Coleg Powys chiefs deny crisis rumours

Bosses at Coleg Powys today hit back at rumours the college was in a 'state of crisis', claiming student numbers were actually on the up.

Graham Cragg, chairman of governors at the college, which has bases in Newtown and Llandrindod Wells, said he had heard rumours the college was struggling. But he has hit back, saying it was doing well, with more than 100 extra learners taken on during the past two years.

He said: "I hit back at talk suggesting that the college is in a state of crisis.

"A recent newspaper article indicated that the number of full-time learners in the college was down. The number of full-time Coleg Powys students has actually increased over the course of the last two academic years by approximately 100 learners.

"The college has enjoyed this increase whilst the number of young people in Powys between the ages of 16 and 18 has been in steady decline for some years.

"The college has recognised for some time that the post-16 educational needs of the people of Powys would be best met by strategic development in fewer but larger centres.

"To this end, last year the college invested £780,000 in developing its campuses.

"We very successfully invested in our general student facilities on the Newtown campus and in our hair and beauty on both the Brecon and Newtown campuses."

He added: "We have begun the process of relocating our curriculum provision in Ystradgynlais campus and we are hopeful that by January 2013 it will be housed in Maesydderwen School, enabling a broader range of Powys learners to benefit from the £11m investment in the school building."

Assistant principal Ian Millward added: "If any members of the public would like to come and see the changes that we have made to the buildings they would be most welcome at our open evening on May 15."

By Andrew Morris