We are looking forward to welcoming some of our students back soon! 

This video will give you an idea of what to expect when you return to College.

Some key points to remember:

Last week, the Education Minister announced that a small number of vocational students would be able to return to College from Monday 22 February which, as you will hopefully be aware from my previous update, we have been planning towards for the past couple of weeks.

The students who will be prioritised for return are those needing to undertake assessments to complete their qualifications and achieve their license to practice. 

I’d like to update our students and parents following last Friday’s announcement (29 January) by the First Minister.

Last week’s announcement by the Education Minister about the way GCSE and A Level assessments will be graded for this year probably doesn’t look a lot different from those used in 2020. Grades will again be determined by lecturers and based on their assessment of students’ work – although this year it will be called Centre Determined Grades.

Centre Determined Grades
The general principles and guidance of how these Centre Determined Grades will work (assessment framework) is now under development by Qualifications Wales and the WJEC.

The Education Minister in Wales has recently (Wednesday 20 January) made an announcement about the grading of GCSEs, AS and A Level qualifications in 2021.

The announcement on Friday by the First Minister that colleges and schools will continue with online learning for at least the next three weeks (until 29 January and possibly longer if the number of positive cases do not reduce) was disappointing. But it is unquestionably the right approach to take at the current time in helping to reduce the numbers of transmissions across our communities.

But of course this announcement hasn’t come as any surprise and, as a College, we have been preparing for this very situation throughout the first term.

Welsh Government has recently agreed that all schools, colleges and independent schools will continue with remote learning until at least 29 January, when the situation will be reviewed.

Each year Gower College Swansea students hold a series of fundraising events in support of the Kenya Community Education Project and, despite restrictions due to the pandemic, they found a way to do it in 2020!

The students at Gorseinon and Tycoch campuses competed against each other on bikes to virtually cover the distance from Nairobi to Sigmore to raise money for Madungu Primary School, with which the College has a long-standing association. 

Following a recent change to Welsh Government guidance, it will now be mandatory for all staff, students and visitors to wear a face covering outside as well as inside when on campus grounds. 

If you wear a face shield, please be reminded that a face covering must be worn in addition. 

The only instances where face coverings will not have to be worn are:

Every year graduation marks a special moment in the academic calendar to congratulate the hard work and success of our graduates.

The event is a showcase of achievement where we celebrate student success from a wide range of higher level courses including accountancy, teaching, engineering, childcare, sport, housing and management.