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Churchill College Cambridge recently welcomed almost 80 Year 12 students from South Wales for a three-day residential organised as part of the Swansea HE+ project.

HE+ aims to encourage and prepare talented students to apply for places at top universities.

The Swansea HE+ consortium, which is made up of Gower College Swansea and the City and County’s seven maintained schools with sixth forms, launched in October 2012. 

This was the consortium’s first visit to Cambridge and students enjoyed college tours, museum visits, subject talks and free time in Churchill and Fitzwilliam Colleges.

“The chance to talk to the Directors of Studies was great”, said Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr student Nia Thomas, who hopes to study Chemistry.  “It’s been good to get an experience of what a Cambridge supervision would be like.”

Gowerton Comprehensive School student Elaine Tucker, who is considering Anthropology as one of her university options, enjoyed the insight into student life and the chance to check out the facilities available to Cambridge students. “It feels friendly here,” she commented.

For English Literature hopeful Joseph Lumber, currently studying at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe, highlights of the visit included exploring the university’s libraries and museums.  “We’ve walked our feet off exploring Cambridge,” he said. “I’ve seen countless libraries and the Quentin Blake exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum. It’s been good to find out what the place is like.”

History enthusiast Katie Barrowman, currently studying at Gower College Swansea, found inspiration in the college libraries and in Cambridge’s 800-year heritage. “Parts of some colleges are 14th, 15th century. This would be a really great place to study History,” she said.

There’s more to HE+ than a visit to Cambridge. Cambridge academics also travel to consortia around the UK to help deliver extension activities and masterclasses in the different subject streams.

“It was really good when the lecturers came to us,” Katie said. “We looked at History in a different way, comparing the original sources to the articles historians write and thinking about the reasons why they were different.”

Olchfa Comprehensive School student Will Parry finds that the HE+ extension classes are helping him prepare for his AS exams. He’s aiming to study Computer Science at university.  “The HE+ classes have shown me ways to think differently, to think in a more logical way,” he said. “In school, you’re learning for the exam. In HE+, you’re learning because you love the subject.”

Joseph also enjoys the way in which HE+ classes go beyond the core curriculum. “In school we’re reading 19th century literature, like Wuthering Heights or Austen. In HE+ we’ve looked at Chaucer, Shakespeare and The Mabinogion.”

Students start on the HE+ programme at the beginning of Year 12 to give them a head start in thinking about university options and developing subject skills. “It’s good to have this extra help and feedback about applying," explained Elaine.

Student teacher Owen Philips leads some of the Chemistry extension classes at Gower College Swansea. “As a new teacher it’s been helpful for me to find out more about what Cambridge expects, the application process and about how important Chemistry is within the Natural Sciences syllabus.  I’ll be able to take this back to my students,” he said.

Sam Cooper tutors English Literature to HE+ students and came to help with the residential. “HE+ provides a really important opportunity for students to get together with others of like minds, creating a community of people who can help each other to achieve their aspirations,” she said.

“The residential visit is great because students can stand in a college and really picture themselves here. It’s really important to be physically present.”

Felicity Padley, Oxbridge Coordinator at Gower College Swansea, added: “This residential has been an important intervention at an important time.  We hope it's inspired all the participants to believe they can apply to a top university, whether Cambridge or otherwise, and that they'll now drive forward to do really well in their AS Level exams.”

Ten Gower College Swansea students are celebrating after successful applications to Oxbridge universities this year. They are:

• Rachel Anderson (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) who will study Medicine at Jesus College, Cambridge;
• Ceinwen Bowen (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) who will study History at Pembroke College, Oxford;
• Tom Chess (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) who will study Natural Sciences at Christ’s College, Cambridge;
• Tom Grove (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) who will study Natural Sciences at Jesus College, Cambridge;
• Alex Gutai (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) who will study Natural Sciences at Jesus College, Cambridge;
• Rhodri Hughes (formerly Ysgol Gyfun y Strade) who will study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge;
• Cameron Jenkins (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) who will study Medicine at Churchill College, Cambridge;
• Rose Azad Khan (formerly Bishopston Comprehensive) who will study Psychology and Linguistics at Jesus College, Oxford;
• Laurens McDonald (formerly Cefn Saeson Comprehensive) who will study Politics, Philosophy and Economics at St Hugh’s College, Oxford;
• Sophie Parry (formerly Dwr y Felin Comprehensive) who will study Music and Education at Christ’s College, Cambridge.                                                                                                    

“Over 1000 Gower College Swansea students have made applications to university this year,” says Principal Nick Bennett. “As well as this group of Oxbridge candidates, we also have 363 students who have received offers from top Russell Group and 1994 Group universities. In fact, applications have been submitted to, and offers received from, all the Russell and 1994 universities in the UK this year. This is a tremendous achievement for our A Level cohort.”

Interested in returning to college and then heading to university?

We have a Learning for Progression (Pre-Access) course starting on 6th March - places are limited so contact us today.

According to the Gender and Education Association’s website, although there is now very little difference in the exam results of female and male students taking maths in most countries, fewer girls and women actually choose to take the subject.

But at Gower College Swansea, female students are showing an increasing interest in choosing Maths as a degree subject.

Among the current crop of A Level students who are planning to take Maths at HE level are Rosie Amery, Nadeen Khaleel and Rose Matthews.

All three students are heading to university this September to take Maths at Cardiff, Cambridge and Bath respectively.

Jay Ramsurran, who teaches Maths at the Gorseinon campus, is delighted.

“As a college, we’ve always encouraged female students to follow subjects that have been seen traditionally as ‘boys’ subjects, such as Engineering and Maths,” he says. “So it’s very gratifying to see female students developing a passion for Maths at school and college and then deciding on it as a potential career path.”

Gower College Swansea’s popular Access to Art and Design programme is moving to new premises.

From September 2012, the part time course will be hosted at the Canolfan Gorseinon Centre, which offers excellent purpose designed art studios.

The course - which includes drawing and painting, art history, digital photography, glass and textiles - is aimed at students aged 19+ who do not already have Level 3 qualifications.

“Access programmes equip students with the skills necessary to apply for university in their chosen subject,” says lecturer Maggie Carr. “Past students have progressed onto Degree programmes in subjects including fine art, art history, glass, photography, multimedia and textiles. Others have followed an entrepreneurial path and have started their own businesses within the arts.”

Current student Rebecca has just received an unconditional offer from Swansea Metropolitan University to study the BA (Hons) Fine Art (Combined Media.) Rebecca was unemployed before signing up to the Access course but now has ambitions to build a career as an artist.

Her classmate Sharron, who previously worked as a support worker for people with learning disabilities, plans to work as a freelance 3D designer while continuing to study ceramics.

Access courses are assessed via coursework, sketchbooks, written essays, research projects and presentations.

For more information please contact Canolfan Gorseinon Centre on 01792 894363. 

An ex-student of Gower College Swansea and Pentrehafod School has gone on to achieve a first class honours degree in Mathematics.

Daniel Williams left college in 2008 with an A grade A Level in Maths. After receiving a £500 scholarship, he swiftly progressed to Swansea University.

“I am absolutely chuffed with my first class degree... its mad!” say Daniel. “I still can't believe how far I have come and I feel I owe it to my lecturers, who have been so encouraging through the years. I hope I can inspire other students by demonstrating that even if you have a disability or learning difficulty, you can achieve your goals if you keep trying and set your mind to it.”

Daniel has been accepted to study an MSc in Mathematics at Edinburgh University and is currently weighing up his options. He is also considering taking a PGCE qualification and training to become a college lecturer himself.

“Daniel’s achievement is all the more remarkable considering that he only studied Maths to Intermediate level at school,” says Dr David Hunt, who taught Daniel at the Tycoch campus. “He came on in leaps and bounds at college and his A Level results were testament to his determination and dedication. We are all delighted that he has graduated from university with a first class honours degree and wish him all the best for the future.”

“Daniel was an extremely keen student who persisted in trying to get right to the bottom of mathematical issues, always with great politeness and good humour,” adds a Swansea University spokesperson. “He richly deserved his first class degree and we are sure he will succeed in whatever he decides to do next.”

Students and staff at Gower College Swansea are celebrating this year’s GCSE exam results.

Overall, 60% of entries achieved an A* - C grade with a massive 98% of entries receiving a pass rate in the A* - G grades.

For the third consecutive year, Language students did incredibly well at the college. 85% of students who took a Spanish GCSE exam this year received either an A* or A grade.

“I am delighted with these results and would like to pass on my congratulations to the students,” says Principal Nick Bennett. “Many of our GCSE students are part time and juggle their studies with career and family commitments, which makes their achievements even more admirable.”

Gower College Swansea offers a range of GCSE courses for learners who wish to take re-sits or who simply want to study a new subject.

Any school pupils who are disappointed with their GSCE results this year are urged not to panic. Staff from the college’s Student Services team are on hand to provide advice and guidance and anyone who is unsure about what to do next can drop in to discuss their options.

HND Advanced Therapies and Spa Management
Do you want to increase your skills in new and advanced techniques within the beauty industry? Gower College Swansea offers a comprehensive higher level qualification for beauty professionals.

The HND Advanced Therapies and Spa Management course features modules including: 

• Management of health, safety and security in the salon
• Salon management
• Sales management in the hair and beauty sector
• Quality management of client care in the hair and beauty sector
• Research project

Students will train at the Broadway Centre which features state of the art beauty, salon and spa facilities. This is a two year course and includes one day per week work placement within the industry.

More course details

For more information on this exciting course please contact Jackie Lee on 01792 284049 or email jacqueline.lee@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk

Gower College Swansea is celebrating an overall 98% pass rate at A Level, with 1834 separate exam entries.

Of these passes, 79% were at the higher grades of A*-C and 57% were at grades A*-B.

The overall pass rate at AS level was 89%, with 64% of those passes being grades A-C and 44% being grades A or B.

There were 2432 separate exam entries for AS in total.

Individual success stories include:
 

• Curtis Bonnell, a former pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Strade, achieved A*A*A*A* and will now read Natural Sciences at Cambridge.
• Bahar Chowdhury, who achieved AAB, and will now study Law at Swansea.
• Charlotte Furneaux, a former pupil of Coedcae School, achieved A*AAB and will now study Law at Durham.
• Catrin Harris, a former Glanafan pupil, has achieved A*AAB and will now study Law at Cardiff.
• Jason He, a former pupil of Penyrheol School, achieved A*A*A*A and will now study Chemistry at Imperial College, London.
• Kristy Holder, who recently won the Gower College Swansea Maths and Science Student of the Year award, achieved A*AA. A former pupil of Bishop Gore, she is now heading to university to study Geography.
• Ben Jones from Bridgend achieved A*AA and will now read Education & History at Wolfson College, Cambridge – the second mature student from Gower College Swansea to be accepted at Wolfson in the last 12 months.  Now aged 23, Ben explained:  “I enrolled at the College when I was 21 as I didn’t have the qualifications I needed to follow my chosen career of teaching.  I was encouraged to start an A Level programme with a ‘clean slate’ and have proved that it is never too late to return to education”.
• Vicki Wendi Jones, who achieved AAB in her Sociology, Psychology and English Language AS exams and is looking forward to her second year of study, starting in September.
• Freya and Portia Rees-Jones are twins – although they are not identical, they studied exactly the same subjects – Chemistry, Maths and Biology – and gained identical results, A*AA! Former pupils of St Michael’s School, Freya is now going to Bristol University to study Veterinary Science and Portia will study Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College, London.
• Sophie Rogers, a former pupil of Cefn Hengoed Comprehensive, who achieved AAB and is heading to university to study Psychology.
• Sarthak Sawlani, a former Olchfa pupil, gained A*A*A*A* and will now study Economics at the London School of Economics.
• Adam Skinner, a former pupil of Cwmtawe Comprehensive, who has achieved A*A*B and is now heading to Cardiff to study Nursing.
• The A Level Welsh class achieved 100% pass rate. Congratulations to all, including Student Governor and Welsh Champion Lara Israel who is now headed to Carmarthen to study Welsh with Teaching.

Today is an especially significant occasion as it’s the first time that the new college has released its A/AS level results since its incorporation in 2010.

“I am delighted with our students’ results this year,” says Principal Nick Bennett. “Early indications are that we have maintained the very high standards set by our two ‘legacy’ colleges. My congratulations go to all our students and especially staff who have worked so hard to achieve these outcomes.”

Ex-International Baccalaurate student Ffion Spooner recently paid a visit to her friends at Gower College Swansea.

Ffion is now studying French and Spanish at Southampton. She will spend the final year of her degree studies teaching English at the University of the Caribbean in Cancun.

“Ffion has all the qualities we would expect from an IB student,” says IB Coordinator Sue Phillips. “She is adventurous, independent and has an enquiring mind. Her obvious thirst for travel has already seen her take part in a college Kenyan expedition and now she is set to explore South America. For a girl from the Swansea Valley she has certainly widened her horizons by doing the IB.”