Creating brighter futures

We are proud to share the inspiring journey of Gemma, a 2022 Sixth Form graduate and Weston College's A Level Student of the Year 2023 who has gone on to pursue her passion for French at the prestigious University of London Institute in Paris! 

Gemma chose to study at Weston College after attending an Open Day and being impressed by the engaging teachers and tailored courses, “my sister had attended the College before me and had a positive experience, so it seemed like a no-brainer”. 

During her time at Weston College, Gemma honed essential skills like time management, organisation, and persuasive writing, which have proven to be invaluable in her academic journey. “My French teacher really prepared me well not only for the A-level exams, but for further education too. My Law teacher was incredible; she boosted my self-confidence and taught us all how to write very convincing arguments with evidence and support to back them up, something that I’ve carried with me through University.” 

Gemma’s journey didn’t go without challenges, balancing A-level studies with university applications, she had the generous support of her tutors. From writing personal statements to balancing revision, she felt comfortable to gain help from her tutors, learning that she could attend revision sessions while maintaining a healthy life-work balance. 

One of Gemma’s standout memories from Weston College was the build-up to exams and her continued success in French class. "We had finished learning the content for our French exams, and so every week we would use the time to complete a past paper and this one particular week I managed to get 98% correct! It was just a little confidence boost leading up to exams and confirmed for myself that I had made the right decision to choose to study French at University.” She dedicates her success to her lecturer, Emilie, who had been an integral part of her experience at Sixth Form. Gemma recalls “it was so nice that both of our hard work was paying off!” She also fondly recalls a mock trial in her Law class, organised by Octavia (her Law lecturer) that combined fun with practical learning. 

Gemma credits her passion for French to an early secondary school teacher whose enthusiasm left a lasting impression. Her love for the language blossomed at Weston College thanks to equally passionate and supportive teachers. "They kept my motivation high and inspired me to continue studying French and look into Further Education." 

Now in her final year of a French Studies degree, Gemma is thriving in Paris, and deep into her dissertation writing. She describes the city as the perfect place to study, work, and live, filled with free museums, libraries, vibrant cafes, and an exciting nightlife. Her next goal is to complete a master’s in teaching English and begin her teaching career in France. “I’m definitely not ready to leave Paris after my Undergraduate degree and I’ve always wanted to teach over in France, so I’m really looking forward to this next chapter and hoping it all goes smoothly!”. 

Reflecting on her experience, Gemma has had an exciting journey from walking through the Sixth Form doors, to jetting off to the beautiful city of Paris. "I had a great experience at the College; it made me more independent, confident and prepared me well for everything I wanted to accomplish after college. The teachers I had were fun, engaging and supportive and ultimately, I wouldn’t be where I am now, if I hadn’t had had their support" She also sends her thanks to the College’s careers officer, who encouraged her to apply to Oxford. Although being offered a place at both the University of London Institute in Paris and Oxford University, Gemma ultimately chose Paris; and was deeply appreciative of the officer’s continued support. 

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.