Welcome to our COVID-19 Hub. This dedicated page contains all our latest COVID-19 updates and information, plus links to external information and support.
We encourage you to check this page regularly and also follow us on social media.
We are planning to return to face-to-face teaching in September provided rates continue to fall and in line with the latest Welsh Government guidance.
To help us prepare for this, a carefully considered decision has been made that AS students will resume full face-to-face lessons from 7 June.
This will give students an opportunity to experience a more ‘normal’ classroom environment, and be able to meet other students in their teaching group.
Click on the button below to read important additional details.
We look forward to seeing AS students from 7 June to begin their A2 studies.
There will still be a small element of online delivery for some courses in September, and we will notify learners and parents/guardians before the start of the new academic year.
AS, A2 and GCSE
WJEC
As you are already aware, the Summer 2021 examinations have been cancelled for students studying AS/A level, GCSE and the Level 2 and Level 3 Health & Social Care courses. In their place, grades are based on Centre Determined Grades (CDGs), which include demonstrated attainment across the key assessment objectives in the adapted subject specifications and subject assessment frameworks. Following the half-term break, we will be releasing the provisional Centre Determined Grades for learners following WJEC AS/A Level, GCSE and the WBQ SCC courses as instructed by the awarding body.
The release of the grades will be staggered during the week commencing 7 June on the following dates:
7 June: A Level grades including WBQ Skills Challenge Certificate
8 June: AS grades
9 June: GCSE grades
10 June: L2 and L3 HSC: Principles and Contexts
Courses that will not be released on the week of the 7 June as they are either with an English examinations board or they are a level 3 Extended Certificate or Diploma include:
AS/A levels in Film, Dance, Ancient History or GCSE Sociology, Applied Science, Criminology and Travel and Tourism. Centre Determined Grades will be released for these subjects as usual on results day in August.
Learners will be sent instructions on how to access their grades, including the key steps on how to access the Learner Hub. There is also a short video that explains the process in full.
Centre Reviews
This year’s alternative approach to awarding the WJEC qualifications above has required a new approach to reviews and appeals so that it is a fair and meaningful process for learners. Learners therefore will be given the opportunity to request a review of their grade, within five working days of their grade being released in June.
In the first instance, learners will need to ensure that they check their Learner Decision Making Record so they can see how their grade has been devised.
If a learner identifies that an error has been made in the determination of their grade then they can ask the College to review the decision. This is stage one of the centre review process. Please note that when requesting a review, learners will be made aware that their grade may not change or could go up and could go down.
Some of the things that learners cannot appeal include:
- Requesting that a different assessment is used to determine the grade
- Requesting a re-mark as the centre determined grade is a holistic judgement
- Grade negotiation – learners cannot view this as an opportunity to negotiate their grade
In order to register a request to review the Centre Determined Grade, learners must clearly outline the grounds for the request and to do this they must contact the following email address: centre-reviews@nptcgroup.ac.uk
By contacting the above email address, a Microsoft Form will automatically be sent back to the learner which they must complete and submit to initiate the review process. Please note learners should not contact individual subject lecturers to request a review – they must follow the above process in order for a review to be initiated. A team of independent reviewers will then complete the process.
Once the stage 1 review has been completed, the learner will be notified of the outcome. If a learner wishes to progress to stage 2 – this will be overseen by the WJEC in August. The learner will be informed of how to access the stage 2 centre review process, following the initial outcome of stage 1 of the process. Please note that a learner cannot request a stage 2 review to be undertaken by the WJEC before requesting a stage 1 internal review by the College. If any learners require help completing the request for a centre review, they can contact Study Skills Coaches, who have been trained on the process, at studyskillscoach@nptcgroup.ac.uk
OCR
Teachers must assess their students’ performance, only on what content has been delivered to them, to determine the grade each student should receive. Teachers should make a holistic judgement of each student’s performance on a range of evidence relating to the subject content that has been delivered by their teacher (either in the classroom or via remote learning).
Centres will also be encouraged to consider the grades for this year’s cohort compared to cohorts from previous years when exams have taken place, to make sure they have not been overly lenient or harsh in their assessment of the 2021 cohort.
Schools and colleges should use a broad range of evidence across the taught content to determine grades before submitting them to the exam boards. Teachers can use evidence of a student’s performance throughout the course to inform their judgement.
Teachers should determine the grades as late in the academic year as is practicable, and not confined to a defined window, to enable teaching to continue for as long as possible. Students should continue to work on their NEA, including for Project qualifications. NEA will be marked by teachers and will contribute to the overall grade, whether or not it has been completed.
Final grade submission; 18 June 2021
Visit ocr.org.uk for more information
Centre Determined Grades – Letters for Learners
Click the button below to read letters to students of 16 March.
AS / A Level / Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification
GCSE Foundation Tier Mathematics
GCSE Intermediate Tier Mathematics
Vocational Qualifications
Pearson, EAL and UAL Qualifications
BTECs, WJEC Vocational Awards, Applied Certificates & Diplomas and the new Health and Social Care: Principles & Contexts qualifications be awarded using a centre-determined grade.
This could include assessments completed during the course, including coursework or other assessment evidence. Results should be announced no later than learners who are studying GCSEs and A Levels:
- August 10 2021 for Level 3 qualifications
- August 12 2021 for Level 2 qualifications
Click below for Pearson’s latest guidance.
Pearson Level 3 Assessment Guidance
Qualifications used for progression but that do not share similar characteristics to GCSE or A Levels
Some qualifications support progression to further study or employment but are not similar to GCSEs or A levels, for example, Essential Skills Wales or ESOL. Exams and assessments for these qualifications can continue where it is safe to do so, remotely or in person.
Adaptations that have been put in place will still be available. If learners are unable to take the assessment when they need to, then alternative arrangements will be available to give them every chance to progress.
Practically-based qualifications or occupational competence
Qualifications that are used to demonstrate practical skills, such as plumbing, construction, performing arts or hairdressing, will still need to be practically assessed before they can be awarded and in accordance with the College phased return and Welsh Government directives.
Assessments for these qualifications should continue as normal where possible, although they may be held in a different way. In some cases, assessments may need to be delayed until they can be carried out safely in line with public health guidance, no student will be disadvantaged by this process in terms of passing a qualification, however, this may have to be delayed into the new academic year.
You can find the latest information and guidance about COVID-19 here:
Public Health Wales
Welsh Government
Protect yourself and others from COVID and join the reserve vaccination list if you haven’t received your first vaccine yet. Click on the buttons below for more information:
Guidance for Education
Read the latest updates from Welsh Government about Further Education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current guidance on Post-16 Learning and Skills
Student Space
Student Space is run by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity. It is safe, confidential and developed with students and experts in student well-being and mental health
Student Space makes it easier for students to find what they need during the coronavirus pandemic. Help and guidance is available aswell as a range of trusted information, services and tools to help with the challenges of student life.
There are three ways that Student Space can help during the pandemic:
- Access to dedicated support services for students, by phone or text;
- Information and tools to help get through the challenges of coronavirus;
- Help to find what support is available at college.
The Welsh Government is now offering a programme of asymptomatic COVID-19 testing in education and childcare settings across Wales through the use of Lateral Flow Devices (LFD). Testing is offered on an opt-in basis.
Along with the primary protective measures we are taking, such as social distancing and good hand hygiene, testing allows us to take further measures to help you and other staff members to continue working in as safe an environment as possible. Up to one in three people who have COVID-19 have the virus without symptoms so could be transmitting the virus unknowingly.
Welsh Government Statement – 22 February
Students who attend further education colleges are now involved in twice a week home testing programme for COVID-19 using the Lateral Flow Devices (LFD).
By clicking the links below, you will find some useful information about Lateral Flow Testing in college.
Principal’s Letter to Students – 9 March
How to Take a Self-Test – NHS Guide
It is important to know that we will prioritise the students who have been invited back to college as part of Phase 1 and Phase 2 return arrangements. At this time these are mainly students in Construction, Engineering, Building & Engineering Services, Creative, Visual & Performing Arts, Foundation Studies & Adult Community Learning and students who are completing assessments and practical tests. All other students will be contacted as further tests are delivered to college.
Our food outlets across College are currently open with the following restrictions in place:
- Grab-and-go menu at all outlets.
- Internal seating will remain closed until further notice, in accordance with Welsh Government guidelines.
Opening Times
Neath College – The Brook Café, including Starbucks: 08:30-14:00
Neath College – Starbucks, A/B Block: 08:30-14:00
Afan College – Refectory: 08:30-14:00
Brecon Beacons College – Refectory: 08:30-13:00
Newtown College – Refectory, including Starbucks: 08:30-14:00
The current Welsh Government guidance is that staff and students must wear face coverings (minimum of 3 layers) in all internal areas (including teaching areas).
Each Reception area has been provided with a supply of College 3-layer face coverings if staff or students require them.
There are some circumstances where a pupil or staff member may not be able to wear a face covering. Whether somebody has a reasonable excuse not to wear a face covering will not always be obvious. We are mindful and respectful of such circumstances, noting that some people may be less able to wear face coverings and the reasons for this may not be visible to others.
15 February Update
Dear HE Student,
I’m sure that you are aware that some school and college students have begun a phased return to face-to-face learning from Monday 22 February 2021. However, Welsh Universities (and NPTC Group of Colleges) will continue to deliver the majority of their teaching online, although some students may be able to return to campus if they need to use specialist equipment or study facilities.
Your Higher Education Coordinators and Tutors will continue to support you remotely but once we are able to provide face-to-face teaching you will receive an email from your tutor explaining the protocol for returning to College. On return to college, it is really important that you only attend your timetabled sessions so we can ensure that there are appropriate numbers of students on each site each day.
You should be aware that we have put in place all the necessary safety precautions to ensure the College is a COVID-19 secure environment and copies of the risk assessments are available if you would like to see them. On your first day back in college, a member of staff from your teaching team will meet you and update you of any changes to your programme and we will also provide a ‘Guide to Attending College Safely During the Covid-19 Pandemic – Spring 2021‘.
It is important at this time that we all think about others and we will ask each student to complete their own daily health check. It asks that if you or any member of your household becomes unwell with a high temperature, persistent cough or any other COVID-19 related symptoms you should NOT attend college and that you must inform your tutor immediately.
When in college you will be asked to:
- wear a suitable face covering (3 layer thickness) in all internal areas, including teaching areas.
- adhere to all social distancing guidelines (2 metres), in all areas of college, including classrooms and workshops.
- follow the tutors’ instructions regarding cleaning and preparing any equipment you may be using.
- follow and understand the induction guidance your tutor will give in respect of safe working practices in study areas.
Other things you should know:
- the College will be opening our refectories and coffee shops with a limited menu. Students can also bring their own food and drink into college.
- the College is working with the County Councils and the bus companies to get the ‘Home to College‘ transport started up again and details on this will be on the COVID-19 Hub on our website. Where possible, students should not use public transport and travel on foot, by bike/car/dedicated ‘Home to College‘ transport as these services only carry students travelling to college. We also ask that you DO NOT car share at this time unless you live in the same household.
We recognise that this is a difficult time for everyone. Student and staff wellbeing remains a key priority for us and we would encourage any student experiencing difficulties or hardship to contact us using the details below.
If you need further information or have queries about any of the content of this update, you can visit our COVID-19 Hub, email: studentsupport@nptcgroup.ac.uk or call our COVID-19 Helpline on 01639 648053.
Students are able to use their college bus passes on public service buses. However, if at all possible, please do not use public transport – travel on foot, by bike or by car or by dedicated Home to College transport as these services only carry students travelling to college.
The College asks that students DO NOT car share at this time unless they live in the same household.
If you need further information on this you can email studentsupport@nptcgroup.ac.uk or call our dedicated COVID-19 Helpline on: 01639 648053.
You can visit the Traveline Cymru website, where you are able to plan journeys and access timetables.
We have employed a number of health & safety changes at all our college sites, in compliant with COVID-19 legislation and Welsh Government guidance.
- Hand sanitizer dispensers are available across college sites
- Screens have been installed at reception areas
- No gathering or sitting is permitted in communal areas
- One-way systems have been clearly marked out throughout college
- There is social distancing signage and signage about how to reduce the spread of COVID-19 across college sites
Further information is available to students via Moodle.