What is Governance at NPTC Group of Colleges?
Governance is to do with those ideas, structures, and systems that shape the strategic direction and management of the College for the benefit of all its stakeholders – the students, their parents, current and future employers, the staff and the wider community of interests that are taken as whole reflect and represent Neath Port Talbot and Powys.
Governors, via the Corporation Board and its Committees, are responsible for the mission, strategic direction, and financial security of the College. The Senior Management Team, led by the CEO, is responsible for the strategic management of the College and implementation of Corporation policy.
Part of the management ethos of NPTC Group of Colleges is a commitment to openness, transparency, honesty, and accountability by putting as much information into the public domain as reasonable without compromising business confidentiality and the legal right of the individual.
Chief Executive Officer: Mark Dacey
NAME
Mark Dacey – NPTC Group of Colleges Chief Executive Officer
EDUCATION
Having left Lewis Boys’ Grammar School, Pengam at 16 years of age with no formal qualifications, Mark Dacey progressed via Ystrad Mynach, Pontypridd and Bridgend Colleges of Further Education, through a series of City & Guilds and BTEC National and Higher National Certificates in Construction and Surveying.
In addition to a Certificate in Education from Cardiff University, he holds a BSc Degree in Building from the Polytechnic of Wales, an MSc Degree in Facilities Management from the University of Strathclyde and a Diploma in Building Surveying from the College of Estates Management. He also holds extensive professional qualifications in Building, Surveying, Health & Safety and Law. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
EMPLOYMENT
Mark has worked as an Instructor, Associate Lecturer, Lecturer, Curriculum Development Manager, Head of Department, Dean of Faculty and Campus Principal. He has worked in numerous colleges in Wales and in England. In 1999, Mark was appointed by the Queens Privy Council and became one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) for Education and Training working for the Office of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector in Wales, prior to being appointed Principal of Neath Port Talbot College on 1 April 2004, and subsequently Group Chief Executive on 1 August 2013.
OTHER ROLES
Mark is Chair of the Children’s Rights Unit, a member of the Public Service Board, a member of the Children and Young Peoples Leadership Group, a member of the Building Safe and Resilient Communities Leadership Group, the Chair of the Wales Negotiating Committee for Further Education and the Chair of the 14-19 Network. He is also a Director of six companies wholly owned by the NPTC Group of Colleges, including the UKs No. 1 English Language School, LSI Portsmouth.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor
- Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers
- Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Building
- Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Principal / Deputy CEO: Catherine Lewis
NAME
Catherine Lewis – Principal / Deputy CEO
EDUCATION
Completed secondary education at Lewis Girls School and Porth County Comprehensive School followed by an LL.B Honours law degree at University College London, University of London. Became a qualified Solicitor following completion of the Law Society Finals at the then Polytechnic of Wales and two years as an Articled Clerk to Morgan Bruce Solicitors in Pontypridd and Cardiff.
Obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from the then University of Glamorgan (USW).
A Member of the Law Society of England & Wales and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
EMPLOYMENT
Worked for Morgan Bruce Solicitors, which became Morgan Cole and now Blake Morgan from 1992 – 2005. Qualified as a solicitor there in 1994 working in their Pontypridd and Cardiff offices. In 1994 became a HR/ Employment Law specialist eventually responsible for the Swansea team of lawyers within the Firm.
From 2005 to 2012 worked for Eversheds LLP based in Cardiff but working all over the UK, becoming a Principal Associate.
Catherine was the Vice Principal Corporate Services at NPTC Group of Colleges from 2012 to 2018. Catherine became Deputy CEO / Deputy Principal in 2018 before becoming Principal / Deputy CEO in July 2023.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Strategic Corporate Lead
- Deputy Chief Executive
- Group Legal Advisor
- Lead on internal investigations
- GDPR Data Controller
- Commercial activities and Hafren Theatre
- GDPR
- World Wide Operations
- Skills
- Employer Engagement
- Link Director for each subsidiary company
OTHER ROLES
Catharine was the Chair of the Welsh Netball Association from 2011 until she stepped down in June 2024 and joined the Netball Europe Board in 2014. Treasurer of the South East Wales Netball Association. Also spent 16 years on the Committee of the SW Wales CIPD Branch in a variety of roles.
Vice Principal: Academic: Tessa Jennings
NAME
Tessa Jennings – Vice Principal: Academic
EDUCATION
Having studied A-Levels at Porthcawl Comprehensive School, she subsequently progressed to Glamorgan University to read Law and complete the Legal Practice Course.
EMPLOYMENT
Tessa has worked as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Deputy Head of School, Head of School and Director of Studies. Her current role sees her responsible for Admissions, Marketing and Communications.
OTHER ROLES
Tessa has been involved in the forthcoming Wales Curriculum 2022; contribution has been mainly focused in the Humanities Area of Learning and Experience. She is also an Estyn peer inspection.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- LLB (Hons)
- LPC
Vice Principal: People and Digital: Eleanor Glew
NAME
Eleanor Glew – Vice Principal: People and Digital
EDUCATION
Educated to A-level at Bishop Gore Senior Comprehensive School in Swansea. Eleanor then completed a BSc. Economics in Business Administration, at Cardiff University.
On returning to full-time study, Eleanor successfully gained an MA in Personnel Management at the University of the West of England.
Eleanor has been a fully chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) for over 15 years.
EMPLOYMENT
Since September 2003 Eleanor has worked within the HR Unit at NPTC Group of Colleges (formerly Neath Port Talbot College) initially as a Senior Officer: HR and since July 2005 as the head of the department. As Assistant Principal: HR, Eleanor has the strategic responsibility for Human Resources, Staff Development and Diversity.
Previously Eleanor has held management HR roles in Avon Ambulance Services NHS Trust and at the Young Offenders Institute at Premier Prison Services, HMP & YOI Ashfield, in Bristol.
Prior to moving into HR, Eleanor was a Corporate Analysis Manager for the Equifax Database Company, based in Wexford, Eire.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Strategic Operational Lead
- Human Resources
- Staff Health & Wellbeing
- Equality and Diversity
- Staff Development
- IT Services
- Director of JGR & Llandarcy Park Ltd subsidiary company
Vice Principal: Finance & Estates: Mathew Harvey
NAME
Mathew Harvey – Vice Principal: Finance and Estates
EDUCATION
EMPLOYMENT
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Development and implementation of finance strategies across the entire College Group.
- Ensuring appropriate and sufficient financial planning, forecasting and other financial controls are applied by the College and all of its subsidiary companies.
- Preparing the College accounts and financial reports and those for all other legal entities under the control of the College as well as the Group consolidation.
- Development and oversight of the Group’s risk management processes.
Vice Principal: Corporate and Group Company Secretary: Gemma Charnock
NAME
Gemma Charnock – Vice Principal: Corporate and Group Company Secretary
EDUCATION
Completed secondary education at Maesteg Comprehensive School followed by an LL.B Honours law degree at Cardiff University. Became a qualified Solicitor following completion of the LPC Law Society Finals at Cardiff Law School and two years as a Trainee Solicitor to Edwards Geldard Solicitors Cardiff.
Obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Corporate Governance (Distinction) from CIPFA
EMPLOYMENT
Worked for Edwards Geldards Solicitors, (Geldards LLP), 2002 – 2013. Qualified as a solicitor there in 2004. In 2006 promoted to Associate, 2009 to Senior Associate.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Clark & Legal Advisor to Corporation Board and Company Secretary for Group
- Annual Governance Reporting to Welsh Government
- Designated Whistle-blowing Officer and FoI Officer
- Head of Complaints
- Hafren Theatre Board Member
- GDPR Advisor
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Lead on NPT Asset Based Community Development
- Presiding Officer for Student Union Elections
- Student Union Constitution Adviser
- Governance Budget
- Business Development Unit
- Community Engagement and Responsible Business
- IT Services
- Refectory Services
- Nursery
OTHER ROLES
School Governor, Cwmfellin Primary School since 2017
A Member of the Law Society of England & Wales
Assistant Principal: Quality and Recruitment: Lisa Jekins
NAME
Lisa Jenkins – Assistant Principal: Quality and Recruitment
EDUCATION
Lisa completed her O Levels and A Levels at Maesteg Comprehensive School before progressing to study a BSc in Physics at Cardiff University where she achieved a First-Class Honours BSc. Lisa then continued her studies at Cardiff University with a PhD, specialising in Solid State Physics. This was followed by a Lecturing and Research Fellowship at Nottingham University. During this time, Lisa had the opportunity to attend specialist conferences in Germany, Arizona in the USA and Kyoto in Japan.
During her PhD studies and while working as a Research Fellow, Lisa supported undergraduate Physics students during tutorial and practical workshop sessions along with delivering Thermodynamics lectures to undergraduate students. This was her first experience of teaching, and she was so inspired, she decided to pursue a career in teaching.
EMPLOYMENT
Lisa’s FE teaching career began at St David’s Sixth Form College as a Physics and Electronics lecturer, while completing her PGCE(FE) at University of Wales Institute Cardiff. Lisa then progressed to the Head of Physics role at Gorseinon College, followed by a move to NPTC Group of Colleges. Since joining the College, Lisa held the positions of Deputy Head of Maths and Science, Deputy Head of 6th Form Academy and Director of 6th Form Academy.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Quality Assurance
- Examinations
- Teaching & Learning
- Value Added
- Performance Data
- Appeals
- Marketing
- Admissions
- School Engagement
Assistant Principal: Curriculum & Skills: Geraint Jones
NAME
Geraint Jones – Assistant Principal: Curriculum
Geraint has been the Assistant Principal Curriculum at NPTC Group of Colleges since 2009 and prior to this date, he was the Head of School for Sport and Public Services at the College throughout 2003-2008.
Geraint has strategic responsibility for the management of the College curriculum, along with the organisation of the Welsh Baccalaureate and the 14-19 Learning Pathways curriculum across the College.
Geraint has overall responsibility for Bilingualism within the College and line manages the Director of Bilingualism, Bilingual Development Co-ordinator and the 14-19 Partnership Officer. Geraint is the chair of the College’s Bilingual Working Group and14-19 Working Group.
Geraint works closely with key stakeholders in forming partnerships and developing curriculum opportunities.
Geraint is a Director of Llandarcy Park Ltd, which is one of the College’s Subsidiary Companies.
Assistant Principal: Students: Siân Jones
NAME
Sian Jones – Assistant Principal: Students
EDUCATION
Completed O Levels at Newbridge Grammar School then moved onto the new Crosskeys Tertiary College to study A Levels. Completed a BSc Joint Degree in Earth and Environmental Pollution Sciences at the Polytechnic of Wales.
Completed the Certificate in Social Services whilst employed by Somerset Social Services and then made the decision to go back into education to undertake a PGCE – 11 to 18 with a Science and Environmental Science specialism at Bath College of Higher Education.
To support the current role have completed a certificate in Counselling and more recently around merger completed the Level 5 in Operational Management.
EMPLOYMENT
NPTC Group of Colleges – Assistant Principal: Students – August 2013 to Present Coleg Powys – Assistant Principal: Student Services, Assistant Principal: Quality Development and Assistant Principal: South Powys – 2001to 2013
Pembrokeshire College – Quality and Professional Development Manager, Curriculum Manager and Curriculum Leader – 1993 to 2001
Pembrokeshire College and Ebbw Vale College – Lecturer 1989 to 1993
Mid Glamorgan CC – Alternative to Custody and Care Worker (Rhondda) -1989 to 1991
Somerset CC – Youth and Community Worker –1988 to1989
Gwent and Somerset Social Services – Residential Social Worker –1983 to 1988 Since 1993 have been an approved Estyn Peer Assessor and Peer Inspector for FE and ACL
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Safeguarding Lead for the College and DSP
- Creating a safer learning community plan
- Safeguarding Team
- Student Vulnerable groups
- Wellbeing and counselling services
- Transition information collection
- Study Support
- Additional Learning Needs Support – discrete and mainstream, exams arrangements assessment and support
- Student Finance
- Student Transport
- Front of House Operational Services
- Student absence reporting
- ALN Transformation
- Student Involvement
- FCF fund
- ALS fund
- Cynydd
Assistant Principal: Work-based Learning: Nicola Thornton-Scott
NAME
Nicola Thornton-Scott – Assistant Principal: Work-based Learning
EDUCATION
MA in Leadership and Management (Education), University of South Wales, Newport.
Post Graduate Certificate in Training & Development, Wolverhampton University.
Further Education Teachers’ Certificate, Swansea Institute of Higher Education.
EMPLOYMENT
Assistant Principal Skills at NPTC Group of Colleges, (January 2010 to date).
Joined the College in May 1997 as an Assessor and became the Senior Officer of Pathways Training before taking over as Manager in March 2003.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- International strategy
- Skills Academy Wales
- Work-Based Learning Consortium
- The planning, delivery and review of the College’s Work-Based Learning portfolio in line with Welsh Government’s policy drivers
- The lead-in respect to Skills and all Sector Skills Councils
- Raising the College’s national profile in Work-Based Learning
- Supporting the planning and delivery of Gwendraeth Valley Community Enterprise (t/a Jobforce Wales) and Learnkit Limited’s Work-Based Learning provision
- Director of Jobforce Wales and Learnkit Ltd
- Business Development and Employer Engagement
- Skills for Growth European Projects (Skills for Industry and Upskilling@Work)
- The promotion of Skills Competitions.
OTHER ROLES
Peer Inspector for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Wales (Estyn) and member of the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW).
Assistant Principal: Higher Education: Victoria Burroughs
NAME
Victoria Burroughs – Assistant Principal: Higher Education
EDUCATION
Vicky completed her GCSEs at St Cyres Comprehensive School before studying A Levels at St David’s Sixth Form College, Cardiff. Vicky then progressed to De Montfort University, Leicester where she achieved her BA (Hons) Performing Arts degree specialising in Contemporary Dance. During her degree, Vicky studied at the University of Baltimore, USA for a semester of her final degree year. Vicky went on to study an MA in Dance Studies at the University of Surrey.
Vicky received the excellence in teaching award upon graduating with a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PCET) from UWIC and she has Qualified Teacher Status (secondary education) from the Department for Education. Vicky has a Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership & Management and an ILM Level 7 Certificate in Leadership & Management. Vicky was also a delegate of the Leading Wales – The Further Education Leadership Programme for Colleges led by the Association of Colleges.
EMPLOYMENT
Vicky started her teaching career at St David’s Sixth Form College as a Dance Lecturer, whilst also working as the A Level Subject Leader for Dance at NPTC Group of Colleges. Vicky then progressed into management roles at NPTC Group of Colleges and has been a Deputy Head of School, Head of School, and a Director of Academic Studies. Vicky managed the curriculum, staff, and partnerships for the School of Creative, Visual & Performing Arts. Vicky has also worked as an A Level Dance examiner and moderator for the AQA exam board.
OTHER ROLES
Vicky is delighted to be appointed as the Chairperson for the Advance HE College-based Higher Education Network (CBHE Network) for the academic year of 2024-25.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- HE Planning
- HE Portfolio
- HE Validations
- HE Annual Monitoring
- HE Partner Approvals/ Reviews
- Fee and Access Plan
- Budget responsibilities
- HE Bursaries
Register of Interests
Any queries regarding NPTC Group of Colleges’ Corporation Board should be directed to the Vice Principal: Corporate & Group Company Secretary, Gemma Charnock, NPTC Group of Colleges, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath, SA10 7RF or by e-mail to gemma.charnock@nptcgroup.ac.uk
We welcome requests for correspondence in Welsh and will respond without delay. If you require any of the above documentation in Welsh, please email gemma.charnock@nptcgroup.ac.uk
