless people.  “One Monday night leaving college with my tutor Deborah Hachie, we saw a man in the door way of a shop sleeping in a cardboard box in the freezing cold I was so upset to see the way this person was living , when I got home I sat and wrote some lyrics to a song” she explained.

The song was then recorded by Level 2 Hairdressing students and staff at Andrew King recording studio in Treboeth Swansea. The single is currently in post production and Karen is hoping that when released it will be played on local radio stations and raise money for local charities.

Sport and Hairdressing students got a taste of each other’s worlds with a ‘gender swap challenge’  at Tycoch campus. The challenge aims to give students a chance to experience sterotypically 'male' or 'female' subjects.

First up were the BTEC L2 First Diploma Sport students who gave hairdressing a go at Broadway hair and beauty centre. Swapping with Level 1A hairdressing students they got to grips with washing and blow-drying each other’s hair.

Broadway students then headed to the Sports Hall where they were put through their paces with a circuit including football, basketball and badminton.

The Summer University is an exciting, unique and rewarding opportunity for AS/BTEC L3 year 1 students looking to progress onto higher education.

This FREE, three week residential course involves one week in Swansea MET, University of Wales Swansea and University Wales Trinity St David, Carmarthen (students return home at weekends).  Students will experience what it is like to live independently, meet new people from across the South Wales area and learn more about a subject area of their choice! The modules on offer are:

• Biological Sciences
• Business, Marketing & Leisure Management
• Computer Science
• Creative Arts
• Engineering
• Health & Early Childhood Studies
• Psychology, Criminology and Law
• Art and Design

In addition to this, students will also be provided with tailored support sessions and workshops to help with their forthcoming UCAS application form.  It is also a fun and dynamic experience with social events organised in the evenings from bowling to fancy dress parties.

Students who successfully graduate from the Summer University will be given a reduced offer on most courses when they apply to the above universities through UCAS for entry in 2015.

Please refer to the attached flyer for details regarding eligibility. If you wish to apply there will be information sessions where you can learn more about the summer university and pick up an application form:

• Tycoch campus -  Wednesday 2nd April in D24 at 1pm
• Gorseinon campus - Thursday 3rd April in M13 at 1pm

If you are unable attend, application forms will be behind reception!

The deadline for the forms in April 30th (forms can be handed into reception c/o Lisa Cairns or sent directly back to the university).

A group of Level 3 Public Service students have just returned from a visit to the European parliament in Brussels. During the visit they learned about the work of the European Parliament  and also got a chance to meet Jill Evans - the Plaid Cymru Member of the European Parliament for Wales.

Congratulations to Kewalin Bugg, - Level 3 Professional Cookery student who amazed almost 150 Hospitality and Tourism lecturers from colleges across Wales at the inaugural ‘PAN WALES Hospitality & Tourism Educators conference on Wednesday 26th March!

Kewalin, known to her friends as ‘Wan, developed the magnificent skill of fruit and vegetable carving, after attending a specialist carving course while living in Thailand many years ago.

All delegates at the conference were left in awe following two live demonstrations, where Wan created an array of decorative pieces including an ‘underwater scene of fish and seahorses’, an exquisite ‘rose bouquet complete with college logo’ from a watermelon, a ‘poodle’ made from broccoli, an aubergine ‘penguin’, a ‘peacock’ made from Swede and carrots, while not forgetting the fabulous ‘strawberry and pak choi blooms’ that were displayed in a vase made of pineapple!

Comments included “I cannot believe what I have seen in front of my very eyes”, while another onlooker said “that was absolutely amazing, such a talent, EXQUISITE!”

Needless to say, the Hospitality & Tourism team are extremely proud of Wan and her achievements, Mark Clement, Learning Area Manager said “She was a perfect ambassador for the college and played an extremely important role in the conference”.

Take a look at the exotic display that she created at the event:

A group of Gower College Swansea Chemistry students recently competed in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s “Chemistry Olympiad”, an exam-based competition, open to schools and colleges throughout the UK.

The college has enjoyed success in the Olympiad over many years and 13 students participated this time, the greatest number ever.   Of these, three students were awarded Bronze medals and two were awarded the Silver – one of these was just three marks away from the coveted Gold medal, only achieved by some 7% of candidates!

Chemistry lecturer, Paul Mouncher, said: “Every student has done so well, especially when you consider that there was no syllabus, no preparation and all competitors went into the examination “cold”.  We are immensely proud of them.  The paper was designed to challenge the most able sixth form Chemistry students, yet all of our candidates gave their best and didn’t give up, even with the most thought provoking-problems.”

Denise Thomas, who also tutors the students, added:  “All students reported that they fully enjoyed the experience; it has furthered their love for Chemistry and faith in their abilities to tackle even the most daunting of tasks!”

Pictured are Nathan Hughes, Theo Francis, Fiona Egeler, Sophie Pullen, Assed Butt, Jack Grey, Katy Surman, Jack Alderton and Megan Hancox.  (Angharad Jenkins, Ben James, Rhian Lewis and Sofia Colasanto were unavailable for the photograph as they were involved in other college activities.)

Gower College Swansea students came in droves to the annual HE Evening on the Gorseinon campus.  Amongst the universities who attended to provide information on the courses available were Aberystwyth, Bath Spa, Bristol, Cardiff and Cardiff Metropolitan, Swansea, West of England, the University of South Wales and University of Wales Trinity Saint David.  For the first time, Scottish universtities were represented, with the University of St Andrews having booked a stand!

College staff were also present to provide information on the increasing range of higher education courses which are now offered, enabling students to remain at Gower College Swansea to continue their education.  These courses include HNC/HND qualifications and degrees, in partnership with a number of higher education providers and professional bodies.   

In addition, talks were provided on the UCAS application process and student loans and finance.

Dr Richard Durran, who organises this event, commented: "We are most grateful to all the institutions who participate so readily each year.  The students and their parents find the opportunity to speak face-to-face with staff from such a range of providers to be invaluable as they start to make plans for the future."

All of the full time Plumbing students at Gower College Swansea are volunteering for a day with the Penllergaer Trust.  They will work with members of the Trust to help maintain Penllergaer Woods, a site of considerable historical and environmental interest.   

Tutor, Kelly Hinder, commented:  "This is a great opportunity for all the students to learn new skills, work in a team and be involved in their local community. 

Two students from the Independent Living Skills (ILS) department at Gower College Swansea amazed judges with their cookery skills at Bridgend College when six finalists battled for victory at the World Skills All-Wales Final.  They were required to prepare, cook and present two plates of Mediterranean salad to judges as part of the Independent Cooking Competition.

Gareth Williams (pictured on the right) was awarded Gold for his butterfly inspired salad, while Adam Humphreys gained Bronze for his platter, which resembled a flower.

Mandy Heskins, Curriculum Leader for Life Skills, and Michelle Williams, the students' personal tutor, were delighted with the results.  “It was such an emotional experience”, said Mandy, “they were fantastic. We are so proud of them both”.

Michelle commented on how professional the students were while working in an unfamiliar environment: “They adapted quickly to the different surroundings and presented beautiful salads to the judges. Today has been the icing on the cake.”

The competition aimed to promote independence, while focusing on health and safety, food hygiene and healthy eating. "To compete, candidates must have been working towards an Entry 1 or Entry 2 level qualification", explained Mark Clement, Learning Area Manager for ILS. "The results highlight the commitment of the students and the dedication of the staff within the department. Well done to everyone involved!"

The ILS department offers a range of full and part time courses, which are tailored to students with learning difficulties, specialist education needs and/or behavioural requirements. For further information contact Tom Snelgrove, Mandy Heskins or Helen Fencott on 208215.

If you're looking for active fun for your little ones this Easter make sure to bring them along to Tycoch Sports Centre where we will be running our 'Active Fun for Active Kids' sessions! The sessions will include bouncy castle, games, Easter egg hunts and much more 

Make sure to call and book your place.
 

Hospitality students will be running a special 6 course dinner service as part of their examinations on Thursday 3rd and 10th April at The Vanilla Pod

To make reservations contact 01792 284252 / 284218 or email vanillapod@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk

Fortunate Performing Arts and Media students at Gower College Swansea had the chance to learn from acclaimed opera singer, baritone Mark Llewelyn-Evans. Mark is one of the UK's most exciting classical cross-over performers, appearing regularly on opera stages and concert platforms across the UK, Europe, the Far East and the USA. Mark is very much in demand, whether performing for a 2,000 strong opera audience, singing to 75,000 fans before international rugby at the Wales Millennium Stadium with Katherine Jenkins, delivering an oratorio in an intimate venue or broadcasting on the BBC. In his movie debut in Guy Richie’s Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows, Mark played Don Giovanni alongside Robert Downy Jr. and Jude Law.

The visit was organised by Enterprise Officer, Lucy Turtle, who wanted the students to learn about self-employment in the music industry. The Media students were then given a challenge to film a promotional video for Mark who will be using it to submit for work in America. “This is a fantastic opportunity for the students to undertake a real project for their portfolio, with the potential for it to be shown globally”, says Lucy, “and is a result of a successful collaboration between staff and students from Media, Music and Performing Arts.”

Media students, Kayleigh Rochard, Rhys Beynon and Keiron Burgess are pictured with Mark Llewelyn-Evans.

Gower College Swansea has been awarded the LMW Quality Award.  This is a new quality award, being introduced across Wales to ensure the highest standards of leadership and management development, recognising excellence in support of 'the learner journey'.  Those who gain the award join a group of training providers who demonstrate best practice and maintain the highest standards.

The Leadership & Management Wales (LMW) quality award is available to training providers offering leadership and management courses in Wales who are approved to deliver courses by the ILM or the CMI and who meet the award’s quality standards.  LMW staff research all training providers who apply for the award, and conduct a quality evaluation audit which is then considered by a quality review board who decide the eligibility of the applicant for the award.

Successful training providers will be listed on the LMW website and be awarded the standard “quality assured by Leadership & Management Wales”.

“This award will represent a definitive standard for training providers,” said LMW director, Dr Barrie Kennard. “Those who gain it will have shown the ability to continually develop and pursue best practice in leadership and management development. Ultimately, this brand will represent a community of training providers who recognise the importance of developing leadership and management training in Wales as a ‘must have’ for the private sector business community.”

Gower College Swansea has been an established Leadership & Management Centre for the last 15 years. The team was awarded the LMW Quality award for the entire provision, which includes: Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and Institute Leadership Management (ILM) Levels 2-7; vocational and academic  Leadership & Management qualifications; the Professional Chartered Manager Award; British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) Level 4 Diploma In Facilities Management; City & Guilds Facilities Management Services Principles Level 2 and Facilities Management Services Principles, to name but a few!

In September 2013, the college was awarded Centre status for the Chartered Manager - the only College in West Wales offering the Award.  Achievement of the Chartered Manager Award is a logical step for managers seeking formal recognition of capability, promotion or new employment, and ongoing development of management skills, as it validates competence and professionalism at both operational and strategic levels.

These courses are delivered at Sketty Hall, through GCS Training, the business training arm of Gower College Swansea.

Pictured are:

Denise Brookes-Cooze, Commercial Curriculum Coordinator, Rob Murphy, Management Tutor, and Michele Corker, Leadership and Management Trainer.

A group of students at Tycoch campus have turned business brains on a recent assignment.

The group – all in the second year of their BTEC National Diploma in Childcare, Learning and Development were given the task of coming up with and developing their own unique Early Years Service.

The students were grouped together to devise every aspect of their enterprise from the name, services locations, staff, policies and much more. They were also tasked with designing and creating all promotional literature for their brand – including designing a website, logos and promo posters.  Business Idea’s ranged from playschemes and day centres in Swansea to holiday clubs in Cornwall.

Presentations took place this week and students were assessed by both members of staff and their peers.

Enterprise Officer Lucy Turtle, who had worked with the students on the business part of the project said: “I had the pleasure of  judging  the student’s final presentations and was so impressed with their business proposals. It was fantastic to see students develop their confidence in public speaking and gain the skills to lead into employment or starting up their own businesses effectively”.

Congratulations to the  group of Armed Forces Preparation Course students who raised over £1,800 for charity with a walk up South Wales’ highest peak. The walk to the top of Pen-y-Fan has raised the incredible amount which will be split between three charities - “Blood Bikes Wales”, “Wales Air Ambulance” and “Healing the Wounds” charities. Course tutor Greg Morgan thanked the students for their fundraising efforts .

The College course has actively supported these charities for a number of years and have raised over £ 10,000 to date.

Keep up the good work!

Gower College Swansea was recently visited by a group of delegates from Tknika in the Basque region of Spain.  The organisation is a centre of innovation, funded by the Basque Government, and works closely with VET providers, universities and SMEs, both within the region and internationally, on a range of innovative projects. 

The purpose of the visit was to view at first hand the mCommunity project at Gower College Swansea, which engages learners with the aid of mobile technology. After a short presentation on what the mCommunity project is and has achieved the five delegates took part in a  workshop.  The visitors were given Android Tablets and took the role of students being taught a Leadership and Management qualification remotely, via the mCommunity.  The delegates got to see what the mCommunity project does, both from the tutor and the learner perspective, and the opportunities of integrating mobile learning.

The visitors are pictured with Gower College Swansea mCommunity tutors Adele Morgan, Rebecca Spruce and Rob Murphy.

Pupils at several secondary schools have been getting to grips with engineering through a Saturday Club scheme run by staff at Gower College Swansea.  Designed to generate an interest in engineering, the Clubs were set up at Ysgol Maes y Dderwen, Dylan Thomas, Cefn Hengoed, Cwmtawe, Gowerton, Morriston and Pontarddulais Comprehensive Schools.  Spending their Saturday mornings back at school with college staff, pupils acquired the skills necessary to tackle a number of challenges, including bridge building!  By the end of the 8 week programme they were even designing a retro video game.

To celebrate the excellent work achieved by its Saturday Club members, the college recently held a presentation evening at the Tycoch campus.  Pictured with some of the pupils are Steve Williams, Curriculum Leader for Electronics, and Sean Sarsfield, the Enterprise Champion for Engineering.

Steve Williams commented:  “The pupils were really committed to the Saturday Clubs and our staff were impressed by their inventiveness and determination in responding to the challenges set.  We hope that we have developed their interest in engineering and the huge range of careers available.”

Dave Cranmer, the Learning Area Manager for Engineering, added:  “In the current climate, where the Welsh Government has identified a shortage of engineers and, in particular, women taking up careers in engineering, the Saturday Clubs are an effective way of inspiring an interest in engineering and promoting engineering as a potential career choice.

“The initiative to promote STEM subjects in schools is supported by SEMTA, the Sector Skills Council for Engineering, and the Welsh Government.  The Royal Academy of Engineering has identified that two million engineers at various levels will be required in the UK in the next decade.”

Llwyn y Bryn campus students will be holding a musical showcase at one of the city's most popular music venues - The Garage, Uplands. Students will be playing a mixture of rock, pop and Indie at the event.

Come down and show your support! Entry is just £3 (£2 if college student)

Two Level 3 Health and Social Care students from Gower College Swansea excelled themselves at the recent All Wales Skills Final of the Advanced Competition for Caring, held at the Deeside campus of Coleg Cambria, coming second at the end of a full day of competition.

Branwen Adnan and Sabina Miah were required to respond to two case studies and also complete an online knowledge assessment.  The case study element of the competition involved role play, simulating the care needs for individuals, who were played by actors.

Kelly Nedin, the Curriculum Leader for Health and Social Care, was delighted with the students’ performance:  “Those competing on the day were required to demonstrate excellent practical skills and the two learners who represented Gower College Swansea did extremely well to gain second place.”

Students and staff at Gower College Swansea have been doing some strenuous fund-raising for the Kenya Community Education Project (KCEP) which was set up at the college ten years ago.  The charity, which is launching a new website this week, provides support for Madungu Primary School and the community which it serves.  The money raised each year provides a feeding programme for 130 of the poorest children and pays for three extra teachers to work at the school.

Students and staff from the college visit Madungu every two years, taking with them educational and sporting materials.  While there, they hold meetings with parents and members of the community to identify the ongoing support which is required.  They also help in the classroom and organise sporting activities.

The annual Kenya Community Education Project Day at Gorseinon took place on Friday 4th April.  Pat Reid, KCEP Coordinator, explained:  “Today has involved our partner Primary Schools - Cilâ, Craig y Nos, Glyncollen and Tre Uchaf.  Some schools have been involved in fund-raising over several years and we are most grateful for their continued support.  The children have been learning more about African culture and we wish to thank the African Community Centre for providing workshops throughout the morning.  The children enjoyed hearing African stories and taking part in the dance workshop.”

Students undertook a Man vs Food challenge - won by Curtis Young -  and ran a cake stall to swell the funds, while Hair and Beauty students at the college’s Broadway Centre also raised money by providing treatments throughout the day.

Pictured are some of the students involved in the KCEP Day, with Pat Reid, KCEP Coordinator. 

A large group of staff and students recently undertook the gruelling Cannock Chase sponsored walk, with 15 completing the full 40 miles, walking for up to 19 hours!  £750 has been raised so far, and they are still counting.  Pat Reid emphasised how vital it is to raise as much money as possible through these activities:  “We aim to raise £1,200 with the current fund-raising in order to be able to finish building the library which started at the school in 2012.  This will make Madungu the only school in the area to have a  library - at the moment, the pupils do not even have an area in which to sit and read.  The library will be open to the community and be an enormous asset to the area.”

All those who participated were presented with certificates by Mark Jones, the college Principal.

Also pictured are Pat Reid, KCEP Coordinator, Ian Peabody, the trip organiser and leader on the visits to Kenya, Karan Gupta, last year’s President of KCEP, who went to Kenya in 2013 and Jamie Doherty and Rowan Neville who are sharing the current Presidency and will going on the trip in 2015.