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New website A465.com launches
07 July 2011
A new website has been launched to mark the start of landmark changes to education and learning provision in two key areas of Wales.
Plans have recently been outlined to bring state-of-the-art learning provision to Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent County Borough areas. These unique developments, alongside the recently launched UHOVI (Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute), will vastly improve the prospects and educational opportunities for children, young people and adults.
These two local authorities are the first in Wales to re-organise educational provision to offer all post 16 provision in a modern and exciting further education college environment and Blaenau Gwent will be constructing the first 3-16 through schools in Wales.
Over the course of the next two years, the educational landscape in the Heads of the Valleys area is set to improve dramatically and the new website - www.A465.com – is designed to provide up-to-date information on an exciting new curriculum and learning provision on offer across the two county boroughs, together with information on building projects and infrastructure changes.
Blaenau Gwent will experience significant changes to educational facilities with the construction of the £350 million ‘The Works’ site on the old steelworks site in Ebbw Vale. This will include learning facilities to provide pupils aged three to eighteen with the best possible education. The new Learning Zone (TLZ), which will be run by Coleg Gwent, will have facilities for further and higher education, adult learning, and will provide excellent I.T amenities and a learning resource centre.
Post-16 education in Merthyr Tydfil will be transformed with the construction of the 21st Century, Merthyr Learning Quarter (MLQ) that will be completed in 2013. It will be built on the current Merthyr Tydfil College site and will become the focus of all post-16 educational provision in the area.
The MLQ will be a unique partnership between schools, the University of Glamorgan, UHOVI, the local authority and work-based learning providers and further education providers. This partnership will greatly increase the opportunities for all Merthyr Tydfil’s learners in the county borough and across the Heads of the Valleys area, from 16 years of age inclusive of adult education. Students will have the opportunity to study courses up to and including degree level.
Leighton Andrews, Minister for Education and Skills, said: “‘The Works and the Merthyr Learning Quarter are part of a wider strategy to not only bring 21st Century learning to the Heads of the Valleys and across Wales but also produce long term benefits, creating an exciting place to live, learn, work and play. It will provide improved transport networks and link into the existing fabric of the towns and important landmarks.
“It is essential that children, young people and adult learners in Wales can compete on a national stage, whether that is through academic or vocational courses, and am confident that this investment in the Heads of the valleys area will help achieve this.”
People in the Heads of the Valleys area now also have the opportunity to undertake higher education courses in their local area thanks to the foundation degrees, bite sized learning and work-based learning opportunities available through UHOVI. This provision, which is backed by the Welsh Government in partnership with the University of Glamorgan and University of Wales, Newport, will be offered from the Learning Zone in 2012 and the MLQ in 2013.
The new website, www.A465.com, will signpost what courses are available where, including courses for mature students. Schools and employers can also find information on how they can work together to make the most of tomorrow’s workforce.
Both local authorities are leading the way for 21st Century education in Wales in partnership with the Welsh Government, UHOVI, Coleg Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil College, the University of Wales, Newport and University of Glamorgan.
For more information please contact Aled Gamble on aled.gamble@workingword.co.uk or Caroline Holmes on caroline.holmes@workingword.co.uk or alternatively call 02920 646840.
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