Creating brighter futures

Our Hospitality and Catering learners are excelling with their talents, creating many dishes per week for our staff and students, and developing their skills more and more each time. To upscale their abilities even further, chefs from the Railway at Thatchers came in and hosted a seafood masterclass, providing them with professional, hands-on experience that they can use throughout their course. 

During this masterclass, James, the head chef, and Callum, the sous chef, taught the students how to prepare fish from whole but also how to steam mussels and create delicious dishes that they likely had not previously attempted. 

To prepare the fish, the learners had to remove the skeleton very carefully which takes skill and precision. The two types of fish the learners used were seabass and plaice in order to master both flat and round fish. Once the fish were ready, the learners moved on to prepping the remaining ingredients to make their final dishes: plaice en papilotte with fennel and orange, and a seabass dish with romesco sauce and crispy garlic. 

These dishes turned out incredible, especially for their first try, and was an excellent portrayal of the students’ hard work and determination. Not only did they learn more about how to prepare and cook seafood, they also impressed the Head Chef at the Railway not only with their cooking, but also their enthusiasm.  

The chefs then delivered a session on how to produce steamed mussels (in cider of course!), prepare prawns, and create an Asian broth from a stock. This broth was then served with the fresh oysters to make another delicious seafood dish. The learners were then able to try traditional oysters with lemon and tabasco as well. 

James, the Head Chef at the Railway, oversees all of the food, from the daily changing menus, to the special event menus and corporate buffets. James said, “the students all seemed very interested in the masterclass and gave it their all. All the final dishes were great, and it was good fun seeing some of them try oysters for the first time!” 

At Thatchers, they take on many apprentices in order to build the next generation of staff in a hands-on but supportive environment, and the Railway do just that. “It’s great having apprentices working with us who are keen to cook great food and I’m happy to have the opportunity to give a little back to the future of our industry.” 

Not only did the students learn invaluable skills from this professional masterclass, but they also enjoyed the day and left with more confidence in preparing and cooking seafood. They also built upon their taste pallets by trying a variety of dishes that they may not normally get the opportunity to try. 

Jenna Ratcliffe, Head of Service Sectors at Weston College, says, “our Careers Excellence Hub (CEH) partnership with Thatchers highlights our commitment to meaningful employer connections. We are grateful that these relationships are directly benefitting our students’ readiness for a career and are positively impacting their experience here at Weston College.” 

We’d like to give a big thank you to James and Callum from the Railway at Thatchers for running this fantastic masterclass for our students, it was an extremely successful day! 

If you’re interested in applying to a Hospitality and Catering course in September, click here. 

The Open Door Project is a prisoner-led project coordinated through the Library and Arts Centre, this has provided arts and creative experiences to the men and has been a unique opportunity for them to explore and develop their creative potential, connect with their community and gain valuable insight into opportunities for work within the creative industries upon release. 

The Library and Arts Centre at HMP Channings Wood has been developed into a safe and supportive space, where the men can access information, advice and a wealth of arts and creative opportunities. This freedom of expression supports mental health and wellbeing and offers a pathway to education and potential employment.   

The Open Door Project has been supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. 

The exhibition has arrived at our Loxton Campus and will be on display until 26th November. Staff and Students are welcome to come along and take a look at the artistic talents of the men of HMP Channings Wood! 

Weston College is delighted to announce that Louise Hill-Davis has been put forward as our nominee for the prestigious Association of Colleges (AoC) FE Hall of Fame Award. The FE Hall of Fame, honours alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their fields, further education, and communities. This annual recognition spotlights exceptional alumni who continue to influence and uplift the sector. 

Our Health and Care Lecturer and Assessor, Louise Hill-Davis, who was also previously an A Level student at the College stands as an exemplary candidate for this national accolade, demonstrating remarkable dedication and impact as both an educator and community advocate. Her role as a Health and Social Care lecturer has been transformative at Weston College, where her commitment to creating a vibrant, inclusive learning environment has inspired both students and colleagues alike. Known for her positive spirit and engaging approach, Louise is highly regarded by all who have the privilege of working alongside her. Heidi Oliver, Head of Area for Health at Weston College, states, "I am honestly just privileged to have someone as quietly powerful as Louise in our team." 

Beyond her work at the College, Louise has made an impressive mark in the local community. This year, she organised the Black History Month Forum in Weston-super-Mare, which gathered over 130 participants to foster dialogue on important topics like identity, health, education, and anti-racism. The event was an overwhelming success, underscoring Louise’s vision, leadership, and commitment to social equity. Plans are already underway to expand the forum next year, thanks to her dedicated efforts. 

Louise’s contributions extend to the literary world as well. She recently became a published author, adding her voice to an anthology with her story "Gas and Air," which shines a critical light on systemic racism in maternal healthcare, specifically the experiences of Black women. Through this work, Louise continues her advocacy for social justice, merging her educational and healthcare expertise to support awareness and change. 

Being nominated for the FE Hall of Fame is a testament to Louise’s dedication, talent, and the far-reaching impact she has had on those around her. Weston College is incredibly proud of Louise Hill-Davis and congratulates her on this well-deserved recognition. We eagerly await the final selection and wish Louise the very best in this year’s Hall of Fame Awards.