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Learners on the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing – Small Animal Practice at Coleg Cambria Northop achieved a 100% pass rate in their first set of exams.

Among them were Hannah Williams and Katherine Oldham, who work at practices in North Wales and hope to go on and have careers in a sector where there is huge demand.

A report by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) projected job growth of 7.1% for veterinarians in the UK from 2023 to 2032, with an expected increase to around 57,000 vets by 2032. This trend reflects the steady rise and expanding opportunities within the industry.

With more students joining the Cambria programme in September, lecturer and IQA (Internal Quality Assurer) Ellie Woodcock is confident the qualification will go from strength to strength, as they have created a unique training facility to replicate a real-life medical setting, complementing theory and assessment modules.

“That is a major USP for us, and the quality of the teachers we have on this programme, all of whom are qualified veterinary nurses,” said Ellie.

“There is demand for more workers in veterinary science, and there are many other roles in this arena, so this is the right time to join us.”

She added: “The facility we have here is at the cutting edge, with ‘dummy dogs’, animal anatomy models, diagnostics, X-rays, sterilisation equipment and more.

“We also have the Small Animals Centre on site and our class space is unique as we can offer support here theoretically and practically.

“We have set it up to replicate their working environment and also have presentations from guest speakers and experts in different areas of veterinary science and surgery, all of which contributes to the students being ready for the world of work when they move on to their future careers.”

Hannah, from Colwyn Bay, works at the town’s Conway Road Veterinary Surgery and, following a spell volunteering with the RSPCA decided caring for animals was to be her dream role.

She said: “I had followed a different path but have always loved animals and decided to pursue that, which was the best thing I ever did.

“The time I spend here at the college in addition to my position as a student vet nurse have helped me to make great strides and build my confidence – this is definitely what I want to do with my life, I love it, and the course is very rewarding.”

Katherine, originally from Manchester and now living in Flint, works at Rhianfa Veterinary Centre in Rhyl, and also switched direction before joining Cambria.

“I always had a love of animals but had never seen it as an option for me as I was in a different industry for 10 years,” she said.

“I decided to take the leap and join an ANA (Animal Nursing Assistant) course here at Northop and then moved on to the Level 3, which has been brilliant.

“Learning with this equipment and the experienced tutors we have here – who are respected and so well-known in this field – are really benefiting us, and the results demonstrate that.”

Visit Animal Care & Management < Coleg Cambria for more.

For more news and information from Coleg Cambria, visit www.cambria.ac.uk and follow the college on social media.

A significant milestone has been reached at Gower College Swansea’s Gorseinon Campus where a major redevelopment project has officially begun, marking a substantial investment in teaching and learning for all students.

Vikki Howells MS, Minister for Further and Higher Education, attended a ground-breaking ceremony to show her support for this transformative initiative. The Minister was joined by the College’s Principal Kelly Fountain, Chief Executive Officer Mark Jones, and Chair of Governors Meirion Howells, in celebrating the start of this exciting project.

The redevelopment represents a £20.6 million investment, supported by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. This project highlights the College’s dedication to enhancing the learning environment and ensuring the sustainable growth of its facilities.

Gower College Swansea’s construction partner, Kier Construction, commenced the project in July with the demolition of several existing buildings. When completed, the redevelopment will include:

• A new entrance area: Designed to enhance both aesthetics and accessibility, this welcoming, state-of-the-art space will benefit both students and staff.
• Additional classrooms and student social spaces: To enrich the learner experience, these spaces will enhance the learner experience, providing inspirational spaces for students to learn and collaborate.
• Improved traffic flow system: Designed to reduce congestion and increase safety across the campus.

The project, which is expected to be completed in April 2026, is also a key step in the College’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon, in line with Welsh Government standards.

During her visit, Minister Howells met with current Gower College Swansea students, many of whom chose the Gorseinon Campus for its excellent reputation for A Level results and its successful GCS Honours programme, which saw 200 learners progress to Russell Group universities in 2024.

The Minister was also briefed on the College’s strong focus on pastoral care. With 80 staff members dedicated to student wellbeing, the College continues to prioritise a supportive learning environment. A number of these staff, covering all of the different support areas, were present to meet with the Minister during her tour. 

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Vikki Howells, said: “It is good to see yet another project benefiting from the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. To date we have invested £2.6bn into our schools and colleges to make them a better learning environment for staff and learners.

“I recently announced my ambitions for post-16 learning, and colleges like Gower College Swansea will play a crucial role in delivering a variety of vocational and academic courses. During the visit I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak to staff and learners about their views and visions for the future. I look forward to visiting more colleges over the next few months.

“I’m pleased to see investment into the College to provide a positive environment for staff and learners. I look forward to seeing the work progress at the Gorseinon campus.”

Speaking about the redevelopment, Principal Kelly Fountain said:

“This is a pivotal moment for Gower College Swansea. The £20.6 million investment will transform the Gorseinon Campus, delivering cutting-edge facilities that will significantly enhance the teaching and learning experience for our students.

“With the support of Welsh Government, we are committed to creating an outstanding sustainable learning environment that supports our strategic vision to inspire our learners.

“We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to the positive impact it will have on both students and staff.”

Jason Taylor, Regional Director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: “We are delighted to be marking the start of this exciting project on Gower College Swansea’s Gorseinon Campus. “This project will provide significant enhancements to the experiences of both students and staff here for generations to come.”

Recognising his remarkable achievements, Construction student at Castleford College, Alfie Parratt, has been named one of ten finalists at the Youthbuild UK’s Young Builder of the Year Awards 2024.

The Young Builder of the Year Awards celebrate the achievements of young people, who despite having to overcome a range of challenges, have succeeded in training or gaining employment in the construction industry.

After struggling with dyslexia from an early age, Alfie has conquered many hurdles to complete his studies which has seen him progress from a Multi Skills Level 1 Construction programme to a Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying.

Despite this, Alfie has demonstrated an eagerness to expand his knowledge and to hone his bricklaying skills, going above and beyond to succeed in his learning.

Alfie’s mum, Alison Pratt, said: “Alfie has always struggled with dyslexia from a young age, which has affected his self-esteem and caused him to withdraw from his friends. Since starting at Castleford College, Alfie has become more positive and confident and is excited about learning again. So much so, he often watches YouTube videos to improve his knowledge and tricks of the trade in his spare time. It’s amazing to see that he’s found something he loves and is good at.”

Outside of college, Alfie has taken on various bricklaying jobs, further honing his skills and gaining practical experience. This has not only improved his technique but also boosted his confidence in his abilities.

Alfie’s Tutor, Christopher Leaf, said: “Seeing Alfie’s progression since he started at the College has been nothing short of amazing. He takes great pride in developing not only his bricklaying skills but also his social skills, understanding the importance of teamwork in the construction industry. His achievements reflect his passion of the trade and his commitment to honing his skills, which will prepare him for a successful career in bricklaying and beyond.”

After completing his course, Alfie aims to progress onto an apprenticeship to further refine his skills and gain practical experience in bricklaying.

Alfie said: “I’m really happy to be a finalist of the Young Builder of the Year Awards and never thought I’d one day be visiting the House of Commons. The skills and knowledge I’ve gained from my course have not only enhanced my craftmanship but also opened the doors for future opportunities. I hope to one day be able to teach in the industry and give back by training the next generation of bricklayers.”

The winners are unveiled at a prestigious ceremony held at the House of Commons on Wednesday 20^th November 2024, hosted by the award’s Honorary President, Sir John Hayes MP.

The Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying aims to provide learners with the practical skills for this craft, whilst ensuring they develop knowledge in health, safety and the principles of construction.

Former sport student at the University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, Tyler Dupree, has been shortlisted for the Association of College’s Higher Education Student of the Year Award 2024.

This comes as Tyler helped lead Wigan Warriors to victory against Hull Kingston Rovers in the Betfred Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday 12^th October 2024, which saw the team win by nine points to two.

Tyler was a part of a historic moment for the club, as they celebrated back-to-back Betfred Super League Grand Final victories and winning every trophy on offer within the calendar year. In addition to the Super League trophy, they secured the World Club Challenge 2024, the Challenge Cup 2024 and the League Leaders Shield 2024.

Tyler said about the experience: “I’m incredibly proud to be a part of such a pivotal moment in Wigan Warriors’ history, which has seen us become the first club in Super League to win all four trophies in one season. This has been a career-defining year for me, and it feels even more special to have my achievements recognised both on and off the field by being shortlisted for this award.”

Tyler also made his debut for England in the International Rugby League 2023, when he appeared in the squad for the end-of-season series against France, featuring in the third and final test match at Headingley Stadium.

He has also played for the likes of Leeds Rhinos, York City Knights, Featherstone Rovers, Batley Bulldogs, Oldham and Widnes Vikings, after starting his professional rugby career on a two-year scholarship with Salford Red Devils in 2016.

To further enhance his professional rugby career, Tyler completed a Foundation Degree in Applied Sports Performance at the University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group. This is where he developed the skills to refine his performance in professional rugby, including nutrition for sport performance, strength and conditioning, skills coaching and more. 

Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “The Association of College’s Student of the Year awards celebrate unique students who truly go above and beyond to positively impact their college and community, and Tyler is a shining example of this. His positive attitude and work ethic are valuable assets not only on the pitch but also within the college community. The dedication he’s shown towards gaining his degree whilst at the height of his professional sporting career demonstrates his well-roundedness and commitment to building a future beyond rugby.”

The Association of College’s Student of the Year awards acknowledge those students from the Association of College’s member colleges across England who deserve recognition and will go on to inspire others.

Wakefield College and YPO have been shortlisted for a Supply Chain Excellence Award, acknowledging the life-changing work experience opportunities they are creating for young adults with learning disabilities or additional educational needs.

The Supply Chain Excellence’s Workforce Planning Award recognises efforts to create a future workforce fit for purpose, mitigate the skills and talent shortages, enhance recruitment and retention, and attract new people into the industry through promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as working with schools and colleges.

Since 2021, the joint work experience programme has helped a significant number of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) learners experience the workplace for the first time – enabling them to gain insight into the recruitment process whilst developing their vital skills and independence.

To further reflect the real-life experience of gaining meaningful employment, a process was implemented where each student had to apply for their role through an expression of interest letter outlining their skillset and what they could offer YPO.

After successfully completing an interview, each student was given the opportunity to focus on one area of their choice within logistics at YPO to ensure they got maximum benefit out of their placement.

Adrian Field, Head of Logistics, YPO, said: “At YPO we’re always committed to going above and beyond, so we implemented the same approach for the work experience scheme, ensuring the maximum value is taken for both the organisation but also the students. To do this, we introduced an application and interview process so that the students could gain practical skills and confidence which are essential for real-life job searching, before starting their roles. It was also important to us that our staff were engaged in the students’ learning and progression to develop their mentoring skills. This ensured the best possible outcome for the students and our staff and has seen YPO become the largest provider of work experience placements for SEND students at Wakefield College.”

Each student is assigned a job coach from Wakefield College and a workplace mentor who is an experienced member of staff from YPO, who supports the student’s personal development and wellbeing.

With the support of YPO Warehouse Supervisor, Phil Green, student Bruce was able to try varied roles across the business, including picking and packing, stock logistics and industrial cleaning. This led to Bruce securing a full-time role in Warehouse Industrial Cleaning Team at YPO, where he is continuing to build his skillset.

Barry Nathan, Unison representative at YPO said: “We worked closely with Wakefield College to understand each learner’s personal needs so that we could offer a tailored and meaningful work experience programme, which would also benefit our staff and productivity. The scheme is life changing for some of the students and to see them go on to secure full-time employment because of the training we provide them here at YPO is a testament to all the staff involved. The branch chair is heavily involved and gets just as much out of the experience as the students do.”

Wakefield College, YPO and YPO Unison, continuously work collaboratively to support current students on the work placement and develop innovative ways to further expand the programme.

Laura Lavender, Director of Inclusion at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “Evidence shows that students with additional needs have historically struggled in finding work initially, even though they are capable of sustainable employment when equipped with the right preparation and support. Without the opportunities such as the YPO work experience placement, these young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than their counterparts without additional needs. That is why we value our excellent working relationship with the YPO and the life-changing opportunities it has given our Foundation Learning students, which has significantly boosted their confidence in the workplace whilst building their life and social skills.”

In its 28^th year, the Supply Chain Excellence Awards now stand alone as the standard for best practices in European supply chain management. The awards are known for their thorough judging procedure delivering valuable insights to entrants through feedback from esteemed judges, who collectively hold over 750 years of experience.

The awards will take place on Monday 28th October 2024 at Grosvenor House in London.

Shipley College’s brand new 4D ‘immersive classrooms’ are set to elevate training and learning for all of our students.

These innovative spaces, which leverage cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) technology, are transforming the way our students and employees learn and engage.

The 4D immersive rooms can replicate any environment with full wall and floor projections, surround sound audio, and even the appropriate smells!

Whether it is our Health & Social Care students learning how to move patients from a bed to a commode, our Midwifery students learning how to manage complex situations, or our Access to HE students on the fast track to university, this equipment is revolutionising how we teach and how our students learn.

These rooms allow students to apply the skills they are learning – without the risks that they might encounter in real life.

Our training environment realism is elevated when our AI patient simulators are also placed into the immersive rooms and the rooms become a hospital ward. These include a male, a pregnant female and a paediatric patient.

Our Health students (nursing and midwifery) and those progressing to become Oncologists, Physiotherapists and Radiographers at the University of Bradford (as part of our relationship with the Bradford District Care Trust), alongside our Care students, will be trained on the programmable and augmented reality robotics that simulate clinical diagnostics, childbirth, emergency medicine, minor surgeries and personal and geriatric care conditions.

The immersive suites can also be used with the College as wellbeing spaces, a place for team building or team meetings and for bringing lessons to life in maths, English and mandatory training sessions.

College Principal Diana Bird explains, “The new immersive suites have caused a lot of excitement amongst colleagues and students. I’m amazed at how quickly we have managed to ‘get to grips’ with cutting edge technology. I’ve been able to see our immersive suites being used as a wellbeing space, a place for team building/ team meetings and colleagues already using it to bring their actual, planned lesson to life.”

An ‘X marks the spot’ ceremony has taken place at Stoke on Trent College’s Burslem campus, to highlight the location for a brand-new teaching and learning facility which will enhance student learning experiences.

The new build development at Burslem will feature a new two and three storey building which will connect to the existing A Block building. This new hub will feature additional classrooms, science labs and prep room that will extend the already established A block and will be accessed from the existing main entrance.  The second floor of the new building will also house a large board room and training space.

Key college stakeholders Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Port Vale FC were all present, along with project partners Arcadis and Krol-Corlett Construction.

Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & Principal at Stoke on Trent College said:

“Stoke on Trent College is investing in future-proofing our campuses, giving our learners enhanced spaces to study in.

“We have seen significant growth in our student numbers year-on-year, and the new building at Burslem plus the Connect building at our Cauldon Campus, which is well underway will provide learners with industry standard facilities and inspiring teaching and learning spaces.

“The new build at Burslem is set to be completed in Summer 2025, ready for students who will be enrolling for the 2025/26 academic year.”

The Burslem capital programme is one of two projects that are being funded through £13 million from the Government’s funding for Further Education’s Capital Transformation Projects.

The other transformation project is the Connect building at the Cauldon campus, which had a ground-breaking ceremony in July, and is set to be completed in June 2025.

Both projects will help create an environment to reinforce the College’s mission to provide an inclusive professional and technical education to energise and support the growth of the city region in key sector areas such as Construction, Health and Social Care, Engineering and STEM and Creative and Digital.

Keep up to date with all the capital projects at Stoke on Trent College here – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

 

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Stoke on Trent College has held a special event with key partners, students and city leaders to mark the one-year review of their corporate strategy, Skills Ready, Future Ready.

 

‘Skills Ready, Future Ready – One Year On’ brought together a range of stakeholders, students and city leaders from across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire who work in collaboration with the College. The event celebrated an array of achievements, growth and success at the College since the strategy ‘Skills Ready Future Ready’ launched last October.

 

Taking place in the College’s prestigious AA Rosette Hammersley partnership restaurant, attendees were welcomed by CEO & Principal Lisa Capper MBE, who highlighted a number of achievements, including the year-on-year growth and achievement of students aged 16-18, growth in adult and apprenticeships delivery, and the impact of key family and adult learning campaigns such as the Stoke By Numbers numeracy campaign. It also celebrated the growing number of employers and businesses who are Skills Pledge Partners and who work closely with the College across the four priority Skills Hubs of Construction and Green Technologies, STEM & Engineering, Digital & Creative and Health and Social Care.

 

As part of the event, Tom Peacock, a former Level 3 Construction learner at the college spoke about his journey at the College and his successful achievement to secure a Degree Apprenticeship with Thorp Precast, a national specialist construction firm. 

 

Stoke-on-Trent 3 new MP’s Allison Gardner, David Williams and Gareth Snell shared video messages in support of the College and the impact it is making in the local area on young people, jobs and skills needed for the future.

 

Guests were also given a glimpse into the future of Stoke on Trent College, including the new ‘Connect Building’ at the Cauldon Campus which is currently under construction and the new Health Ward and Laboratory that will outturn around 600 young and adult learners with skills in health and social care ready to join the NHE and community workforce.  These projects including a new media and broadcast unit were funded through the government’s Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation, T Level Capital and the Strategic Development funding schemes.

 

The College also celebrated £2.3m for a new advanced Green Skills Hub that will adjoin the Advanced Construction Centre launched earlier this year with the Construction Industry Training Body Chair Peter Lauener. This funding is from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in partnership with Stoke on Trent City Council. Tomorrow it will launch ‘spades in the ground’ for its new state of the art teaching building at its Burslem campus worth £8.1m.

 

Key achievements include:

• 96% of learners go on to employment, further or higher education or an apprenticeship
• Almost 9000 learners enrolled at college in the 2023/24 academic year boosting the income by over £5m since 2020
• Winner national student services award (NAMSS)
• Apprenticeships have grown 10% within key priority sectors
• £19.7m secured for two brand new buildings and a capital programme of new industry standard facilities in construction, green skills, health, science and digital media
• The launch of the college’s new alumni network Made at Stoke on Trent College

Jeremy Cartwright chair of the Board said:

“It has been an incredible year and we are delighted to invite City Leaders, stakeholders, governors and students to our Hammersley restaurant to recognise the significant achievement of the team in turning around this college over the last three years, and celebrating further gains over the first year of our strategy.”

 

Jon Rouse CEO of Stoke-on-Trent City Council said:

“We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved at the college and the difference is making to the lives of local people.”

 

Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & Principal at Stoke on Trent College said:

“We set out our vision to the technical and professional college of choice for Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area by placing ourselves at the heart of the community and of business. Learners are at the heart of all we do and our mission is to help them to progress to the next stage. This year we have seen our learners excel and achieve national and regional awards in their chosen technical area.  Through our Skills Ready, Future Ready strategy and with our dedicated staff team you can see first-hand that we are not only working towards our priorities but also excelling across many areas of our work. Our student numbers continue to grow, as does our provision with the delivery of 8 new T Levels this year, each with access to industry standard facilities. New students enrolling this year are experiencing inspiring teaching and learning facilities, exposure to industry, and an inclusive, nurturing environment where they can learn and achieve their career goals.”

 

Read more about Skills Ready, Future Ready here – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/skills-ready-future-ready/

 

ENDS

Notes to Editor

 

Picture caption (from left to right) – Jon Rouse, CEO at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & Principal at Stoke on Trent College, Professor Martin Jones, Vice Chancellor and CEO at University of Staffordshire

 

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

 

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Stoke on Trent College has launched its brand-new Health & Social Care ward and laboratory, giving students from Level 1 provision through to Level 3 and T-Levels, industry standard facilities to learn for those pursuing a variety of careers in health and social care. It forms part of the Health and Social Care Hub at the college training students to fill the gap in the NHS workforce.

Based at the Cauldon campus, the Health & Social Care ward replicates a clinical setting, giving students and visitors the feel that they are in a real-life environment.

The Health & Social Care ward is part of a £1.5 million investment into its health & social care and broadcast media provisions to support new T-Level courses which have started this academic year and forms part of a much wider capital programme which sees investment of over £19 million across both campuses to future proof teaching and learning spaces.

Part of this investment includes brand new equipment, including VR headsets plus the option to observe real-world care scenarios virtually. The ward also features three life-like dummies who will be used for real procedures including taking bloods, monitoring heart rate, fitting catheters and even in one case, partially showcasing the stages of giving birth. The dolls can also speak via an interactive tablet which allows them to tell students the issue, so they are able to deal with them as they would a live patient.

Lisa Capper MBE, CEO & Principal at Stoke on Trent College said:

“The NHS workforce plan shows that vacancies will rise exponentially if nothing is done to train new and existing staff for clinical settings and settings outside of the NHS. This new ward and our new T Level programmes will produce around 600 professionals a year who are Skills Ready Future Ready, embracing digital and AI technologies, for a range of settings including critical services such as midwifery and adult nursing.

“Working closely with our partners at the University Hospital of North Midlands, University of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, we are looking to create the health and social care workforces of tomorrow, whatever area learners want to go into.

Ben Richards, Chief Operating Officer, at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust added,

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Stoke on Trent College as they open the new health and social care ward on their Cauldon Campus.

 

 

“As part of this, Combined Healthcare will be providing placements for students studying T-levels with the College and we hope that this will give the College the support it needs in terms of working across the community of Stoke-on-Trent as well as helping to develop the future healthcare workforce in the years to come.”

Peter Tomlin, Director of Adult Social Care, Health Integration and Wellbeing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: “I am delighted to see this new Health & Social Care ward launching at Stoke-on-Trent College.

“The brand-new facilities reflect the latest advances in technology and replicate the realities of being in a clinical setting. These will be amazing educational tools for students looking to pursue a career in health and social care.

“By catering for a range of levels and careers, this will only help Stoke-on-Trent’s future workforce in this sector to succeed and I cannot wait to see the qualifications and future careers achieved by students who have studied in this new ward.”

To find out more about health & social care courses at Stoke on Trent College, please visit – https://stokecoll.ac.uk/course-areas/childcare-health-social-care/

 

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

 

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Gower College Swansea is delighted to announce the appointment of James Donaldson as the new Vice Principal for Learner Experience and Inclusion.

James, who joined the College earlier this month, brings over 12 years of senior leadership experience in student support, learner experience, safeguarding and supporting learners with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) to make a successful transition from school to College. He also has a strong track record in driving change and improving student outcomes.

In his new role, James will oversee the learner experience, inclusion, and strategic initiatives to enhance student engagement and support services across the College.

Prior to joining Gower College Swansea, James occupied the role of Dean and Assistant Principal at Cardiff and Vale College, where he led several initiatives, including the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Pathfinder, a fully bilingual digital access portal for parents and professionals to support learners with additional learning needs.

He also led the creation of a new Student Union and the introduction of various projects such as a Student Experience Bot to enhance student engagement and wellbeing.

James’ contributions to the education sector have earned him numerous accolades, including the TES FE Award for Outstanding Support for Learners, the NASEN Award for Best Post-16 ALN Provsion in the UK, and the NAMSS Leader of the Year award. His leadership in safeguarding and student experience has consistently been rated outstanding in inspections.

Delighted to be part of the College community, James said: “I am excited to join Gower College Swansea and look forward to working with the incredible team here to continue supporting learners on their journey and ensuring inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.”

Kelly Fountain, Principal of Gower College Swansea, added: “We are delighted to welcome James to our executive leadership team as new Vice Principal, Learner Experience and Inclusion. With his extensive expertise and proven track record in enhancing the learner experience, James is poised to make a significant and positive contribution to the ongoing success of the College.

“This new role underscores the strategic importance we place on our learners to the ultimate success of the College and will play a pivotal role in driving forward the ambitions outlined in our new College strategy. James’ passion for ensuring inclusion and promoting student wellbeing aligns perfectly with our strategic direction. I am confident that James will make a positive and significant contribution.”