Creating brighter futures

On Thursday 6th March, Weston College celebrated the incredible achievements of over 30 students and staff at its annual Celebration of Success event. The event was hosted at the Winter Gardens Pavilion and recognised the dedication and outstanding achievements of students and staff from all ages and disciplines. 

The students were nominated by college staff and the winners were selected by a panel, including the College's Principal, Deputy Principal, Chief Operating Officer and the Governing Body.   

As part of the evening, guests were treated to a delicious 3-course meal, prepared by Level 3 Hospitality and Catering students and served by our Level 2 Hospitality and Catering students. 

With the prestigious ceremony underway, one-by-one, the winning students were announced and took to the stage with resounding applause from family, friends, and special guests. They were presented with their award by Principal and Chief Executive, Pat Jones and Mayor John Crockford-Hawley. 

With huge thanks to our sponsors Mindful Education, Pace Agency and Image Sign. 

Liam Brooks, Health and Social Care Student of the Year said: 

“Winning this award means a lot to me – it really puts into perspective that I did do my part, and I worked hard enough to get where I am today. I’ve never had an award like this before and it’s nice to know that doing this hard work gives you this kind of reward and allowing me to achieve my dream job I've wanted my whole life!” 

Animal Management Student of the Year, Elin Brant said: 

“This award means everything! It shows how much effort I put into my college work, and I really loved the course I studied. I’m very proud of myself. I never thought I could accomplish what I achieved and getting this award really means so much to me.” 

The evening continued with awards to recognise Business, Travel and Tourism learners who took part in the Weston Hospicecare Business Enterprise Challenge. This challenge saw local business mentors advising and investing in the young entrepreneurs to set up a business venture and generate profits that were then donated to Weston Hospicecare. The College presented Weston Hospicecare with a cheque for an amazing £7289.00, all of which was raised by the learners during this incredible challenge.  

In addition to celebrating the achievements of our learners, this year’s Celebration of Success also shone a spotlight on the dedicated staff who go above and beyond to support and inspire our students. Two prestigious awards—FE Unsung Hero of the Year and FE Lecturer of the Year—were presented to honour the exceptional contributions of our teaching and support staff. 

The FE Unsung Hero of the Year award acknowledges the non-teaching and support staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to create a positive and enriching learning environment. Meanwhile, the FE Lecturer of the Year award recognises teaching staff who have made a profound impact on students through their inspirational teaching, guidance, and unwavering support. With over 100 nominations received from students and colleagues, our Governing Body carefully selected the following staff members for these prestigious honours: 

FE Unsung Hero of the Year 

Winner: John McGurrell – Knightstone Campus Security 

Finalist: Helen Mann – Support Worker, Extension Studies 

Finalist: Danielle Gohin – Science Technician 

FE Lecturer of the Year 

Winner: Ben Hobbs – FE Curriculum Co-Ordinator, Computing 

Finalist: Jonny Bayliss – Lecturer in Hospitality and Catering 

Finalist: Steve Harris – Lecturer in Plastering 

Pat Jones, Principal and Chief Executive, Weston College said: "The Celebration of Success is a true highlight of the year, showcasing the extraordinary talent, dedication, and resilience of our FE students and staff. Each winner has demonstrated remarkable commitment to their learning and professional growth, and it is a privilege to recognise their achievements. At Weston College, we are proud to foster an environment where individuals can thrive and make a real impact in their communities. Congratulations to all our winners—you are an inspiration to us all." 

A massive congratulations to all our winners! Take a look at our 2025 winners here: 

THE ARTS 

Art, Graphics and Fashion Student of the Year – Kitty-Anne Williams 

Performance and Production Student of the Year – Keitha Bright 

BUSINESS AND ACADEMIC PATHWAYS 

A Levels Student of the Year - Hanna Bondarenko 

Access to HE Student of the Year - Daniel Cook 

Business and Tourism Student of the Year – Sophia Murphy 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING 

Automotive Student of the Year - Lewis Wollas 

Construction Professions, Trades and Services Student of the Year - Ewan Maynard 

Engineering and Green Skills Student of the Year - Madison Spencer 

DIGITAL AND CREATIVE 

Creative and Digital Student of the Year – Jasmine Voisey 

Digital, Computing and IT Student of the Year - Freddie Mushing 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND CAREER READINESS 

Bootcamp Student of the Year - Daniel Avram 

English Progress Award - Oliwier Steffen 

ESOL Progress Award - Saifoulaye Diallo 

Excellence in Progress Award – Amber Hinton 

Maths Progress Award - Jess Williams 

Pre-employment Student of the Year – Danny Morris 

HEALTH AND SPORT 

Counselling Student of the Year – Carley-Jayne Giddings 

Health and Social Care Student of the Year – Liam Brooks 

Sports Students Student of the Year – Phebe Thomas 

Sports Academy Student of the Year – Louis Singfield 

SERVICE INDUSTRIES 

Animal Management Student of the Year - Elin Brant 

Early Years and Education Student of the Year - Lara Dudley 

Hair, Barbering and Beauty Student of the Year - Pasquale Dimaggio 

Hospitality and Catering Student of the Year - Hayden Read 

Protective Services Student of the Year - Lily Duffy 

OVERALL WINNERS 

16-19 Student of the Year – Hanna Bondarenko 

Adult Student of the Year – Pasquale Dimaggio 

To celebrate this International Women's Day, we spoke with some of our inspiring staff to learn more about their journeys and discover which women have inspired them the most!

Libby

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do at Weston College/UCW?

I have been at Weston College since 2015; in that time, I have been an English Lecturer, Progress Coach, Quality Manager and now I am the Head of English. I have a degree in English and am currently completing my Doctorate in Education, as well as being a qualified executive coach. My proudest moments working at the college were speaking at the World Education Summit in 2022 on behalf of the College, and then founding the College’s first LGBTQ Prom which will run for the 5th time this year.

I would describe myself as a working (dog) Mum to a gorgeous Cavapoo and I spend most of my time out of work either following the women’s football, reading or writing and travelling in my self-built campervan. I have been at Weston College since 2015; in that time, I have been an English Lecturer, Progress Coach, Quality Manager and now I am the Head of English. I have a degree in English and am currently completing my Doctorate in Education, as well as being a qualified executive coach. My proudest moments working at the college were speaking at the World Education Summit in 2022 on behalf of the College, and then founding the College’s first LGBTQ Prom which will run for the 5th time this year.

Who are the women who inspire you the most, and why? 

The England Lionesses have been a source of pride and inspiration for a couple of decades for me. They give everything playing football for their country, inspiring people (especially girls and women) and also campaigning for real change with issues such as periods, women’s health and sports for girls. They do all of this without the salary and recognition that their male counterparts receive. Malala Yousafzai is my educational hero. Most people know her as the woman who was shot by the Taliban for going to school when she was just fifteen, but her activism for the educational rights of young girls and women began at a much younger age with her and her father defying regimes and running classes and schools for girls in the face of great danger.

What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self at the start of your career? 

Feedback is the most powerful thing that someone can give you: seek it.

Chloe

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do at Weston College/UCW? 

I have worked in education for almost a decade, though my own educational journey wasn’t always straight forward. I found school tricky as I have ADHD and dyslexia which meant I often had to work twice as hard as everyone else just to get the same results but I realised early on that the only person who could secure my success was me, and it just made me more determined to reach my goals. I achieved a degree in Drama and Theatre and began my career in education later returning to study again in 2018 to complete a postgraduate masters (while still working full time!) in the Psychology of Education from a Russell Group University.

I am Direct of Social Justice and Student Support at Weston College. I lead incredible teams with responsibility for Welfare, Counselling, Children in Care, Libraries, Behaviour and Social Justice. I am the Designated Teacher for Looked After Children and I’m incredibly proud to be the colleges Designated Mental Health Lead.

Who are the women who inspire you the most, and why? 

I am incredibly lucky as I am surrounded by inspirational women every day in my personal and professional life, including my mum, granny, sister in law, nieces, friends and colleagues. I draw inspiration from a range of women, though if I had to choose my top 3 they would be:

Princess Dianna who, despite personal challenges, was a trailblazer in demonstrating compassion for all and advocacy for vulnerable and marginalised people. She inspires me to operate with kindness above anything else for no other reason than because it is always the right thing to do.

Anna Fraud was a pioneer who reframed the way that psychology considered children and young people, evidencing that the care of children and young people should be rooted in emotional wellbeing. By courageously challenging pre-existing models, huge advances were made in the field of developmental psychology. She inspires me to strive for continual development and improvement, thinking critically through a lens of “it’s good but how can it be great?”.

Miranda Hart is an incredibly intelligent political science graduate turned comedian who is unapologetically herself. She inspires me to enjoy life, without taking the trivial things too seriously, by having fun and laughing at the silly things along the way!

What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self at the start of your career? 

Your opinions and ideas are valid. Believe in yourself. You have earned your place and you are good enough to be here!

Hannah

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do at Weston College/UCW? 

I have been working as a lecturer in Business and Travel and Tourism for just over 5 years now. I teach learners on our BTEC and T-Level programmes and they are 16-19 years old. Within my role I am a tutor, I provide 1:1 support to learners and help them achieve their qualifications. I am currently tutoring Level 2 Travel and Tourism and Level 3 Year 1 Travel and Tourism.

The majority of my teaching hours are in Travel and Tourism and I teach subjects such as the Cruise Industry, Marketing within Travel and Tourism and The World of Travel and Tourism. I am personally very passionate about travel. I work with employers such as Bristol Airport, British Airways Training Academy and Border Force at Bristol Airport to provide our learners with experiences and trips.

I have recently organised and led a trip to New York for 35 of our learners. I also teach business subjects such as International Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Branding and Behaviours and Communication.

In 2014-2016 I completed a Business BTEC here at Weston College, so I now deliver on the same qualification in which I gained, this experience has massively helped me within m y role as I understand the position our learners are in. I am passionate to deliver a fantastic experience to our learners.

Who are the women who inspire you the most, and why?

I am inspired by many women in my life, including family, friends and colleagues. There are many famous women who have inspired me including Michelle Obama who has consistently been an advocate for health, wellbeing and education.

What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self at the start of your career? 

I would tell myself to have confidence in my own ability and to try new things to push boundaries.

Abbi

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do at Weston College/UCW? 

I have the pleasure of overseeing the innovative curriculum of Pathways to Supported Adulthood. The team and I work with learners who experience a range of complex support needs including Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, complex communication needs, etc.

Who are the women who inspire you the most, and why?

The woman I have always admired seems silly but Dolly Parton. She has a fantastic work ethic, tells great stories and has a consistently positive outlook on life. 'Better get to Livin'.

What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self at the start of your career? 

The one piece of advice I would give myself is stand up for what you believe in and don't feel pressured to follow the status quo, Don't accept, because someone said so, you can't do it - break the mould and blow preconceived expectations out of the water.

By Pat Jones, Principal and CEO, Weston College Group 

I am honoured to share my reflections on the journey of women in leadership, particularly within education. Stepping into this role is both a personal milestone and a testament to the progress made by women in leadership across our sector. 

Reflections on Women in Leadership & Education 

The landscape of leadership has undergone significant transformation over the years. Historically, leadership roles were the domain of our male colleagues, but more and more women are smashing glass ceilings, testament to their dedication, resilience, and exceptional talent, women have steadily reshaped this narrative. Today, more women than ever have taken up senior leadership roles in education, driving change and fostering inclusive environments. This shift has not only enhanced the diversity of leadership but also brought a broader range of perspectives to decision-making processes, ultimately enriching the experience for all. Recently I came across an example that demonstrates the effectiveness of female leaders, research conducted into Swedish politics by the London School of Economics in 2017:  In 1993, Sweden’s Social Democratic party introduced a strict gender quota for its candidates. Researchers found that by increasing the female representation by 10 percentage points, the proportion of competent men raised by 3 percentage points (researchers developed a model which looked at a number of social variables to measure competence). Ultimately, they found that gender quotas increase the competence of the political class in general, and among men in particular. 

Insights on Barriers Faced & Progress Made 

While significant strides have been made, it is important to acknowledge the barriers that persist, barriers that prevent meritocracy from thriving. Women in leadership often contend with challenges such as unconscious bias, lack of mentorship opportunities, and the delicate balance between professional and personal responsibilities. The journey to leadership can be demanding, requiring determination, self-belief and support from allies (both men and women). However, the increasing visibility of women in leadership roles, along with initiatives promoting gender equality, has begun to dismantle these obstacles. The growing recognition of the value that diverse leadership brings to organisations is a sign of the positive momentum we must continue to build upon. 

Encouragement for Women Pursuing Leadership Roles 

Many women have shaped who I am today. One woman in a previous team who was 10 years my junior and who came from a family culturally diverse to my own brought great wisdom when times were difficult, cutting through the noise and bringing clarity to actions. Another colleague was always a person you could turn to, not just for advice, but to share success too, a woman genuinely happy for the progress that you and others made. I will be forever grateful for the allyship shared by these women and hope that I continue to pay this forward with this in mind our Executive team will be introducing a mentoring programme for colleagues who wish to become leaders, further develop their skills, or who are leaders wishing to progress further in at the Weston College Group. 

To women aspiring to leadership roles, I offer this encouragement: your voice matters, your perspective is invaluable, and your potential is limitless. Embrace opportunities for growth, seek out mentors who inspire and support you, and never underestimate the power of your own resilience. Leadership is not solely about occupying a position — it is about making a difference, shaping the future, and paving the way for others to follow. As we continue to champion gender equality in leadership, let us empower one another to break barriers and build a more inclusive and diverse future. 

Together, we can create a world where leadership knows no gender, only potential and purpose. 

Happy International Women’s Day!