GCS Parent and Carer Update
Welcome
A very warm welcome to all parents and carers of our new and returning vocational learners and thank you for choosing Gower College Swansea.
As we begin a new academic year, we are delighted to welcome your child to the College and look forward to working with you to help them succeed, develop their confidence and make the most of every opportunity available to them.
It is also important to celebrate the achievements of our learners in 2025/26. Last year’s results for vocational learners were truly outstanding with 99% of our second-year Level 3 learners successfully completing their course and moving onto the next stage of their journeys. These learners also received excellent grades with 38% of them achieving at least on Distinction grade and 22% achieving the top grade available.
We are equally proud of the wider learner experience at Gower College Swansea. From trips and international visits to academic enrichment, employment experiences, clubs and societies - there are many opportunities for learners to develop beyond the classroom.
Looking ahead to 2026/27, we hope your child embraces these opportunities, enjoys their time with us and excels and thrives on their programme.
Cath Williams
Dean of Faculty
College Life
Our College community operates around three principles within our Learner Charter:
Be Respectful | Be Ready | Be Safe
We expect all learners to demonstrate commitment, enthusiasm and respect for these principles at all times. We have a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behaviour, including smoking or vaping outside designated areas, disrespect towards peers or staff, and unexplained or unauthorised absence. Where concerns arise, we will contact you to make you aware of the situation. We ask for your support in reinforcing these expectations at home. By working together, we can ensure that every learner enjoys a safe, respectful and positive learning environment.
Your Progress Coach
A really important part of your child’s timetable is the tutorial programme. As part of this, every learner is allocated a Progress Coach or a Tutor who provides support throughout their time with us, both academically and personally. This member of staff is likely to be your most important point of contact at College. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like an update or if there is information about your child that you feel we should know.
The tutorial programme provides:
- Weekly tutorials and regular one-to-one coaching
- Wellbeing check-ins and pastoral support
- Attendance monitoring and support
- Guidance around university, employment and future plans
- Help to ensure learners stay on track and make informed decisions
Additional Support
We have a wide range of specialist support available to help learners overcome challenges and thrive at College:
Student Support Officers - Provide practical, personal and crisis support, helping learners access appropriate wellbeing and welfare services.
Funding Advisers - Supports learners with financial assistance, including EMA, FCF, WGLG and other funding available to eligible learners.
Mental Health Advisers - Provides student-centred mental health support, guidance and interventions.
Health Advisers - Offers health advice and guidance, promoting healthy choices and overall wellbeing.
Counselling - Provides confidential therapeutic support for mental health, emotional wellbeing, personal challenges and resilience, working alongside Exchange Counselling and CAMHS.
Employability - Helps learners develop confidence and employability skills, explore opportunities and prepare for their next steps.
Neurodiversity support - Provides support for learners with additional learning needs and neurodiversity.
The Neurodiversity Team are available to support learners with additional learning needs. The team works with learners to develop Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and ensure appropriate support and reasonable adjustments are put in place based on available evidence.
To enable the team to authorise examination and assessment access arrangements, learners should provide relevant supporting evidence by 30 September. We provide this as soon as possible, any questions please contact Carley.Hughes@gcs.ac.uk
Skills, skills, skills!
Choosing a vocational course is a great way for your child to turn their interests into practical skills for their future career. Throughout their course, they’ll have lots of opportunities to learn, practise and build confidence in the skills they need to succeed in their chosen industry.
Alongside classroom learning, your child will spend time in our specialist workshops, salons, kitchens and laboratories, gaining valuable hands-on experience in realistic working environments. It’s a chance for them to put their learning into practice, discover what they’re capable of and develop the confidence and independence they’ll need for their next steps.
And, for many of our learners, the practical sessions are the highlight of their week!
Your child may also have the opportunity to take part in regional and national skills competitions. These experiences give them the chance to showcase what they can do, meet other talented learners and challenge themselves in a supportive environment. Whether they compete or simply take part, these are experiences they can look back on with a real sense of achievement and pride.
We want every learner to leave us not only with valuable skills and qualifications, but also with the confidence to take their next step and build a future they can be proud of.
Cymraeg at College
We actively encourage the use of Cymraeg at every level and recognise the importance of maintaining and developing Welsh-language skills. Using Welsh can build confidence and employability while supporting our shared culture, identity and sense of belonging.
Whether your child is fluent in Welsh or just beginning their Welsh-language journey, we encourage them to use and develop their Cymraeg throughout their time at College. Learners have the right to complete their ASBW qualification or Tutorial programme through the medium of Welsh and can request that their work is translated into Welsh at any point. There are also a range of extracurricular Welsh-language opportunities, including becoming a Llysgennad Cymraeg (Welsh Ambassador) and joining the Cymuned Cymraeg. For further information about the opportunities and support available, please contact Helen.Humphreys@gcs.ac.uk
Term Dates 2026/27
Term 1
1 September – 23 October
Half Term: 26 – 30 October
2 November – 11 December
Term 2
4 January – 5 February
Half Term: 8 – 12 February
15 February – 19 March
Term 3
5 April – 28 May
Half Term: 31 May – 4 June
7 June – 25 June
Working with you
We look forward to working collaboratively with you throughout the year to support your child to make the most of their opportunities, achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
We hope they have a fantastic and successful year with us!