fforwm's enews, which brings you the top stories from further education colleges in Wales, is published ordinarily every Monday afternoon. Click here if you would like to receive fforwm's enews by email every week (click here to unsubscribe). Click here to read archived editions.

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12 January 2009: This Week's News

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• Resources
• Quality
• Innovative Opportunities for Learners
• Personal Achievements
• Awarding Bodies Recognise Top College Students
• Partnerships
• Celebrating Success
• Work in the Community
• Sports
• Dates for the Diary
• Notices

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Resources

'Action Energy' Scheme pays off for the Engineering Department - Deeside College
Deeside College's Engineering Department this week received a payment of nearly £600 as a result of staff and students' commitment to reducing electricity consumption.
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Quality

Nursery goes from strength to strength - Coleg Gwent
Coleg Gwent's Stepping Stones Nursery has secured two top awards for its quality of care and education. The nursery, which is based at the College's Ebbw Vale Campus, has scooped a grade one by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, Estyn for its quality of teaching and assessment. The nursery has also received accreditation from the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA).
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Innovative Opportunities for Learners

Ten Coleg Glan Hafren students selected for Norway exchange
Ten students from Coleg Glan Hafren have been selected to visit Cardiff's twin county of Hordaland, Norway in Easter 2009.More...

Gorseinon - A Level Biology students meet Prof Steve Jones
Gorseinon College A Level Biology students recently visited a 6th Form Genetics conference at St David's Hall, Cardiff. Hundreds of people attended the event and the students were fortunate to be able to meet with Prof Steve Jones, who is the Professor of Genetics at University College London.
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Students launch TidyLike DVD - Pembrokeshire College
Local company TidyLike Records have, for the second time, joined forces with Pembrokeshire College students studying on the national diploma in media production course. The result is an interactive DVD of 15 of the area's finest bands strutting their stuff.
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Students Success at International Cake Competition - Coleg Sir Gar
Crafty students from Coleg Sir Gâr recently competed in an international cake contest at a prestigious competition held at Birmingham's NEC.
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Neath Port Talbot College media students starry-eyed after interviewing famous funny-men
Neath Port Talbot College (NPTC) students are starry-eyed after visits from the likes of Opportunity Knocks winner and comedy writer, Lloyd Davies, 2006's number one comedienne in Wales, January Rees, and Sony Gold Award winner, Owen Money.
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Students inspired by Sir Sugar's Apprentice - Coleg Gwent
Students from Coleg Gwent's Ebbw Vale Campus were recently given an insight into the world of business by the first series winner of BBC's The Apprentice.
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Remembering for the future - Yale College students visit Concentration Camp
Four AS level history students from Yale College visited a Concentration Camp as part of a visit to the recent Europe for Citizens programme.
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Personal Achievements

Students President Elected to National Council - Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
The Student Union President at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru attended his first meeting of the National Union of Students (NUS) UK and ended up being voted in as a National Councillor within NUS UK.
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Deeside College Student appears on Sky TV's Gladiators
Deeside College Sports Scholarship and BTEC National Diploma in Sports Studies student, Steph Owens has been pitting herself against the Gladiators in the hit Sky TV show. She is now through to the quarter finals, having started off as one of 10,000 applicants from all over the UK. More...

Student adds Spice to National Final - Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
A Coleg Llandrillo Cymru Hospitality student is celebrating after being named as a runner up in a national chef competition.
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Successful Yale College student at House of Lords for Award
Yale College congratulates performing arts student, Michael Jenkins who has received the Helena Kennedy Foundation Award.
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Coleg Harlech Multimedia student Wakeel Ibrahim receives a Helena Kennedy Foundation Award
The Helena Kennedy Foundation runs a bursary scheme to provide much needed financial support to disadvantaged students, who have successfully completed a further education course and wish to progress to higher education.
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College Carpenters Success at UK Competition - Coleg Sir Gar
Carpentry apprentices studying at Coleg Sir Gâr have shown they're the best of Welsh talent at a prestigious competition which highlights the best carpentry skills in the UK.
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Yale College has First Army Bursar for North Wales
Yale College is proud of Yasmin Roberts - the first FE Army Bursar in North Wales. Yasmin will gain financial support from the Ministry of Defence whilst studying her full-time automotive course.
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Coleg Lecturer in Dark Conspiracy - Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
A Coleg Llandrillo Cymru Lecturer has had his first novel published by a renowned publisher.
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Awarding Bodies Recognise Top College Students

Student awarded with prestigious WJEC Award - Coleg Menai
The WJEC marked its 60th anniversary by holding a prestigious Awards Ceremony in Cardiff to celebrate the achievement of WJEC's best A level and Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification students in England and Wales. Winning the Welsh Baccalaureate Student of the Year prize was student Siân Jones, who studied BTEC National Diploma in Hospitality at Coleg Menai.
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A level Awards for Yale College Students
Yale College congratulates student prize winners Finneas Catlin and Julie-Anna Haynes for gaining top recognition at the WJEC Awards. Finn won best Chemistry student award and Julie best Music student.
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WJEC Anniversary Awards - The College Ystrad Mynach
On 15 December 2008, the examination awarding body WJEC marked its 60th anniversary by holding a prestigious Awards Ceremony in Cardiff to celebrate the achievement of WJEC's best A level students in England and Wales. Winning a Personal Achievement Award, was Matthew Heath aged 22 from Caerphilly, who studied A Levels in Drama, English and Media Studies at The College Ystrad Mynach.
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Deeside College student is the Business!
Deeside College BTEC National Diploma in Business Studies student Abdul Samad, is delighted to have been named the Deeside College Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Business Student of the Year.
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Yale College Engineering Student gains National Recognition
Yale College is delighted to congratulate Robert Allen who has received a Highly Commended Award from City and Guilds Engineering and Transport sector.
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Partnerships

Skill Build Training Ideal Route to Employment During Credit Crunch - Yale College
Despite the economic downturn, a government funded training programme has taken off in a big way in Wrexham, Denbighshire, and Flintshire thanks to the support of local employers across the area. The scheme has been very successful at Yale College in Wrexham, with over 120 employers supporting the programme.

Partnership to Offer Training in Construction Legislation for Contractors
Coleg Sir Gâr has teamed up with LBS Builders' Merchants Ltd and Carmarthenshire County Council, to deliver training events on building legislation. The tri-partnership will officially launch a long-term, annually reviewed agreement later in the year.
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Trend-setting Pupils give up School Holiday for Fashion Experience - Coleg Sir Gar
Pupils took time out of their half-term holidays to study fashion at Coleg Sir Gâr recently. The work undertaken by pupils contributes to an accredited unit of a national diploma course.
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College opens its doors to give taste of fashion and textiles at university level - Coleg Sir Gar
Schools in the county were given the opportunity of attending a higher education open day at Coleg Sir Gâr's fashion and textiles section in Carmarthen recently.
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Experience Engineering at Coleg Menai
Pupils from schools across North Wales came to Coleg Menai as part of the Engineering Education Scheme Wales Residential Workshop in December.
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Celebrating Success

Success adds up for accountancy students - Coleg Gwent
Professional Accountancy students at Coleg Gwent's City of Newport Campus are celebrating stunning success having recently graduated with their studies.
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Council Employees Achieve Management Qualification at Coleg Menai
Isle of Anglesey County Council employees who have successfully achieved the Institute of Leadership and Management's Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management qualification at Coleg Menai have been presented with their certificate of achievement.
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Work in the Community

Yale College Performing Arts Students Tackle Knife Crime Concerns
Performing to inform, Yale College responds to a cry for help from government this week as its Theatre in Education Company confronts local schools with their latest fact-focussed sixty minute production entitled: “What If”.
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Textile students get ready for the dragon - Coleg Gwent
A group of budding designers are getting their needles and cotton at the ready to help recreate a giant Welsh dragon to help raise funds for Ty Hafan Children's Hospice.
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Students Held Dream Come True - Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
Thirty students from Coleg Llandrillo Rhyl helped to make dreams come true for terminally ill children after recently completing a sponsored walk.
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Pembrokeshire College students drum up cash for Charity!
Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification students from Pembrokeshire College, studying on a variety of courses from A-levels to national diplomas, successfully raised over £1,000 recently for two charities - Missing Wales and the Queens Hall, Narberth.
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A Lesson in Blood Donation - The College Ystrad Mynach
Learners and staff donated blood with the Welsh Blood Service recently. This was the first time that the Welsh Blood Service came to The College, and it was so overwhelmed with the demand that it had to turn many people away on the day.
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Neath Port Talbot College Learner on the Road to the London Marathon
While some of us are recovering from over indulgence during the Christmas period and starting to think about exercising to shed some excessive weight, for one learner at Neath Port Talbot College (NPTC) Christmas was an important period in his training schedule as he prepares to run for the YMCA in the 2009 London Marathon.
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Shooting Star Say Thank You to Yale Hair & Beauty Students
Yale College Hair and Beauty students have received a big thank you from the Cancer Care Unit at Wrexham Maelor Hospital for their kind donation to the unit.
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Sports

Students through to British Colleges Sports championship - Coleg Sir Gar
Sporty students at Coleg Sir Gâr have been selected to compete at the British Colleges sports championships to be held at Loughborough University next year.
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College netballers set for new highs - Coleg Gwent
The netball team at Coleg Gwent's Crosskeys Campus has been crowned Welsh Colleges Champions and will go on to represent Wales in the British Colleges Sport Championship at Loughborough University in April 2009.
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Student nominated for Top Sporting Award - Coleg Gwent
A student from Coleg Gwent's Crosskeys Campus was recently among the top 10 contenders for the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.
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Dates for the Diary

Art & Design Exhibition - Coleg Menai Access Students
Date/Venue: Opening 6 Jan09 through April 09
Host: Canolfan Maenorffen Blaenau Ffestiniog (Jan/Feb); Canolfan Maenorffen Blaenau Ffestiniog (Mar/Apr).
For further information, contact T: Angharad Rhisiart T: 01248 383 304 ext:3540.

"A racing heart": talk by Jaguar at Coleg Sir Gâr
Date/Venue: 15 January 2009, Coleg Sir Gar's Pibwrlwyd Campus
Host: Organised for members of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), coordinated by Coleg Sir Gâr's Automotive Engineering team leader and chairman of the IMI Members Association for West Wales, John Morrissey.
Purpose: To bring news of the latest developments and new technologies to local industries across south west Wales.
Intended audience: Local industries/the public.
For further information, contact T: E: email address again or W: web address again

Promenade inspires budding actors - Coleg Gwent
"The Theatre History Timeline": a walk-through journey of historic theatre from the Shakespearean era right up to the present day.
Performed by: National Diploma in Acting students.
Date/Venue: 7pm, 15 Jan, Coleg Gwent's Crosskeys Campus
To book, T: 01435 333456

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Notices

Estyn 2010: Public Consultation on Estyn's Proposed Changes to the Inspection of Education and Training in Wales from 2010
Details of the proposed changes and the consultation questions will be available from Estyn's website from 14 Jan09 W: www.estyn.gov.uk . Hard copies will be available from CFG Research Ltd, T: 029 2034 3218 E: consult@crgresearch.co.uk. The consultation will be open for three months.

Welsh Language Sabbatical Scheme
The Sabbaticals Scheme is now accepting applications for the following courses:
Course 11 (20 April – 17 July) and
Course 12 (14 September – 11 December).
For more information visit W: www.wales.gov.uk/sabbaticals or contact the Sabbatical Team on T: 01443 663770 or E: sabbaticalscheme@wales.gsi.gov.uk or cynllunsabothol@cymru.gsi.gov.uk. STRONG>
Testing enterprise skills by raising money for charity has been keeping students busy at the Welsh College of Horticulture in Northop.
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