Vicky Davies

Cardiff and Vale College is, without doubt, the most inspiring place I have ever worked. What makes it special isn't just the scale of what we do or the opportunities we create for learners, it's the people. From the moment I joined, I was struck by the passion, ambition and genuine commitment to education that runs throughout the organisation. Our Principal is an inspirational leader whose passion for education and belief in its power to transform lives is infectious. She never loses sight of why we're here and the impact we can have on learners, families and communities. That sense of purpose runs right through the Senior Leadership Team. We are all different, but we share a relentless commitment to doing the right thing, getting things done and speaking up for the opportunities and support that young people in Wales deserve. What I love most is that everything comes back to making a difference. Whether we're developing new opportunities, improving services or planning for the future, there is a collective determination to help learners succeed and reach their potential. I'm incredibly proud to be part of a college that changes lives every day and to work alongside people who care so deeply about the future of education in Wales.

Joining a new team two years ago was both exciting and nerve-racking. I had spent over 10 years building and working with a team I loved, so stepping into something completely new was a big change for all of us. What I found was a group of incredibly talented, dedicated people who care deeply about the work they do and the difference it makes. The last couple of years haven't always been easy. We've been through significant change and team restructuring, which inevitably brings challenges and uncertainty. What I'm most proud of is the way everyone pulled together. We supported each other, had honest conversations, rolled up our sleeves and got on with what needed to be done. Today, we're much more than a collection of individuals doing our own jobs. We've become a genuine team, working together, helping each other and sharing the same passion for supporting the college, our colleagues and our learners. They have trusted me, challenged me, made me laugh and taught me a huge amount along the way. I feel incredibly lucky to work with such a committed group of people, and whatever we've achieved over the past two years has very much been a team effort.

My journey has definitely not been a straight line. I started my career in further education as a Scale 1 data entry clerk and over the years worked my way through a range of roles, eventually becoming an Assistant Principal and now Director of Information and Planning at Cardiff and Vale College. Along the way, life threw a few challenges at me too. Going through a divorce and suddenly facing the reality of raising three children as a single mum was daunting. There were times when I genuinely worried about how I would make everything work. Like many parents, I was juggling a full-time job, studying part-time, school runs, parents' evenings, homework and all the everyday challenges that come with family life. Looking back, I'm still not quite sure how I managed it all some days. What made the difference were the amazing people around me. I've been fortunate to work for managers who saw my potential, trusted me and gave me the flexibility I needed when life was complicated. In return, I gave everything I could back through hard work, commitment and loyalty. Those opportunities allowed me to continue developing, gain my teaching qualification, study to Master's level and build a career doing something I genuinely love. Every step of the journey has taught me something. The challenges taught me resilience, the opportunities gave me confidence, and the people who supported me reminded me how important it is to believe in others. Today, I'm proud of where I've reached, but I'm just as proud of how I got here. My journey has shown me that you don't need the perfect circumstances to succeed. Sometimes you just need determination, support from good people, and the courage to keep going even when you're not entirely sure how it's all going to work out.