Tim Lewis

Tim Lewis, 46, of Roath Park has lived in Cardiff all his life. He earned plenty of O Levels, including French and Welsh, then studied for one year in sixth form before leaving school. After school he worked in clerical jobs for a number of Civil Service organisations, including the Department of Trade (DTI), British Gas and the Post Office.

Around 12 years ago Tim finished working at the Post Office, and is now a full-time carer for his father. He decided to build on his O Level in Music by studying A Level Music at Coleg Glan Hafren's Trowbridge campus. Tim also has a grade 8 in piano but gave up playing around five years ago.

Tim has been a frequent traveller to Spain, visiting Benidorm and Altea around five times as he loves the laid-back way of life and great weather. Tim wanted to be able to make conversation in Spanish but had not practised the language for many years, so he decided to return to college to pick up Spanish at GCSE level.

The Spanish class Tim applied for at Coleg Glan Hafren was full, so he was referred to the Spanish class taught by Coleg Glan Hafren at Ty Celyn Adult Centre in Lakeside, which was closer to his house anyway.  

Tim, who started the course in September 2007, said, "Initially I found it difficult to get back into studying, but the enthusiasm of the teacher helped, plus the experience of listening to the Spanish language spoken in their country on my visits abroad. The evening class was convenient for me and I enjoyed it so much that I passed the GCSE with an A."

After getting his A in GCSE Spanish the language bug gripped hold of Tim again so he decided to try Italian at GCSE, which he studied at the college's City Road building with the same teacher!

Tim said, "Angela is multilingual, is very good as a teacher and is a stickler for ensuring homework is given in on time - which helps to drive me on. I had an A in Italian, but the language is harder than Spanish due to the grammatical differences and complexities, so I had to work hard. My message is that if you enjoyed languages at school, why not give learning a new language a go? There's nothing special about me, so If I can do it, so can anyone else."

Claire Jones

In September 2002 Claire started an LLB (Bachelor of Law) degree at University but didn't enjoy the course or the teaching methods and only ended up completing the first year, before starting work full-time as a Paralegal at Colin Jones Solicitors in Barry, a family firm specialising in Criminal and Family Law.  Claire started in the Criminal Law Department first, staying there for three years in the Crown Court section where she prepared cases and assisted Counsel in conferences and Court.  Claire then took the Police Station Representative Course at Cardiff University and passed the exam, but she then moved to the Family Law department of the business and didn't then continue with the rest of the course, though she may go back to it at a later date.

Due to her drive for professional development and building a career in Law, Claire, who has three A Levels in Politics, History and English Literature, decided she needed more qualifications. While she was at a Law Society event she saw some promo material from Coleg Glan Hafren and realised that the college ran the ILEX courses part-time.

Claire takes up the story, "I looked into the course detail and realised the ILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice would build on the practical skills I'd developed as a Paralegal and give me more theory. As the course is part-time I can study it around my job, plus it's been a blessing that my employer has sponsored me for the course - which I'm eternally thankful for! I had forgotten the results were due and didn't open them 'til the next day, when my jaw dropped at seeing the 100% result. I think the practical experience helped me on the exam, plus the support of the tutors at the college was amazing. The tutor explained everything that would be included in the exam and made sure we covered all the ILEX course manual. The notes he provided were also excellent for revision material. Overall the ILEX tutors have been extremely helpful and very approachable, as they've been available by email and for any extra tutorials. They are also very knowledgeable on the subject matter and the college resources are superb." 

In the immediate future Claire is expecting to complete the Level 3 ILEX course, followed by the Level 6. Claire continued, "Hopefully with my experience ILEX will waive some of my qualifying employment meaning I can become a Fellow of ILEX sooner.  From there on if I wanted to become a Solicitor, the LPC is the only extra qualification needed. The course has afforded me opportunities I didn't think possible when I didn't complete my LLB and dropped out of uni - one day I'm hoping to be a department head within the firm, which has been established for over 30 years, and maybe eventually a partner!  My main aim is to become a Fellow and to specialise in family law - particularly child care - as Fellows can now become Children Panel Members."

Stephen Beatty

Stephen Beatty, 35, originally from Glengormley in Northern Ireland, is currently studying a BA Journalism, Media and Cultural Criticism at Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, considered a world-leading centre for media teaching and research.

Stephen worked in various different jobs over the years including insurance under-writing and the construction industry but he has always had a keen interest in film and media. In 2007, while recovering from an ankle injury obtained while working on a construction site, he decided to return to education, initially studying A Levels in Film Studies and Media Studies, part time at Coleg Glan Hafren.

Stephen explains "I had been forced to take time off work because of an injury and I decided to take a couple of college courses to keep me occupied. Having not been in education for 15 years I found it a bit daunting at first but the lecturers couldn't have been more helpful, they have a lot of time for their students.

Originally the plan was to go back to work at the end of that year, but I realised that I really enjoy studying film and media and I wanted to continue my studies at University. For that I needed another A Level so in 2008 I went back to work part time and took English Literature in the evening at Coleg Glan Hafren.

The College helped me to apply to uni through UCAS and I managed to get a place at Cardiff University where I just started in September. I'm finding the media side of the degree very interesting and I think in the future I'd like to work in a Sports Press Office."

Sirelkhtim Karmendy

For Sirelkhtim's story, click here.

Wanda Tete Mizolo

Ms Wanda Tete Mizolo, 57, from Congo was an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) student at the college for four years. Her commitment has enabled her to progress through the ESOL levels of study. Before she came to Cardiff, Wanda ran her own catering business. As part of her course she undertook work experience in catering at the Seren Restaurant, the college's training restaurant, and did so well that she is now on a Catering course at the College after completing her ESOL Level 2.

Wanda is a volunteer at the Refugee Council and the Riverside Community Allotments project and is also the voice for women and asylum seekers at various community meetings organised by organisations such as Oxfam.  She has also done voluntary work for Barnados. Because of her excellent community work Wanda won the ESOL Endeavour Award in 2009 and was an ACE Award finalist, for Active Citizenship in Education.

Eva Groskova

Ms Eva Groskova, 33, studied the Access to Nursing course, which prepares mature learners for University. English is not Eva's first language and she had to put in a great deal of additional work in order to achieve her pass marks in every area of the course. Chris, Eva's tutor, says that Eva produced the finest Interdisciplinary Study, the most difficult part of the course, she had seen for years. This truly academic piece of work helped Eva gain a Midwifery study place at The University of Glamorgan - a course which is difficult to get onto. Eva is now studying at the University and has just started a Midwifery Clinical Placement in Merthyr Tydfil. Eva also won the Access Adult Learner of the Year Award in 2009.

Hannah Beynon

Hannah Beynon, 28 of Pontcanna, was also nominated as a VQ Hero by her tutor and was a finalist for VQ Learner of the Year. Hannah is an extremely dedicated student and has shown huge commitment to her full-time Foundation AAT (Accounting) course. Hannah is conscientious and always produces work of a very high standard.  Mother to three young girls and guardian to her two younger sisters, Hannah had some difficult personal circumstances to cope with last year.  Despite this, Hannah remains positive and enthusiastic and more determined than ever to achieve the AAT qualification.  Hannah continues to assist fellow students by arranging revision sessions outside of College.

Kathleen Cannon

Kathleen Cannon is approaching 60 but came to Coleg Glan Hafren to study AS Levels full-time. Kathleen said, "I left school with no qualifications at 15. I attended Trowbridge Campus to study some O Levels briefly when I was 30, and then in September 2008 I decided to take two AS Levels at Coleg Glan Hafren. I wanted to study full-time at the college to prove to myself and my grand-daughter  that I could do it. I've had a lot of health problems over the years but I achieved two B grades in Media and English at AS Level and have come back to college this year. Initially I felt a bit daunted to be studying with all these young people but they have accepted me unconditionally and my age has not been an issue. In fact I was even invited to someone's 18th birthday celebrations. So never let age be a hurdle in achieving your goals. "

Idil Adan

For Idil's story, click here.

Laura Diamond

Laura Diamond is 21 and lives in Rhiwbina. Laura passed all her GCSEs at Whitchurch High and stayed on in sixth form but felt she didn't take her studies seriously enough. She then found work in retail over the summer and ended up working for around a year, before deciding that she wanted to return to education. Laura said, "I chose to come to Coleg Glan Hafren in 2008 as being a more mature student I didn't want to study at a sixth form college but wanted to go somewhere more independent, where there is a more of a mix of ages."

Laura studied Business, English Lit, Law at AS Level, gaining two As and a B. She then studied the same subjects at A2 Level this year, again gaining two As and a B.

Laura said, "I felt Coleg Glan Hafren really got me back into the thick of education and that I really enjoyed my studies for the first time - which I think was more due to my maturity and experiencing a taste of working life. I was much more disciplined and realised the value of education. I've got nothing bad to say about the college at all, as they were very helpful, in their teaching and support, as well as the help they gave me when applying for university."

Laura arranged a week's work experience at a local solicitors last year and now wishes to study Law at Cardiff or Swansea University. She will study more career options in Law at University but may wish to eventually become a solicitor.

Ailisha Melhuish

For Ailisha's story, click here...