Earlier this month, 40 Weston College students from a range of curriculum areas embarked on a life-changing two-week journey to Bali, Indonesia, through the UK Government's Turing Scheme. The international experience gave students the opportunity to explore a new culture, participate in a diverse programme of enrichment activities, and develop valuable personal and professional skills that will benefit them throughout their future education and careers.

The Turing Scheme is the UK's global programme for studying and working abroad, enabling students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to gain the confidence, skills and international experience that employers increasingly value. Weston College was delighted to secure more than £216,000 in Turing Scheme funding this academic year, allowing even more students to access transformational international opportunities and create lifelong memories.

Thanks to this funding, students contributed just £150 towards the cost of the trip, making an experience that would otherwise be inaccessible to many. The opportunity proved exceptionally popular, attracting hundreds of applications. Following a competitive application and interview process, 40 students were selected to represent the College and travel with educational partner Think Pacific.

Throughout the programme, students immersed themselves in Balinese culture through a carefully designed itinerary combining cultural experiences, sustainability, community engagement and personal development.

After arriving in Bali and taking part in an introductory project briefing, students explored the ancient village of Tenganan, learning about traditional Balinese customs and taking part in local honey tasting. They also enjoyed hands-on cultural workshops including traditional mask painting, batik art and Balinese cooking classes, giving them a unique insight into local heritage and craftsmanship.

The experience also focused heavily on sustainability and responsible tourism. Students visited organisations including Membumi, where they learned about community engagement and sustainability through pottery workshops and site tours, Kopernik, gaining insight into innovative sustainable development projects, and Made Tea, where they explored sustainable tourism, local enterprise and tea production. These visits encouraged students to think critically about environmental responsibility, ethical travel and global citizenship while learning directly from local organisations.

Alongside these educational visits, students experienced some of Bali's most iconic locations. Highlights included a day at Sanur Beach, exploring the spectacular rice terraces at Uma Ceking in Tegalalang, visiting Bali Pulina coffee plantation for coffee and tea tasting, browsing the vibrant Ubud Art Market, enjoying a traditional Balinese dance performance over dinner, and watching the sunrise over Kintamani while sharing breakfast overlooking Mount Batur.

A significant part of the programme centred around teamwork and resilience. Students spent several days at Bali Kuno Adventure Camp participating in outdoor challenges and team-building activities before moving into village homestays with local families. Living within the community allowed students to experience everyday Balinese life first-hand, build meaningful relationships with their host families and gain a genuine appreciation of different cultures, traditions and ways of life. The experience concluded with reflection sessions and a heartfelt farewell ceremony celebrating everything the students had achieved together.

This once-in-a-lifetime trip gave our students the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, experience a completely different culture and embrace challenges that encouraged significant personal growth. For many, it was the furthest they had ever travelled from home, making the experience even more meaningful. Through every activity, whether navigating unfamiliar environments, communicating across cultures or working collaboratively with their peers, students developed greater confidence, resilience, independence and adaptability.

International experiences such as this strengthen communication, teamwork, problem-solving and intercultural awareness which are highly sought after qualities by universities and employers alike. Students returned with a broader global perspective, increased self-belief and a greater understanding of sustainability, community engagement and responsible global citizenship. The trip perfectly demonstrates how the Turing Scheme continues to transform lives by giving students the opportunity to develop skills through meaningful international experiences.

A huge thank you to the staff who helped to organise and chaperone this trip. It wouldn’t have been possible without your support and guidance throughout the trip.

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.

Recently, one of our Level 2 Art & Design students, Shannon Cheshire, got recognised by Bristol Aquarium for her Final Media Project, an octopus sculpture inspired by the sea life within the aquarium. 

A Final Media Project (FMP) is a major piece of work that allows students to bring together the knowledge, technical skills, and creative ideas they have developed throughout their course. It is an opportunity to research a chosen theme, experiment with different techniques and materials, and produce a finished outcome that reflects their personal style and artistic growth. 

Shannon was inspired after visiting Bristol Aquarium and meeting the previous octopus, Maggie, and after finding out of her passing, she began exploring themes surrounding camouflage, adaptation, and sensory experiences that she could use to represent a deeper meaning. 

Shannon said, “As an autistic student myself, I also researched the similarities between octopus camouflage and autistic masking. This led me to create a large-scale tactile textile installation that incorporates a variety of colours, textures, and materials to represent sensory processing and adaptation.” 

“The final piece is a giant fabric octopus installation, and after learning about Maggie’s passing, I decided to create the work with her in mind and named the octopus ‘Maggie’ in her memory.” 

This project allowed Shannon to explore themes and topics that were meaningful to her, creating a depth to her work that goes beyond the initial sculpture and develops symbolism through research and creative application. This was a powerful representation of autism and the many layers enclosed within the diagnosis, giving her the opportunity to express her experiences within another subject she’s passionate about. 

FMPs are important because it demonstrates a student's ability to plan, solve creative problems, manage their time, and communicate ideas effectively. It also provides valuable evidence of their abilities for future education, employment, or professional portfolios, making it a key milestone in their development as artists and designers. 

Chrissandra Boxley, Head of Art & Design, Fashion, and Graphic Design at Weston College, added, “It was fantastic to see one of our Level 2 students gain recognition from a well-established and local attraction like Bristol Aquarium. Giving our students the opportunity to display their work in a professional exhibition like the summer showcase to members of the community is a great way to build their portfolio and create traction with their work.” 

“Shannon has developed fantastic skills since beginning the course and to see her confidence and creativity grow throughout the year has been great to see. It is events like this that enable our students to exhibit their work and discuss their decisions and approaches behind each piece which will have a huge impact on their future careers.” 

A huge well done to Shannon for her amazing work, and we look forward to seeing the work she produces through her Level 3 course!  

This project forms part of the Art & Design Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

Progress to the next level in Art & Design! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here! 

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. 

Our Level 3 Art & Design students were recently tasked with creating a badge design for Tyntesfield National Trust, with the chosen design being turned into enamel pin badges which will be sold to raise money for the National Trust. 

One of our Level 3 Art & Design applicants, Raheema Taylor, was chosen out of the applicants and after a few minor adjustments, her design was sent off to print. This merchandise will then be sold in order to maintain the National Trust which preserves historic buildings, maintains wildlife and habitats, and funds public countryside trails. 

This was a fantastic opportunity for students to engage with the community and apply their skills and talents to a competition that allowed them to publicise their work and build their portfolio. To have her work acknowledged and associated to such a nationally recognised organisation is a great way to gain traction for her work and will have many benefits to her future career following her course. 

Raheema’s design was simple but impactful, incorporating a signature symbol of nature such as a tree to represent Tyntesfield. Initially, Raheema was shocked her design had won due to the simplistic design, however after being reviewed by the judges, it turned out her design was far stronger than she anticipated and required only minor changes before it was approved for print. 

The Art & Design course at Weston College allows students to explore their creative freedom and discover their individual style in a supportive environment. 

Raheema said, “During my course, I initially found it difficult to push myself to do more things out of my comfort zone as an artist, but I eventually realised that your work doesn’t always have to be perfect. Sometimes it’s just the process behind the creation of your work that is the most important.” 

Ronnie Houselander-Cook, Art & Design lecturer at Weston College, said, “We are so proud of Raheema for this fantastic achievement! To get her work recognised by such a reputable organisation is a great start to her career as an artist and it’s great to see how far she’s come throughout her course so far. It is opportunities from employers and businesses like this that give our students invaluable real-world experience working with clients and builds their confidence in their talent and abilities.” 

Following college, Raheema intends to continue to pursue art as a career, whether this is as a freelance artist or a Graphic Designer at a company, we will continue to support her towards her goals. 

Thank you to the National Trust for giving our students this fantastic opportunity and enriching the future of the art industry.  

This competition forms part of the Art & Design Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

Progress to the next level in Art & Design! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here! 

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.