Student support

Students can talk to their tutor about any concerns they have around their course.  Tutors take responsibility for the general welfare and progress of a group of students, whom they meet on a weekly basis.  Your tutor is your first point of contact and can provide support and, if necessary, seek further assistance on your behalf.

The college’s tutorial programme is a comprehensive programme, covering a variety of topics including careers guidance, environmental issues and university and job applications. The programme also incorporates a number of events.

Weekly tutorial support is available through the medium of Welsh and Oxbridge/specialist tutorials are also available.

Student Services
The Student Services Team is here to help you enjoy college life to the full. The Student Services team can help with a range of support issues including funding advice, careers guidance, course advice, health and welfare.  The college’s specialist student support staff are available at Gorseinon, Llwyn y Bryn and Tycoch.

Support for Young Carers / Looked After Children
The college has two designated officers who provide support to Young Carers and Looked After Children

Support for students facing homelessness / mental health issues
The college has two designated officers who provide support to students facing homelessness and / or experiencing mental health issues.

GCSE Re-sit Opportunities
Students will be strongly encouraged to re-sit GCSE English, Mathematics, Science and Welsh (First Language), where required, and provision is made for these subjects to be studied within the first year of their course. Examinations will usually be sat at the end of the first year of study.

Additional Learning Support
We provide specialist support for students with additional learning needs or disabilities.  If you require specialist equipment or assistance we will apply for funding for this.  Let us know at the application stage to ensure we can provide the right support for you.

A range of support can be made available:

• Support worker – one-to-one
• Support worker – small groups
• Specialist support for visually impaired students
• Communication for deaf and hearing impaired students
• Specialist equipment – upon assessment and request
• Material available in large print, tape and Braille

If we know what you need we can make all reasonable adjustments to help you succeed. All disclosures will be treated sensitively. Additional learning resources are also available, such as computers, laptops and educational software to aid literacy.

Contacts for Additional Learning Support:

Independent Living Skills and Foundation Skills:

• Tom Snelgrove (Tycoch) 01792 284079 / 284215 or tom.snelgrove@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk 
• Mandy Heskins (Tycoch) 01792 284079 / 284311 or mandy.heskins@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk
• Ceri Brueton (Tycoch) 01792 284079 / 284311 or ceri.brueton@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk 

All other courses (A level, BTEC, NVQ etc):

• Ceri Low (Tycoch and Llwyn y Bryn) 01792 284237 or ceri.low@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk
• Keith Harries (Gorseinon) 01792 890771 or keith.harries@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk

Study Skills
We can help you improve both your literacy and numeracy skills with specialist tuition. At the Student Skills Centre at Gorseinon we will help you with revision skills and coursework and will proof read your work. Additional resources are also available, such as computers, laptops and educational software to aid literacy. 

Oxbridge Preparation Programme
A significant number of our students have progressed to Oxford and Cambridge each year over the past two decades - 24 students have been accepted over the past three years.

Our Oxbridge Preparation Programme provides individual programmes for those who wish to apply for leading universities throughout the UK, as well as international institutions.

In year one, individual guidance is provided through the early stages of application.  Visits to Oxford and Cambridge and visits by Oxbridge undergraduates and liaison staff are essential elements of the programme. In year two, interview techniques and mock interviews are key elements.

Applications for Medicine
Students who have expressed an interest in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, or related careers, are given weekly tutorial sessions during their second year of study. These provide the opportunity for them to discuss current ethical issues and medical breakthroughs and to receive advice on interview techniques. 

Applications to Performing Arts Institutions
Performing Arts students are guided through the application procedures for specialist colleges and prepared for auditions.

Updated February 2013