Neath Port Talbot College - Recent History

Recent History

The college has its own Welsh Language Scheme, which since December 2004 has been accredited by the Welsh Language Board. In 2004, it was widely reported that the college was in financial turmoil and needed to save £1 million from its budget by cuts in staff. Since 2007, the college is the only place in Wales where the training in the installation of solar-powered systems takes place. On October 16, 2008, a double decker bus carrying Neath Port Talbot College students crashed into a bridge too low for the bus to pass under, fifteen students received minor injuries and six required hospital treatment, First Cymru, the bus company at fault ordered an investigation into the incident. In December 2008, the college students were paid a visit from local Labour MP Peter Hain, who delivered a talk about the slave trade and Wales role in the trade.

In 2009, staff and students protested about a £1.6 million cut in the colleges budget. In Novermber 2009, it was announced that the college would offer the Open University foundation degree in financial services, the college is the first in the UK to offer this degree. It was described by Vice-Principal of the college Keith Brooker as "Another first for the college, and we are delighted to be working with the Open University in this callaboration".

In June 2010, it was announced plans for a £6 million sports arena to be built next to the Llandarcy campus, it is expected to open in September 2011 to coincide with the colleges 80th year anniversary. The arena is being developed between the college, Llandarcy Park and the Ospreys. In November 2010 it was reported that the Ospreys rugby team would launch a college rugby scheme in Neath Port Talbot College, Bridgend College and Gower College Swansea. These colleges will work with the Osprey's Elite Youth Development Team, to provide unrivalled rugby programmes at each of these colleges campuses. In the same month the college announced it was appointing an adviser to help blind students through education at the college, a launch event was held to inform people about the new callaboration between the college and the RNIB.

In March 2011, it was announced that former principal Robin Trebilcock, who was instrumental in the college becoming an incorporated institution had died. Trebilcock also oversaw the merger of the Neath and Afan colleges to form the single Neath Port Talbot College. He had served the college from 1982-1998.

In 2011, Neath Port Talbot College was awarded more than £400,000 to carry out building improvements, the cash will be used on essential maintenance work, Disability Discrimination Act work and legislative work. In August 2011 the college was subject to praise from education chiefs following the great results achieved at the college, with Welsh Education Minister, Leighton Andrews leading the praise. In October 2011, the college celebrated its 80th year of operation, opening its doors in 1931, it has built itself up to becoming one of the largest educational providers in Wales. The college kicked off celebrations with the opening of its new state of the art sports facility, which cost £6 million, with the help of Swansea City players, Angel Rangel, Tom Butler and Andrea Orlandi. Also in this month, local MP Peter Hain paid the college a visit to speak about his life in South Africa to the students of the college in the Nidum Arts Centre on the Neath campus.

The college also has an outpost at Queen Street in Neath Town Centre, where the ECDL is offered and other part time courses are available too. Further facilities are situated at Margam Country Park in Twyn Yr Hydd House from where the college runs its Management Training Centre, Horticulture Training Centre and Parc-Gro plant nursery. The Neath, Afan and Pontardawe campuses are all Learndirect learning centres and offer a range of courses for adult learners to improve their basic skills. The Queen Street Centre is also a learning centre.