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. read more