On Thursday 26th March, learners at Weston Bay hosted an impressive Art Exhibition, named ‘Seeing Beneath the Surface’. The purpose of the exhibition was to celebrate the creativity, lived experiences, and self‑expression of our neurodiverse learners.

The exhibition transformed the Weston Bay building into a vibrant creative space and attracted an impressive turnout. Visitors explored rooms filled with diverse artwork, enjoyed a dedicated cinema room, and had the option to purchase food and drink. The pieces on display were created by learners as part of their curriculum, showcasing their exploration of a wide range of artistic practices, including weaving, photography, and mindfulness-inspired art.

The logo created for the exhibition features a subtle, faceless figure lifting away a mask to reveal a cluster of purple and green hydrangeas. The figure represents the pressure many of our learners feel to mask their authentic selves in wider society, contrasted with the space we create at Weston Bay where they can express themselves openly and confidently.

Hydrangeas are traditionally linked with heartfelt emotions and gratitude, reflecting the warmth and welcome our autistic learners experience within Weston College. The colour symbolism deepens this connection:

• Purple expresses a desire for deep understanding.
• Green symbolises renewal and growth.

Together, these elements capture the personal journeys, resilience, and identities of our students.

Armanda Costa, Lead Practitioner – Autism Residential and Employment Pathways, “Yesterday’s Art exhibition at Weston Bay was a powerful reminder of how creativity can bring a community together. What stood out most was the neurodiversity of learners’ voices represented -each artwork offering a unique lens on identity, nature, and lived experience. Events like this don’t just showcase talent; they celebrate the spirit of Weston Bay, Weston College, and the people who shape it.

“Thank you to everyone who came along - especially the parents, local schools, Weston College staff, and colleagues - whose encouraging feedback meant so much.”

Ned, Weston Bay learner, “We've been preparing for this for a whole term. My favourite part of the exhibition is seeing my performance on the screen and seeing James's reaction to my painting of him.”

This week, Weston College celebrated the fantastic achievements of our learners by hosting a Student Conference, bringing together our Student Reps, Student Leadership Team and nominated students to recognise their hard work and commitment so far this academic year.

The day was introduced by Deputy Principal, Ben Knocks, who welcomed the students and outlined the activities for the day before handing over to the Head of Student Engagement, Luke Penberthy, who introduced the first activity: building their dream college. This task allowed our students to consider what makes a great college and the aspects they deem as the most important to improve their student experience, giving them the opportunity to develop their ideas through constructive conversations and teamwork, whilst thinking logistically and thoughtfully about their decisions.

Our Students’ Union President, Niya Thomas, then introduced the guest speaker and former Sixth Form student, Dave Trevaskus from the LEGO Group, where he shared his journey and the challenges he faced throughout his progression, having worked at over 20 companies before landing in his current role as the Retail Training Lead at the LEGO Group.

He taught valuable lessons to the students in a fun and engaging way, creating an interactive quiz with LEGO sets as prizes, giving everyone a duck to build to test their adaptability, and leading an engaging memory test to prove how we learn through play effectively. Dave created a safe environment for the students to get involved in activities, reassuring them by chatting informally and creating a casual and comfortable environment that made a lasting impression on the room.

Following an engaging Q&A session with Dave and the students, a delicious lunch was provided by our catering staff for attendees to enjoy with their peers.

After lunch, Ben Knocks discussed the core values within Weston College and the importance of these in creating an inclusive and safe environment for everyone. Students then had the opportunity to share their thoughts and feedback on the values most important to them. This feedback is invaluable to ensure the quality and standards at Weston College continues to progress and grow, with student feedback at the forefront of our approach.

Finally, the Student Awards were announced, recognising students for their resilience, outstanding progress, community engagement, and inclusion throughout this academic year. Lecturers and staff nominated students they felt had gone above and beyond and deserved to be celebrated for their achievements. Winners and highly commended students were then chosen from the nominations and given a certificate to commemorate their efforts.

Tia Beard, Student Engagement Officer and organiser of the event, said, “It was fantastic to see such a great turnout to celebrate the hard work of the students so far this year and for so many amazing nominations to celebrate students’ achievements. I’d also like to say a huge thank you for the hard work of the Student Representatives and the Student Leadership Team for all the hard work you’ve done this year to help improve our college and make it an inclusive and enjoyable environment for everyone. Your involvement is imperative to the work we do!”

Well done to all the students who were nominated for each category. It is this commitment that reflects the standard of students and dedication of our lecturers. We also want to say a huge thank you to the Student Engagement Team, Tia Beard, Luke Penberthy, Morgan Jenkins, and Liv Haly, for all their hard work to make this event possible.

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

Weston College is proud to celebrate an exceptional achievement within its Law and Professional Services Faculty, with students attaining an impressive 95% pass rate in the recent CILEx CPQ assessments. This significantly surpasses the national average of 84%, highlighting both the dedication of our learners and the outstanding quality of teaching, support, and guidance provided throughout their studies.

This success reflects the College’s commitment to delivering high-quality legal education and nurturing future professionals within the legal sector. Our experienced lecturers and support teams work closely with students to ensure they are fully equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to excel in their qualifications and beyond.

Weston College offers both Level 3 and Level 6 CILEx programmes, designed to suit a range of learners at different stages of their career journey. Courses are available through flexible delivery options, including face-to-face teaching and remote learning, allowing students to balance their studies with other commitments.

For those choosing the apprenticeship pathway, learners benefit from the opportunity to earn while they learn. Apprentices gain valuable, hands-on experience within real legal environments, applying their knowledge in practice while receiving expert teaching during their time at Weston College. This combination of practical experience and academic learning provides a strong foundation for long-term career progression within the legal profession.

We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements and look forward to supporting many more aspiring legal professionals in reaching their goals.

Student Testimonials:

“I have been completing my CILEX studies at Weston College over the last three years whilst working as a Conveyancer at a firm of solicitors. Over the last twelve months I have been attending the CILEX classroom sessions at Weston. The content that you need to cover the exam is broken down in weekly sessions so that each area can be covered in depth.

“The sessions are also planned out to include time for revision sessions, exam technique practice as well as the mock exams. The college have also provided all the lessons to be made available online which is extremely useful for revision purposes and in the event you can't make a specific classroom session. The overall teaching and delivery of the content is without fault.”

Ollie Wilson, Foot Anstey - Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive Apprentice

“My experience in studying for CILEx Level 6 qualifications at Weston College has been excellent. My tutor in particular was extremely knowledgeable on the CILEx qualifications and was invaluable during preparation for exams. He puts in a huge amount of effort and I think I speak for all of my cohort in saying that we were extremely fortunate to have him involved in our education.”

James Dunster, Clarke Willmott Solicitors - Level 6 Graduate Fast Track

“CILEx is a brilliant opportunity for people who do not want to go down the University route.

Since being a member of CILEx I have grown in confidence, the staff are so supportive and I really enjoy my time at College.

The main reason why I was so drawn to CILEx is that I work alongside my studies, so it is the best of both worlds.”

Daisy Sellick, Alletsons Solicitors - Level 3 Paralegal Apprentice

“After finishing my History Degree I knew I wanted to get into Law but was wary of the cost involved with a conversion and LPC. After gaining sufficient work experience, I decided to consider other options and I am really grateful for the opportunity that CILEx has provided, enabling me to qualify whilst working full time.

“My employer is really supportive as they are able to get regular updates from the college and the course has benefited my role as a paralegal, enabling me to practice and draw parallels with what I’m learning. I’ve found the college to be both effective and flexible in their approach to teaching, providing extra support where necessary and detailed personal feedback on how I can improve. The online lectures and resources are also really helpful when it comes to revision for the exams. I know that if I had any queries or issues they would be answered speedily and I feel supported by the tutors. I look forward to continuing my studies with Weston College and eventually qualifying as a Chartered Legal Executive.”

Anna Kelly, Alletsons Solicitors - Level 3 Paralegal Apprentice

“Having already been to 2 other colleges I can honestly say that Weston College is one of the best colleges in Somerset if not the South West. I am currently coming towards the end of my level 3 paralegal apprenticeship and everyone who has taught me teaches with passion and has a brilliant understanding about their subject area.”

Emily House, Acorn Solicitors - Level 3 Paralegal Apprentice

“During my time at Weston College my Lecturers helped me develop my skills, widen my knowledge and gain confidence in myself. They went the extra mile to provide support where required.”

Daniel Lewis, Berry Redmond Gordon and Penney LLP - Level 3 Diploma