Deeside College (Welsh: Coleg Glannau Dyfrdwy) (now part of Coleg Cambria) is located in Connah's Quay, Flintshire, North Wales. It was formerly a further education college in August 2013 to create the college for North East Wales.
Coleg Cambria consists of six campuses including Deeside, Yale Grove Park, Yale Bersham Road, Llysfasi, Northop and Wrexham Training. The encompassed college offers a wide range of courses from Further Education to HNC's and Foundation Degrees for full and part-time students, apprentices and part-time community learners.
Fundraising
Staff and students raised £75,746.84 for the Cancer Research UK, the college's nominated charity for 2011–2012 Staff and students raised £51,062.82 for the RNLI, the college's nominated charity for 2010–2011 Staff and students raised over £32,000 for the NSPCC, the college's nominated charity for 2009–2010 Staff and students raised over £32,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, the college's nominated charity for 2006–2007 Staff and students raised over £32,000 for the Alzheimer's Society, the college's nominated charity for 2007–2008
Principals
In 1952, Fred Roberts was appointed as 'Acting Principal'. In 1954, Dr Charles G Lyons, aged 47 took up his post as the first Principal of Flintshire Technical College, with the grand salary of £1,250. He retired in 1970. Dr Stan McLintock took over as Principal in 1970, having been in the college since 1954 as Head of Chemistry and Metallurgy. In 1975, Professor Dr G O Phillips became the new Executive Principal of the North East Wales Institute. Professor Dr G O Phillips stayed as Executive Principal of North East Wales Institute until 1992 and his successor Professor John Williams came in to oversee the development of higher education based in Wrexham. Dr Tony Walker was the first Principal of Deeside College in 1993 and he retired late 1996. In 1997, Wil Edmunds became Principal and in 2002 and was awarded the OBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. David B Jones, Deeside College's Principal and Chief Executive, took up his position on 1 September 2004 and became Coleg Cambria's Principal and Chief Executive in August 2013 when Deeside College merged with Yale College in Wrexham.
History
1952
Flintshire Technical College opens its doors to students
From 1952 to 1956, the college buildings gradually covered almost . In 1959, the college could cater for some 1,000 full-time students and 7,000 part-time students. However, the first official Department of Education and Science return, made by the first Principal, Dr Lyons, at the time (following Acting Principal Fred Roberts), was made on a postcard to the DES and it was noted there were 357 girls and 459 boys in attendance and 27 staff.In 1956, Sir Miles Thomas opened the college and in his official capacity as Chairman of BOAC, cemented the links that the college would have with the Aviation/Aerospace industry for the next 50 years. Now in 2006 Deeside College supports the Airbus UK apprenticeship scheme.
1966 - 1974
Flintshire College of Technology
In the middle of the sixties the institution, now called Flintshire College of Technology, wanted to become a college of advanced technology and also had aspirations for North East Wales to have a university.
At this time the Robbins report on the expansion of Higher Education in the middle sixties was released. This included the 'University of the Air' proposal and the vision of the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson, to begin the development of one of the largest universities of the air, now called the Open University. Flintshire College of Technology played its part in this expansion, offering HNDs and GRAD RICs in chemistry, and more advanced qualifications for the manufacturing industries of North East Wales.
The college was placed as a crucial education and training provider in the development of the North Wales economy and for a further 7 years became the well regarded college of “Advanced Technology”. Student numbers grew and came in from as far as Birkenhead, Preston, Anglesey, Aberystwyth and Hereford. Facilities expanded, residential blocks were built and people were trained on an increasing scale with both public and private finance.
1974 - 1993
Kelsterton College - North East Wales Institute (NEWI) Textiles, steel making, steel coating, aeroplane construction and companies like Hawker Siddeley, John Summers, Courtaulds International were household names for Flintshire. Thousands upon thousands of iron and steel operatives crossed the Dee to be trained at the college; metallurgy research grew to satisfy the steel expansion and local government was ready for change.