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.
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There is always so much going on across our various campuses and courses. Stay up to date on our latest news.
Last Thursday, our Protective Services lecturers, Nicola Stent and David Usher, hosted a highly impactful and collaborative event involving students from Protective Services, Performing Arts, and UCW Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics. With expert guidance from Tara O'Hare, a lecturer in Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics, this exciting simulation provided learners with real-world, practical experience in emergency response scenarios.
The event tested students' skills in handling crises, working under pressure, and collaborating across disciplines, making it a truly enriching learning opportunity.
The event featured two simultaneous intense and immersive simulations. The first involved a gas explosion in the Production Arts classroom, while the second took place in the Sports Hall, where students responded to mystery attack and attack/bike collision scenarios. The mystery attack scenario was designed to test the crisis management and communication skills of the students. It involved four Performing Arts students, with one portraying a woman who had just broken up with her partner. Along with her three friends, she was stabbed by the ex-partner, who had followed them. A passing biker stopped to help and was also injured in the attack. The woman, knowing the attacker as her former partner, called Nicola, who was acting as 999 emergency services, via Teams to report the incident. The Protective Services students (who were unbeknownst to this planned simulation) sprang into action, immediately taking charge of the scene when the distress call was received. They engaged in a rapid and detailed assessment of the situation, asking critical questions about the number of casualties and the identity of the attacker.
The Protective Services students secured the scene, performed first aid, and ensured proper protocol was followed, simulating the role of police officers and emergency responders.
The second simulation focused on a gas explosion scenario in the Production Arts classroom. The Protective Services students had been waiting outside for their lesson, only to find the room had been hit by an explosion. Inside, Drama students acted as victims, injured and in pain, with their wounds carefully painted on by the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics students. The Protective Services team had to act swiftly, treating the victims’ injuries and preparing for the unexpected. They also had to manage the threat of a fake bomb, ensuring a swift evacuation of the casualties to a safe triage area, securing the crime scene, and following emergency procedures.
The event allowed students to explore the more practical side of their courses, helping them understand the importance of teamwork, communication, and quick decision-making in emergency scenarios. They also gained invaluable insights into the process of responding to 999 calls, securing crime scenes, and providing immediate care in high-stress situations.
Without the support of the other student departments within the College, the event wouldn’t have been such a success. Our Performing Arts students excellently stayed in character throughout the simulation, acting as victims in distress, and convincingly portraying their injuries; the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics students, expertly crafted lifelike injuries, from stab wounds to burns and abrasions, bringing the scenarios to life; and the Protective Services students, who demonstrated professionalism and composure under pressure, responding to the emergencies with precision and care.
And a huge thank you to Nicola Stent for making what the students thought would be a normal lesson into a fast-paced simulation that we’re sure they’ll never forget!
This partnership forms part of the Protective Services, Performance and Production arts and Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.
To learn more about our Protective Services courses, click here.
To find out about what courses we have to offer for Performance and Production Arts, please click here.
To see more about our Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics courses, 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.
In an era where employers seek creative thinkers, adaptable problem-solvers, and effective communicators, the skills honed by video gamers are becoming increasingly valuable.
While video games are often associated with entertainment, they cultivate a diverse set of competencies that translate directly into the workplace, particularly in high-demand areas like critical thinking, teamwork, and emotional intelligence.
Many employers now recognise that hiring individuals with gaming backgrounds can provide a competitive advantage.
So, what skills do gamers bring:
1. Problem-Solving and Creativity
Video games often present players with complex challenges that require innovative thinking. Gamers must experiment with strategies, adjusting their approach when faced with roadblocks, which fosters an adaptive problem-solving mindset. Creativity is crucial in many games, from building expansive virtual worlds to devising winning strategies under constraints. This creativity can significantly enhance productivity and innovation in a professional setting, where a fresh perspective can lead to new solutions and long-term success.
2. Decision-Making and Risk-Taking
A defining characteristic of video gaming is decision-making under pressure. Gamers must evaluate options quickly, anticipate future scenarios, and weigh risks—skills that are equally valuable in business, where strategic decision-making is essential. This experience builds a tolerance for calculated risk, as players frequently navigate unknown environments, a skill that prepares them well for industries that value risk-takers who can think on their feet.
3. Communication and Teamwork
Modern gaming, especially in online multiplayer environments, emphasizes clear communication and collaboration. Many gamers work in teams where they need to relay strategies, give and receive feedback, and support each other toward shared goals.
4. Adaptability, Patience, and Perseverance
The dynamic nature of gaming requires players to adjust to new environments, tools, and challenges. This adaptability fosters resilience, an asset in fast-paced or constantly evolving industries. Patience and perseverance are essential in games that require long-term goals or repeated attempts to succeed.
5. Emotional Intelligence and Remaining Calm Under Pressure
Gamers learn to maintain composure in high-stakes situations, enhancing their ability to remain calm under pressure. This ability is a key component of emotional intelligence, allowing individuals to stay focused, think clearly, and manage stress effectively in demanding work environments.
At Weston College, we offer learners the opportunity to turn their passion for video games, into a career, through our Esports course. The course isn’t just about playing games, it is about learners developing key transferable skills through aspects such as live streaming, content creation and branding. Learners are leaving full of confidence, progressing into exciting roles once they complete the course too, we also have alumni that are now at university competing in Esports, as well as degree apprenticeships.
In conclusion, video gamers bring a unique combination of soft skills that can greatly benefit today’s workplaces. As businesses look for employees who can solve complex problems, make critical decisions, and thrive in team settings, the transferable skills from gaming are more relevant than ever. By recognising and valuing these skills, employers can tap into a resourceful and resilient talent pool ready to contribute and succeed in diverse environments.
In the last month, our Level 1 Education and Early Years learners hosted two ‘Stay and Play’ sessions for families in the local community to join a fun-filled drop-in session led by our learners.
The first ‘Stay and Play’ event offered learners an opportunity to put their planning and facilitation skills into action while providing a welcoming space for children aged 0-5 and their parents or carers. Under the guidance of their tutors, learners carefully planned, resourced, and delivered a variety of age-appropriate activities to engage the children and create a fun, supportive environment.
Eight learners facilitated the event on the day, while their peers played a vital role in planning, setting up, and tidying the room. The excitement was evident as they welcomed 10 families to the session. Our learners took the lead in registering families upon arrival, completing risk assessments for activities, and ensuring everything ran smoothly throughout the event.
Despite some initial nerves, they embraced their roles with professionalism, engaging warmly with both the children and their parents. It was particularly rewarding to see the learners’ confidence grow as they interacted with families and managed the session with maturity.
Building on the success of the first session, our learners hosted their annual Christmas-themed ‘Stay and Play’ event. Once again, our Level 1 Education and Early Years learners took ownership of the session from start to finish, demonstrating their growing confidence and leadership skills. Their responsibilities included advertising the event, sourcing materials, and planning festive activities tailored for young children.
The session was a joyful celebration of the season, welcoming children as young as 14 weeks old. Festive crafts, including Christmas card-making, were a highlight of the day, as was the opportunity for children to play with ‘snow,’ - a sensory experience that sparked curiosity and excitement.
To top it all off, a very special visitor, Santa Clause, made an appearance, delighting the children and gifting each one a book to take home.
It was wonderful to see a different group of learners step into leadership roles for this session. Their confidence and enthusiasm were evident as they engaged with the children and formed positive connections with parents and carers.
Events like these not only benefit the families in our community but also provide invaluable hands-on experience for our learners as they develop skills essential for their future careers.
We look forward to hosting more sessions and continuing to strengthen the bond between our learners and the local community.
We know it’s not about the course you take, but the career you’ll start your journey towards. Your study programme is built from the ground up with your future in mind, focussing on employability and developing the skills you need to have a successful career within your chosen industry, making
connections and gaining experiences through local and national employers we work with:
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As a Weston College student, you will become part of one of our exciting new Career Excellence Hubs.
This means our courses aren't just courses... your study programme is built from the ground up with your future in mind, focussing on employability and developing the skills you need to have a successful career within your chosen industry...
"The college organised lots of amazing experiences for us with specialist guest lectures on sepsis, home care, nutrition and bee therapy"
Chloe
Health and Social Care, Level 2 & 3
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One Message, Different Voices
Take a look at this powerful film made by the staff of Weston College to show how important it is for everyone from different backgrounds to be included. The film shares heartfelt stories and interviews with a diverse group of staff, showing how accepting different identities and backgrounds can make a big difference. Its purpose is to encourage viewers to think about their own biases and work towards making our community more welcoming to all. We invite everyone, regardless of their background, to join us and be a part of our journey toward a more inclusive future.
Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee's ability to succeed.
Last Thursday, our Protective Services lecturers, Nicola Stent and David Usher, hosted a highly impactful and collaborative event involving students from Protective Services, Performing Arts, and UCW Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics. With expert guidance from Tara O'Hare, a lecturer in Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics, this exciting simulation provided learners with real-world, practical experience in emergency response scenarios.
The event tested students' skills in handling crises, working under pressure, and collaborating across disciplines, making it a truly enriching learning opportunity.
The event featured two simultaneous intense and immersive simulations. The first involved a gas explosion in the Production Arts classroom, while the second took place in the Sports Hall, where students responded to mystery attack and attack/bike collision scenarios. The mystery attack scenario was designed to test the crisis management and communication skills of the students. It involved four Performing Arts students, with one portraying a woman who had just broken up with her partner. Along with her three friends, she was stabbed by the ex-partner, who had followed them. A passing biker stopped to help and was also injured in the attack. The woman, knowing the attacker as her former partner, called Nicola, who was acting as 999 emergency services, via Teams to report the incident. The Protective Services students (who were unbeknownst to this planned simulation) sprang into action, immediately taking charge of the scene when the distress call was received. They engaged in a rapid and detailed assessment of the situation, asking critical questions about the number of casualties and the identity of the attacker.
The Protective Services students secured the scene, performed first aid, and ensured proper protocol was followed, simulating the role of police officers and emergency responders.
The second simulation focused on a gas explosion scenario in the Production Arts classroom. The Protective Services students had been waiting outside for their lesson, only to find the room had been hit by an explosion. Inside, Drama students acted as victims, injured and in pain, with their wounds carefully painted on by the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics students. The Protective Services team had to act swiftly, treating the victims’ injuries and preparing for the unexpected. They also had to manage the threat of a fake bomb, ensuring a swift evacuation of the casualties to a safe triage area, securing the crime scene, and following emergency procedures.
The event allowed students to explore the more practical side of their courses, helping them understand the importance of teamwork, communication, and quick decision-making in emergency scenarios. They also gained invaluable insights into the process of responding to 999 calls, securing crime scenes, and providing immediate care in high-stress situations.
Without the support of the other student departments within the College, the event wouldn’t have been such a success. Our Performing Arts students excellently stayed in character throughout the simulation, acting as victims in distress, and convincingly portraying their injuries; the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics students, expertly crafted lifelike injuries, from stab wounds to burns and abrasions, bringing the scenarios to life; and the Protective Services students, who demonstrated professionalism and composure under pressure, responding to the emergencies with precision and care.
And a huge thank you to Nicola Stent for making what the students thought would be a normal lesson into a fast-paced simulation that we’re sure they’ll never forget!
This partnership forms part of the Protective Services, Performance and Production arts and Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.
To learn more about our Protective Services courses, click here.
To find out about what courses we have to offer for Performance and Production Arts, please click here.
To see more about our Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics courses, 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.
In an era where employers seek creative thinkers, adaptable problem-solvers, and effective communicators, the skills honed by video gamers are becoming increasingly valuable.
While video games are often associated with entertainment, they cultivate a diverse set of competencies that translate directly into the workplace, particularly in high-demand areas like critical thinking, teamwork, and emotional intelligence.
Many employers now recognise that hiring individuals with gaming backgrounds can provide a competitive advantage.
So, what skills do gamers bring:
1. Problem-Solving and Creativity
Video games often present players with complex challenges that require innovative thinking. Gamers must experiment with strategies, adjusting their approach when faced with roadblocks, which fosters an adaptive problem-solving mindset. Creativity is crucial in many games, from building expansive virtual worlds to devising winning strategies under constraints. This creativity can significantly enhance productivity and innovation in a professional setting, where a fresh perspective can lead to new solutions and long-term success.
2. Decision-Making and Risk-Taking
A defining characteristic of video gaming is decision-making under pressure. Gamers must evaluate options quickly, anticipate future scenarios, and weigh risks—skills that are equally valuable in business, where strategic decision-making is essential. This experience builds a tolerance for calculated risk, as players frequently navigate unknown environments, a skill that prepares them well for industries that value risk-takers who can think on their feet.
3. Communication and Teamwork
Modern gaming, especially in online multiplayer environments, emphasizes clear communication and collaboration. Many gamers work in teams where they need to relay strategies, give and receive feedback, and support each other toward shared goals.
4. Adaptability, Patience, and Perseverance
The dynamic nature of gaming requires players to adjust to new environments, tools, and challenges. This adaptability fosters resilience, an asset in fast-paced or constantly evolving industries. Patience and perseverance are essential in games that require long-term goals or repeated attempts to succeed.
5. Emotional Intelligence and Remaining Calm Under Pressure
Gamers learn to maintain composure in high-stakes situations, enhancing their ability to remain calm under pressure. This ability is a key component of emotional intelligence, allowing individuals to stay focused, think clearly, and manage stress effectively in demanding work environments.
At Weston College, we offer learners the opportunity to turn their passion for video games, into a career, through our Esports course. The course isn’t just about playing games, it is about learners developing key transferable skills through aspects such as live streaming, content creation and branding. Learners are leaving full of confidence, progressing into exciting roles once they complete the course too, we also have alumni that are now at university competing in Esports, as well as degree apprenticeships.
In conclusion, video gamers bring a unique combination of soft skills that can greatly benefit today’s workplaces. As businesses look for employees who can solve complex problems, make critical decisions, and thrive in team settings, the transferable skills from gaming are more relevant than ever. By recognising and valuing these skills, employers can tap into a resourceful and resilient talent pool ready to contribute and succeed in diverse environments.
In the last month, our Level 1 Education and Early Years learners hosted two ‘Stay and Play’ sessions for families in the local community to join a fun-filled drop-in session led by our learners.
The first ‘Stay and Play’ event offered learners an opportunity to put their planning and facilitation skills into action while providing a welcoming space for children aged 0-5 and their parents or carers. Under the guidance of their tutors, learners carefully planned, resourced, and delivered a variety of age-appropriate activities to engage the children and create a fun, supportive environment.
Eight learners facilitated the event on the day, while their peers played a vital role in planning, setting up, and tidying the room. The excitement was evident as they welcomed 10 families to the session. Our learners took the lead in registering families upon arrival, completing risk assessments for activities, and ensuring everything ran smoothly throughout the event.
Despite some initial nerves, they embraced their roles with professionalism, engaging warmly with both the children and their parents. It was particularly rewarding to see the learners’ confidence grow as they interacted with families and managed the session with maturity.
Building on the success of the first session, our learners hosted their annual Christmas-themed ‘Stay and Play’ event. Once again, our Level 1 Education and Early Years learners took ownership of the session from start to finish, demonstrating their growing confidence and leadership skills. Their responsibilities included advertising the event, sourcing materials, and planning festive activities tailored for young children.
The session was a joyful celebration of the season, welcoming children as young as 14 weeks old. Festive crafts, including Christmas card-making, were a highlight of the day, as was the opportunity for children to play with ‘snow,’ - a sensory experience that sparked curiosity and excitement.
To top it all off, a very special visitor, Santa Clause, made an appearance, delighting the children and gifting each one a book to take home.
It was wonderful to see a different group of learners step into leadership roles for this session. Their confidence and enthusiasm were evident as they engaged with the children and formed positive connections with parents and carers.
Events like these not only benefit the families in our community but also provide invaluable hands-on experience for our learners as they develop skills essential for their future careers.
We look forward to hosting more sessions and continuing to strengthen the bond between our learners and the local community.
By submitting this form you are consenting to Weston College recording and processing the personal information on this form, for any purposes of the college associated with the provision of advice and guidance to potential students on the range of courses available to them, college facilities and any other associated information. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, the information will only be used for the above mentioned purposes.
You will need to complete a full enrolment form prior to starting your course.
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By submitting this form you are consenting to Weston College recording and processing the personal information on this form, for any purposes of the college associated with the provision of advice and guidance to potential students on the range of courses available to them, college facilities and any other associated information. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, the information will only be used for the above mentioned purposes.
You will need to complete a full enrolment form prior to starting your course.
