1990 25 2015

Pembrokeshire CollegeCelebrating our past and looking to our future...

Education is one of the most fundamental building blocks of a healthy society and a strong economy.

We take our responsibility very seriously and are proud to provide high quality education and

training for the people of south Wales.”Sharron Lusher, Principal

“

WelcomeWe are both proud and excited as we enter our 25th year at the Merlin’s Bridge campus. Celebrating 25 years of delivering high quality education and training, the College has come a long way since the merger of Neyland Technical College with the Haverfordwest campuses at Fenton and Barn Street in 1990.

Our focus on high quality education and training remains our key priority in ensuring we serve our community’s needs and we continue to work closely with employers and partners to enhance our provision. Over the years, the talent and skills of our students have been nationally recognised through their award winning achievements and we are delighted to have been part of their success.

The investment in our estate, huge technological advances and state of the art facilities have enabled us to deliver high quality provision. The hard work and commitment of a talented team of staff, and our investment in their development, ensures that we keep abreast of innovative learning and teaching practices in order to give our students the best chance of achieving their goals.

Work-based learning has seen significant growth over the past five years and our recent Estyn inspection recognises our work-based learning consortium as one of the best providers in Wales.

We do hope you will join us in celebrating 25 years of learning at Merlin’s Bridge and we look forward to welcoming you into the College in the near future.

Pembrokeshire College

A brief history...The roots of Pembrokeshire College can be traced back to 1956 when Neyland Technical Institute opened its doors to 307 part-time students, significantly above the 250 students expected to enrol. Offering 12 courses, the College opened with just six trestle tables and 23 chairs. In 1960 the first full-time course was introduced and enrolment reached 557.

By 1966 accommodation was stretched to the limit and in 1971 the College moved, in part, to Fenton Infants School and 38 Barn Street in Haverfordwest which saw a further increase in demand for courses.

During 1981 the College went on to acquire the old Barn Street Primary School which would house the construction courses. By 1983 full-time enrolments had increased to over 600 and part-time numbers were remaining steady at around 1,000.

In 1985 the Authority continued to consider the provision of new buildings and were still looking for a site that would eventually house the whole college. For the first thirty years of its life, the College struggled with inadequate accommodation and was hindered from achieving its full potential – this all changed with the opening of a purpose built campus at Merlin’s Bridge in 1990.

Following the Incorporation of Colleges in 1993, which saw radical changes for the Further Education (FE) sector as colleges became independent from local authorities, Pembrokeshire College embarked on a new era of entrepreneurialism and enterprise which continues to this day and has seen the College now equipped with the facilities to put it on a par with the best colleges in Wales.

College Principals, 1990-2015Strong leadership has been one of the most significant factors in the growth and success of Pembrokeshire College. Post the incorporation of colleges in 1993, successive college leaders have stuck rigidly to our mission of ‘providing the highest quality learning experience for all our learners.’ As we enter a new era of collaborative working, the best interests of the learner will continue to be placed at the heart of our decision making.

1989-1998: Ioan Morgan, CBEIoan was appointed as principal in 1989 to lead the newly formed college. During his time the College saw several additions to the campus as well as the introduction of degrees, A-levels, diplomas and what soon became a programme for international students that was the envy of the FE sector in Wales. Following 25 years of leading FE colleges, today, Ioan is a Further Education Strategy Advisor having recently retired as Principal of Warwickshire College.

1998-2012: Glyn Jones, OBEFor Glyn, the new millennium started with the opening of MITEC - a satellite campus in Milford Haven. This new centre offered specialist courses for the marine industry and went on to produce successive skills champions including a WorldSkills UK gold medal winner in 2010. This decade also saw the College secure seven Beacon awards and a BREEAM award for the new Technology Innovation Centre. Glyn left the College in 2012 to take up the position of CEO at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

2012-present: Sharron Lusher, DLSince Sharron’s appointment the College has seen significant strides forward in collaboration and partnership working. Higher education has been expanded through a strategic alliance with Swansea University while a newly established Work-based Learning (WBL) Consortium sees the College leading six colleges and three private providers in the delivery of a £12m contract training 5,000 apprentices and trainees annually. The 2015 Estyn inspection of WBL, the College received five ‘excellent’ and ten ‘good’ judgements placing the College among the top colleges for WBL delivery in Wales. In 2014 the College celebrated its strongest A-level results to date with 33.3% of learners achieving A-A* grades. With a county-wide review of post-16 education underway, Sharron is committed to securing the best possible education opportunities for the young people of Pembrokeshire.

Our successes, 1990-2015There has been a lot to celebrate during the last 25 years. With politicians and dignitaries supporting the quality of our provision here are just a few of the highlights…

9,555 Higher education qualifications earned

2,874 International learners recruited

10,733 Work-based learners trained

214,371 further education full-time and part-time learners enrolled

“The best of any college in Wales.”Estyn, 1996

237,533 enrolments since 1990

“Innovative educational offers such as this, with its cutting-edge technology, put Wales in a great position to compete with colleges across the world and I was delighted to meet some of the international students the College has attracted to study here. I was also particularly impressed with the links the College has developed with local industry, which I saw first-hand during my visit to Valero.”Baroness Randerson, 2015

“Quality education and training for people of all ages is the key to a successful economy and an essential element in attracting inward investment.”HRH Prince of Wales during an official tour of the College in 1990

“It is so important that we celebrate excellence in our Further Education institutions and there is certainly plenty of evidence of this at the College.”Huw Lewis, Welsh Government Minister for Education and Skills, 2014 (press release)

“Excellent – many strengths including significant examples of sector-leading practice.”Estyn report, 2011

“The College leadership and management is excellent”Estyn WBL inspection, 2015

Facts & figures:• 90% of learners rated their course as ‘better/as expected’ *• 82% of learners rated the teaching and training as ‘good/very good’ *• Sector leading in Wales in the use of digital technology - Supported

Online Learning and Assessment (SOLA)• £10.5m invested in the College estate from 2006-2011• Over 500 staff employed• Significant energy savings from 2003-2012: Electricity 32% | Gas 54%

| Water Consumption 43%• £12m work-based learning contract, 2015-2016• Work with an estimated 4,000

employers across Wales• 5,000 apprentices and trainees

trained annually• 1990: 1,500 learners• 2015: 15,000 learners• Increase in turnover from £4m,

1994 to £28m, 2014

* Learner Voice Wales Survey, 2015

Our corporation boardOur management team is supported by an experienced Corporation Board with responsibility for setting the educational character, mission and strategic direction of the College as well as overseeing our activities and performance and ensuring the proper use of the public funds entrusted to us.

To further develop our relationships with businesses, schools, voluntary organisations and the wider public, in 2014 we established an Advisory Forum with a broad membership base to encourage greater community participation and integration with the College.

Councillor Bill Phillips, 1988 - 1995

A former County Councillor, Chair of the Health Trust and pilot in the Haven, Bill joined the College pre-incorporation in 1988. Having laid the foundation stones for the new college during his time as a councillor, Bill chaired the newly formed institution impeccably through the early years following incorporation. A firm believer that you should always give something back, Bill was a real advocate for young people and at the heart of all that Bill did for the College were the students and its role as a community college.

Derek Lloyd, 1995 - 2014

Derek Lloyd is a retired Human Resources Manager and was a member of the Pembrokeshire College Corporation Board for 25 years and Chairman for 19 years. Having retired from the Board, last year Derek became the President of the newly formed Pembrokeshire College Advisory Forum. A past President of Haverfordwest Rotary Club, Derek is actively involved in the administration of local sports and continues to be a strong advocate for young people in Pembrokeshire both in terms of education and sport.

Stephen Harrison, 2014 - Present

Stephen joined the College at a time of significant change for further education. A partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for 27 years, at the time of his retirement he was Chairman for Wales and the West region. Stephen is currently a non-executive director/adviser to a number of companies based in Wales. His interest in education and training is reflected by his previous roles as chairman of the former Swansea Further Education College and The Competitiveness and Skills Board for the West of England.

Our awards through the ages...• Seven AoC Beacon Awards in six consecutive years, 2001-2006• Investors in Careers, 2003 & 2006• Fforwm Winner, Effective Support and Guidance of Learners, 2004, 2005 & 2009• Successive Charter Mark Awards in Public Service, 2004-2012• Careers Wales Quality & Work Related Experience Award, 2007• British Council Accreditation for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, 2007• Basic Skills Quality Standard, 2009• Fforwm Runner-up, Managing Vocational Excellence (Catering), 2009• Fforwm Runner-up, Utilising ILT to Improve Communication, Collaboration and Participation in Learning, 2009• Fforwm Runner-up, Leadership of Innovation in the Management of Quality, 2009• Best Building in the Welsh Bespoke BREEAM Category, 2009 (Construction & Technology Centre)• Positive about Disabled People Award, 2009• Investors in People, 2010• Green Dragon Level 4 Award, 2010• Green Gown Awards, Carbon Reduction Winner, 2010• National Training Awards, Large Employer of the Year, 2011• Green Gown Finalist, Continuous Improvement: Institutional Change, 2012• Green Gown Finalist, Modernisation – Effectiveness & Efficiency in the Estate, 2012• Times Education Supplement (TES) Outstanding Human Resources Team Winner, 2012• Corporate Health Standard Platinum Award, 2013• RoSPA Occupational Health & Safety Gold Award, 2013• TES Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning Winner, 2014• ColegauCymru Award for Equality and Social Inclusion Winner, 2015• TES Award for Outstanding Contribution to a Vocational Area Finalist, 2015• TES Award for Contribution to the Local Community Finalist, 2015

Innovation Centre opened

NEW COLLEGE CAMPUS Launch of A-levels and pre-University Diplomas

Website launched Fforwm Award

Pembrokeshire College incorporated

First degree programmes

MITEC opened2000 AoC Awards for EXCELLENCE 2002 Welsh Language Scheme launched

YESTERDAY During the early 90’s the College opened the Bright Start Nursery and built a gym. The curriculum expanded too, introducing new vocational courses including: Beauty, Health, Sport, Art & Design and Childcare. The first cohort of overseas students arrived to study, 25 years later and the College is recruiting students from around the globe.

YESTERDAYMITEC opened in 2000 and its provision included boat building and marine courses. Today, MITEC has a virtual refinery where apprentices learn about welding, pipe-fitting and plating. In 2003, the Technology Innovation Centre won the coveted BREEAM award for sustainable design.

Work-based Learning Consortium Launched2009

Work-based learning inspection

2011NEW Engineering wing opened

Higher Education Strategic Alliance formed

2003

PRINCIPAL: Ioan Morgan 1989-19981990 Bright Start Nursery opened

YESTERDAYThe North Pembrokeshire Federation was formed, offering students across the north of the county a wider choice of A-level subjects. The College also introduced online learning and recruited distance learners to A-level programmes from Belfast to Beijing. In the 2011 ESTYN inspection the College achieved ‘EXCELLENCE’ for: Learning Environment, Student Wellbeing and Partnership Working.

A Brief History of Time: Pembrokeshire College

1993

2010

2015 Five ‘excellent’ and ten ‘good’ judgementsToday, Pembrokeshire College is a vibrant centre for learning. During the College’s recent Estyn inspection of Work-based Learning, we received five ‘excellent’ and ten ‘good’ judgements. Leading a consortium of six colleges and three private providers we deliver training to over 5,000 learners across 17 out of the 22 counties in Wales.

Merlin Theatre opened with a production of “Rockafella’ Equine courses introduced1995

Construction Centre openedBeacon Award for Innovation in Education

YESTERDAY“We have proof that the College has the best Chevron Apprenticeship scheme in the world,” Ed Tomp, Chevron (now General Refinery Manager of Valero). “This new Construction Centre represents the next step in education thinking, the realisation of a vision for our environment and our young people,” Environment Minister Jane Davidson, AM.

2008

2012PRINCIPAL: Sharron Lusher 2012-Present

New Swansea University Partnership: industry linked foundation degrees in engineering now available to study

YESTERDAY The College held its first graduation in the hall that later became the Merlin Theatre. In 1995 the graduation ceremony moved to St David’s Cathedral, considered by many to be one of finest graduating venues in the world. Also in this period, the College won consecutive AoC Beacon Awards for EXCELLENCE (2001-06) and a coveted British Council Award.

PRINCIPAL: Glyn Jones 1998-2012

Outstanding A-level and Extended Diploma results

2009DCELLS rated Work-based Learning ‘Excellent’ for Apprenticeships

Basic Skills Agency Quality Awards

2013

First international students arrive

The College’s £18m estate has grown considerably over the years and so has our provision. We pride ourselves on academic performance and skilled outcomes for all our students with 195 progressing to university in 2015. Over the past 25 years our modern campus has been updated and has moved with technological advances.

All of this has allowed the College to attract a diverse and committed community of learners, all of whom share a common vision of ‘getting ahead.’ From the classroom to university, from the workshop to the factory floor, the College is as vital now as it has ever been, and has given the people of Pembrokeshire a platform to ‘get ahead.’

TODAY - 2015 GET AHEAD AT PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE

19981993

Our Students...Since 2010 our students have been competing in the WorldSkills UK Finals proving they are among the best young trainees not only in Wales but in the UK. In 2014 a record nine Pembrokeshire College students competed in the finals held at the NEC, Birmingham. Due to the success of our talented students, Pembrokeshire College is currently ranked joint eighth in the UK medals league table – a huge achievement for both our students and our staff.

Steven Kokolin, WorldSkills UK Gold Medal Winner, 2010

Competing against the top ten trainee welders from across the UK, Steven impressed the judges with his natural talent for welding and was crowned UK champion in April 2010.

Danielle Greep, WorldSkills UK Gold Medal Winner, 2010

2010 also saw Danielle Greep excel in the UK Finals. A complementary therapies student, Danielle competed in the aromatherapy competition where her polished performance saw her secure another gold medal for the College.

Following her success at WorldSkills, Danielle secured employment at a spa in Australia fulfilling her ambition to work overseas before returning to Pembrokeshire.

Oksana Cooper, WorldSkills UK Gold Medal Winner, 2012

In 2012 nail art students came away with both the gold and bronze medals in a double victory for the College. With her ‘The Midas Touch’ theme, Oksana received the highest marks in her category securing the gold medal while fellow nail art student Kirsty Bushen secured the bronze medal.

Our Students...Competing for a place on Squad UK

Dominic Hicks, WorldSkills UK, 2014

Dominic was invited to compete for a place in Squad UK after excelling in the WorldSkills UK National Competitions, the finals of which took place at The Skills Show in Birmingham.

His natural craftsmanship, and eye for detail, led to Dominic making it down to the final two young trainees competing to represent the UK at WorldSkills Sao Paulo in 2015.

Rhydian Williams, WorldSkills UK, 2010

Before joining Pembrokeshire College Rhydian competed at WorldSkills UK 2010 where he secured the silver medal for Joinery.

Whilst at the College Rhydian was selected to train for a place on Squad UK and proceeded to pass his knowledge and expertise onto future skills champions in his role as a lecturer in carpentry and joinery.

Giving our students the opportunity to excel...Each year we encourage our learners to take part in skills competitions to build not only their technical skills but also their self-confidence and their ability to adapt and work in unfamiliar surroundings and situations. Over the years our students have achieved success at local, regional and national competitions across many curriculum areas including: • Art & Design• Automotive• Beauty Therapy• Complementary Therapies• Construction• Engineering• Entrepreneurship• Environmental Science• Graphic Design• Hairdressing• Hospitality and Catering• Media• Music• Nail Art• Science• Sport• Welding

189 Medal Winners

2010-2015

Jacob Thomas, Paralympian, 2012

Former sports student Jacob started playing Boccia aged nine. He became Welsh and British Champion in 2010, and was part of the first British team to compete in the BC3 event since 1996. Jacob finished 5th in the world at the 2011 World Cup in Belfast.

At London 2012, Jacob made his Paralympic debut and is now ranked 21st in the world.

Our staff...With over 500 members of staff, we are proud to be one of the largest employers in Pembrokeshire.

We think the success of our students is down to two key factors: firstly, their own willingness to learn and work hard; and secondly, the expert tuition and support they receive from a team of dedicated and hard-working staff. As a college we are privileged to enjoy the level of commitment provided by our staff which is evidenced by one of the lowest absenteeism rates of any college across the UK.

Teaching AwardsOver recent years our lecturers have been successfully short-listed for a number of teaching awards. These awards recognise their immense skill and the unparalleled level of commitment they show to ensuring their learners acquire the skills needed to either progress with higher level study or enter directly into employment upon completion of their course. Recent awards include: • Kate Bassett-Jones, ColegauCymru Teacher of the Year Finalist, 2011• Simon Haslam, ColegauCymru Teacher of the Year Finalist, 2012• Kate Williams, ColegauCymru, Teacher of the Year Finalist, 2013• Emma James, Inspire, Digital Tutor of the Year Winner, 2013• Jo Bradshaw, ColegauCymru Teacher of the Year Finalist, 2014• Jo Bradshaw, New Directions Education Inspirational Teaching Award Finalist, 2015• William Bateman, Teacher of the Year Finalist, 2015• William Bateman, Pearson Teaching Award UK Finalist, 2015 Mike Butcher, Equine Lecturer

GB Lead Showjumping Coach for RDA

Industry expertiseFrom the very beginning we have sought to attract lecturers who possess not only the academic qualifications to teach post-16, but who also possess real industry experience. This has proved to be a winning combination that has resulted in sector-relevant, high quality teaching, which has seen success rates at the College consistently among the best in Wales. From catering to engineering and business to biology, our lecturers have worked all over the world and with big name companies including the BBC, Unilever and the British Technology Group. Meanwhile our artistic lecturers have worked alongside household names including Michael Caine and Take That. We truly believe that by employing lecturers with direct experience of the sector we are able to give our learners the best possible learning experience ensuring they are properly equipped to pursue a career in their chosen field. Many of our lecturers are also published authors and recognised as experts in their field.

Looking to the future…As Pembrokeshire College continues to develop and adapt, one thing remains unchanged – our firm belief in the value that education and training gives to the individual, to the economy and to society.

Our quality is categorised by Welsh Government as excellent as we strive to enhance the learner experience through our investment in resources, staff and links built with employers.

With Welsh Government agenda focused on transformation, as a College we are committed to developing our relationships and partnerships in order that learners across Pembrokeshire receive the best education for their particular career choice.

Through strong collaboration we will ensure that the skills needs of employers are met, that communities benefit from the collective effort, and that we achieve best value. Underpinning this must inevitably be a drive to secure the highest possible quality to give students the best possible opportunities.

I would like to give my sincere thanks to all the governors, staff, local employers and members of the community who have supported Pembrokeshire College over the years. I am grateful for all you have done, and continue to do, in developing Pembrokeshire College into what I believe to be one of the finest Further Education (FE) colleges in Wales today. It is thanks to your continued support that we have so much to celebrate.

Sharron Lusher, Principal