Coleg Cambria joins the 157 Group

Newly formed Coleg Cambria has become the first Further Education (FE) college in Wales to become a member of the prestigious 157 group.

Fresh from merger, Coleg Cambria, formed from the previous Deeside and Yale Colleges is delighted to have accepted an invitation to be the first college in Wales to join the 157 Group, the Russell Group of the FE sector in the UK. 

David Jones, Principal and Chief Executive, said:

“This development aligns perfectly with the strategy and ambitions of Coleg Cambria, will provide a platform to showcase Wales FE, and demonstrates that we are serious about our merger commitments. 

“As one of the largest educational institutions in Wales with an annual income of almost £65m and providing courses for over 25,000 learners, we will continue to contribute fully and work closely with our colleagues at Colegau Cymru, and with other Welsh colleges and universities.   However, as a member of the 157 we will offer innovative and valuable ideas from a Welsh perspective, and learn from the very best, whilst contributing to leading policy development, and improving performance in the sector throughout the UK.  It enables us to embrace our Welsh identity whilst broadening our horizons and having a strong impact on how the FE sector is shaped for the future.   

“At Coleg Cambria we are passionate about our role as a driver of economic development and social justice.  With Wales clearly needing to up its game in educational terms, and with us now only having a handful of general FE colleges, it is essential that we expand our horizons and benchmark and work with the very best.  Being based on the Wales-England border also makes