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Creating brighter futures
Weston College has a wide range of courses to suit all learning styles
Weston College is an award-winning college of further and higher education in Weston-super-Mare. It provides education and vocational training to nearly 30,000 learners across the country.
We put the learner first and are entrepreneurial in our approach and innovative in our thinking. As a college, we are ambitious and aspirational and are responsive to the needs of students, staff, businesses, and the community.
We are Weston College. We are Creating Brighter Futures.
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Latest news and developments at Weston College
Weston College’s public services students demonstrated their fitness to their parents by completing a series of challenges designed to demonstrate skills they’ve learned on their course.
Public services is a subject which prepares people for a career in the army, security services, or the emergency services. Many people who study this course go on to apply for the armed forces, and a lot of them are successful – but how do they do it? Read on to find out more.
Could you be a soldier?
Soldiers need plenty of self-discipline, loyalty and confidence, as well as physical fitness. Good teamwork skills and effective communication are crucial, as are quick reactions and the ability to use your own initiative.
Check the entry criteria
You’ll need to be between 16 and 33 to join the army as a soldier, but if you’re under 18 you’ll need your parents’ permission.
The army has nationality and residency requirements, which mean you must be a British citizen or subject, a British Protected Person or Commonwealth citizen who has lived in the UK for at least five years.
If you’re shortlisted you will be expected to present a GP’s medical report and pass the army medical examination, so a high level of personal fitness is required.
Get the relevant training
In general, you don’t need any qualifications to join the army as a soldier, but you do need be physically fit and proficient in communication, teamwork and English and maths. Our public services courses will train you in these areas and put you ahead of the competition.
If you want to join the army in a certain field, such as engineering or communications, you may need some technical skills.
Apply
You can apply to join the armed forces online. If your application is accepted you’ll have to pass a medical examination and physical fitness tests, and numeracy and literacy tests.
You’ll then sit a British Army Recruit Battery test which will match your abilities to jobs that suit them, and a technical selection test for the field you want to serve in. There are also team activities and a formal interview.
Further development…
Once you’ve applied and been accepted, you’ll go on to the Phase One of the army training programme, which lasts 14 weeks, six months or 12 months depending on your age. Once you’ve completed the Phase One course, you’ll go on to do the Phase Two course, called the Combat Infantryman’s Course, which lasts 28 weeks.
Joining the army is only the beginning. There are plenty of qualifications and courses you can take once you’ve enlisted - some soldiers complete degrees while they serve!
This week plumbing learners from our Construction Career Excellence Hub, were treated to a visit from German specialist tool manufacturers, REMS.
Daniel Parker, Regional Product Engineer at REMS, delivered a brilliant guest talk, whilst also showcasing the wide product range on offer. Daniel said: “It was a real pleasure to show off our product range to the next generation of Plumbing and Heating Engineers, the lads were really enthusiastic and a real credit to the College.”
The learners were all engaged, and enjoyed hearing from the industry – something that is a critical part of the delivery at Weston College, through the Career Excellence Hubs.
Ethan Sampson, who is a second year plumbing and heating technician apprentice with Gas Safe Ltd, was in attendance and commented: “I really enjoy it when manufacturers come in and do demonstrations because it really helps me to relate our theory lessons, and look at the new products on the market we will be using in future within the plumbing industry. When I talk to other people in the industry, they have told me that they didn’t receive this type of support at college.”
If you would like to find out more about the courses we offer in plumbing, click here.
Last year we met Lillie, a learner who lacked confidence, but had huge potential.
Lillie’s dream was to work as Healthcare Support Worker, and she started her journey with us, on a traineeship.
Traineeships give learners the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in a sector they are interested in, while also improving employability skills, English and Maths.
It wasn’t an easy start, as at first Lillie felt that she wasn’t ready to progress, but that simply wasn’t the case.
She impressed everyone on a daily basis, and her confidence started to grow. This resulted in Lillie gaining her first placement at St Michaels Hospital (UHBW), in the Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) Outpatients Department.
Lillie started by shadowing members of the team, before moving on to independent tasks. She soon became a proactive member of staff, making a great impact, resulting in her being asked to stay within the team when she was due to move onto another department.
On completion of her traineeship, Lillie was asked to apply for an apprenticeship, and she was offered a Level 2 Health Care Support Worker apprenticeship. Following Lillie’s amazing impact on her traineeship, the ENT department then requested Lillie to complete her apprenticeship with them – proof of the hard work and commitment shown throughout her traineeship.
The good news didn’t stop there. Earlier this year Lillie was nominated for Traineeship Learner of the Year, at the Weston College Business Awards, which she won!
She is now progressing very well on her apprenticeship, and we can’t wait to see her continued development.
