College introduces Text Message Weather Updates

I have received a small number of letters and messages from staff, students and parents in relation to the difficulties faced in recent weeks and would like to respond to the questions and concerns raised.

As the Principal of Bridgend College I would begin by stating clearly that the priorities of this College include delivering high quality education to our students whilst at all times ensuring their safety, and the safety of our staff.

As evidence of this in recent months, we have shut the College campuses or closed the College early where advised to do so.  I do feel that the prior information in relation to the snow last Tuesday (12 January 2010) was unclear, and as a result the difficulties that everyone faced in getting home was primarily due to the volume of traffic on the road with all organisations making the same decision to close at the same time.

However, we do recognise the difficulties caused to students travelling in from some distance away e.g. Merthyr, Cardiff and West Wales, where of course the weather could be, and often is, very different.

Therefore, going forward we will be making an earlier decision on whether the College is to remain open and will communicate this effectively, even if it means that the College will be closed when, if the decision was to be made half an hour later, it could have remained open.  To assist the communication process, we are now introducing a text messaging service which all students and staff can sign up for, which will send messages direct to your mobile phone. 

If you would like to receive these messages, please complete the SMS Weather Updates Form and return to your Campus Reception marked for ‘Marketing' or email to comms@bridgend.ac.uk

I would also like to remind all students and staff that they too have a responsibility for their own health and safety.  I'm afraid that we aren't able to access all the areas where students and staff live and establish how safe their journey to and from their College is. Therefore regardless of whether the College is open or not, we would ask all students and staff to make sensible decisions on whether or not they can get to and from the College.

Finally I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this difficult and exceptional period.

Mark Jones, Principal