Education

Education

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Education Rights

Asylum Seekers

Asylum seekers across Swansea have access to further and higher education, as long as they meet the entrance requirements for the course, can pay the course fees and support themselves financially. Asylum seekers are not eligible for Student Support, Access Funds or Hardship Loans, and they have to pay overseas students fees. Exceptions can be made on some courses when the student has been living in the UK for three years or the college may make a concession for its own reasons. This has resulted in severe difficulties for asylum seekers  in participating in Further and Higher Education, even though they might want to. (information taken from Learning Insight Asylum Seeker)

For more detailed information on education have a look on the Refugee Assessment and Guidance Unit (RAGU) website. Also, if you are looking information on education and schools for your children have a look on the Swansea City and County website, and http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/schoolgate/ . If you are interested in a breakdown of the school curriculum have a read of the Welsh Assembly's Welcome to Wales Pack for Migrant Workers.

For General Info see the UK Goverment site http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm 

Refugees

People with refugee status, or exceptional leave to remain, are required to pay home student fees for further and higher education. Those with refugee status are automatically eligible for student support, but those with exceptional leave to remain have to have been living in the UK for three years before they qualify. Refugees that have been registered unemployed for six months are eligible for government training schemes. Training schemes, according to age, include Modern Apprenticeships, Work Based Learning for Adults and the New Deal. Some colleges and organisations offer courses specifically for asylum seekers and refugees. (information taken from Learning Insight Asylum Seeker )

For more detailed information on education have a look on the Refugee Assessment and Guidance Unit (RAGU) website. Also, if you are looking information on education and schools for your children have a look on the Swansea City and County website, and http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/schoolgate/ and if you are interested in a breakdown of the school curriculum have a read of the Welsh Assembly's Welcome to Wales Pack for Migrant Workers.

For General Info see the UK Goverment site http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm 

Migrant Workers

The Welsh Assembly's Welcome to Wales Pack for Migrant Workers provides everything you want to know about studying in Wales. The aim of the pack is to ensure that migrant workers (both adults and children) who come to this country are fully aware of their educational rights, the pack covers everything from learning English to early years education through to lifelong learning and work based learning

Full-time International Students

As well as this web site, welcome information and advice for International and EU Students can be found at the following websites.

Swansea University http://www.swansea.ac.uk/international/

Swansea Metropolitan University http://www.smu.ac.uk/sihe/international/welcome.htm

Swansea College http://www.swancoll.ac.uk/Webpages/International/

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English Courses in Swansea

There are lots of English for Speakers of Other languages (ESOL) courses in Swansea. In fact,  The Swansea ESOL Directory (Swansea Skills Service, Dynevor Place, SA1 3ET. Telephone 01792 648081 View map) is a good place to contact as it provides information on all the opportunities available for adults to improve their English language skills.

General information on ESOL & Citizenship Classes 

  • Combined English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and citizenship classes. Becoming a British citizen or deciding to settle permanently in this country is an important event in your life. If you are applying for naturalisation as a British citizen or for indefinite leave to remain, you will need to show that you know about life in the UK. If you live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can do this in two ways: by taking the Life in the UK Test or by taking combined English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and citizenship classes.
  • Who has to take the test?
    You should take the test if you are applying for naturalisation as a British citizen or indefinite leave to remain (settlement) and your level of English is ESOL Entry 3 or above. If your level of English is lower than ESOL Entry 3 and you wish to apply for naturalisation or indefinite leave to remain, you will need to attend combined English language (ESOL) and citizenship classes instead. Most local further education or community colleges run these courses.
    If you are unsure about whether you need to take the test, you can contact the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau on 0870 606 7766.
  • What are ESOL and citizenship classes?
    ESOL and citizenship classes help you to improve your English and learn more about life in the UK. You can take these classes at your local further education or community college. To find out more about ESOL and citizenship classes, contact your local college, or call the Life in the UK Test Helpline on 0800 0154245.
  • How do I know what my level of English is? If you are not sure what your level of English is, your local further education college or learndirect centre can give you an initial assessment. If you need help finding somewhere near you to take an initial assessment, then call the Life in the UK Test Helpline on 0800 0154245

This is the link to the citizenship materials developed by NIACE, most useful to Citizenship teachers, or very high level students.
http://www.niace.org.uk/projects/esolcitizenship/Home-Wal.htm

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Some of the following Educational Institutes may run free English classes for asylum seekers, refugees  and migrants, but it is advisable to clarify this with the course coordinator at each institute before you sign up for a class.

 ESOL classes are provided by :

Swansea University 

Gorseinon College

Swansea College

Swansea Swansea Metropolitan

the Workers Education Association (WEA)

Dragon Arts Centre

 

Further Education Colleges that run English classes

  • Swansea College offers a number of ESOl classes at all levels. Click here to read about how Swansea College works towards fully supporting their ESOL students and ensuring that they have the best educational experience possible. Address: Swansea college, Tycoch Rd, Swansea. SA2 9EB. Tel: +44 (0)1792 284000 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it View map
  • Gorseinon College.
    Tel: +44 (0)1792 890700  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   View map
    ESOL Classes are held at Gorseinon Lifelong Learning Centre, Alexandra Road, Gorseinon  Tel: +44 (0)1792 893054. Gorseinon College  also has ESOL classes in Pontardulais, Tel +44(0) 1792 8822153

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Support Groups that also run English classes

 

 

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English classes at Swansea's two Universities 

Swansea MetSwansea Metropolitan University, (previously called Swansea Institute), Mount Pleasant. SA1 6ED. Tel: +44 (0)1792 481010 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it View map

English Language Training Services, The Grove Extension Building, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP http://www.swan.ac.uk/  Tel: +44 (0)1792 295391 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it offers intensive summer courses - as part of the TEFL Teacher training programme. View map 

Department of Adult Continuing Education (DACE), Swansea University. SA2 8PP.  Tel: +44 (0)1792 295786 / 295657 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   View map DACE provides some BEGINNERS English classes at the following locations:  Grove House (SBREC)in the centre of Swansea SA1 5DF, AND  ARC in 45 Broughton Rd, Portmead,Swansea, SA57HP

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English classes at private schools

 

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Educational  Guidance & Support

  • Free Educational Guidance Service: There is a free impartial educational guidance service available in the Department of Adult Continuing Education (DACE) at Swansea University. It is designed to help people to make decisions about their choices in education at any age or stage of their lives. This service is confidential and available to anyone over 18 on campus, in communities or in the workplace. Phone the DACE Reception to make an appointment with one of their guidance team.  Tel: (01792) 295786. They can also provide support on the phone or by email. email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

  • The Ethnic Minority Language and Achievement (EMLA) Service supports pupils in their learning of English as an additional language across the curriculum. Dynevor Centre, Dynevor Place, Swansea SA1 3ET  Tel: +44 (0)1792 465406 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it View map

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Free On-line Courses

BBC Website

 

Learn & practice English with the help of the Internet. The BBC has a brilliant web site with lots of resources.

 

 

 

The OpenLearn website gives free access to course materials from The Open University. The LearningSpace is open to learners anywhere in the world. Topics available currently include:

This is the link to the citizenship materials developed by NIACE, most useful to Citizenship teachers, or very high level students.

http://www.niace.org.uk/projects/esolcitizenship/Home-Wal.htm

 

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About the OU

The Open University (OU) is the United Kingdom's only university dedicated to distance learning.


New to the OU? Find out about OU study and distance learning.

 

Visit the New to the OU website to read how with most courses there are no previous qualifications required to study, you have to be aged 18 when your course starts but there is no upper age limit.

They have around 150,000 undergraduate and more than 30,000 postgraduate students. 10,000 of our students have disabilities.
The Open University's style of teaching is called supported open learning.

Nearly all students are studying part-time. About 70 per cent of undergraduate students are in full-time employment. More than 50,000 students are sponsored by their employers for their studies.

11,000 people are currently studying for OU Higher Degrees.

Most OU courses are available throughout Europe. Some of them are available in many other parts of the world. More than 25,000 OU students live outside the UK.

The University itself is ranked among the top UK universities for the quality of its teaching (see news release).

A third of their UK undergraduate students have entry qualifications lower than those normally demanded by other UK universities For more info about the OU http://www.open.ac.uk/about/ou/

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Resources for ESOL tutors

 

 

Children's Education & Schools 

 

For information about children's education & schools in Wales. For example:

 

  • Which school should you choose?
  • What will your child learn there - and what if it's all in Welsh?
  • If you want to support your child at school?
  • If you want to get involved with the school, help out in class, join the PTA, or become a school governor etc.
Have a look on http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/schoolgate/

 

For a full list of Schools in Swansea see: http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/6/0/School_List_2007-2008_1.pdf

 

Primary Schools in Swansea

Waun Wen Primary School
Lion St, Swansea, SA1 2BZ View map
   
Hafod Primary School
Odo St, Swansea, SA1 2LT View map
   
Cwm Primary School
Jersey Rd, Bonymaen, Swansea, SA1 7DL View map

Pen Y Fro Primary School
Priors Cres, Dunvant, Swansea, SA2 7UF View map
   
Grange Primary School
West Cross Av, West Cross, Swansea, SA3 5TS View map
   
Brynmill Primary School
Trafalgar Pl, Brynmill, Swansea, SA2 0BU View map
   
Parkland Primary School
Sketty Pk Dr, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8NG View map
   
Sketty Primary School
Llwynmawr Cl, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 9HJ View map
   
Whitestone Primary School
1 Rushwind Cl, West Cross, Swansea, SA3 5RF View map
   
Mayals Primary School
Fairwood Rd, West Cross, Swansea, SA3 5JP View map
   
Pentrechwyth Primary School
Bonymaen Rd, Pentrechwyth, Swansea, SA1 7AP View map
   
Cila Primary School
577 Gower Rd, Upper Killay, Swansea, SA2 7DR View map
   
Bishopston Primary School
Bishopston Rd, Bishopston, Swansea, SA3 3EN View map
   
St. Thomas Primary School
80 Grenfell Pk Rd, St. Thomas, Swansea, SA1 8EZ View map
   
Danygraig Primary School
Ysgol St, Port Tennant, Swansea, SA1 8LE View map
   
St Helens Primary School
Vincent St, Swansea, SA1 3TY View map
   
Seaview Community Primary School
Creidiol Rd, Mayhill, Swansea, SA1 6TZ View map
   
Cwm Glas Primary School
Colwyn Av, Winch Wen, Swansea, SA1 7EN View map
   
Newton Primary School
Slade Rd, Newton, Swansea, SA3 4UE View map
   
Christchurch Primary School
Rodney St, Swansea, SA1 3UA View map
   
Dunvant Primary School
Dunvant Rd, Dunvant, Swansea, SA2 7SN View map
   
Hendrefoilan Primary School
Dunvant Rd, Killay, Swansea View map

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Secondary Schools in Swansea

Bishopston Comprehensive School
The Glebe, Bishopston, Swansea, SA3 3JP View map
   
Daniel James Community School
Heol Ddu, Swansea, SA5 View map

Olchfa Comprehensive School
Gower Rd, Sketty, Swansea SA2 View map
   
Pentrehafod School
Pentremawr Rd, Swansea, SA1 2NN View map
   
Bishop Gore School
De La Beche Rd, Swansea, SA2 9AP View map
   
Cefn Hengoed Community School
Caldicot Rd, Bonymaen, Swansea, SA1 7HX View map

Welsh Language

Approximately 20% of people living in Wales speak Welsh, and some schools in Swansea teach through the medium of Welsh. If your English is good and you want to learn Welsh in the Swansea area click on:

http://www.learnwelshsouthwestwales.org/

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/wfasub/welshforadults/learners/

Also you can find on-line audio and text on the BBC web site. Learn Welsh with the BBC.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learnwelsh/

Catchphrase offers free downloadable audio and text learning so you can learn offline too. Have a look on www.bbc.co.uk/wales/catchphrase/

 

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