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Ninety Years of Excellence in Education and Training Search NPTC Group 1

Sir William Jenkins MP opening the new Mining and Technical Institute at Neath on 28th September 1931.

NPTC Group of Colleges Ninety Years of Excellence in Education and Training ~ Philip J Grant ~

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N 2021-22 NPTC Group of Colleges celebrates 90 years of excellence in education and training. Although Neath College was initially an individual stand-alone College, mergers with Afan College, Port Talbot in January 1999 and Coleg Powys in August 2013 has made NPTC Group of Colleges one of the largest further education colleges in Wales, offering a comprehensive programme of full-time, part-time, and higher education courses across its eight main campuses. The College was officially opened on 28th September 1931, and from very small beginnings, when the establishment could boast only five teaching rooms, it has grown to its present considerable size. During the past 90 years, the College has attained outstanding student success in academic, vocational, sporting and cultural achievements and looks forward to building on that success during the coming years.

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As early as 1843, there was a Mechanics’ Institute in Neath, and when the original building proved to be too small, a larger building was built in Church Place which still exists today. William Jevons, a local industrialist, who was one of the proprietors of the coal and iron works at Cwmgwrach, was very instrumental in this venture. It is noteworthy that William Jevons received the willing help of Alfred Russel Wallace who offered invaluable assistance in the running of the Institute. Wallace lived in Neath from 1841 until 1848, during which

time he worked as a surveyor and studied natural history. Wallace later collaborated with Charles Darwin in the study of natural selection, and with him, presented the first paper on this subject in 1858. During the previous year, an attempt was made to establish the first technological university in Western Europe at the Gnoll House, Neath. Although the university was never established, its remarkable prospectus showed an attitude to education much in advance of its time.

At Neath, the needs of the continuing industrial revolution eventually led to the establishment of the Neath Mining and Technical Institute in 1931. Dr W Graham Howell, M.Sc., was appointed Principal of the Neath Mining Institute and Headmaster of the Technical Secondary Day School incorporated as part of the Institute.

Together, with just two members of staff, Dr Howell commenced the task of building on these small foundations.

The building, which was erected by Glamorgan County Council, was located next to Neath County School for Boys. The building cost £6,100, of which £5,500 came from a grant from the Miners’ Welfare Fund which was subscribed under the Mining Industry Act 1920. This was a time of great financial and economic difficulty and it was fortunate that the Institute was built before the cuts in education took effect. The original building

Such was the impact of the fostering of relationships between the Institute and the industrialists that the number of students released by employers to attend day courses increased from six in 1931 to 1,221 by 1952, when Dr W Graham Howell retired. Furthermore, the keen practical interest taken in the development of the Institute by prominent local industrialists was of great importance.

A brand new petroleum laboratory was furnished and equipped by the National Oil Refineries Ltd in 1945 and considerable help from companies like Briton Ferry Steel Company, the Metal Box Company and the Steel Company of Wales, enabled the Institute to acquire costly apparatus and specialist equipment which would have been difficult to obtain by any other means.

Dr W Graham Howell, M.Sc., was Principal of the College from its inception in 1931 until his retirement in 1952.

comprised just five teaching rooms: physics laboratory, chemistry laboratory, a drawing office and two classrooms. In the first year, there were 50 full-time students, six part-time day students and 741 evening students, giving a grand total of 797 students.

Dr W Graham Howell was Principal of the Institute from 1931 until his retirement in 1952. During those 21 years, there were two developments which were in themselves unique. The first of these developments was the early introduction of examinations of matriculation standard into the work of the Technical Secondary Day School and the second was the gradual development of a very close working relationship between the Institute and the industrialists who controlled the industries of Neath.

The idea of introducing examinations of the matriculation standard was not only to produce students who had received good technical training but who had also passed examinations of the same academic standard as those taken in the grammar school.

The successful introduction of matriculation standard examinations was responsible not only for placing the Neath Technical Secondary Day School on a higher status than that of almost any other school of its type in the country but it also made it possible for scores of its students to graduate in science and engineering. It is interesting to note that many of these pupils were prepared for, and entered the Oxford examinations with a high degree of success.

Principal Dr W Graham Howell with his staff during the early 1940s.

Plans were drawn up in 1938 for a significant extension to the Institute, and despite the Second World War, the construction work was completed in 1942. The extension to the Institute comprised of a library and storeroom, lecture theatre, four classrooms, two drawing offices, mechanical engineering science laboratory, engineering workshops, electrical installations and plumbing workshop, wood workshop, electrical laboratory, gymnasium and storerooms.

The Neath Technical Secondary Day School rugby team 1943-44. The team was captained by Gerald Evans who later became Head of the Department of Construction and Civil Engineering.

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The Principal and staff of Neath Mining and Technical Institute 1948 Back Row: T E Hopkins, N Jones, C Slocombe Third Row: H Morgan, V Lewis, J G A Pugh, G Williams, W P Doddridge, E C Roberts, A E Davies, T Dooley.

Second Row: Miss M Davies (Clerk), D J Williams, N Williams, E McCutcheon, W A Evans, E S Davies (Head of Science Department), T B Williams, E G H Evans, G A Davies, Miss E Abraham.

Front Row: Miss M D Jones, W S Morgan, O G Davies, T J Evans (Second Master), Dr W Graham Howell (Principal), H E Williams (Head of Engineering Department), J R Evans (Teacher in Charge of Commerce Department), H Jeffreys, Miss R Williams

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The occurrence of the Second World War did little to diminish growth in student numbers and, apart from a 38 per cent reduction in 1940-41, student numbers continued to grow. The war had an understandable impact with eligible students being called up to help the war effort and the Institute did not escape the horrors of war with six students making the ‘ultimate sacrifice’. A brass plaque is displayed in the College boardroom today in memory of the students of the Technical Secondary Day School who lost their lives on active service during the Second World War. The students who continued to study at the Institute during the war were not exempt from the impact of hostilities, often having to sleep at the Institute to keep fire watch during bombing raids. Nevertheless, institute life continued as normal as possible and the rugby team continued its competition against local opposition.

Following R A ‘Rab’ Butler’s Education Act of 1944, local education authorities were obliged to provide facilities in further education for part-time and full-time students after the ravages of the war had been repaired.

Once again, as after the First World War, priority was given to primary and secondary school buildings. In 1944, the full-time day school and part-time day and evening departments of the Institute were not regarded as separate entities, the staff were not strictly departmental and every member of staff could be called upon in either the School or the Institute. In 1946, Engineering and Science Departments were established. In 1949, the Institute was provided with four extra temporary classrooms and recognised as Neath Technical College.

The following year, the first Commerce Department was established at the College.

Dr W Graham Howell, Principal of the Institute, and Mr Gwestel Williams, chemistry teacher, together with a group of students in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory in 1948.

The significant increase in the number of day-release students from industry and commerce in the 1950s caused an accommodation embarrassment in colleges and, as a result, great reliance was placed on all kinds of annexes. At Neath, extra accommodation came in the form of three new lecture rooms, a staff room, building science laboratory and storeroom, physics and chemistry laboratories, workshops for carpentry and brickwork, a drawing office and a sixth form room. Building work was completed in 1951 at a cost of approximately £55,831. Eventually, by 1952, the School and College became distinct sections.

Students from Neath Technical College on a potato and fruit picking holiday with teacher Mr Howell Bowden at Wisbech in August 1951.

Under the Principalship of Dr Islwyn Jones, the Neath Technical Secondary Day School and Neath Technical College continued to flourish in many different fields covering academic, vocational, sporting and cultural achievements. As the School and College gradually became discrete divisions, fourteen members of staff were concerned solely with the work of the Technical Secondary Day School and prepared the students for apprenticeships, student-apprenticeships and for the examinations of the Welsh Joint Education Committee.

Students undertook the General Certificate of Education at Ordinary, Advanced and Scholarship levels and the results were very gratifying.

After twenty-one successful and industrious years, which had seen total student numbers rise from just 797 in 1931 to 3,637 in 1952, Dr W Graham Howell retired from the Principalship of the College. His place was taken by Dr Islwyn Jones, M.Sc., F.R.I.C. At the same time that Dr Islwyn Jones was appointed Principal of Neath Technical College, a new College of Further Education was opened at Margam, Port Talbot.

The College was established to meet the growing needs of industry in the area and, in particular, the educational requirements of the Steel Company of Wales whose vast Abbey Steel Works was rapidly being erected at Margam.

The first Principal of the Port Talbot College of Further Education was Mr A Rayner Jones, B.Sc., A.M.I.E.E. Political events some 47 years later would result in the Tertiary College at Port Talbot and Neath College becoming one institution; Neath Port Talbot College.

Dr Islwyn Jones M.Sc., F.R.I.C. Principal of Neath Technical College from 1952 to 1970.

Governors of Neath Technical College and Technical Secondary Day School 1956 Back Row: Mr R W Poley (Chief Clerk), C.C. D J Vibert, Mr E Davies (Clerk to the Governors), C.C. L Richards, Mr G A Watson, C.C. W K Owen, C.C. G Adams, Councillor F S Evans, Councillor I L Evans, C.C. J Shea.

Front Row: C.C. W R Francis, C.Ald. D T Jenkins, C.Ald. LL. Heycock, Dr W G Howell, C.Ald. W Degwel Thomas (Chairman), Dr Islwyn Jones (Principal), C.C. Mrs A F Handy (Vice-Chairman), Councillor J T Evans, Mr W F Cartwright.

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In 1956, a White Paper entitled ‘Technical Education’ announced the need to increase the supply of trained manpower at all levels of technological expertise. A further expansion of technical colleges and colleges of further education was decided upon to augment technical education through full-time, part-time and sandwich courses. In 1960, a major change occurred when the Technical Secondary Day School element of the College was transferred to Neath Grammar School. This was in keeping with the national trend where establishments such as combined technical secondary schools and technical colleges became detached technical colleges or colleges of further education.

Neath Technical College Chemical Engineering Laboratory which was completed in 1954.

Provision for Technical College students increased and Advanced National Certificate courses were established in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering. Improvements also continued in the teaching accommodation. In 1953, the old woodwork room was divided into two classrooms and in 1954, on the completion of a new combined canteen, the old canteen and kitchen were converted into a laboratory for the study of Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. In the same year, Chemical Engineering Laboratories were completed at a cost of approximately £16,000 and equipped at a further cost of approximately £10,000.

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Dr Islwyn Jones with the championship-winning College football team of 1957-58. The captain of the team, Alan Meredith, can be seen holding the championship trophy.

Another White Paper entitled ‘Better Opportunities in Further Education’ appeared in 1961, as a result of which new technician courses were introduced, together with revisions to the ordinary national certificate courses and a new scheme of craft courses. This was an attempt to align colleges more closely with the needs of industry. One important result of both the 1956 and 1961 White Papers, which encouraged more day-release courses, was the eradication of the ‘night-school’ image attached to colleges.

This major interest and investment in further education resulted in major extensions and adaptations at Neath Technical College. In 1965, a new main building block housing new science laboratories and classrooms, extensions to the engineering department, new teaching accommodation for industrial catering and communal facilities which included an assembly hall and stage, were completed.

One remarkable fact that emerges from the 90-year history of NPTC Group of Colleges is the service of County Alderman the Rev. W Degwel Thomas.

He was Chairman of the Governors of the College from its formation in 1931 until his death in 1962. During his term of office, the College had grown considerably and this was due in no small part to his constant interest, energy and skill.

County Alderman the Rev. W Degwel Thomas, Chairman of the Governors from 1931 until his death in 1962.

In September 1970, Mr T B Williams, M.Sc., Dip. Ed., C.Chem., F.R.I.C. was appointed as Principal of Neath Technical College. During his twelve years as Principal, the College continued to enjoy its long established reputation as a successful educational institution. By September 1981, over 150 Mr Bryn Williams, who was different courses were con- Neath Technical College Princiducted at the College which pal from 1970 until 1982. comprised of full-time, sandwich, block-release and part-time courses. The College also provided link courses for school pupils in their last year at school to enable them to have some idea of the kind of jobs that would be available to them when they left school. Study centre facilities were also provided at the College for students of the Open University.

School leavers enrolling at the College were able to feel that they were part of a continuous educational process, whether they elected to study full-time or part-time and whether they were preparing for employment, university or polytechnic. Every student was given appropriate advice and assistance and encouraged to develop to their full potential. One of the outstanding reasons for the success of the College at that time, apart from the devotion of its staff, was the practical interest taken in its development by local industrialists and employers with whom the College had always maintained excellent relationships.

In September 1982, major changes took place when Neath Technical College was established as the first tertiary college in West Glamorgan. The College, known simply as Neath College, was created by the merger of the sixth form of Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School and Neath Technical College. Before re-designation, the College had provided mainly vocational courses for about 500 fulltime and 2,500 part-time students. Very few general education courses were offered by the College since it was county policy for pupils wishing to undertake full-time GCSE O and A Level courses to attend the sixth form of Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School. The sixth form not only received post-16 students from the fifth form at the school but also post-16 pupils from Cefn Saeson, Cwrt Sart and Llangatwg Comprehensive Schools.

From its inception in September 1982, the Neath College Principal was Mr Robin Trebilcock, M.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons.), MInstP. Neath College was the first tertiary college to be established by West Glamorgan Education Authority under the policy for post-16 education which had been formulated in 1975 shortly after the reorganisation of local government. In 1981, the authority produced a paper entitled ‘Tertiary Education in West Glamorgan: A Framework for Development’ which outlined proposals to establish between four and six new colleges. Each college would offer a wide range of courses and choice amongst courses for post16 students, but with some specialisation in individual colleges. In September 1985, a tertiary college was established at Port Talbot under the Principalship of Mr Cliff David, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.

Neath Technical College Principal Mr T B Williams with his staff prior to September 1982 when the College became the first tertiary college in West Glamorgan.

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In September 1986, tertiary colleges were established in Gorseinon and Swansea.

Robin Trebilcock was Principal of Neath College from September 1982 until his retirement in April 1998. His achievements were many. Not Mr Robin Trebilcock who was only did he continue to build Neath College Principal from on the already excellent repu- 1982 until April 1998. tation of the College but he invested heavily in the fabric of the institution, improving teaching and learning facilities beyond all recognition.

By 1985, student numbers had increased substantially with the College now providing a wide range of academic, pre-vocational and vocational courses for 1,182 fulltime students and 3,049 part-time students. Nevertheless, there were concerns over the age and condition of some of the buildings, in particular the buildings which were previously occupied by, firstly Neath Girls’ Grammar School and in 1973 by Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School. The buildings became part of Neath Tertiary College in 1982 but by 1989 they were in such a poor state that they were demolished to make way for a car park.

Despite the demolition of these old buildings, the College was in no way about to shrink. Plans were already in the pipeline to construct a new bakery block and, although the project was delayed, it was finally given the go-ahead in 1990. Work began in September 1990 and

by February 1991 work was well underway. The massive block connected directly to the existing catering block and the improved facilities were intended to not only benefit bakery students but the whole of the catering department. By May 1992, the million pound building was complete and the most modern teaching block of its kind in the country opened its doors to students.

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Mr Adrian Macpherson-Jones gives guidance to full-time students in the new bakery while pupils from Penlan Comprehensive School, Swansea look on.

A major change in the funding of further education colleges came about as a result of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The act removed colleges of further education from local government control and the Further Education Funding Council for Wales took over responsibility for funding colleges and other institutions providing further education in Wales. To manage this transition was a major achievement for the Principal and his staff. The Funding Council came into existence in May 1992 and assumed full funding responsibilities from April 1993.

Neath College Principal, Robin Trebilcock, promised that the College would continue to provide an expanding range of courses for all ages now that it had gained its independence from local authority control. The number of 16-year-olds staying on in full-time education had risen from 30 per cent in 1982 to between 60 and 70 per cent by 1993. In response, the College expanded its range of courses and qualifications with new subjects such as performing arts, leisure studies, caring and sports science being introduced alongside the more traditional academic and vocational courses. The increased numbers of students entering the College and the subsequent increase in staff created a need for more space and in 1994, it was announced that Neath College was to get a £6 million investment to help make it one of the top centres for further education in Wales. Plans were approved for a new three-storey teaching block together with a scheme for a new nursery.

The following year, 1996, was an exceptional year for the College which enjoyed excellent A Level examination results together with construction work starting on the new teaching block.

College Principal Robin Trebilcock with Les Evans, the company secretary of Swansea building contractors John Weaver, and Brian Nicholas of Port Talbot based consulting engineers James and Nicholas, at the official ceremony to mark the start of construction work.

Work on the new £2 million teaching block started in October 1996. The block, which housed the Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Business, Hospitality and Management, was completed in August 1997 and was a demonstration of the College’s commitment to provide students with facilities of the highest possible standard. The building, which provided high quality accommodation for over 800 students, was officially opened on 15th October 1997.

It was announced in December 1997 that Robin Trebilcock would retire as Principal of Neath College at the end of April the following year. In February 1998, it was reported that ‘a new super-college offering top quality education to thousands of Neath and Port Talbot students would be Caroline E Lewis, MA, was Prinlaunched in less than a year’. cipal of Neath College from After an unsuccessful bid to May 1998 until March 2004 link with Bridgend College, the governors of Afan College had unanimously agreed to seek merger with Neath College. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and the Neath and Port Talbot schools were bitterly opposed to the Bridgend College deal but had strongly supported a merger with Neath College. One of Robin Trebilcock’s final duties was to manage this merger process and support his successor, Caroline Lewis, in its successful implementation. On 1st May 1998, Caroline Lewis took up her duties as Principal and in September of that year Welsh Secretary Ron Davies approved the planned merger of Neath and Afan Colleges. The merger would mean that a single institution with main centres at Neath, Port Talbot and Pontardawe would guarantee the long-term provision of quality education in the three towns.

College Principal Caroline Lewis inspects progress on the new teaching block with Assistant Principal Wyn Leyshon, Finance Director Brian Rosser and a few students with an interest in civil engineering.

Caroline Lewis became the fifth Principal of Neath College in May 1998. She had studied Classics at Cambridge and with 20 years experience relished her new role.

Neath and Afan Colleges officially merged on the first of January 1999 and Caroline Lewis then became Principal of the newly formed Neath Port Talbot College.

During this period, the College continued to build on its proud reputation for excellence with outstanding results in A Level examinations and vocational programmes.

The top performing students continued to progress to the top universities including Oxford and Cambridge.

Student achievements were improving year on year and by 2004, there was an overall pass rate of 96.4 per cent at A Level and twenty-seven subjects achieved a 100 per cent pass rate. The College also continued its strong reputation for sporting and cultural success. However, the College was entering a period of financial uncertainty as European funding schemes were ending and government funding was frozen. This would have serious repercussions for the next senior management team.

Although the academic health of the College was in good shape, the same could not be said with regard to the fabric of some of the buildings. Advances in education and new technologies had rendered some of the older college buildings almost unfit for use and in 2002, work began on a £6 million facelift to create state-of-the-art buildings on the Neath Campus. Fuelled by a baby boom and the need for baby and toddler facilities at the Neath campus, work had already commenced on a £400,000 new nursery. Work was also underway to refurbish and extend the childcare facilities on the Afan Campus.

In January 2003, major construction equipment moved on to the Neath campus and the skyline was broken by massive boring and pile-driving machines as work on the £6 million new teaching block got underway. The new building was designed to house specialist services for engineering, computing, languages, art and design, media studies and performing arts. A new College library was also accommodated in the building together with a new student common room and refectory facilities for staff and students. The project was jointly funded by the College, the European Regional Development Fund and the ELWa Infrastructure Development Fund.

The building was completed in spring 2004 and officially opened on 7th May by the Right Honourable Peter Hain MP, Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for Wales. The new building was to a high

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specification incorporating all the latest environmentally friendly and energy conservation systems. Completion of the building enabled students to be taught in purpose-built accommodation using the latest educational technology and made the Neath Campus one of the most up-to-date teaching and learning centres in Wales.

Following the appointment of the current Principal in 2004, the College was transformed with the Principal and senior management team providing strong and effective leadership. The restructuring of management roles and responsibilities substantially improved the viability of the College and enabled it to invest strongly in all its resources. The focus of the College was on improving the experience of all its learners and the mission of the College set clear standards and expectations for all staff.

The new Electronic Learning Centre on the Neath Campus which was officially opened in May 2004.

After six years as Principal of Neath Port Talbot College, Caroline Lewis retired in March 2004. During her time at the College, Caroline Lewis had successfully managed the merger of Neath and Afan Colleges, overseen the development of the new £6 million Electronic Learning Centre and continued the successful reputation of the College as a centre for academic, sporting, cultural and vocational training excellence. However, the end of European funding and the continual squeeze on government funding had left the College in a very serious financial situation.

Recovery would become the most important initial task of the new Principal and his management team.

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Mark Dacey became Principal of Neath Port Talbot College on 1st April 2004 and, having spent the previous five years as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools and Colleges, immediately set about the task of putting the College on a sound financial footing. The College un- Mark Dacey became Principal and Chief Executive of Neath dertook a management and Port Talbot College in April staff restructure and tight fi- 2004. nancial controls were put in place. In a relatively short period of time, the College was once again financially healthy and management activity once again focused on helping students achieve their full potential as they took the next step on their journey into employment or going on to university.

Sports Academy students outside their new facilities at Llandarcy in 2005.

With the College now in a strong financial position, it was possible to invest in the very best resources and facilities for its learners. In September 2004, the purpose-built Academy of Sport and Learning at Llandarcy was completed. The facilities include an indoor grassed training field, an outdoor sports ground consisting of two full size rugby fields, three full size football pitches and a cricket square, a state-of-the-art health and fitness suite with the latest gym fitness equipment, conference and function facilities, an IT computer suite and a Sports Café. The facility was officially opened on 21st January 2005 by the Right Honourable Peter Hain MP and Secretary of State for Wales.

Investment in the teaching and learning facilities did not stop with the Academy of Sport and soon after the facilities at Llandarcy were opened, the College invested in a Construction Training Centre at Maesteg and added a dedicated Higher Education centre to the Afan Campus in Port Talbot.

The College had developed a reputation for excellence in education and training which was not only acknowledged locally but nationally. In September 2004 the Welsh Livery Guild, a charitable trust set up to promote education, science and fine art in Wales, turned to the College to provide expertise and accommodation for the provision of an art masterclass by world renowned, Port Talbot born, Welsh artist Andrew Vicari. The masterclass which took place over three days at the Afan Campus, Port Talbot provided personal tuition by Andrew Vicari to 66 students from 38 schools stretching from Newcastle Emlyn to Monmouth. The masterclass was a huge success and over the next few years Andrew Vicari returned to the College on at least three occasion to provide art masterclasses solely for the talented art students from the College and the best art pupils from the College’s partner schools. On each occasion Andrew Vicari was impressed by the quality and standard of the students’ and pupils’ work and equally the College was delighted that he choose to continue to give freely of his time and commit to facilitating art tuition at the College.

Andrew Vicari discussing the merits of oil painting with students at one of the many art masterclasses he provided for the College.

In 2006, the College established NPTC Enterprises as a holding company for social enterprise opportunities.

In 2008, a £2.2 million performing arts theatre with exhibition and practice space was opened on the Neath Campus. The fantastic 180 seater venue is used by College students, pupils from the local schools and the community. The Performing Arts Centre was officially

opened by Jane Hutt, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills on 26th August 2008. At the start of the 2011-12 academic year, a new Motor Vehicle Academy was opened at Pontardawe. This was the result of a partnership arrangement with ‘Snapon Tools’, the leader in the field of autotronics. This is one of the specialist units which have been created by the College to enable students to experience realistic working environments and gives students the opportunity to work on vehicles to enhance their skills and knowledge. This facility is the best equipped diagnostic centre in Wales.

In late 2010, in order to diversify the College income streams, the College acquired Language Specialists (International) Limited, a language school in Portsmouth.

The school had an excellent reputation with a Highly Trusted Status from the UK Border Agency. The company delivered pre-sessional English language courses to overseas students wishing to access degrees and post graduate qualifications. The school had partnership status with Portsmouth and Southampton Universities and during 2011 taught over 2000 students. LSI Portsmouth is one of eight trading subsidiary companies now owned by the College and based on EL Gazette’s review of British Council Inspection reports is the number one English Language Centre in the UK having achieved 100% in their last British Council inspection. LSI Portsmouth offers both face-to-face English language classes in Portsmouth and online English classes to suit all abilities and many different academic and professional needs. In addition to the longstanding partnership arrangements with Portsmouth University LSI Portsmouth currently has partnership arrangements with the University of Chichester, Kingston University, Bangor University, the University of South Wales and Beijing Foreign Studies University.

An addition to the College facilities in 2011 was the new £6 million sports facility at the Llandarcy Academy of Sport and Learning. The additional amenities included a national standard multi-use sports hall with a seating capacity for 150 people, a multi-use games area, an indoor bounding track, climbing wall and classroom space with a library. There was also an outside all-weather 3G football pitch together with hockey and rugby pitches.

This sports facility project consolidated all the sports department facilities onto a single site at Llandarcy, providing superb sporting and sports science facilities for learners at all levels and reducing the need for students to travel between different College campuses.

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From a financial point of view, the building meets the highest standards of environmental assessment and rating for sustainable building design, construction and operation, and will therefore achieve a significant saving in energy and waste management. In September 2011 the College purchased Llandarcy Park Limited, which was the company which operated the site where the Llandarcy Academy of Sport and Learning is located and now owns the premises at Llandarcy Park as opposed to previously operating under a lease arrangement. In November 2011 the multi-use sports hall was used for the U21 netball international between Wales and Singapore, Wales eventually winning by 46 goals to 40.

All three campuses had a day nursery on site which was available to staff, students and the local community. There were construction skills centres at Llansamlet and Maesteg and the Queen Street Centre in the heart of Neath offered a range of vocational and general interest courses including courses for those who wished to return to learning or update their skills. The training arm of the College, trainingwales, was based at Twyn yr Hydd House, Margam Country Park and provided all the College’s full cost recovery work in Wales. On offer were a vast amount of learning and development programmes from Health and Safety to Management Courses. Also based at Twyn yr Hydd were the Horticulture Training Centre and ParcGro plant nursery.

An additional trading subsidiary company purchased by the College in August 2011 was Gwendraeth Valley Community Enterprises Limited trading as JobForceWales Ltd. The primary role for the company, based in Llanelli, was to provide work-based learning. JobForceWales (GVCS Ltd) is currently partnered within the Skills Academy Wales consortia (there are a total of 8 partners). The consortia operates a single contract from Welsh Government to deliver Work Based Learning Programmes across a range of sectors, throughout South, Mid and North Wales in the following: Traineeships, Foundation Apprentices, Apprentices, Higher Apprentices and Flexible learning.

The first international netball match held at the Llandarcy Academy of Sport between Wales U21 and Singapore U21.

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In 2011 the Academy of Sport and Learning at Llandarcy was just one of eight campuses that Neath Port Talbot College operated across three counties. The main College campus in Neath offered an extensive range of AS/A Levels and vocational programmes. The Afan campus in Port Talbot offered a wide variety of AS/A Levels and vocational programmes. Coleg Pontardawe, based at Tawe House in the Alloy Industrial Estate, Pontardawe, offered a range of vocational and general interest courses as well as being the Centre of Excellence for Motor Vehicle Studies.

A further subsidiary company purchased by the College in August 2012 was Learn Kit Limited. A work based learning company based in Swansea, it specialises in dental nurse training to the dental profession across Wales.

The company has an unrivalled reputation for providing quality learning programmes that enable participants to gain recognised qualifications and register with the General Dental Council. As with JobForceWales Ltd, Learn Kit Limited was already a very active member of the Skills Academy Wales consortium. It was consolidated into the group accounts for the first time in 2013. Also during 2013, the College set up Cycle Academy Wales which became a subsidiary.

Since its foundation in 1931, Neath Port Talbot College had gone from strength to strength. Considerable investment and outstanding student achievement had made it one of the most successful colleges in Wales.

Between 2006 and 2011 the College was inspected three times by Estyn, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, and half of the grades awarded

were Grade One – outstanding. All other grades were at Grade Two meaning there were no important shortcomings. In all three inspections the College consistently received Grade One for ‘Quality’ and ‘Leadership and Management’. A further Estyn inspection in November 2012 concluded that in all Key Questions the College was rated as good or excellent with many strengths, including significant examples of sector leading practice and no important areas requiring significant improvement.

capability to undertake long-term planning and development of the estate to better reflect twenty-first century education, an opportunity to share some of the outstanding practices both institutions provided for their students and increased opportunities for staff in terms of progression and development.

Early in 2012 the College embarked on one of its most ambitious developments since its foundation in 1931. The then Neath Port Talbot College pursued a Full Business Case with Coleg Powys to undertake a Type B merger. In a Type B merger one corporation continues and the other is dissolved with the staff, assets and liabilities transferring into it (a single dissolution). The proposed merger was in line with Welsh Government and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) policy of reconfiguration in the Further Education sector in Wales, to ensure an efficient and effective provision for learners. There was overwhelming support from the governing body of Coleg Powys for a merger with Neath Port Talbot College. The move towards larger education institutions in Wales was championed by Education Minister Leighton Andrews and the proposed merger between Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys followed other mergers in the Further Education sector in Wales which had seen Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Coleg Menai and Llandrillo College all merge, and the merger of Yale College in Wrexham with Deeside College. Neath Port Talbot College’s chair of governors Gaynor Richards said the merger with Coleg Powys was seen as the “next natural step in our journey at the College”.

In July 2014 the newly formed College underwent an Estyn Review of Performance in order to evaluate the existing performance of the College, to review the progress made against the recommendations arising from the inspection of Neath Port Talbot College in November 2012 and to report the outcomes of the Learner Voice Survey undertaken earlier in the year. With regard to Outcomes and Standards it was reported that the College had the highest unweighted success rate in the sector in 20122013. The overall success rate for long courses was 87% which was the highest in the sector for 2012-2013. The highest performing long courses were in the following learning areas: construction, leisure, travel and tourism, and languages, literature and culture. With a success rate of 99% the College also had one of the highest success rates in the sector for short course provision. It was also reported that the College had some of the highest success rates for Key Skills at all levels and across all aspects of Key Skills. Concerning Teaching and Assessment it was reported that the Group was addressing appropriately the recommendation from the inspection of Neath Port Talbot College in 2012 to improve the standards of teaching and assessment in all learning areas. The report paid tribute to the introduction of a new process of classroom observations that identified how well teachers deliver against a set of criteria covering a range of features such as planning, teaching and assessment activities and how well learners engaged with the lesson.

The Full Business Case was approved by both College Corporation Boards and by DfES and the National Assembly for Wales Minister for Education and Skills, Leighton Andrews AM announced that Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys would merge on 1st August 2013 and thus form the new Further Education College, NPTC Group of Colleges. As of that date the Corporation Board of Coleg Powys was dissolved and their assets and liabilities were transferred to Neath Port Talbot College. The merger created a single college which serves 270,000 residents across thirty per cent of the land mass of Wales. The new College provided many opportunities and advantages for students, staff and local communities including: an increased financial

In early 2014 the Department for Education and Skills undertook a learner voice survey separately at the Neath Port Talbot and Powys campuses. Just under 2,700 learners completed the survey across all campuses. The Group’s results were at or just below the sector averages for overall satisfaction and expectations of the particular course they were studying. NPTC Group of Colleges responded positively to these learner voice outcomes and included actions for improvement in its quality development plan. Consequently the governing body agreed key actions for 2014-2015 which included producing a new learner involvement strategy for the Group, setting out impact measures and involving students more in the day to day running of the Group.

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The state of the art refurbishment of A/B Block on the Neath campus which was officially opened during the 2017/18 academic year

At the heart of the College are its students and the College had invested, literally, millions of pounds to provide the very best resources for its students. The main emphasis of the newly established NPTC Group of Colleges was the students who attend College and their successful completion of their course of study. In many ways 2015 was another successful year where students continued to flourish with attainment rates remaining high in academic and vocational subjects. Very much in line with the College strapline ‘More than just an Education’ the College continued to support and celebrate the success of its students in all their endeavours. For the Group, the strapline conveys what students acquire as a whole package at the College. In addition to outstanding education and training students also have access to all of the extra curricula activities, the sports, the clubs, the music and dance and much more.

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As in previous years there were some notable achievements for the College students in 2015. For the tenth year in succession the overall pass rate (99.6%) exceeded 99%. In 42 out of 44 A Level subjects offered students achieved 100% pass rate with 50% of students achieving A* to B grades and 77% achieving A* to C grades.

The College again exceeded the national benchmark. In addition 94 students achieved triple distinction grades in the Extended National Diploma qualifications. More than 200 students took the Welsh Baccalaureate with 72% achieving A*/A grades. Two College students were honoured at the Swansea Bay Young Achiever 2015 Awards and a third year bricklaying shared apprentice

won the Apprentice of the Year Award. There were many other student successes with a past Travel and Tourism student winning the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, a female civil engineering apprentice being named as the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) Welsh Apprentice of the Year and a past student and member of the NPTC Group’s Centerprise initiative winning the South Wales Business Awards category of female Entrepreneur of the year. In addition the College’s Horticulture Department won a gold medal at the Royal Welsh Spring Festival for its show garden and the College was awarded the John G Robinson trophy by the Master and Wardens of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers for being the best overall performing plastering department in the UK. Another significant development for the College in 2015 was the securing of Welsh Government funding for the £4 million upgrade of the A/B Block on the Neath Campus. The purpose of the upgrade was to modernise the look of the College, improve the quality of the 6th Form Academy classrooms and provide additional space with a coffee shop for flexible learning and socialisation.

The refurbishment would also improve accessibilty for all students and enhance the student services function available to students. All of this was designed to enhance the student experience, to improve applications, enrolements and retention in the College. This new facility, which won the coveted 2019 Education Buildings Award for the “best student experience”, was officially opened during the 2017/18 academic year.

In 2016 the College set up JGR Educate, in partnership with the then Jennifer Griffiths Recruitment. The LLP partnership brings education and recruitment expertise together.

Staff and students enjoying the cutting edge facilities in the newly refurbished A/B Block on the Neath Campus.

As a result of the UK Government cutbacks in 2015 and the consequential Welsh Government cutbacks in public sector funding and in particular cutbacks to the Local Government sector, Neath Port Talbot Council decided that it could no longer continue to subsidise the operation of Cymmer Swimming Pool and it closed in December 2015. Following the closure of the pool NPTC Group of Colleges stepped in, and working with Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Services (NPTCVS), local campaigners and other volunteers, worked hard to see it reopen. They set up a company, Afan Valley Community Leisure (AVCL) and after several months of fundraising and hard work the newly named Afan Valley Swimming Pool opened in October 2016. Had it not been for the hard work of the College through its subsidiary sports and leisure subsidiary, Llandarcy Park Limited, Afan Valley Community Leisure, Neath Port Talbot Council Voluntary Services working alongside the community volunteers the future of this important community facility would not have been safeguarded.

Tuition at Afan Valley Swimming Pool which re-opened in October 2016 after NPTC Group of Colleges stepped in to secure its future.

By 2016/17 the success of the merger between Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys was becoming more evident with students achieving grades that outperformed national comparators. Following another successful year with A Level and Extended Diploma Qualification results students were accepting places at some of the best performing universities and institutions across the country. Building on the success of the previous year the number of students achieving the top A Level grade more than doubled during 2016/17. For the 12th year in succession the overall pass rate (99.9 per cent) exceeded 99 per cent. Ninety-six per cent of students following the Gifted and Talented programme (GATE) at Neath Port Talbot Sixth Form Academy gained A* to B grades and 84 per cent of those achieved A* to A grades.

In addition 93 students achieved an excellent outcome of triple distinction grades in the Extended National Diploma qualifications. It was also a good year for Agriculture student Eifion Jones who was named joint winner of the Royal Welsh Agriculture Society Student of the Year Award 2017. In addition the College’s horticulture department was awarded a Gold Medal for its display ‘Diversity of Landscape’ at the Royal Welsh Show, having previously taken home gold at the Society’s Spring Fair earlier in the year.

In the same year construction students from the College cemented their future careers after being awarded top degrees in Construction Management. Three students who were the first to study the College’s new BSc (Hons) degree in construction Management in conjunction with Glyndwr University were awarded the degree. At the same time, ten former construction students were awarded the same degree at University, six achieved First Class Honours and four a 2.1. Higher Education courses have for many years been an important part of the curriculum and the College is continually investigating alternative and supplementary arrangements with all HE Partners to ensure that there will always be access to Higher Education provision in the local community.

In December 2018 the College increased its trading subsidiary companies to eight when they purchased Green Labyrinth (including EngageCRM). The company spe-

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cialises in professional business training and education that supports the needs of employers and learners. The company which offers workplace learning and training also provides specialist teaching and learning opportunities to students attending alternative provision through a special study programme. The business delivers programmes to support employers and learners to undertake Apprenticeships, Professional Diplomas, Maths and English qualifications, Vocational Skills, E-Learning programmes and Short Courses which help businesses and learners alike to address their skills and training needs. The programmes are accredited by some of the UK’s leading educational providers and are designed to enhance employers’ existing training provision and improve each learner’s knowledge and skills. Directly funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency the organisation helps deliver over £1 million of skills training each year throughout Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. The portfolio of services helps over 1000 learners achieve qualifications every year.

In August 2019, following another year of excellent results, local students from Newtown and Brecon Colleges came together with learners from across NPTC Group of Colleges to celebrate their shared success at a Graduation Ceremony held at Swansea University’s Great Hall. Ex local Assembly Member Gwenda Thomas, Pat Vine, Governor to NPTC Group of Colleges and Justice of the Peace, and High Court Judge Sir Clive Lewis were awarded Fellowships from the College as they shared the stage with more than 200 graduates at the NPTC Group of Colleges’ 13th graduation ceremony.

2019 Graduates from NPTC Group of Colleges celebrate their success in the usual way with the traditional mortarboard throw.

As well as offering traditional post-16 A Level and vocational courses, the College is a key provider of adult education and delivers a wide variety of Higher National Diplomas, Higher National Certificates, Foundation Degrees and Degree courses, in partnership with the University of South Wales, Trinity Saint David, Glyndŵr University and Pearson . The College offers an extensive range of university-level qualifications, some are run directly, and some are run in partnership with several Welsh universities. Many of the courses are vocational qualifications developed in consultation with employers, to equip students with the skills and knowledge that employers require and to make the progression into employment easier. The College offers Access to Higher Education Diplomas in Business and Financial Services, Applied Computing, Health Care, Humanities and Science. In addition there are Higher Education courses in Agriculture, Art and Design, Business and Management, Computing, Construction, Engineering, Health, Social and Childcare, Hospitality, Music, Sport and Public Services, Teaching and Travel and Tourism.

Another successful group of NPTC Group graduates after their graduation ceremony in 2019.

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Since 2006 the College has held its own graduation ceremony, usually at a high profile venue, to celebrate the success of its Higher Education students.

During the 2018/19 academic year the College and its students were recognised in numerous awards and competitions. The College was named the Top Training Provider in Wales and second in the entire UK for Teaching by the School Levers Awards. The College’s plastering department was once again recognised as the best overall performing college in the UK by the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers, winning the John G Robinson Trophy, as well as winning the Collino Trophy for the best performing College for NVQ level 2 qualifications.

Neath College A Level student Freya Kinsley won the top essay competition sponsored by Sheffield University.

The prize is awarded to the best essay written by a year 12 or Lower Sixth Form student from schools and colleges anywhere in the UK. Newtown College’s Fflur Roberts was awarded the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Student of the Year 2019 at a ceremony held at the Royal Welsh Show in July 2019. In addition NPTC Group of Colleges students picked up top awards at the Alliance of Bakery Students and Trainees (ABST) Conference and many students also achieved impressive sporting honours with three students representing Wales under 18s in rugby, one students being selected to cycle for Team Wales in road racing and another representing Wales in badminton in the National Championships.

In February 2020 NPTC Group of Colleges underwent another inspection of its further education provision

by Estyn, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales. In all five inspection areas: Standards; Wellbeing and attitudes to learning; Teaching and learning experiences; Care support and guidance; and Leadership and management the judgement of the inspectors was the provision was good with strong features, although minor aspects may require improvement.

In March 2020 NPTC Group of Colleges faced the biggest challenge in its ninety year history with the outbreak of Covid-19. On the 11th March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) which had been identified in China in December 2019 was a pandemic. The UK Government, and the Welsh Government announced a national ‘lockdown’ as of 23rd March 2020. NPTC Group of Colleges was clearly impacted by the pandemic and the lockdown in line with most organisations in the UK. The Group management

team had been monitoring the changing situation with Covid-19 since early February and was developing plans to prepare for different eventualities. The impact on Language Specialists (International) Limited of Covid-19 was substantial, given that the nature of the business is the face-to-face teaching of students from March 2020 Covid-19 presentoverseas. The school com- In ed the College with the biggest plied with the lockdown challenge in its 90 year history. regulations, and closed.

The staff worked hard to assist its students in ensuring that they were all safely returned home. Some tuition continued online, but this did not make up for the interruption in main operations. The management and directors of the company were proactive in accessing the support available, most significantly furloughing the majority of the staff. The company also had to restructure to survive and to keep ongoing costs as low as possible. For the College, Green Labyrinth (including EngageCRM), Gwendraeth Valley Community Enterprises and Learn Kit Limited, the impact was similar, albeit at different scales. As was the case for the College as a whole the most important impact was on the students. The switch to online tuition happened quickly and was positively received by staff and students and delivery was able to continue in this form. Workplace assessments and practical sessions were put on hold, with some resuming in June as restrictions were eased. Welsh Government were quick to respond in respect of the core income streams, confirming that they would continue to be paid and that

The engineering workshops on the Neath campus all marked out to ensure safe social distancing for the students on their return to college.

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there would be no clawback if any funding targets were missed. Commercial training did not take place for any of these entities during lockdown, which negatively impacted on income and profitability, as was the case for International projects. The theatres, the refectories, the training restaurants and the training salons did not trade during lockdown and so did not generated any income in that period. However, there were also reductions in operating costs for the estates and travel in particular, and where appropriate, the entities furloughed staff who could not do their income generating work.

The College was proud to hand over its Llandarcy Park site to the Swansea Bay University Health Board to be utilised as a Nightingale Hospital for the Covid-19 response.

Thankfully, the numbers of people locally requiring hospitalisation was low enough that no patients were transferred there. In making the decision to put the community needs first, the directors of Llandarcy Park and the Corporation Board knew that this would adversely affect income, but the Group exists primarily to serve its community and all decision makers felt it was the right thing to do. The impact was lessened as the NHS were covering the facilities costs of the site during their operation and many of the staff had been furloughed, plus the business rates were not payable for the year. Furthermore, company management had been inventive in efforts to retain gym memberships through online classes and equipment loans and with the Pavilion unavailable, they had permission to use the Blasus kitchens to operate a highly successful food delivery service.

All of the Group entities were working hard to plan for the next academic year, and were following all official guidance to be able to put student, staff and public wellbeing first, while retaining a focus on high quality delivery. Amended delivery of courses, tailored to the funding and curriculum guidance from Welsh Government was thoroughly planned, enrolment was undertaken entirely online to avoid crowds of people at College sites and the College estates were sanitised and set up to allow social distancing.

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The Group was very proud of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic that took place at an individual and corporate level. Many College staff and students volunteered to work on the frontline and in their communities during the pandemic. As previously mentioned the Llandarcy Academy of Sport was handed over to the NHS to be transformed into a Field Hospital amid the COV-

The Llandarcy Academy of Sport was handed over to the NHS and transformed into a Field Hospital amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

ID-19 pandemic. In addition the College donated food to food banks, care homes and the emergency services across Neath Port Talbot and Powys and donated PPE to the NHS; the College nursery staff provided childcare for key workers throughout the lockdown; Newtown College was used as a testing centre and blood donation site; and not forgetting the tremendous effort of all College staff to move almost seamlessly to remote working in short order, going above and beyond to ensure that the College learners were given every opportunity to successfully complete their studies. The academic year 2019/20 was a very unusual and challenging year for the Group, but in spite of the circumstances the staff and students of the NPTC Group of Colleges continued to shine.

In 2020 the Sixth Form Academy achieved a 100 per cent pass rate and achieved the highest number of A* results in the College’s history. For the students who followed the Gifted and Talented (GATE) programme, it was good news; 84% achieving A*/A grades and 100% achieving A*-B grades this year. This year, an incredible 71 students achieved triple distinctions grades in the Extended National Diploma qualifications, with 32 students achieving the highest possible grade profile of triple distinction stars (D*D*D*) which is the equivalent to three A* at A Level. In addition to this, a staggering 427 learners successfully achieved the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate with an outstanding pass rate of 99.3%.

The longstanding partnership between Pathways Training (the apprenticeship arm of NPTC Group of Colleges) and Swansea Bay University Health Board, was recognised at this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymric with a top award. The specialist motor vehicle body repair team at Pontardawe College (part of NPTC Group of Colleges) were over the moon instead of under the bonnet, after being named Educator of the Year at the Bodyshop Live Awards 2019.

The specialist motor vehicle repair team at Pontardawe College were named Educator of the Year at the Bodyshop Live Awards 2019.

NPTC Group of Colleges’ staff were also performing very well with the Human Resources team shortlisted for a prestigious TES Award. The team were named as one of the best Professional Services Teams in the UK, for its hugely successful ‘Supporting Mental Health Initiative’ (part of the Wellness at Work Programme). During the year NPTC Group of Colleges was awarded the highly prestigious ‘Work Welsh Award 2020: Employer of the Year’ by Learn Welsh - part of Welsh Government. The College had been part of the Work Welsh Further Education scheme since 2017, with around 850 members of staff following Welsh language training. The College achieved 83% of staff completing the online Cwrs Croeso/Welcome course, which is now part of the Group’s induction and staff appraisal programme.

Following on from the incredible success of the academies in Afan College and Brecon Beacons College, celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford officially launched the Lee Stafford Academy of Hairdressing, Barbering and Applied Therapies at Newtown College in front of a

NPTC Group of Colleges CEO and Principal Mark Dacey with Kirsty Williams AC/AM and a group of Brecon College students at the official opening of the College within the Community Hub (CWTCH) in March 2020.

full house of local employers. The partnership with Lee Stafford has enthused Hair and Applied Therapies staff and students alike and raised the profile of the department in the local area.

Brecon Beacons College’s newest addition, the College within the Community Hub - ‘The CWTCH’ officially opened its doors in 2020. The former tourist information centre will create a vision for further education in Brecon and will be part of the community with open access for all. The CWTCH offers state of the art computing for students and the public with Ultra-fast 1GB internet connection; video conferencing facilities; flexible working areas and teaching spaces. The centre was officially opened by Kirsty Williams the Welsh Government Minister for Education on 6th March 2020. At Neath College, a new construction workshop facility, costing £1.3 million was completed in 2020, providing much needed additional space to accommodate the successful School of Construction and the Built Environment.

Celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford officially launches the Lee Stafford Academy of Hairdressing, Barbering and Applied Therapies at Newtown College.

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Despite all the difficulties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent College lockdown, NPTC Group of Colleges continued to operate and as a result of the dedication and determination of the staff and students 2019-2020 was a very successful and rewarding year for the College.

As early as 2015 NPTC Group of Colleges had been exploring ways to supplement their courses and offer students additional content online through blended learning; a mixture of face-to-face teaching with online learning. NPTC Group of Colleges started to look at blended learning in April 2015 after attending the Blended Learning Conference at Heart of Worcester College.

At the time, under the watchful eye of Head of ILT, Colin Bevan, the Neath Campus was in the middle of a major IT infrastructure change, which included the rewiring of the campus and the deployment of campus wide wifi. This was completed in 2016 and provided the opportunity to progress and introduce blended learning into the College education system. A year later the College was leading a project looking at introducing different models of blended learning into the College teaching and learning system. Currently 70% of further education colleges in the UK are members of the Blended Learning Consortium of which NPTC Group of Colleges is one.

In 2019 the College became a partner in the Swansea University led Growing Comms project which was a successful partnership between Higher and Further Education.

Initially the project was funded by HEFCW to enhance collaboration between Higher Education and Further Ed-

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ucation by exploring new ways of teaching and developing new spaces to encourage collaborative small group work.

The partnership of four Welsh institutions – Swansea University, Gower College Swansea, NPTC Group of Colleges and Pembrokeshire College – successfully designed and equipped Collaborative Spaces, while building efficient and effective cross institutional collaboration. A priority for NPTC Group of Colleges was to increase student engagement and to encourage teaching staff to move away from traditional models of delivery to student-centred and activity-based learning by providing a flexible, technological learning space. Growing Comms provided the opportunity to review the design of learning spaces and to connect with similar spaces in other institutions. Two rooms were identified within the Group, one in Neath and the other in Newtown; the two sites are 90 miles apart, over a two-hour drive. These resources would enable students within the Group to participate in joint learning activities as well as connecting with others outside the group of colleges.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the project was extended until December 2020, the remaining funds were repurposed and additional funding obtained. This second phase had new objectives: to support the partners through the changes to teaching delivery required by social distancing, to supporting future and current students by offering a range of online activities and finally, to enhance business engagement. Thanks to this funding extension the project was able to support NPTC Group of Colleges and the other partners in the change of teaching deliveries due to Covid-19 as well as to provide students with new formats of online activities.

Students using the most up-to-date technology in the Hybrid Classroom on the Neath Campus.

There is no doubt that the NPTC Group of Colleges involvement in the Growing Comms project not only enabled the College to test innovative ways to integrate new equipment, technologies and methods in learning and teaching activities but also to overcome the difficulties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The College’s involvement in the Growing Comms project and its growing expertise in blending learning techniques placed it at the forefront of modern teaching and learning technologies. This expertise enabled the College to overcome many of the difficulties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the face of another year disrupted by the global pandemic the 2020-21 academic year saw the College achieve record results with an incredible overall pass rate of 100 per cent and gain a record number of A* results. It is important to note that 2020-21 was a year like no other year and both students and staff undertook an incredible amount of work in extremely difficult circumstances to achieve these outstanding results. Despite the fact that the Llandarcy Academy of Sport was transferred to the Health Board as a temporary Nightingale hospital during the pandemic College students studying sport related subjects achieved excellent results. Both A Level and

BTEC students readily adapted to online learning, focusing on their studies to arrive at what were truly amazing results. Many of the class of 2021 secured places at top universities or gained the qualifications they required to land their dream jobs.

In response to their achievements Mark Dacey, Chief Executive Officer and Principal of NPTC Group of Colleges said:

“I am incredibly proud and humbled by the results we have achieved especially in what has been the most challenging time for our staff and students, in more ways than one.

Staff have adapted and sometimes completely changed their teaching practices to engage students in a whole new way. In turn, our students have adapted to these challenges, showing their commitment. These results are a testament to the dedication of our staff and our students in unprecedented circumstances. I am happy to provide the most heart-felt congratulations not just for myself, but the College’s Corporation Board and Senior Management Team”.

NPTC Group of Colleges Senior Management Team 2021

Mark Dacey Principal / Chief Executive Officer

Catherine Lewis Deputy Principal / Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Kathryn Holley

Eleanor Glew

Kelly Fountain

Gemma Charnock

Vice Principal: Financial Services

Vice Principal: Operational Services

Vice Principal: Academic Services

Vice Principal: External Relations and Group Company Secretary

Fran Green

Geraint Jones

Siân Jones

Steve Rhodes

Assistant Principal: Quality

Assistant Principal: Curriculum

Assistant Principal: Students

Assistant Principal: Worldwide Operations

Nicola Thornton-Scott Assistant Principal: Skills

Richard Tong

Tessa Jennings

Assistant Principal: Higher Education

Assistant Principal: Student Recruitment

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NPTC Group of Colleges Fronlas Farm in Newtown.

The difficulty of operating and successfully managing a further education provider the size and complexity of NPTC Group of Colleges cannot be overstated and it is the Groups Corporation Board and Senior Management Team that are charged with this responsibility. From its early beginnings when the College consisted of a principal and just two members of staff with five teaching rooms NPTC Group of Colleges now employs 862 members of staff, has eight main campuses and manages an annual budget of around £64 million.

In addition to its eight main campuses at Neath College, Afan College, Brecon Beacons College, Newtown College, Pontardawe College, Swansea Construction Centre, Llandarcy Academy of Sport and Maesteg Construction Centre NPTC Group of Colleges also operates Fronlas Farm in Newtown, Cefynbryn Farm in Sarn, the 556 seater Hafren Theatre, conference and meeting venue in Newtown and the CWTCH community based venue in Brecon.

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Furthermore, in a bid to reduce reliance on government funding, the Group also operates eight subsidiary companies: LSI Portsmouth, Llandary Park Limited, JobForceWales Ltd, Learn Kit Limited, JGR Educate, Green Labyrinth (including EngageCRM), NPTC Enterprises and the Cycle Academy Wales. It is NPTC Group of Colleges’ governors via the Corporation Board and its Committees who are responsible for the mission, strategic direction and financial security of the College. It is the College’s governors who, over many years have provided the structures and systems that have shaped the strategic direction and management of the College for the benefit of all its stakeholders.

The Senior Management Team, successfully headed by Chief Executive Officer and Principal Mark Dacey for the past seventeen years, is responsible for the strategic management of the College and the implementation of Corporation policy. The NPTC Group of Colleges is led by a strong and diverse Senior Management Team. The senior managers have always operated to a strong team ethic being mutually supportive and taking individual and collective responsibility for the strategic development and general operation of the College. The Senior Team comprises of the Group’s Chief Executive Officer; Deputy Chief Executive Officer; Vice Principal – Academic Services; Vice Principal – External Relations; Vice Principal – Financial Services; Vice Principal – Operational Services and the Assistant Principals for Quality; Curriculum; Students; Student Recruitment; HE; Worldwide Operations; and Skills.

The work of the senior managers is supported by a group of senior middle managers. These individuals are key academic and functional unit managers who act as the interface between the strategic and operational domains.

The College prides itself in high qualifications and experience of all of the staff, including lecturers, assessors, instructors and all of the essential business support staff.

As the College moves into its ninety first year and returns to some sort of normality following the Covid-19 pandemic there will be challenges and opportunities. The past two years have been a massive learning curve as far as the use of remote and blended learning is concerned and these approaches, in many teaching and learning situations, can be as effective as face-to-face methods.

The College is now at the forefront of this technology and will continue to develop expertise in this field which will benefit our staff and students well into the future.

Green issues will become significantly more important.

This will impact heavily on all areas of the College curriculum and particularly in the key area of the build environment which is rapidly changing with the Welsh Government launching the Optimise Retrofit Programme (ORP) as they play their part in aiming for net zero by testing a new approach to decarbonising Welsh homes.

It is expected that delivering a green low carbon economy will create in the region of 15000 new jobs in Wales over the next ten years and the College is well placed to play its part in providing the skilled workforce needed to meet industry standards and competences. Green jobs are not an overnight fix and the College will need to work collectively to provide a quality skills programme.

The College will need to continually change and adapt as these green jobs continue to develop as equipment, materials and technology evolve.

With regard to facilities NPTC Group of Colleges is currently involved in two exciting building schemes that are set to transform education in Neath Port Talbot and Brecon. In Port Talbot, the proposal is to build a new campus as part of the Harbourside development and regeneration scheme. This is part of the wide-ranging development linked to the new £110m peripheral distributor road and the new £10m Parkway Railway Station. The new campus will accommodate provision currently at the Afan Campus including centres of excellence in Health and Social Care and Building Engineering Services. Hair, Beauty and Holistic Therapies will be located in a ‘lifestyle’ building and will be run as a self-supporting business providing a key service sector in the town centre. The main educational buildings will be a state-of-the-art resource.

In Brecon work has already been completed on the refurbishment of the Tourist Information Centre as a community based venue (CWTCH). In order to improve the local relevance of the curriculum offer at the College in Brecon and to make it more accessible to students, there are plans to relocate Brecon Beacons College into Brecon town. Discussions are currently taking place over the acquisition of two buildings in the town. The multi-site facility, largely located in the town centre, will offer stateof-the-art training facilities and encouraging greater engagement with the local community.

There have been many changes over the past nine decades, triumphs and challenges. The College is steeped in history as mergers and partnerships have made it the success story that it is today. The history of each of the Colleges that form the Group have their own incredible stories and many will remember some of those changes which include Margam Technical College, which became Afan College that first opened its doors in 1952, in order to support the Steel Works apprentices. Ye Wells Hotel in Llandrindod Wells opened in 1907, but became a training college after the war in 1947. In 1950 it became a residential school for students who were hearing impaired and in 1973 it became a FE college.

Brecon College opened on 20th January 1965 and was called Coleg Howell Harris. A purpose built Newtown College opened in1978 and then fully opened in 1981 after changing from Montgomery College, and Hafren opened its doors in 1983.

As the College now moves towards its centenary, it can be proud of what’s been achieved. Decisions to form partnerships and mergers always had the best interest of students at heart and the College has attained exceptional student success in academic, vocational, sporting and cultural achievements during its time. It is well placed now to build on that success during the coming years.

Search NPTC Group Designed by Matthew Williams and edited by Fay Harris

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