Important update: grading of GCSEs, AS and A Level exams 2021
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.
Update from the Principal - 13 January 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.
Important update - online learning until 29 January
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.
Important update re: week commencing 4 January 2021
For all parents and students: You may be aware that on the afternoon of Thursday 10 December, the Education Minister announced that colleges and secondary schools would move to online learning for next week – that is, the week commencing 14 December.
Of course this will make very little difference here at Gower College Swansea since we had already announced that the small number of courses and tutorial sessions arranged for next week would be delivered online.
Update to advice on face coverings whilst at College
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:
Important message from Principal, Mark Jones
As the firebreak lockdown comes to a close, here is some important information for when you return to College next week.
From Monday 9 November
We will now resume our face to face method of teaching for all our full time students.
If you are a part time student or an apprentice, your course will resume in the same way as it did before the firebreak lockdown.
Firebreak lockdown, what does this mean for the College?
Following yesterday’s Welsh Government announcement of a firebreak lockdown across Wales, the College will close to all but essential staff at 6pm on Friday 23 October for half term.
From Monday 2 to Friday 6 November, the campuses will remain closed, but all teaching will be delivered online.
Local lockdown announced for Swansea, what does this mean for the College?
Following a Welsh Government announcement today (25 September), local lockdown restrictions will come into effect for Swansea from 6pm, 27 September.
Staff and students can continue to travel in and out of restricted areas to attend College, provided they:
Our continued response to Covid-19: Update from Principal Mark Jones (22 September)
Principal Mark Jones reflects on the start of the Autumn term, praising students and staff for their cooperation, and explaining how the College is continuing to ensure health and safety remains the top priority.
As we enter the fourth week of term, it seems a good time to reflect on how things have gone so far at Gower College Swansea.
Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to all our students and staff for their cooperation as we navigate our way through an academic year that is very different to any we've known before.
Student Union President, Laimis Lisauskas reflects on his first few days back at College
With the reopening of schools and colleges earlier this week, I thought readers may be interested in getting a student’s perspective of how these first few days have gone.
My role as the President of the Student Union at Gower College Swansea has allowed me to interact with a wide range of students over the past few days, and therefore the comments I make are representative of the feedback I have received from right across the College.