Role of the Governing Body
The Governing Body has 5 main responsibilities:
- The determination of the educational character and mission of the institution and oversight of its activities
- The effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the institution and the safeguarding of its assets
- The approval of annual estimates of income and expenditure
- The appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and determination of the pay and conditions of service of the holders of senior posts and the Clerk
- The setting of a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff.
These responsibilities are set out in the College’s Articles of Government which have been adopted from The Further Education Corporations (Replacement of Instrument and Articles of Government) (Wales) Order 2006.
Code of Conduct for Bridgend College Governors
All Members agree to adhere to the Code of Conduct when they accept their position as a Member of the Governing Body or Co-opted Committee Member. They also agree to follow the Nolan Principles (Committee on Standards, Lord Nolan) which are:
- Selflessness – take decisions solely in terms of the interest of the public
- Integrity – not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations which might influence them
- Objectivity – holders of public office should make choices on merit alone
- Accountability – accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to scrutiny
- Openness – should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take
- Honesty – a duty to declare any private interest relating to their public office duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way which protects the public interest
- Leadership – promote and support these principles by leadership and example





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Who are the Governing Body Members?
The Governing Body is comprised of a wide mix of individuals with a wealth of skills and experience. There are currently 19 Members. The Chair of the Governing Body is Mr Paul Croke and the Vice-Chair of the Governing Body is Mr D John Finch. Both have been in post since October 2014.
The Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Simon Pirotte, is also a member of the Governing Body.
Paul Croke (Chair of the Governing Body)
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 2013
Chair of the Governing Body since October 2014
Committee Membership
Member of the Resource Planning Committee
Chair of the Curriculum & Quality Committee
Chair of Search and Governance Committee
Chair of Selection Committee
Member of Remuneration Committee
Former employment/interests
Former Principal of Yale College, Wrexham
Former Principal of Gorseinon College, Swansea
Simon Pirotte (Chief Executive)
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since June 2013
Committee membership
Member of Curriculum and Quality Committee
Member of the Resource Planning Committee
Member of the Search and Governance Committee
Member of the Selection Panel (with the exception of the post of Principal)
Current employment/interests
Principal of the College since June 2013
Chair of the Colegau Cymru Active Wellbeing Strategic Group
Member of PSB (Bridgend) and Chair of WISE Board
Board Member – National Theatre Wales
Member, Advisory Board Academic Wales
Former employment/interests
Former Deputy Principal of the College
John Finch (Vice-Chair of the Governing Body)
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 2012
Vice-Chair of the Governing Body since October 2014
Committee Membership
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Selection Committee
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
Member of the Search and Governance Committee
Current employment/interests
Supervisory Committee Chair of Bridgend Lifesavers Credit Union
Member of Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting
Bridgend Local Service Board – Member of the Scrutiny Panel
Civilian Instructor 631 (Maesteg) SQN Air Training Corps
Former employment/interests
Former Financial Controller working for the Ministry of Defence and Office for National Statistics
Sara Davies (Staff member - Teaching)
Governing Body
Member of Governing Body since March 2018
Konrad Halabuda (Staff member - Non-teaching)
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 2018
Member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee
Dr John Graystone
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 2014
Committee Membership
Member of the Resource Planning Committee
Member of the Remuneration Committee
Member of the Selection Committee
Member of the Search & Governance Committee
Current Employment/ Interests
Chair, Addysg Oedolion Cymru / Adult Learning Wales
Chair, Agored Cymru
Member, Membership Body Dŵr Cymru / Welsh Water
Member, National Academy for Educational Leadership
Member, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
Former employment/interests
Chief Executive of Colegau Cymru
Kathy Lewis
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 2013
Committee Membership
Member of the Selection Committee
Member of the Remuneration Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Search and Governance Committee
Current employment/interests
Governor of Llangewydd Junior School
Former employment/interests
Former Faculty Head, Barry College
Hayden Llewellyn
Governing Body
Member since September 2017
Committee Membership
Chair of Audit Committee
Current employment/interests
Chief Executive of the Education Workforce Council
Dr Ben Calvert
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 2019
Committee Membership
Member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee
Current employment/interests
Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of South Wales
Julia Longville
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 2018
Committee Membership
Member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee
Current employment/interests
Dean (School of Education and Social Policy) at Cardiff Metropolitan University
Estyn Registered Inspector
Sport Wales Board Member
Welsh Netball Association
Satwant Pryce
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since October 2015
Committee memberships
Chair of the Resource Planning Committee
Current employment/interests
Director of Engage Business Wales Ltd (nominated Governing Body representative)
Trish D’Souza
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 1 September 2019
Committee Membership
None
Current employment/interests
Senior Associate at Capital Law
Council Member and Co-Chair of BAME Sub-Committee of Cardiff and District Law Society
Cllr Dr Charles Smith
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 17 October 2019
Committee Membership
Member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee
Current employment/interests
Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration at BCBC
Member of Laleston Community Council
Member of Unison
Member of UCU
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Director of Colega Consulting Ltd
Contractor of AQA Examining Board
Contractor of Cambridge Exam Board (OCR)
Alwena Morgan
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 13 February 2020
Committee Membership
Member of the Audit Committee
Current employment/interests
None
Joanne Oak
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 1 December 2020
Committee Membership
Member of the Resource Planning Committee
Current employment/interests
Chief Executive of Valleys to Coast
Trustee for Building Communities Trustee Ltd (BCT)
Treasurer and Chair of BCT Finance & Investment Committee
Board Member of Bron Afon Housing Association
Vice Chair Assurance Committee Bron Afon Housing Association
Tomas Lewis (Student Governor)
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 1 September 2020 as a Student Governor
Committee Membership
Member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee
Current employment/interests
Studying Level 3 Animal Management at the College
Stephanie Parkhouse (Student Governor)
Governing Body
Member of the Governing Body since 1 September 2020 as a Student Governor
Committee Membership
Member of the Curriculum & Quality Committee
Current employment/interests
Studying Level 3 Access to HE (Social Care) at the College
Governing Body Meetings
Follow the link for calendar of meetings, details relating to areas of discussion, student engagement and more.
Gender Pay Gap Report
Our aim at Bridgend College is to create an environment where everyone feels supported, valued and respected.
We are committed to ensuring all our staff have the opportunity to advance their career with us and will seek to remove any barriers which prevent people engaging with such opportunities. View our Gender Pay Gap report below.
Selflessness
Integrity
Objectivity
Accountability
Openness
Honesty
Leadership
Senior Leadership
Team
Simon Pirotte | CEO & Principal |
Viv Buckley | Deputy Principal – Curriculum / Teaching & Learning |
Andrew Gibbs | Vice Principal – Resources |
Matt Williams | Executive Director Work-based Learning |
Joe Baldwin | Assistant Principal Learner Journey |
Elisabeth Evans | Director of Curriculum and Quality |
Sam Morgan | Director of People |
Melanie Glover | Principal’s PA |
Nicola Eyre | Clerk to the Governing Body |
Louise Morgan | PA to the Senior Leadership Team |

We are extremely proud to announce that Bridgend College has now officially become a Google Reference College, the first college in Wales to be given this esteemed title.
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