Swansea College was a

further education college Further education (often abbreviated FE) in the United Kingdom and Ireland is education in addition to that received at secondary school, that is distinct from the higher education (HE) offered in universities and other academic institutions. It ...

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

. It was one of the largest further education colleges in

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

with over 15,000 students and employing approximately 1,000 staff. Swansea College merged with Gorseinon College on 20 August 2010 to create a single sixth form and further education college for the Swansea area called

Gower College Swansea Gower College Swansea ( cy, Coleg Gŵyr Abertawe) is a further education college in Swansea, Wales. It was formed in 2010 by the merger of Gorseinon College and Swansea College Mark Jones, previously principal of Bridgend College, became pri ...

. Swansea College provided preparation for a number of qualifications, including

GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...

s, the

IB Diploma Programme The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year educational programme primarily aimed at 16-to-19-year-olds in 140 countries around the world. The programme provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into ...

A-levels The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

and HNDs, as well as a number of

vocation A vocation () is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. People can be given information about a new occupation through student orientation. Though now often used in non-religious co ...

al courses leading to BTEC First and National Diplomas,

NVQ National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are practical work-based awards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are achieved through assessment and training. The regulatory framework supporting NVQs was withdrawn in 2015 and replaced by the ...

s and other similar qualifications. It also ran EFL programmes for non-native speakers of English.Swansea College website
The College's mission statement was: ''We will provide high quality, relevant provision for all our learners.''

Campus and catchment area

The College operated on several different sites in Swansea. * Tycoch Campus –

Sketty The suburban district of Sketty ( cy, Sgeti) is about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the Swansea city centre on Gower Road. It falls within the Sketty council ward of Swansea. It is also a community. Description The area approximates to the Vivi ...

: Main site of the College, provided

A level The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

, IB and all Vocational Courses ranging from

s to BTEC awards. *Llwyn-Y-Bryn –

Uplands Upland or Uplands may refer to: Geography *Hill, an area of higher land, generally *Highland, an area of higher land divided into low and high points *Upland and lowland, conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level *I ...

: Site for visual and performing arts. *Kingsway Centre – city centre *Business College –

Llansamlet Llansamlet is a suburban district and community of Swansea, Wales, falling into the Llansamlet ward. The area is centred on the A48 road (named Samlet Road and Clase Road in the area) and the M4 motorway. Like other places in Wales having a name ...

*Several other sites, including

Sketty Hall Sketty 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 numbe ...

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-level The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

s, the IB and HNDs, as well as a number of

al courses leading to BTEC First and National Diplomas,

s and other similar qualifications.

2008 results

* 99.3% of students passed their A Level courses.Press release about 2008 results
* 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 Education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completi ...

sport Sport pertains to any form of Competition, competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and Skill, skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to specta ...

leisure Leisure has often been defined as a quality of experience or as free time. Free time is time spent away from business, work, job hunting, domestic chores, and education, as well as necessary activities such as eating and sleeping. Leisure ...

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...

business Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or Trade, buying and selling Product (business), products (such as goods and Service (economics), services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for pr ...

hospitality Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis de Jaucourt, Louis, chevalier de J ...

public services A public service is any Service (economics), service intended to address specific needs pertaining to the aggregate members of a community. Public services are available to people within a government jurisdiction as provided directly through pub ...

. 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

employment Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any othe ...

. They gave the student a chance to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding that underpin the creation of

Engineering Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...

and IT systems and services. The faculty had fully equipped workrooms as well as specialist computer software.

Social and vocational studies

Students of

hairdressing A hairdresser is a person whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques. A Hairdresser may also be refe ...

beauty Beauty is commonly described as a feature of objects that makes these objects pleasurable to perceive. Such objects include landscapes, sunsets, humans and works of art. Beauty, together with art and taste, is the main subject of aesthetics, o ...

and complementary therapy could take part in work experience in a salon environment at either its Broadway or Cefn Hengoed Centre.

Health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

and

social care Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

courses were also offered.

Community operations

Community Operations worked closely with partner organisations in

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.

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

NEBOSH The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH ( )) is a UK-based examination board offering qualifications and courses in health, safety, environment and well-being management. It was founded in 1979 and has charita ...

, IOSH, CIEH, BIIAB, OCR, RTITB, CMI, ILM,

First Aid First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person with either a minor or serious illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery. It includes initial in ...

and

Work-based learning

Swansea College offered modern

apprenticeship Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a Tradesman, trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners ...

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)

Results and awards

In 2008, the College's pass rates were:

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

Level 2 courses

* 93% at GCSE * 91% at First Diploma level * 91% on NVQ Level 2 programmes

Others

* 95% on Level One GNVQ Foundation Courses * 92% on Introductory Courses

Awards

The College won the LSDA Beacon Award (for Staff Development in ILT) in 1999-2000.

History

The original Swansea College was built in 1825 and was situated near the Swansea Dock area. This building also housed the guildhall, law courts and juvenile centre after being rebuilt in 1848. From 1960, the building was solely used as a college of further education, housing 700 students. After rapid expansion, the college relocated to a new site in Tycoch in 1971.

The further education corporation with the name of "Swansea College" was established by the Education (Further Education Corporations) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/2097)WELSH STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2010 No. 1876 (W.181) EDUCATION, WALES ''The Gorseinion icCollege Further Education Corporation and Swansea College Further Education Corporation (Dissolution) Order 2010'' https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2010/1876/made Swansea College merged with Gorseinon College on 20 August 2010 to create a single sixth form and further education college for the Swansea area called

.New name for merged Gorseinon and Swansea colleges - News report 5 February 2010
/ref>

References

External links

Swansea College profile on Studyfinder.org
{{coord missing, Glamorgan Further education colleges in Swansea International Baccalaureate schools in Wales