Creating brighter futures

This week, former Weston College student Charlotte Nottage returned to give a guest lecture to the current Level 3 BTEC Health and Social Care learners with her journey and insights into the available career paths made possible by their studies.  

Charlotte also completed a Level 3 BTEC Health and Social Care at Weston College before progressing to University Centre Weston (UCW), accredited by UWE, to study a Foundation degree in Biological Laboratory Science. She is now completing a top up year at UWE to gain her BSc degree and has recently been accepted onto a master's program in Applied Transfusion and Transplantation Science at UWE, where she will work with leading specialists at the NHS Blood and Transplant headquarters in Filton. 

During her guest lecture, Charlotte shared how the Health and Social Care course at college provided her with both classroom and real-world experience, opening her eyes to laboratory sciences which she may not have previously discovered. It allowed her to progress to university to continue her studies, providing her with many exciting opportunities and career pathways including biological and biomedical research, environmental sciences, and food sciences.  

To give the learners a better understanding of her university course, she outlined the modules and subjects that she has studied, including current modules such as medical microbiology, neuroscience, and developmental science, to create a clear picture of what the course entails. 

Charlotte also emphasized the critical role of internships and work experience in building her career. Not only did she complete industry placements at college, but she also went above and beyond during her degree by completing a summer internship at Thatchers, where she explored the chemistry behind cider production. According to Charlotte, not only did this experience enhance her lab skills but it also provided her with fantastic transferable skills that could be applied to practical scenarios. 

The session was interactive and engaging, with Charlotte asking questions, offering tips, and providing guidance that she wished she had received as a student. Her advice made a more meaningful impact because she had been in the learners’ position not long ago. 

Samantha Kier, our Health and Social Care Lab Technician, reflected on the impact of the session, saying “Charlotte gave the learners lots of tips to get the most out of their BTEC qualification which I think was really useful, and it was really valuable for the learners to see how diverse the future career paths open to them are.” 

Thank you to Charlotte for visiting our learners and giving them an idea of what their future could look like whilst broadening their understanding of potential careers. 

If you are interested in applying to a Health and Social Care course, click here. 

Our Year 1 Level 3 Sports Coaching & Physical Education students have kickstarted the New Year by coaching the future generation of local primary schools. They held fun and engaging activities to keep the young learners active, including games like Curling and Boccia. 

Our learners took control in planning the activities of the day, making sure they were executed flawlessly and explained clearly for younger children to understand. They began by giving the children a demonstration as to how the sports are played, how to gain points, and the best techniques to use. 

During the demonstrations, the students explained the points system and acted out what they should do, while also purposefully losing a turn to reinforce to the younger learners that winning isn't everything, but rather it is the taking part that counts. 

The students then split off into groups and coached individual schools, helping them with their techniques and keeping score to identify a winner out of the red and blue teams. The students had 30 minutes for each activity in order to give them plenty of time to get used to the game and give each young person a fair go. 

This exercise was an excellent way for our learners to improve their coaching skills and confidence as they had to explain in a clear and concise way that was easy to understand, but also gave them the chance to be both patient and encouraging as they worked with the children. 

Well done to our learners for coaching the primary school children with the professionalism and confidence required to succeed in their future careers. 

If you’re interested in applying to one of our Sport and Fitness courses, click here. 

T Levels offer a dynamic combination of practical work experience and classroom study, providing students with a well-rounded education that equips them for the workplace. These qualifications are designed to offer a holistic understanding of a subject while allowing students to develop real-world skills.  

To give prospective students a clearer picture of what to expect from a T Level, we spoke with Greta, a second-year student currently studying a Business, Management, and Leadership T Level. She outlined her views on T Levels, her industry placement, her favourite aspects of the course so far, the challenges she has faced, and a few words for students considering a T Level. 

Greta is completing her industry placement at Occuteach, an occupational training provider, where she has gained hands-on experience in marketing and social media, and has developed a deeper understanding of the company’s values and services. Greta’s role also involves fostering strong relationships with clients, and she recently took on administrative tasks such as managing emails and client communications. 

When asked how Greta found her T Level so far, she explained, “The course has been very informative and engaging, providing me with valuable insights into the business world.”  

Her favourite aspect of the program has been learning how to apply practical business strategies and theories to real-world situations and building networks and industry connections with employers. This practical exposure has improved her confidence and communication skills while giving her a better understanding of the available pathways. 

Greta chose the T Level because of its unique blend of academic learning and workplace experience, saying “I believe this is the best way to prepare for a successful career”. The T Level offers a direct pathway to both employment and further education which provides learners with alternative options for the future if they are unsure what they want to pursue after college. 

While Greta’s T Level experience has been very positive, she has faced some challenges, particularly in finding universities that accept T Levels because they are so newly established. However, she remains optimistic and proactive in overcoming these obstacles and has no doubts that T Levels will continue to grow in popularity. 

For students considering a T Level, Greta wholeheartedly recommends them, emphasising the valuable skills and experiences gained through the program. “It is the perfect mixture of classroom learning and workplace experience and is a fantastic way to gain skills that are directly applicable to the workplace while earning a qualification.” 

Looking back on her experience, Greta concluded, “Overall, my T Level experience has been very rewarding. It has prepared me well for the future.” Her story is a great reflection of the value of T Levels, providing students with the knowledge and skills required to excel in their chosen fields. 

Thank you to Greta for sharing her story, we wish you all the best with the remainder of your T Level. 

If you’re interested in applying to the Business, Management, and Leadership T Level, click here.