Neath Port Talbot College facts for kids
Neath Port Talbot College (NPTC) was a college in Wales, United Kingdom. It had two main places, called campuses, in Port Talbot and Neath. This college helped students learn many different things after they finished school.
Students could study for qualifications like GCSEs, which are exams usually taken around age 16. They could also study for A levels, which are exams taken later to help get into university. The college also offered other courses like GNVQs, which teach skills for jobs, and adult learning classes.
Neath Port Talbot College also had courses for higher education, which is learning after college, similar to university studies. These included HNDs and HNCs in subjects like Computing, Health & Social Care, and Childcare.
The college was formed in 1997. This happened after the areas of Neath and Port Talbot joined together to form the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot in 1996. Before that, there were two separate colleges: Afan College and Neath College.
In August 2013, Neath Port Talbot College joined with Coleg Powys to create a new, bigger college called NPTC Group.
History of the College
For many years, from the 1950s to the 1990s, there were two separate colleges: Neath College and Afan College. Each college had its own leaders and teachers. Both colleges offered important qualifications like O levels (older GCSEs), A levels, and National Diplomas.
When the areas of Neath and Port Talbot joined to become one larger area in 1996, the two colleges decided to join too. This merger created Neath Port Talbot College in 1997. The old college buildings then became known as the Neath Campus and the Afan Campus.
The college also had a smaller learning center on Queen Street in Neath town centre. Here, students could take courses like the ECDL, which teaches computer skills, and other part-time classes. There were also special facilities at Margam Country Park. These included a place for management training, a centre for learning about gardening (horticulture), and a plant nursery called Parc-Gro.
College Campuses
Afan Campus
The Afan campus was located in the Margam area of Port Talbot.
Neath Campus
The Neath campus was located on Dwr-y-Felin Road, just a short distance northwest of Neath town centre.
The Canolfan Gelf Nidum Arts Centre was part of the Neath campus. This centre had a theatre with 170 seats and a cinema screen, where students could enjoy performances and films.
Schools Linked to NPTC
Most of the schools that worked closely with Neath Port Talbot College were located in the Neath Port Talbot area. These schools included:
- Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School
- Dyffryn Comprehensive School
- Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, Ystalyfera
- Cwrt Sart Comprehensive School
- Cwmtawe Comprehensive School, Pontardawe
- Glan Afan Comprehensive School, Port Talbot
- Sandfields Comprehensive School
- Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School
- Brynteg Comprehensive School
