Additional Learning Support or Equipment

We can provide specialist support for students with additional learning needs or disabilities.  If you require specialist equipment or assistance we will apply for funding for this. 

A range of support can be made available:

  • Support worker – one-to-one
  • Support worker – small groups
  • Specialist VI support for visually impaired students
  • Communication for deaf and hearing impaired students
  • Specialist equipment – upon assessment and request e.g. Computer hardware, 
  • Specialist Software e.g. Voice recognition and Magnification equipment and software
  • Material available in large print, tape and Braille

Additional learning resources are also available, such as computers, laptops and educational software to aid literacy. In addition,our Library at Tycoch includes an Assistive Technology Area which has equipment for learners with special learning support needs.

If you need extra time or special access for examinations you must inform us as early as possible to ensure that we can put the right support in place for you. If you do not inform us early enough you risk not receiving the support you need.

If we know what you need we can make all reasonable adjustments to help you succeed. All disclosures of disability will be treated sensitively.

Health and Welfare Services

Our Student Support Officers can support you with any problems while you are at college, including:

  • housing issues;
  • financial problems;
  • bullying;
  • issues at home;
  • substance misuse;
  • safeguarding issues;
  • domestic abuse.

If they can’t help, they can find the support you need.

They are based in student services at our Gorseinon, Llyn y Bryn and Tycoch sites. On Monday to Thursday from 9am until 5pm and on Fridays from 9am until 4.30pm

Well Being

At Tycoch, our Student Counsellor provides a confidential service that aims to support students at difficult times. The service is available Monday to Wednesday between 9.30am and 3.30pm and Thursday between 9.30am and 12.00pm and is based in Student Services. Students can access this service to discuss any difficulties they may have such as:

  • academic problems
  • eating disorders
  • substance misuse
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • grief
  • anger management
  • stress or bullying.
  • Or anything you would like to talk about confidentially

At LYB the Student Counsellor is based in Student Services on a Thursday between 1pm and 3,30pm

At Gorseinon, there are Exchange Counselors. They are based on the First floor of the F Block.

Please contact Anne Pitman via email at

Anne.Pitman@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk

for more information or use the booking diary available on the Counselling door.  If booking appointments please use initials only.

Student Health Advisors

At Tycoch, our Student Health Adviser, Angela Clark is available Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. Students can visit Angela if they are

  • unwell
  • if they have any worries
  • if they experience physical or emotional problems.

Angela also holds tutorial sessions for full time students on a range of issues like:

  • sexual health
  • contraception
  • healthy lifestyles

Angela is available in room A23 (9am to 4pm).
Please contact Angela Clark on 01792 284077 or via email at Angela.Clark@gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk

At Gorseinon, our Student Health Advisor, Julie Glass is available Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Students can visit if they are

  • unwell
  • if they have any worries
  • if they experience physical or emotional problems

Julie also holds tutorial sessions for full time students on a range of issues like:

  • sexual health
  • contraception
  • healthy lifestyles

The Student Health Advisor is available in the medical room on the ground floor of the F Block.  Please contact: 01792 890721

Course and Careers Guidance

Course Advice

If you are unhappy on your current course or unsure of your next steps please call in to see the Admissions/Advice and Guidance team based in Student Services. The team can offer impartial course advice and guidance and link closely with the careers team.

Careers Guidance

careers-walesCareers Wales is delighted to be working in partnership with Gower College Swansea to offer support to all learners with future training, courses, employment or career directions.

We have a team of four Careers Advisers working in the College:-

Kay Tallamy at the Gorseinon Campus kay.tallamy@careerswales.com
Kim Rhys at the Tycoch Campus kim.rhys@careerwales.com
Claire Davies at the Tycoch Campus claire.davies@careerswales.com
Wendy Bird at the Tycoch Campus wendy.bird@careerswales.com

Advisers are available daily, so please feel free to drop in. If that is not possible then we can arrange an appointment to suit you – just pop in or contact us by email.

Our Careers centres are also open all year round, for more information look at our website for more details www.careerswales.com

College Opening Hours

Belgrave Road

Term time

Monday to Thursday – 8.30am to 5.00pm
Friday – 8.30am to 4.45pm

Non-term time

Monday to Thursday – 8.30am to 4.45pm
Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Llwyn y Bryn

Term time

Monday and Wednesday – 8.30am to 5.00pm

Tuesday and Thursday – 8.30am to 9.00pm

Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Non-term time

Monday to Thursday – 8.30am to 4.45pm
Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Hill House

Term time

Monday to Thursday – 8.30am to 5.00pm
Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Non-term time

Monday to Thursday – 8.30am to 5pm
Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Tycoch

Term time

Monday and Wednesday – 8.30am to 5.00pm

Tuesday and Thursday – 8.30am to 9.00pm

Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Non-term time

Monday to Thursday – 8.30am to 4.45pm
Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Car Parking and Bus Transport

As the College provides a transport service and cannot guarantee a parking space, all students are discouraged from bringing their own cars to College.  If you do choose to bring your car, remember:

  • Student parking spaces are limited, therefore the College views student parking as a privilege, not an entitlement;
  • Park only in permitted car park bays. At Tycoch, Llwyn y Bryn and Belgrave Road Campuses cars not parked in a designated space may be ticketed.
  • At Belgrave Road there is a staff car park where only approved vehicles with appropriate permits can be parked.
  • Cars are parked at their owners risk.  The College accepts no responsibility for damage to your vehicle or loss of contents while on its premises;
  • You must keep to the 5 mph speed limit in the College grounds. Failure to observe speed limits and parking arrangements may result in the withdrawal of parking rights and disciplinary action.
  • To respect our neighbours by keeping to posted speeds and parking restrictions on public roads when entering and leaving the College grounds.
  • Students must report to Reception any damage done by their vehicle to college property or other vehicles whilst on college premises.

The Belgrave Road Bus Park and Coach Transport

The College bus park is a restricted area for access to College transport.  Private vehicles are prohibited.

For your safety, a barrier prevents the mix of pedestrians and manoeuvring vehicles.  The gate, which is usually locked, will be unlocked by a member of staff at approximately 4.35 p.m. each day, to allow access to bus transportation home.  Do not attempt to climb over or under the barrier, it is there for your safety.

All College rules apply when travelling on buses arranged by the College, including the no-smoking policy.  For your safety, as well as others, do not distract the driver in anyway.

Student Appeals Procedure

View the Gower College Swansea Student Appeals Procedure in PDF format.

1. Rationale

1.1. The following appeals procedure has been formulated to ensure that learners in the College are treated fairly.

1.2. Learners have the right to appeal if they consider:

    • a complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved through the College Complaints Procedure;
    • a complaint of harassment has not been satisfactorily resolved through the College Anti-bullying Policy;
    • the College has not followed it’s Student Disciplinary or Student Attendance Procedures;
    • an assessment decision has not been resolved satisfactorily under the College Assessment Procedure;
    • they have been treated unfairly under the College Admissions Policy.

1.3. In the case of appeal against an assessment decision, the learner may appeal through the Awarding Body’s appeals procedure.

2. Procedure

2.1. The learner must lodge their appeal in writing to the Principal within 5 working days of the notification from the attendance, complaints, harassment or disciplinary panel.

2.2. In the case of Student Misconduct and Admissions issues only the learner must lodge their appeal in writing to the Head of Learner Services and Support within 5 working days of notification of their exclusion from the College.

2.3. The Appeals Panel will meet within 10 working term time days of the appeal being received by the College.

2.4. The Appeals Panel will consist of 3 people drawn from the College’s management team and/or the College Governing Body.  The members of the panel will not be connected with the case in any way.

2.5. The learner may present his/her case to the Appeals Panel and may bring witnesses to support his/her case and may be accompanied by a parent, guardian or friend.

2.6. Any new evidence to be brought by the learner must be submitted to the College 5 working days before the appeal is heard.

2.7. If you cannot attend the hearing because of circumstances beyond your control you should advise the College as soon as possible. The College will make all reasonable efforts to reschedule any hearing.  However, if you do not inform the College that you cannot attend the Appeals Panel will go ahead in your absence.

3. Right to be accompanied

3.1. You have the right to bring a friend, guardian or parent to the appeal. The choice of companion is a matter for you and you must notify the College of your choice prior to the appeal hearing.  If the College believes that your choice is unreasonable, the College will ask you to choose someone else. For example, if in the College’s opinion your companion:

    • may have a conflict of interest or prejudice the meeting;
    • is unavailable at the time of the meeting, if the original meeting date has already been re-arranged once due to the companion’s non availability.

3.2. At an appeal hearing, your companion may address the panel and respond on your behalf to any views expressed. However, the hearing is essentially a hearing between you and the College and any questions put directly to you should be answered by you and not your companion, unless you request your companion to reply on your behalf.

4. Outcome

4.1. The outcome of the appeal may be:

    • To confirm the decision of the attendance, admissions, complaints, harassment or disciplinary panel or to confirm the assessment decision.
    • To modify or overturn the decision of the attendance, admissions, complaints, harassment or disciplinary panel or to modify or overturn the assessment decision.

4.2. The judgment of the appeals panel is final and there is no further right of appeal.  This will be issued in writing to the learner within 3 working term time days of the hearing.

Your Student ID Card

After you enrol as a full or part time student at Gower College Swansea you will need a student ID Card.

Your ID Card:

  • Needs to be with you at all times whilst you are at college 
  • Allows you to borrow items from any college library
  • Entitles you to log on to a PC at college.
  • Enables you to print/photocopy from the college’s printers

Getting an ID Card

As a full time student you should get your Student ID Card at enrolment.  

As a part time learner you can get your Student ID Card from a library at the main campus sites.  You will need proof of your enrolment.

Replacement ID Cards

If you lose your ID Card, you will need to get a replacement.  Items can only be borrowed with a card.  If you are at college without your Student ID Card you may be asked to leave.

Library staff will be happy to supply you with a replacement card – the cost is £3.00