College News

Urdd Eisteddfod Success

Congratulations to Katherine Rees and Emily Olsen who achieved First place in the Loughor round of the Urdd Eisteddfod at Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr on 6 March.

Emily was competing in the under-19 piano solo and Katherine in the female solo. We had a long, but highly entertaining, evening and there was great praise for them both. The County Eisteddfod will be held at Ysgol Gyfun Bryntawe on the 20 March.

A group of Art students from Llwyn y Bryn, Tycoch and Gorseinon also took part in the Art, Design and Technology competitions. The results were:

Saturday Art School exhibition

Join us this Saturday for a private viewing of the work of local school pupils who took part in the recent Saturday Art Schools at our Llwyn y Bryn campus.

Students enjoy behind the scenes tour of superstore

Part time Independent Living Skills students were recently invited on a tour of the Tesco superstore at Fforestfach as part of their Work Awareness course.

During their visit, the students enjoyed a 'behind the scenes' look at how the supermarket runs and were able to try their hands at using the tills.

"In keeping with the recent Fairtrade Fortnight the students selected and scanned Fairtrade items and experienced what it was like to be a cashier in a busy supermarket," says lecturer Leah Millinship.

Apprentice returns to roots

Local apprentice Luke Goodrich has returned to his roots to inspire students at Pentrehafod Comprehensive.

Luke is part of a team of ‘Apprenticeship Ambassadors’ working with the Welsh Government’s Department for Education and Skills to tour the country encouraging young people to follow the apprenticeship pathway and take up one of a huge variety of roles available across Wales.

Rugby Academy scoops WRU Elite Colleges League Trophy

Gower College Swansea’s Rugby Academy has scooped the WRU Elite Colleges League Trophy, having won all but three games this year.

“This win is an excellent achievement for the team and was one of the targets we set ourselves at the start of the season,” says lecturer Dan Cluroe.

The Academy’s successful year has been topped off with seven of their 1st XV players representing the Ospreys U18’s in the final of the regional age grade competition, where they beat the Cardiff Blues convincingly.

Progression success for Armed Forces Prep students

Three students about to graduate from Gower College Swansea’s Armed Forces Preparation course are heading off for pastures new after being successful in their applications to the Royal Navy.

Hamish Fleming, Matthew Milner and John Sanderson all agree that the 18-week course at the Tycoch campus helped prepare them mentally and physically for the challenges ahead.

Global Enterprise Challenge finalists announced

Students from Gower College Swansea are heading to Cardiff next week to compete against all the other colleges in Wales for the Global Enterprise Challenge 2015.

Vocational Creative Media students Kieran Palfrey, Talisha Weston, Oliver Draper and A Level students Brad David, Rhys Cozens, Shazia Ali and Josh David-Reed were the winning team from the Gorseinon campus.

The Global Enterprise Challenge is a Welsh Government endorsed scheme designed to encourage entrepreneurial spirit and vision among young people.

LA here we come!

When the summer term comes to an end in July, Gower College Swansea student Matthew Allen will be packing his bags and heading to Los Angeles.

Matthew, an Independent Living Skills student at the Tycoch campus, is set to take part in the Special Olympics World Games, where he has been selected to represent Team GB in swimming.

The only male Welsh swimmer to be selected for this event, Matthew, who has autism, already has a strong track record in the Special Olympics with two Gold medals, one Silver medal and two Bronze medals under his belt.

Opportunities for careers in film and media

Creative Media students from Gower College Swansea have spent a day with industry professionals, finding out what it’s really like to work in the world of film and visual effects.

The students were attending a special Film and Media Careers Day at the University of Wales Trinity St David.

Following an introduction from Dr Paul Hazel, the head of the university’s Digital Media School, the students met the creative team behind the BAFTA winning Double Negative, who have worked on films such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Transcendence, Godzilla and Interstellar.

College supports Fairtrade Fortnight

Staff and students at Gower College Swansea are keen to support this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight with a series of events and promotions.

The student-led Environment Group organised a Fayre at the Gorseinon campus on Monday 2 March, where everyone was encouraged to sample some delicious Fairtrade produce.

At the Tycoch campus, Level 3 Patisserie students used Fairtrade ingredients to make teisen lap, banana tarts filled with a crème patisserie, fruit tarts and treacle tart.