Bridgend College

Bridgend College is a further education college based in Bridgend, Wales and is the TES FE College of the Year (2019). Founded in 1928 as the Bridgend Mining and Technical Institute, the college today has four campuses in Bridgend, Pencoed, Queens Road and Maesteg. The College currently delivers provision for over 6,000 students and employing over 700 members of staff across its four campuses.

Bridgend College offers a wide range of qualifications from Diplomas, sub Diplomas. extended Diplomas, Certificates, A levels, Awards, Professional qualifications and NVQs. The college also offers a range of higher education courses, including HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees and Degrees through the University of South Wales, Cardiff Metropolitan University, CMI and Pearson. It is the largest provider of higher education courses of any FE college in Wales.

In 2017, Bridgend College entered into an innovative partnership with Pencoed Comprehensive School to create Penybont Sixth Form College. This partnership delivers the very best teaching and learning experiences and unique opportunities that both the College and the school can offer. In 2019 a staggering 29.3% of students received an A*- A grade while 83.8% secured A*-C results – the grade received for A* – E was an impressive 99.4% - seeing many of its pupils move on to prestigious universities and colleges.

The college has recently been verified as the Best Performing FE College for all qualifications in the whole of Wales. The information comes from a study conducted by the Welsh Government which puts Bridgend College at the top of the league table for all qualifications, with a success rate of 90.4%.

In April 2018, Bridgend College was voted the Best FE College in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards, as well as being proud winners of the RSM Award for Leadership and Governance from the Association of Colleges’ Beacon Award in 2017.

In September 2018, Bridgend College launched a partnered internship programme at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, alongside national organisations DFN Project SEARCH, Engage to Change and Elite Supported Employment Agency. Project SEARCH Supported Internship aims to deliver a full-time programme that supports a cohort of learners with additional learning needs (ALN) to get a taste of full-time employment. The programme is based within the premises of a host employer with interns undertaking three work placements across the year

In 2018, Bridgend College was crowned Apprenticeship Training Provider of the year for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The award-winning apprenticeship/ work-based learning unit is based at the Queen Road Campus.

In 2019, Bridgend College secured the Times Educational Supplement FE College of the Year at the TES FE Awards. This accolade demonstrates that the college is going from strength to strength. In January 2019 Bridgend College unveiled plans for a new STEAM Academy to be built on the Pencoed Campus, due to open September 2021. The state of the art STEAM Academy will be a new building to accommodate teaching, learning and support facilities for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

Award-winning CEO and Principal, Simon Pirotte secured the title of 'Director of the Year - Public/Third Sector' in Wales and Nationally. Deputy Principal Viv Buckley was crowned the winner of Leading Wales 'Leadership in the Public Sector' in 2018

Each year Bridgend College holds the Higher Education awards at Pencoed Campus to celebrate learner success in its higher education provision. Each year Bridgend College honour individuals who have made contributions to education, the community and to the college by awarding an Honorary Fellowship

Bridgend College Honorary Fellowships include:

2019 - David Evan Roberts CBE and Claire Birkenshaw

2018 - Neil Robinson OBE and Madeleine Moon MP

2017 - Charles Middleton and Richard Parks

2016 - Barbara Wilding, CBE, QPM, CCMI, Hon. D, FRSA and Janice Gregory

2015 - Menna Richards OBE

2014 - Helen Jenkins and Nathan Stephens

2013 - Laura McAllister and Bill Goldsworthy

2012 - Steve Dalton OBE, Terry Coles and Aled Davies

2011 - Roger Burnell and Dr John Graystone

2010 - John Bevan and Stan Peate

2009 - Carwyn Jones AM

2008 - Gareth Bray

2007 - Godfrey Hurley