News Archive
ANNOUNCEMENT - get your diaries out, you’ll want to be involved with this!
Summer Start-Up Week is here! But what does that mean? Well, whilst the country has been in lockdown your Universities and Colleges in Wales have been thinking about how they can help you to develop your business ideas. The result? A FREE FIVE DAY online event from 8th - 12th June
This FREE (did we mention that?!) online event will be packed full of knowledge, tips, and advice to move your idea forward.
The online workshops, facilitated by real-life entrepreneurs will include topics such as digital marketing and social media, finance, networking, market research, and much more. It’s also a great opportunity for you to network with like-minded individuals.
To get involved, register via Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wythnos-cychwyn-busnes-yr-haf-summer-start-up-week-2020-tickets-105367803938
or get in touch if you have any questions. See you there (virtually, of course)!
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Results Days 2020
RESULTS DAYS 2020
Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education confirmed yesterday that the 2020 Wales results day for AS & A level students, and for GCSE students, will be as originally scheduled.
This means that Wales, Northern Ireland and England will share the results days of 13 August for AS & A Level and 20th August for GCSE.
Following this announcement, the college will be celebrating the results of all level 3 vocational learners and AS/A2 learners on Thursday 13th August and the results of all level 2 vocational and GCSE learners on Thursday 20th August
The full statement from the Minister is available at: https://gov.wales/written-statement-results-day-2020
We will continue to work with relevant examinations bodies to ensure that work undertaken by all of our learners has been assessed fairly and consistently in order to award the appropriate grades.
We will keep in touch with learners to update them on how their results will be released to them on these days.
Read moreOxford offer for college Humanities learner
College Merthyr Tydfil student Annabelle Dennis is celebrating after securing an offer to study at Oxford University. Annabelle, who is studying English Literature, Sociology, History and Government and Politics at the college, received the offer to study English Literature and Language at Mansfield College on Tuesday 14th January.
Speaking about her offer, Annabelle, who beat off competition from hundreds of applicants, commented, “I’m absolutely over the moon. There are only nine places available to study on this course and to be offered one of these places is a real achievement. The interview process was not as scary as I thought it was going to be but it was still really challenging. I had two interviews, the first of which, incorporated a range of questions around my personal statement and the written work that I had submitted. I felt that this element went well but I was really nervous about how I had performed in the second interview, which was based on analysing and giving feedback on a poem. It was nerve wracking waiting to hear if they were going to offer me a place.”
Annabelle, who previously studied at Aberdare Community School, has excelled during her time at the college. Not only has she obtained 4 grade A’s at AS level, but over the last year she has successfully gained a place on the Seren Programme and also featured in a range of BBC documentaries giving her views on current affairs and Brexit.
Chris Ford, Head of Advanced Programmes at the college, commented “This is a fantastic achievement for Annabelle and one which is thoroughly deserved. She is such a hardworking and motivated student. We are all so proud of her. We constantly strive to provide the best learning environment and support to enhance our students’ abilities and give them the confidence and skills they need to achieve their aspirations. This includes an innovative programme for more able and talented students, linked to the 'Seren' Hub for progression to Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group universities. Annabelle’s success showcases that this programme and the support that we are offering as a college is working effectively and helping our students to achieve their maximum potential. Annabelle is predicted to achieve 4A*s in her summer examinations and I have no doubt that she will achieve these. I wish her the very very best for her future. She is a credit to herself, her family and the college.”
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College Merthyr Tydfil shortlisted for prestigious Times Further Education College of the Year Award
The College Merthyr Tydfil is celebrating after being shortlisted for the Times Education Further Education College of the Year Award 2020.
The annual awards, which are open to all UK further education colleges, seek to recognise and reward the achievements of the very best further education providers in the UK.
The college has been shortlisted for the category of FE College of the Year in recognition of its outstanding achievements, continually improving learner outcomes, high quality curriculum and overall positive contribution to education and training for learners in Merthyr Tydfil.
Commenting on the news, Principal Lisa Thomas stated “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the FE College of the Year Award. This is an outstanding achievement and highlights the college’s ongoing commitment to being recognised as a centre of excellence that makes a real difference to the lives of learners, raising aspirations and developing the prosperity and aspirations of the communities we service. Being shortlisted for this prestigious award is a real honour for the college, recently described by First Minister Rt Hon Mark Drakeford as one of the “great success stories of devolution" – a fittingly accurate description of a college that, over the last five years, has truly achieved excellence.”
Following successful transition to tertiary, the college has built up a reputation for delivering high quality teaching and learning, excellent outcomes and a broad and balanced curriculum, all of which has been achieved against a backdrop of high social deprivation.
The college is now one of the top performing FE Colleges in Wales. We have achieved this by working in partnership with schools, the local authority and employers to raise aspirations, increase opportunities for learners and support positive progression to higher education, apprenticeships and employment.
As a consequence of this we have made a significant contribution to our local economy and community, successfully leading and supporting a range of joint college/local authority/university/employer programmes and initiatives, including the Welsh Valleys Engineering Partnership scheme, a HE/FE Collaborative project and a new Aspire Shared Apprenticeship Programme. These projects have had a positive and sustained impact on learner experience and outcomes, whilst also helping us to develop excellent working relationships with our local schools, employers and community, helping us to achieve our mission to ‘Transform lives by working together’ and making us a worthy contender for the ‘FE College of the Year’ Award.
The college, which is up against seven other institutions for the award, will find out if it has won at the TES Awards dinner to be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on the evening of Friday 20th March.
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Community Music Wales find a new home in Merthyr’s Red House.
Community Music Wales are delighted to announce that from January 2020 the organisation will be moving their operational base and head office to the historic Redhouse building in Merthyr Tydfil.
Community Music Wales (CMW) are a National arts charity with nearly 30 years’ experience in making a positive impact to communities across the creative landscape of Wales. CMW provides a range of outreach opportunities for participatory activities, training and mentoring, using music as a universal way to engage with people. CMW’s work keeps the community at its core and encourages the widening of access to the arts and culture believing that it is essential in creating a cohesive society.
In addition to its head office being based within the Redhouse, CMW will also develop creative partnerships with the Merthyr Wellbeing Trust and Merthyr College to deliver a range of activities for the local community, in the fantastic workshop areas and performance spaces. The organisation chose the Redhouse as their new home as they recognise that it has the potential to become a beacon of creativity and enterprise in the region, helping to discover and support the wealth of local talent in the area.
The Director of the organisation, Hannah Jenkins, who was born and bred in Merthyr said:
‘We at Community Music Wales are looking forward to moving our South Wales base to the Redhouse and in turn working in partnership with Merthyr Wellbeing Trust & Merthyr College. We have a long history of delivering exciting work to communities in the Merthyr area, working with groups such as the 3G’ Development Trust and Barnardo’s. Therefore, we are incredibly proud to be developing new project ideas and building new partnerships that will support the many cultural endeavors that are currently active in the area.’
The Interim CEO of Wellbeing@Merthyr (Merthyr Leisure Trust) said:
"We are absolutely delighted to welcome Community Music Wales to the Redhouse and very much look forward to working with Community Music Wales to expand the opportunities for the Community to take part in a range of arts and cultural activities. The potential of the partnership working between Community Music Wales Wellbeing@Merthyr and with Merthyr College is very exciting and we have been meeting regularly to discuss ideas and possible projects. This is a real boost for Arts and Culture in Merthyr and we are so very pleased that Community Music Wales chose the Redhouse as their new home"
Lisa Thomas, Principal, The College Merthyr Tydfil, commented
“Redhouse is currently home to the college’s Creative Industries provision and we are delighted by the prospect of working in partnership with Community Music Wales and Wellbeing@Merthyr to further enhance this provision. Community Music Wales are coming to Merthyr at a very opportune time. Not only is there a major drive locally through ‘Creative Merthyr’ but the Creative Industries sector has also been identified as a South-East Wales regional employment and skills priority area for 2020. Working together with Wellbeing@Merthyr and Community Music Wales will help us develop a range of additional activities, employability and enrichment opportunities for learners studying in this area, enhancing their industry relevant skills and experience and enabling them to progress successfully on to a future career in the Creative Industries sector.”
As a community based organisation with a National remit, CMW will continue to deliver Wales wide and continue to operate from an additional office base in Caernarfon. However, Community Music Wales welcomes the opportunity to start a new chapter in the historic Redhouse and becoming part of the dynamic and culturally rich local community. This opportunity allows CMW to offer a wider range of activities and partnerships as well as support for amateur and professional musicians via the creation of this central hub in the heart of the South Wales Valleys.
Visit: www.communitymusicwales.co.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/CMW_CGC
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