Coleg Glan Hafren

Cardiff and Vale College is the result of the merge between Coleg Glan Hafren and Barry College in 2011, expanding together to become Cardiff and the Vale’s largest further education college. A large variety of education can be found here in both academic and vocational sectors.
Trowbridge campus is located in Rumney and is easily found off Newport Road or via ⁴⁴⁄₄₅ routes on Cardiff bus from the city centre. Taking a bus will lead to a short walk down Trowbridge Road. There is car parking for both students and staff, though often overflow leads to individuals parking on grass outside the college.
There is a childcare facility/​nursery on this campus which caters for students with children from 12wks 5yrs old.
Fitness suite is available to the public but rarely used.
A shop is open in the canteen from 2012, throughout the college day, selling snacks, sandwiches, drinks, magazines and basic equipment for classes. It may be noted upon review that 80% of what the college sells here is unhealthy consumption and there’s a lack of availability for vegetarians.
Speaking of catering, there is a cafeteria open twice daily, breakfast and lunch. Pricing is affordable, though not suited necessarily to a student’s pocket — perhaps seen as an incentive for unhealthy eating. Lunch dishes vary by day; examples include lasagne, pasta bakes, fish, curries and occasionally Quorn meals.
‘Seren’ restaurant on this campus is catered to by students in the sector, closed on Mondays, but lunch is available Tue-​Fri 12pm 1pm to the public.
Staff generally are helpful, not always friendly but it’ll depend on their role in the college. I can’t speak for all courses by any means. Cafeteria staff are often extremely pleasant or extremely grumpy.
Overall from studying here for 2 years I have found it suitable for what it is, prices could improve and so could a sense of community as students of the college I found myself never involved beyond the outside of my course, though you did hear about activities going on I never saw them happening. This might be difficult due to spread across several campuses with the merge, but you’d think Trowbridge could be more organised seeing as Coleg Glan Hafren has been around for quite some years previous.
At the end of the day it’s about your education and learning as opposed to your environment, every little benefit helps so don’t let any negatives take you back if a course here is what you want to achieve.

This is the largest of three parts of this 16 – 18 college in Cardiff. It is a small campus that could easily be mistaken for a small secondary school, but people of all ages are able to study. This is where science, maths and practical subjects are taught. Photography, art, mechanics, sports, physics, biology, chemistry, computer science… the list is pretty much, if not literally, endless.
I took an Art A-​Level here. The space available was good, as was the range of materials for us to use. The teaching methods were quite standard though; I’m unsure if I would have felt inspired by the teachers if I didn’t have my own drive to begin with.
For obvious reasons I’m unable to comment on other subjects and department. So I won’t! But the canteen and public spaces are well maintained and stocked with good food and drink. This is essential, seeing as the campus is so far away from everything else. It takes about 40 minutes to get a bus from the city centre, but they are regular and discounts are available.

I studied for a national diploma in public services (Uniformed) at Coleg Glan Hafren. The facilities here are one of the best for education. In relation to the course I was doing they have gym facilities, although small it fits its purpose, as well a gym hall & the latest equipment.
The tutors at this college are very helpful & supportive making your education their priority.