6 April 2011
Listening to College Learners
As the ColegauCymru / CollegesWales annual awards 2011 enter the last stage in the judging process, colleges are keen to demonstrate their commitment to listening to their learners and delivering in their best interests.
The strongest competition in the categories open to colleges this year is ‘Innovation in Responding to the Learner Voice’.
Berni Tyler, Head of Quality and Standards at ColegauCymru / CollegesWales said: “Colleges are increasingly involving students in decisions and are taking very seriously their commitment to respond to the ‘learner voice’.
“Over the course of the last year, colleges have stepped up their efforts to involve students. For example, delegates at this year’s National Union of Students’ conference saw a record number of college staff and student delegates. Staff have attended training sessions to help them support college Students’ Unions and Sabbatical Officers. Colleges are also working hard to safeguard learners through learning from best practice. In addition, student governors have participated in a bespoke training programme to ensure that they are able to participate fully in college decision-making.”
Commenting on the record number of entries for the Annual Awards 2011, Chief Executive of ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, John Graystone, said: “There is a growing confidence in the college sector. Estyn – Her Majesty’s Inspectorate in Wales – has shown that colleges are delivering high quality leadership, teaching, learning, student support and financial management. In addition, the Welsh Assembly Government and two independent reports have recently commended the performance of college governors and complimented colleges on their efforts to collaborate with other providers for the benefit of learners.
“But further education colleges are not complacent. All are committed to continue to raise their levels of performance. This strong commitment to high quality has translated into more entries by a greater number of colleges for the ColegauCymru annual awards 2011. Significantly, no one college has a monopoly on high quality. A record 15 colleges from across Wales have been shortlisted for the nine award categories this year.”
Dr Graystone concluded: “The ColegauCymru awards ceremony is a lively celebration of the best that Wales’ colleges can offer. ColegauCymru is delighted to have received sponsorship for the awards from a number of influential bodies and I am very much looking forward to the ceremony on 26 May where the awards’ sponsors will announce the winners”.
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Contact: Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or 07968 771913.
Notes to editors:
1. ColegauCymru / CollegesWales is the new name for fforwm. It is a national educational charity that represents all 21 further education (FE) colleges and institutions in Wales. Its mission is to raise the profile of further education with key decision-makers to improve opportunities for learners in Wales. For further information about ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, and the colleges it represents, visit www.colegaucymru.ac.uk or www.collegeswales.ac.uk
2. The award categories 2011 and sponsors are:
- Effective use of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) to engage employers (Agored Cymru)
- Digital Learning Resources (WJEC/ NGfL)
- Effective leadership in the delivery of skills (City & Guilds /ILM)
- Outstanding practice in the maintaining and improving of quality (Tribal)
- Innovation in responding to the ‘learner voice’ (OCR)
- Outstanding use of technology (UfI/learndirect)
- Innovative use of curriculum planning (Edexcel)
- Learner of the Year (ColegauCymru / CollegesWales)
- Teacher of the Year (LLUK)
3. The winners will be announced during a ceremony at the ColegauCymru Annual Conference on 26 May 2011 at The Hilton Hotel, Cardiff. To sponsor the conference or exhibit at the Annual Conference and FE Governors’ Conference (held on 25 May 2011 also at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff) please contact Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or email Sylvia.davies@colegaucymru.ac.uk
4. Shortlisted colleges are: Ystrad Mynach College, Coleg Sir Gâr, St David's Catholic College, Yale College Wrexham, Coleg Gwent, Coleg Morgannwg, Deeside College, Bridgend College, Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Menai, Pembrokeshire College, Neath Port Talbot College, Gower College Swansea, Barry College, Coleg Glan Hafren.
5. Estyn’s inspection reports are available from www.estyn.gov.uk
6. Two recent independent reports have commended colleges: