I know that the quality of instructors and equipment at both ASTAC and Cwmbran is very high in both cases, but something to bear in mind - which I hadn't even considered in my dealings with both colleges - is what happens if one gets into financial difficulties.
One institution is backed by a massive British company who I assume, would refund any fees, the other isn't and I don't know who their backers are.
I understand that at one of the colleges, late last year, the students turned up to find the gates locked shut cos allegedly the rent hadn't been paid.
I believe that the matter was sorted very quickly and there's absolutely no suggestion that they are in any trouble or are suffering because of the recession, but it's about the only thing that would make me think twice about paying large amounts of cash up front for my training.