Jan Morgan, City & Guilds, Coleg Gwent’s Chair of Governors Angela Lloyd, Development and Quality Manager Jan Hiscox, Learner Voice Coordinator Jennie Dowsell, Vice Chair of Governors Lucy Gambarini, Students’ Union President Adam Smith, Dr John Graystone, ColegauCymru Chief Executive, Coleg Gwent Principal and Chief Executive Jim Bennett
Coleg Gwent has been awarded again for driving improvements that benefit learners at a glittering ceremony to recognise outstanding college learners and teachers.
ColegauCymru’s Annual Awards, this year held on 13 May, recognise outstanding achievements by learners, teachers and colleges and the quality of submissions for the ColegauCymru Awards 2014 was again notably high.
For the second year running, Coleg Gwent was presented with the Learner Voice Award, demonstrating the College’s dedication to supporting and caring for its learners, listening and responding to their views.
Coleg Gwent’s Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality, Nicola Gamlin, said: “Winning this award for the second year is such a proud achievement for Coleg Gwent, as it shows how much we value our learners. It’s also a testament to the hard work of our teams who ensure that we are successfully listening and responding to learners to ensure a quality college experience.”
Dr John Graystone, ColegauCymru Chief Executive, said: “With the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates AM delivering a highly positive speech to the ColegauCymru annual conference earlier the same day, praising colleges’ commitment to making a positive difference in their communities, it was fitting that the evening ended with showcases of the very best of college practices.
“Congratulations to all the winners and to those who were shortlisted. These awards ensure that best practice is properly recognised. The awards are also central to colleges’ continual efforts to raise standards across the board by learning from the best.”
The winners are:
Learner Voice: Coleg Gwent
Teaching and Learning: Coleg Sir Gâr
Technology Aiding Learning: Coleg Cambria
Welsh and Bilingualism: Coleg Ceredigion
Entrepreneurship and Employability: Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
In addition to the five categories of awards open to colleges, the Awards also recognised two individuals: a Learner of the Year and a Teacher of the Year.
Dr John Graystone continued: “It is important that we remember at all times that the purpose of colleges is to support learners in reaching their goals. Excellent teachers are key to enabling learners achieve, and it is right that they are recognised on the national stage. Congratulations to Dr Graham Hall of Coleg Meirion Dwyfor who was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award.
“Outstanding learners are of course the success story of colleges. Congratulations particularly to Victoria Brand of Bridgend College in winning the Learner of the Year Award against a very strong shortlist alongside Alexandra Atkins of Gower College Swansea and Dylan Evans of Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhyl Sixth.
Dr Graystone continued: “The ColegauCymru Awards 2014 not only recognise the benefit to learners but also are recognised by a wide range of highly-respected national organisations. We are delighted to have received sponsorship and strong support from City & Guilds/ILM, JISC, Learndirect, NatWest Cymru, Pearson and the Welsh Government.”
Joint sponsors of the Learner Voice Award were City & Guilds and ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management).
