Coleg Cambria moves more courses online to lower Coronavirus safety risk

@COLEGCAMBRIA will be taking more of its learning online later this month to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors during the Coronavirus pandemic.

From October 19 – the week before half term – the college will move some face-to-face lectures to self-directed study and remote delivery.

Its sites in Wrexham, Deeside, Northop and Llysfasi will remain open to support students, with social distancing and safety measures in place, and staff will be on hand for support and pastoral care.

Chief Executive Yana Williams reiterated that the health and wellbeing of learners, employees and visitors is paramount.

“Their safety remains our top priority and we continue to work hard to ensure our campuses and buildings are safe places to work and learn,” said Ms Williams.

“We hope that moving to remote and self-directed study for the week before half term will significantly reduce the number of students and staff on site for a two week period, which will support  the local lockdown arrangements introduced by the Welsh Government in the Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham areas last week. 

“It will also go some way to address the current heightened anxiety caused by the growth of local cases of  Covid-19.”

She added: “Currently there is no significant growth in numbers of our staff or students with the Coronavirus, or with symptoms and self-isolating.

“However, the measures taken locally and their impact on the college have led us to review our risk assessments. As a result, we will reduce some face to face teaching for a period of time.”

Cambria is adopting alternative delivery styles and methods for different programme types to ensure students remain on track and maintain the progress made since the new academic year began.

During this time, vulnerable students can continue to attend college sites and students will still have access to practical sessions and essential support services.

Ms Williams added: “The way in which we educate students this year will need to be flexible depending on a variety of local and national restrictions. We will continue to follow this agile and flexible approach over the coming weeks and months so that we can ease pressure points and keep our students and staff safe and healthy.”

It is hoped most students will return to face to face learning on November 2, however this will be reviewed in line with local and national guidelines.