New Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle MS, visited Cardiff and Vale College’s City Centre Campus last week.
The visit was an opportunity for the Cabinet Secretary to learn more about and discuss the diverse and impactful work of CAVC and colleges across Wales.
During the packed visit the Cabinet Secretary, who was also accompanied by senior Welsh Government officials including leads for Further Education and Apprenticeships, met with Principal Sharon James-Evans, staff and learners.
This included learning more about the innovative Anti-Racist Curriculum Project being led by CAVC on behalf of the Welsh Government. She also learnt more about the award-winning Junior Apprenticeship programme, visiting a group of Year 10 bakery learners.
Started by CAVC to provide vocational pathways to 14 to 16-year olds, and now seen in colleges across Wales, around 300 learners have engaged with CAVC’s Junior Apprenticeship programme since its start.
She also spoke to a diverse range of learners from across CAVC about their experiences and progression at college.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle MS said: “The FE sector has a vital role to play in supporting our learners to reach their full potential and their health and wellbeing is so important to this. That’s why I was so pleased to see for myself how Cardiff and Vale College are supporting learners in this area so that they are ready to fully participate in and benefit from their learning.
“I also had the chance to hear from learners and staff about the excellent work taking place here developing teaching and learning resources which can be used across the whole FE sector, exploring race equality and anti-racism in the FE curriculum. Cardiff and Vale College are making a huge contribution to the delivery of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.”
CAVC Principal, Sharon James-Evans said: "It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Lynne Neagle MS to our City Centre Campus. The Cabinet Secretary and officials were hugely impressed by all they saw and heard during the visit - our inclusive approach, extensive work with the community, support for wellbeing, focus on creating skilled and employable people, work with employers and impact on the economy and our community.
"All students and staff who met and spoke with them were a credit to the College. To hear so many - including learners who have been refugees, former Junior Apprentices, learners who have won skills competitions and gained employment and university places - talk to her about how CAVC has benefitted them and changed their lives was a wonderful and moving experience and emphasised our CAVC family ethos."