2014-15

PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE

Anniversary Year

ANNUAL REVIEW

Dick Whittington Christmas Panto 2014

Work-based Learning Consortium ESTYN inspection: five ‘EXCELLENT’ and ten ‘GOOD’ judgements.

WELCOME2015 was our 25 year anniversary 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. 2014/15 was another successful year which saw many staff and students succeed. The year also saw our first Estyn inspection of the Work-based Learning Consortium (B-wbl). Delivering to learners in 17 out of the 22 counties across Wales, the inspection resulted in five ‘excellent’ and ten ‘good’ judgements for Pembrokeshire. This made great news for the College and all those involved in the Consortium.

As the academic year drew to a close, we hosted two significant events: our annual graduation ceremony in the magnificent St David’s Cathedral and our first Pembrokeshire-wide careers taster day. A joint initiative between Pembrokeshire College and Pembrokeshire County Council, the day saw over 600 Year 9 pupils from across the county take part in career tasters providing these young people with a real insight into the world of work.

Within this Annual Review it is not possible to showcase the exceptional volume of achievements by both staff and students during our last academic year but I hope that the following pages will provide you with a glimpse of some of the highlights of Pembrokeshire College during 2014/15.

This is Pembrokeshire’s College and I look forward to welcoming you into the College in the near future.

Sharron LusherPrincipal, Pembrokeshire College

CONTENTS Welcome Page 3Work-based Learning Page 4Quality Page 5Student Success Page 6-11Events Page 12-15Equality Page 16-17 Our Staff Page 18-19Our Community Page 20-21Student Awards Ceremony Page 22The Year in Figures Page 23

Dick Whittington Christmas Panto 2014 0800 9 776 788 | pembrokeshire.ac.uk | admissions@pembrokeshire.ac.uk

1990 25 2015

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*Note: B-wbl Consortium is led by Pembrokeshire College and includes Coleg Sir Gar, Cymru Care Training Ltd, PRP Training Ltd, Coleg Ceredigion, Bridgend College, Coleg Gwent, People Business Wales, The College Merthyr Tydfil, Tydfil Training Consortium and Track Training Ltd.

WBL InspectionPembrokeshire College leaders were judged as “Excellent” following the first inspection of the College-led work-based learning Consortium, B-wbl*. The Estyn inspection team judged the College’s leadership as “highly effective in setting clear strategic direction for the delivery of their work-based learning contract.” (See table below)

The College management team were identified as having a clear focus on effective collaborative working and the improvement of learner standards across all Consortium members.

WORK-BASED LEARNINGWork-based learning forms an important part of the College’s provision and is seeing increasing demand from employers looking to upskill their workforce.

Question Inspection Judgement Descriptor

Overall Outcomes GOOD Many strengths and no important areas requiring improvements.

Prospects for Improvement EXCELLENT Many strengths, including significant examples of sector-leading practise.

Standards GOOD Many strengths and no important areas requiring improvement.

Provision GOOD Many strengths and no important areas requiring improvement.

Leadership and Management EXCELLENT Many strengths, including significant examples of sector-leading practise.

5,000 CONSORTIUM APPRENTICES

Our apprentices come from a wide range of industries in south and mid-Wales including construction, engineering, business and management with veterinary nursing and forestry management added in 2015.

The success rate for the Consortium is 86%, 2% above the national comparator.

•

4,000 EMPLOYERSThe College works hard to develop strong links with local employers. The College estimates that it works with 4,000 employers and, therefore, is uniquely placed to help students realise their potential for employment.

Learner Voice results for work-based learningA recent Work-Based Learning Consortium survey presented very favourable results though the Learner Voice platform. Over 1,800 learners took part in this with:• 91% rating their overall provider experience as “good/very good”• 94% saying that their training met their expectations• 43% saying their training was better than expected

•

Learner Voice The results of the 2015 Learner Voices Wales survey showed that our learners are very happy with their experience at the College. In the 2015 Learner Voice Wales survey*, Pembrokeshire College excelled in delivering learning and teaching. Throughout the survey, responses rated as “very good” were higher than the national comparator – making Pembrokeshire College one of the best colleges in Wales for learner satisfaction.

QUALITYLearner Voice Committee The College’s Learner Voice Committee continued to make a positive contribution to College life through identifying and taking action on academic and social issues raised by learners throughout the year leading to learners having a strong sense of involvement in the decision making process at the College.

Highlights from the 2015 Learner Voice Wales Survey• 95% of learners were positive about their experience at the College• 82% rated their overall experience as “good/very good”• 90% said that their chosen course met or exceeded their expectations• 84% rated the teaching as “good/very good”

*61,894 learners from across Wales took part in the Learner Voice Wales survey with 1,645 Pembrokeshire College learners participating. The survey took place between 1 December 2014 and 20 February 2015. Learners were asked to rate various aspects of their experience relating to information and advice; support; teaching and learning; well being; responsiveness; and overall satisfaction.

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hea

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22%

Engi

neer

ing

18%

Basi

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ills

11%

Cons

truc

tion

10%

Reta

il 10

%

Trav

el/T

ouri

sm 8

%

Oth

er 8

%

Art

6%

ICT/

Busi

ness

6%

A-le

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1%

Quality ProvisionWe were proud to off er a diverse curriculum which refl ected the employment opportunities in the local economy.

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Aberystwyth University Anglia RuskinUniversity

Bath Spa University Bath University

Brighton Institute of Modern Music

University of Birmingham

Bournemouth University

Brunel University

University of the West of England

Canterbury Christ Church University

Coleg Sir Gar

University of Chester

University of Central Lancashire

Cardiff Met Cardiff University

De Montford University

University of Dundee

University of Exeter

Falmouth University University of Gloucestershire

Glyndwr University Harper Adams University

King’s College London

Keele University

University of Kent

University of Leeds Leeds College of Art

Lancaster University

Loughborough UniversityUniversity of Leicester

London South Bank University Tech Music School University of Arts London

Manchester Met

Plymouth University Plymouth College of Art

Pembrokeshire College

Queen’s University Belfast

Swansea Met Swansea University UWTSD

Sheffi eld Hallam

Southampton Solent University of Southampton

University of Surrey

University of Ulster

University of South Wales

University of Worcester

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS2014/15

197 A-level and ExtendedDiploma students progressed to University in September 2015.

Our students achieved some fantastic results across both A-levels and Extended Diplomas with 197 students progressing to university. This year also saw a strong performance from students being supported via distance learning with 34% of students achieving A*/A grades in their online A-level examinations.

41% of students takingExtended Diplomas achieved Distinction/Distinction* grades - equivalent to three A/A* grades at A-level.

STUDENT SUCCESS

9,555 Higher Education qualifications earned

2,874 International learners

10,733 Work-based learners trained

214,371 Further Education full-time and part-time learners

237,533 ENROLMENTS since 1990

4,059 FEMALES 2014/15

3,200 MALES 2014/15

53% INCREASE IN UCAS APPLICATIONScompared to 2013/14. 23 learners secured places in prestigious Russell Group Universities.

Further Education 44%Work-based learning 39%Contracts 11%Higher Education 2%International 2%DWP 2%

COLLEGE PROVISION

2015 was another excellent year for students studying their A-levels at Pembrokeshire College.Many subjects achieved 100% pass rate with the overall rate increasing to 99.2% (national comparator for Wales: 97.3%).

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Throughout 2014/15 our students excelled in many diff erent arenas making themselves, their tutors and the College proud. Over the following pages are some of our student highlights from the year.

Eisteddfod SuccessStudents from the Extended Diploma in Interactive Media celebrated a clean sweep in the competition to ‘Create an App’ in both the under 19 and under 25 categories.

Meanwhile, Fashion student Georgie Leeke, won fi rst place in the ‘Art’ under 19 category and Cornerstone students celebrated for the third year in a row winning fi rst prize in the ‘2D Artwork’ competition for learners who have additional learning needs.

Under 19s winners: 1st: Tim Brown-Lees2nd: Keiran Hughes3rd: Rhys NevilleUnder 25s winners: 1st: Jack Felice2nd: Harrison Macintosh3rd: Amber Lygard

Josh, meet Brad!Media Studies student Josh Veale rubbed shoulders with the stars at the BFI London Film Festival in Leicester Square. Josh attended a star-studded screening of the fi lm ‘Fury’ with education charity ‘Into Film’ before interviewing leading man Brad Pitt on the red carpet. Josh also managed to chat with other stars of the fi lm including Jon Bernthal, Shia LeBeouf and Michael Pena.

Organised by the Into Film Talent Development programme, which enables young people with a passion for fi lm to report from fi lm industry events, Josh was able to use the skills gained through his course to interview the stars and report from this a-list event.

Barbering Gold MedalHairdressing student Jake Morgan proved he has what it takes to stand out in the industry after taking home fi rst prize in the ‘Barbering’ competition at the prestigious Salon Cymru 2015 competition.

Jake entered the ‘Barbering’ category where judges were looking for stylists to cut, style and fi nish a look in 30 minutes. More than 120 competitors took part in this annual event which attracted an audience of around 500 hairdressing enthusiasts and some of the best judges in the industry.

Complementary Therapies Gold & SilverFollowing in the footsteps of many former Complementary Therapy students, Lauren Miles and Christine Schofi eld-Downing brought home both the Gold and the Silver medal from the UK Wales Skills Competition.

Performing a 70 minute full-body massage and facial, Lauren was awarded Gold and Christine won Silver after impressing the judges with not only their massage techniques but also with their immaculate presentation and exceptional client care.

A Five Star Experience…Three talented Professional Catering students secured end of year work placements with some of the UK’s fi nest hotels and restaurants. Final year student Emily Morris headed for Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire; George Harding secured a placement at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons; and Jake Price impressed the Head Chef so much at his Bath Priory interview that they off ered him a job!

WorldSkills Success for Students Three Pembrokeshire College learners were among 26 students from across Wales to bring back medals from the WorldSkills UK competition held at the NEC, Birmingham.

Bringing home two Silvers and a Bronze were Sally Sanderson who secured Silver in Nail Art, Nicola Ashby who picked up Silver in Reflexology and Lauren Edmundson who picked up a Bronze medal in Aromatherapy. Meanwhile Luke Lawrence was highly commended in Welding.

The medal winners were part of a record number of nine Pembrokeshire College students who made it through to the WorldSkills UK Finals.

“Best fashion school in the world” for BethFollowing an intense application process, fashion student Beth Lewis secured a place to study Fashion and Design, Women’s-wear at the world renowned Central Saint Martins, London. With 5,000 applications from across the world, 100 were shortlisted and 40 were invited to the school for an interview. Beth was one of just six finalists to be selected to take up a place in September 2015. Beth joins many talented students who have progressed to top universities after being given the creative freedom needed to flourish whilst being guided by a team of experienced lecturers and practising artists at the College.

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Students recognised at Young Achiever AwardsPembrokeshire College students, past and present, were recognised at the Radio Pembrokeshire Young Achiever Awards held at Folly Farm in November 2014.

Kathryn Manson, Max Bevan, Amy Staff, Joe Coombe and Matthew Richmond, were among 14 young people and local groups to be recognised for their achievements. Kathryn Manson was awarded the Young Apprentice Award after completing her motor vehicle qualifications to become a fully qualified member of the Silcox team. Enthusiastic former Performing Arts student Max Bevan was presented with the Performing Arts Award and is now a Red Coat at Butlins.

A-level student Amy Staff was awarded The Commitment to the Environment Award. Working at LUSH in Carmarthen she was appointed as their Green Representative in addition to working on a number of sustainability projects including Upcycling. The winner of the Outstanding Bravery Award was A-level student Joe Coombe who, despite numerous challenges, worked hard to overcome them and secured a place at university.

Finally, the Award for Outstanding Progress was granted to Matthew Richmond. Despite facing many challenges Matthew took up a place on the College’s Animal Management course which led to him setting up his own pet-minding service.

SkillWeld First PlaceRoss Lascelles, a MITEC student and apprentice welder at Main Port Engineering, secured first place in the Welsh SkillWeld regional final, held at Gower College Swansea. Judges on the day commented: “Ross is already producing work at an international level.”

Drumming to a different beatMusic Technology student, Charlie Scarr, broke the mould at the Rotary Young Musician competition where his drum playing secured him second place in a competition dominated by classical musicians.

The competition saw excellent performances from instrumentalists and vocalists from schools across Haverfordwest. Despite being beaten to first place by flautist Dan Jones, Charlie performed two pieces, including one of his own compositions, in an event which is often perceived as only being open to classical musicians.

Gold for Rugby GirlsFive students from Pembrokeshire College were among more than 1,800 students from across the UK to take part in the AoC Sport National Championships – one of the largest sporting events to take place in England.

Students Ben Richards and Luke Pierce took part in the Men’s Badminton Doubles while Jayde Thomas, Lauren Morgan and Taylor Macleod were three of the girls to make up the Welsh Girls Rugby Ten winning all of their matches and bringing the Gold medal back to Pembrokeshire.

British Physics OlympiadPembrokeshire College student Ben Pepper won Silver in the British Physics Olympiad AS Challenge securing his position in the top 15% of entrants in the UK. Over 1,600 young physicists entered the exam-based competition which is designed to test understanding and problem solving.

Gold for MITECMITEC Welding student, Sam Blackledge, picked up the gold medal in the WorldSkills Wales Welding Welsh Finals securing his position as the best young welder in Wales! Sam competed against welding students from colleges across Wales and secured the gold medal in the Advanced Welding competition after producing several precision welds including MMA, MAG and TIG fillets, open corners and butt welds in various positions.

The overall standard throughout the competition was exceptionally high. Sam’s TIG work was first class and the way in which he conducted himself throughout the competition proved that he will be a real asset to the industry on completion of his course.Comment from judges on the day

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Engineering Education Scheme WalesPembrokeshire College engineers picked up the award for ‘Best Vocational FE College Solution for Industry’ at the Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) Awards and Presentation Day.

Held at the Celtic Manor, the students were among many schools and colleges to take part in this annual event which encourages young people to pursue careers in engineering.

Studying on the College’s Pathway to Apprenticeship programme, supported by Dragon LNG, the students produced a working prototype and detailed report for a mooring display board to be moved without having to climb ladders to an access platform on the LNG offloading jetty.

For the students; Nathan Davies, Laurence Headlam, Christopher Hooper, Joshua Thomas and Stephen Thomas, the event gave them the opportunity to showcase their design which presented a solution to the real world brief set by Dragon LNG. This winning solution saw the group awarded a prize of £500.

From Home to RomeSports student Dan Evans enjoyed an exceptional year in his football career gaining representative honours for Welsh Colleges U19’s and U18’s teams and the Welsh Schools U18’s team.

The highlight of the year was a trip to Rome for the Roma Caput Mundi Tournament; an invite only competition which involved international teams from across Europe. During the tournament the Welsh Colleges U18’s team played matches against Malta, Italy and Albania.

College Musicians Rock!Budding musicians rocked up at Y Ffwrnes to take to the stage in the Popular Music category of the Skills Wales Competition.

College bands ‘Baked Goods’ and ‘Cupboard Love’ took part in the competition with all Level 3 Music Technology students travelling to Llanelli to support them.

Competing against nine bands from colleges across Wales, ‘Baked Goods’ came home as proud winners of the silver trophy. They played two original songs, with record producer Joe Gibb saying that he would have liked to hear a whole set from the boys!

SkillBuild Opens DoorsThree Pembrokeshire College learners attended the Regional Skills Wales Competition for the Built Environment and made it through to the national final. The SkillBuild competition was open to all trainees preparing to work in the construction industry.

College competitors were: Site Carpentry student, Daniel Haslam; Electrical student, Ben Ridley; and Plumbing student, Liam Rowlands. Following a series of practical challenges that tested their skills and construction training, they were all placed and progressed to the National Finals.

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STUDENT & CHARITY EVENTS

Freshers’ Fair welcomes new students New students were welcomed to Pembrokeshire College with live music, sunshine and a climbing wall!

As over 800 new students arrived at the College’s main campus in Haverfordwest to start their course, the annual Freshers’ Fair was their opportunity to find out about the various opportunities and services available to them both within the College and in the local area. College support staff were joined by many external organisations including Friends of the Earth, YFC, Top Marks Driving School, Mid and West Wales Fire Service, Battlefield Live, Pembrokeshire County Council, Duke of Edinburgh and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

The day was designed to give students an insight into life at the College and was the first of many student-centered events which took place during 2014/15.

Shwmae Shwmae DayAs part of the annual ‘Shwmae Su’mae day’ celebrations all College staff and students, regardless of their language ability, were encouraged to take pride in the Welsh language and greet each other in Welsh.

Staff and students produced a video promoting the Welsh language and the College hosted the ‘Shwmae Sir Benfro Awards Ceremony’ with special guest, Meri Huws (Commissioner for the Welsh language). Three teams from the College: MITEC, Bright Start Day Nursery and the Care and Childcare Assessors, were shortlisted in the category ‘Team who have developed Welsh language within customer service.’

Graduation On one of the most important days in the College’s academic calendar, the sun shone on those graduating in front of family and friends in the magnificent setting of St David’s Cathedral during July.

Almost 500 people attended the event to witness students receiving their degrees, HNDs, HNCs and postgraduate awards from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Cardiff Metropolitan University. Director of Learner and Staff Services at the College, Kathryn Robson commented: “Graduation is one of the most important dates in the College calendar and for the students it is a chance to celebrate achieving degree level qualifications with their family, friends and tutors.”

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State Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire and Secretary of State for Wales, Rt. Hon Stephen Crabb MP, spent an afternoon with Welsh Baccalaureate students exploring the question, 'why is politics important?’ The Q&A session gave the students an opportunity to explore a range of topical issues including the Scottish referendum and immigration, as well as other issues that are important to young people.

Preparing students for workIn 2015 the College launched ‘Prepare for Work’ to help students boost their employment prospects. Part of a new programme, developed by the National Skills Academy for Financial Services and supported by Barclays, students were given the opportunity to improve their employability skills maximising their chances of securing and maintaining employment.

Through the programme students learnt about the key skills that employers have identified as lacking in candidates. Sessions focused on topics including CVs and interviews as well as identifying and demonstrating personal strengths during the recruitment process.

Student Emily Buckley questioned Mr Crabb about the complex issue of immigration and why locals should be competing for jobs while Lucy Callard pressed him on the Same-Sex Marriage Bill and Morgan Lamoureux wanted to hear his views on zero tolerance on crime. The session came to a close with a lighter discussion where Mr Crabb talked about his background and explained what inspired him to seek elected office.

Safety Awareness CampaignAs part of its annual Safety Awareness Campaign, the College worked in conjunction with Dyfed Powys Police, the Fire Service and Pembrokeshire County Council to highlight the effects of drugs and alcohol in the run up to the Christmas period.

I’ve been speaking to students at Pembrokeshire College every year since I was first elected, and this Q&A session was as robust as ever. Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP

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Students Q&A with Secretary of State for Wales

The Ice Bucket Challenge!When it came to the Ice Bucket Challenge no-one was safe as Pembrokeshire College Principal Sharron Lusher found out when she was volunteered to take the icy challenge alongside Deputy Principal Barry Walters and Assistant Principal Dave Evans.

Just days into the new term, the College’s senior managers had no idea that the academic year would get off to such a ‘refreshing’ start for them.

Several hundred staff and students gathered to witness the icy shower which raised over £800 in just 24 hours for Wales Air Ambulance.

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EQUALITYThe College’s equality and diversity team made huge progress during 2014/15 developing a strategic plan and a programme of events aimed at making Pembrokeshire College a welcoming and inclusive place for our staff to work and our learners to learn.

Promoting UnityWith equality and diversity high on the College’s agenda, over 300 students from subject areas as diverse as plumbing and hairdressing attended a talk by the Unity Project on Travellers and the Gypsy community. The 30 minute presentation formed part of the College’s equality and diversity programme and aimed to dispel some of the myths surrounding the Travelling community and to promote the integration of all cultures within the College community.

Paul’s PledgePembrokeshire College was proud to be selected as the venue for the launch of a county-wide anti-violence campaign named Paul’s Pledge.

Paul Pugh, a 34 year-old from Ammanford, was left in a coma for two months following an unprovoked assault in January 2007 which left him having to learn how to walk and talk again.

The campaign was launched at Pembrokeshire College in February 2015 and subsequently rolled out to schools and youth clubs across Pembrokeshire as part of the Paul’s Pledge campaign which sought to eliminate alcohol-fuelled violence.

ColegauCymru Equality Award WinnerAt the ColegauCymru annual conference, Pembrokeshire College picked up the award for Equality and Social Inclusion.

Shortlisted in three out of the nine ColegauCymru award categories, the annual awards demonstrate sector-leading practice within further education. The College was proud to walk away with the award for Promoting Equality and Social Inclusion.

The Scary GuyThe Scary Guy first visited the College as part of the Community Safety Partnership in 2011 and returned in October 2014 when he met with learners to deliver the seven day, seven night challenge to eliminate anger, hate, violence and death. The challenge called upon all learners to not use any negative words or name-calling and only call people by their given name for a whole week. Student Kira Hardy commented: “The Scary Guy was inspirational and got his message across really clearly. Behind the humour there was a serious message and we need to remember not to judge people until we get to know them.”

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OUR STAFFEach year it is our teaching and support staff who bring our vision for the College to life. Despite the challenges facing the sector, Pembrokeshire College is proud to employ a team of staff who continuously put the learner first delivering first class teaching and support.

Lecturer becomes a published authorA Pembrokeshire College lecturer celebrated the publication of her first book ‘The Self-help Guide for Teens with Dyslexia.’ Having struggled with dyslexia throughout her life, College lecturer Alais Winton, decided to put her experiences of coping with dyslexia to good use through a collection of tried and tested learning strategies, all aimed at helping young people to deal with dyslexia. This self-help guide was snapped up by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Recognition for inspirational teachingWelding lecturer Jo Bradshaw was shortlisted from over 150 nominations for a national Inspirational Teaching Award. Jo was selected in the FE Lecturer category of the New Directions Education Inspiration Teaching Awards and was described as: ‘an encouraging lecturer, who inspires and motivates students, offering real direction post-college.’

Spotlight shines on outstanding lecturerKnown as the “Oscars for teachers” engineering lecturer William Bateman was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Pearson Teaching Awards 2015 and was crowned as a Silver winner. Finalists were selected from thousands of nominations from across the UK and William joined a list of 67 exceptional teachers, across 13 award categories, who are the Teaching Awards “stars” of the education profession for 2015.

Secretary for State celebrates exceptional teachingIncredibly proud of its lecturers, the College invited Stephen Crabb, MP, to congratulate staff who had been recognised by the sector for their exceptional teaching.

The talented group included award winners: Kate Bassett-Jones; Jo Bradshaw; Mike Butcher; Simon Haslam; Kate Williams and William Bateman.

It gives me great pleasure to celebrate your incredible commitment to the teaching profession and the hundreds of lives you are changing for the better.. Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP

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National Digital Learning Council AppointmentDuring 2014/15, the expertise of Dr Geoff Elliott, Learning and Technology Development Manager at the College, was recognised as he goes from strength-to-strength in the world of learning and technology. With a PhD in Learning Technology, Geoff was appointed to the National Digital Learning Council (NDLC) and given the opportunity to exercise his extensive knowledge and experience in an effort to improve digital learning across Wales.

Wildlife Observer Wales courses appear on CountryfileStudents studying on the Foundation Degree in Animal Science were joined by the BBC Countryfile team for a day of porpoise spotting on Stumble Head.

Part of one of the popular Wildlife Observer Wales courses, the courses attract people from across the UK and also caught the eye of the Countryfile team.

It’s fantastic to be able to show how the WOW courses get people involved as well as improving identification and recording skills.College Lecturer, Powell Strong.

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OUR COMMUNITYAs the largest provider of post-16 education in the county, we are proud to put learning at the heart of our local communities and wider...

Careers Choices DayAs part of a joint initiative between Pembrokeshire College and Pembrokeshire County Council, the College opened its doors to 650 Year 9 pupils from across the county for a day focused on future career options. With over 75 different careers to choose from, pupils attended sessions delivered by people with experience of the trade where they were given advice and tips on the routes into a variety of careers.

During the sessions pupils were given examples of a day in the life of each trade along with hands-on exercises from experienced professionals.

The Reach Project During 2014/15 Pembrokeshire College was announced as one of several Wales-based projects to be successful in its bid for lottery funding.

The College was awarded £249,206 in a three-year grant from the Big Lottery Fund for The Reach project which will provide affordable community-based lifelong learning opportunities for people throughout Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. The courses will be delivered at local community venues at a reduced rate to make them accessible to people who could not otherwise afford to engage in learning.

We hope that this careers day will have opened pupils’ minds to the vast array of careers on offer and will have inspired them to gain the qualifications needed to pursue their chosen career path. We were able to put on this day thanks to multi-agency working and we hope this will now become an annual event benefiting Year 9 pupils each year prior to them picking their GCSE options. Assistant Principal, David Evans.

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Japanese Summer SchoolArt and design students from Shizuoka University of Art and Culture (SUAC), Hamamatsu, Japan spent four weeks in Pembrokeshire as part of an English Summer School Programme. By the end of the programme 80% of the students achieved a whole level above their initial assessment on the CEFR level (Common European Framework of Reference for language); an excellent result for both Pembrokeshire College and SUAC University.

Going DutchPembrokeshire College continued its long running cooperation with a group of Coastal Management and Animal Science degree students from the Van Hall Institute in the Netherlands hosting the fifteenth field trip from the Institute.

Having made the Pembrokeshire Coastline one of their favourite locations for Coastal studies, Angelique Kuiper from the Van Hall Institute commented: “Some time ago, former College lecturer, Dr. Steve Morris brought good ideas to our college to start off our coastal and marine management programme; thanks to this, we now have over 270 students on our degree.”

UAE InternshipPembrokeshire College hosted students during the Easter break from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Students participated in a full itinerary of engineering taster classes including; electrical, marine and composites, culminating in an industrial trip to Valero Refinery. Alongside lectures and practicals, the students enjoyed an abundance of local and cultural activities in both Pembrokeshire and London.

Celebrating 25 Years in Association with Wales Air AmbulanceIn May 2015 we celebrated 25 years since the opening of the Merlin’s Bridge campus. During that time there have been 237,533 enrolments onto College courses. To celebrate 25 years the College organised a community party - staff, stakeholders and the general; public were all welcome. The College raised over £5,000 for Wales Air Ambulance.

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Outstanding Achievement EveningIn 2014/15 the College launched a student awards evening to celebrate the achievements of former students.

Six months after completing their A-levels and Extended Diplomas, former students were invited back to Pembrokeshire College for the College’s fi rst annual awards ceremony where their outstanding academic achievements were recognised.

Almost 40 former students were joined by 150 guests, lecturers and representatives from local businesses, all looking to celebrate the phenomenal success of students during academic year 2013/14. The evening also recognised students who had achieved sporting excellence as well as success in competitions.

The College also hosted an awards evening dedicated to celebrating the achievements of the College’s apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week.

AWARDSCEREMONIES

Tonight is about your success, your tremendous achievements and about taking the time to celebrate this. What you have done is ultimately down to your own innate ability, specialised skills and hard work.Principal Sharron Lusher

A music laser show by Switch Entertainment performed at the awards ceremony.

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STUDENT NUMBERS

Further Educa-tion

2014/2015 2013/2014

Full-time 1,631 1,766

Part-time 5,628 6,905

Total 7,259 8,671

Higher Education 2014/2015 2013/2014Full-time 50 69

Part-time 202 247

Total 252 316Full-time 1,681 1,835

Part-time 5,830 7,152

Grand Total 7,511 8,987

Notes:The income and expenditure account is in respect of the continuing activities of Pembrokeshire College.

Key financial indicators• Turnover – decreased by 10.4% to £25.7m• Surplus of £66k compared to a surplus of £150k in

2014/15• Capital investment over the last 5 years: £3m• Pay income ratio – 74%• Income diversity ratio – 83%

Figures include Pembrokeshire College learners only. Notes: Source EBS (Central Student Database) January 2016.

Year 14/15 13/14 12/13 11/12 FE attainment 95% 93% 93% 92% FE completion 91% 91% 90% 90% FE successful completion 86% 85% 83% 83%

INCOME 2014/15£’000

2013/14£’000

Welsh government grants 21,7882 24,676

Tuition fees and educational contracts 2,047 2,255

Other income 1,710 1,712

Endowment and investment income 155 42

Total income 25,700 £28,685

EXPENDITURE 2014/15£’000

2014/13£’000

Staff costs 13,617 13,989

Other operating expenses 11,169 13,712

Depreciation 827 816

Interest and other finance costs 8 20

Total expenditure £25,621 £28,587Surplus on continuing operations after depreciation of tangible fixed assets as valuation and before taxation

79 148

Profit and disposal of assets -13 2

Surplus on continuing operations after depreciation of tangible fixed assets at valuation and disposal of assets and before and after taxation

66 150

FINANCIALSYear ending 31 July 2015

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The information in this booklet was correct at time of print.Please contact us if you would like this information in Welsh.

0800 9 776 788 | pembrokeshire.ac.uk | admissions@pembrokeshire.ac.uk

1990 25 2015