Kelly Fountain appointed Chief Executive Officer of Gower College Swansea

Kelly, who has served as the college’s Principal since January 2024, will transition into her new role following the retirement of current CEO Mark Jones MBE, this summer.  

The appointment comes as the College prepares to bid a fond farewell to Mark Jones, MBE, whose dedicated service as CEO has ensured the College’s success and strategic direction over the last 12 years.  

The college says Kelly brings over 20 years of experience in the further education sector across both England and Wales. Prior to joining Gower College Swansea, she held the role of Vice Principal for Academic Services at NPTC Group of Colleges and has an extensive background in strategic leadership, quality improvement and cross-college development.

It adds that during her time at the college, Kelly has made a significant and positive impact and has overseen the development of the new college’s strategic plan including launching the new college vision, mission and values.

In her new position, Kelly will take on overall responsibility for driving forward the College’s strategic vision, representing the College externally working closely with governors and stakeholders to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality education and training across the region and beyond. Kelly will also oversee the implementation of the College’s ambitious estates strategy, digital transformation and continue to develop a strong and inclusive organisational culture.  

On behalf of the Governors, Ian Price, Chair of the College Governing Body, said: “We would like to congratulate Kelly on her appointment as the new CEO of Gower College Swansea. I am grateful to all those involved in the appointment process and am really looking forward to working closely with Kelly over the coming year and we look forward to the continued positive impact that she will make.”

Speaking about her appointment, Kelly Fountain said: “I am deeply honoured and privileged to be appointed as Chief Executive Officer of this exceptional College. Having begun my own educational journey here as a student in 1995, I have experienced first-hand the transformational impact that the staff at this College had on my own personal journey – and our staff continue to be outstanding today, consistently pushing boundaries and inspiring excellence.

“I look forward to building upon Mark’s exceptional legacy over the last 12 years and working alongside our Corporation Board to build upon our many successful achievements, deepening connections in our business sectors and communities, and working closely with staff, governors and partners.

“This is truly an exciting chapter for our College – with our newly established strategic plan, ambitious estates strategy, and numerous opportunities for growth. I am committed to expanding our reach and impact, collaborating with our key stakeholders and ensuring we continue to deliver an outstanding learning experience for our learners, communities, and employer partners.”

#ChiefExecutive #education #GowerCollegeSwansea #KellyFountain #MarkJones #Swansea

VR Headsets to Revolutionise Exam Preparation at Gower College Swansea

Learners can now experience exam rooms and timed assessment scenarios in VR, designed to demystify the unknown, reduce stress triggers, and empower them to feel calm and in control when it matters most.

Learner Engagement and Personal Development Lead at the College, Joshua Jordan, said:

“This idea comes from our in-house Digital Peer Mentors, who, alongside Jonathon Parker, digital media lecturer and College VR lead, are filming, developing, and delivering this cutting-edge tech for our students.

“Stepping into a virtual exam room ahead of the real thing gives students a powerful sense of familiarity. It helps reduce anxiety by taking away the fear of the unknown and allows them to mentally rehearse success.

“Being able to experience the sights and sounds of the room, find their seat, and understand the layout makes the actual day feel far less daunting. It’s a simple but effective way to boost confidence and put learners back in control.”

Kelly Fountain, Principal of Gower College Swansea, said:

“While mental wellbeing is always a priority for us, we’re especially proud of the proactive steps we’re taking during exam season. These VR experiences help prepare learners in a truly unique way-supporting both emotional resilience and academic readiness.

“We also offer comprehensive, wrap-around support to meet learners wherever they are. From Personal Tutors, Progress Coaches, and in-class lecturer support, to Pastoral Coaches and Student Support Officers providing personalised help, every part of the College is here to support student success.

“We even host yoga sessions and nature walks, have campus quiet zones, and campus wellbeing dogs to help reduce stress levels.  Wellbeing-specific VR headsets have also been introduced, offering 15 minutes of guided relaxation for students to encourage quality revision breaks.

“It is vital for us as a College, to fully embrace new technology wherever possible, especially when it can have such a significant impact. We have already received positive feedback from learners and I’m looking forward to seeing how we continue to develop the use of VR across the College.”

With over 12,500 learners and more than 1,000 staff, Gower College Swansea continues to lead the way in student support-academically, emotionally, and through the power of technology.

The use of VR headsets plays an important part of the College-wide wellbeing initiative, ‘Just BREATHE’; which returns for a second year and is designed to help learners with exam preparation and stress management.

Just BREATHE offers a memorable acronym to help learners with wellbeing steps during the revision period:

B – Big breath – jump in!

R – Read your notes

E – Explore topics in more detail

A – Ask yourself mock questions

T – Take a break

H – Highlights – recap your knowledge

E – Evaluate – reflect on gaps

For more information about the steps Gower College Swansea is taking in supporting students, or for more information about the learning pathways for you, visit: https://www.gcs.ac.uk/school-leavers.

[Lead image: Gower College Swansea]

#exams #GowerCollegeSwansea #KellyFountain #VirtualReality