LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES
There is always so much going on across our various campuses and courses.
Stay up to date on our latest news here or check us out across social media.
Our T Level Year 1 Education and Early Years learners hosted their first Stay and Play of the year in our purpose-built Community Room on Thursday afternoon. Learners set up a range of activities including painting, playdough and a story corner, which they then welcomed a group of children from The Nursery to come and play! The Nursery is in Portishead, and has a great relationship with the Early Years learners, particularly as they are a Career Excellence Hub Employer. This means they provide industry placement opportunities for our learners, and provide industry standard knowledge that can influence the content taught on the course.
It was a lovely afternoon had by both children and learners, and they received some amazing feedback following the session!
The Nursery commented, “We have made a really valuable link with Weston College to support our future early years practitioners. The preschool children explored the wonderful activities the students had set up, and interacted so confidently in the new space. We are all looking forward to returning and trying out some fun new activities.”
The Assessor and Placement Officer for Early Years, Rachael Moger, commented, “The Stay and Play was a fantastic opportunity for both the learners and the children. We’re very lucky to have The Nursery as a CEH Employer – ensuring work experience opportunities to our learners is so important to us here at Weston College, so having that close working relationship with The Nursery is so beneficial. We all can’t wait until the next Stay and Play, which is Christmas themed!”
Click here if you’d like to find out more about Early Years and T Levels.
We celebrated Careers Week in November, with our Protective Services learners engaging in numerous career related activities with employers.
Employer engagement is extremely important to our students, as it helps them to confirm their first choice of career, as well as enthusing and motivating them on their course of study.
The week commenced with our Year 2 students traveling down to Okehampton Camp on Dartmoor to spend 4 days residential with the Army. Activities included an assault course, stalk and overnight bivvy camp. Throughout the experience, learners developed their ID skills including rapport building, resilience, and teamwork.
The trip received glowing feedback, with Harry saying: “This is the best thing that I have ever done!”
On the Tuesday a group of students travelled to RAF Brize Norton to spend an exhilarating day with the RAF. Activities included boarding an A400M aircraft, a tour of the base gym and lunch in the Sergeant’s Mess.
The day was ran by Squadron leader Jacqueline Millard Smith who runs a bespoke mentoring service for the Weston College Protective Service Provision.
This trip was really beneficial for learners, with Zoe saying: “After visiting and speaking to people on the base it has really interested me and has made me consider my future career options. It was an amazing experience!”
On Thursday learners travelled to HMS Raleigh in Plymouth. It was a fantastic occasion, which allowed students to visit a range of Navy Careers including Fire Fighting, Submariner Service and the Physical Training Branch. The mixture of Level 2 and Level 3 learners were fully engaged throughout the day and were excellent ambassadors for the College.
In the Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics for Production (HMPP) three-year degree programme at UCW, there is a module which requires the learners to work to an industry brief. This year, Puxton Park delivered the brief for the learners, for an event they held, called “Phobia”; a Halloween event that took place from 22nd – 29th October, consisting of five haunted attractions including a Haunted Tractor Ride, Doll House and the ‘Dark Wood’. The learners were required to design and apply makeup to a very high quality for this event, for up to 40 actors a night!
In total, 30 students across both HE & FE took part; the third year HMPP learners were in charge of running the event, and the first and second year HMPP learners also took part as assistants. The Level 2 Hair and media makeup learners were also involved as further assistance on certain makeup zones. Every learner was there every night, from 4:30 – 10:30pm, to ensure every actor was ready for their performance. It was important that they planned and practiced every aspect before the event started, as they had to make sure they could carry out the same quality in a fast-paced environment, under time pressure!
As well as designing and applying the makeup on the nights, the 3rd year learners were also tasked with ordering the products and costumes, and keeping within a budget, as well as holding workshops for the Level 2 students to demonstrate the desired looks, and build their confidence in their abilities.
The feedback from everyone involved has been overwhelmingly positive – the learners absolutely loved the opportunity to work in a professional event, working with other students across multiple courses, and being given a true insight into the industry. Puxton Park have also commented on the creative talent of the learners, and praised them for their professionalism. The general public, who attended the event, have said it was “a fantastic, immersive experience, but very scary!”
Tara O’Hare, an HMPP lecturer, has commented “I would like to personally thank my third year HMPP students, with special thanks in particular to Holly and Beth, who acted as project managers on the event, liaised with the other groups who were helping out, and worked professionally and fully committed themselves to the project throughout.
Both the HE and FE makeup students worked with enthusiasm and confidence throughout They will be an absolute asset in the makeup industry, and without them, this project would not have been as successful. We can’t wait to be back next year!”
If you’re interested in a qualification in Hair and Makeup, you can find out more information, below!
A team of our Protective Services learners travelled to Strode College in October, to take part in an Army run competition vs Strode College.
Against tough competition the team proved themselves to be highly competitive and tenacious in their efforts as they took part in various military orientated team tasks.
We welcomed year 11 students into the Weston Digital Hub for a Digital taster day. Being one of the leading colleges in the UK for computing and digital studies, we want to give as many students as possible, the opportunity to study with us and reach their individual ambitions. Through the taster day, we showcased our exceptional lecturers and facilities that assist our learners in becoming successful in the IT industry.
9 students from Hans Price Academy and 2 from Churchill Academy attended the taster day, to decide if Computing and Digital Technologies was the career route for them; every student that was asked said they enjoyed themselves, and 9 out of 10 said they would attend a Digital taster session again, with the 10th saying maybe.
One of the attendees stated: “This day was amazing! I wasn’t sure this subject area would be for me, but I was wrong, and now my aim is to do as well as I can in my GCSEs to get onto the Digital course!”
They continued: “I loved working as a team and learning to play different games I’ve never played before!”
As a result of attending the taster day, and having the opportunity to join the Esports Academy, all but one said of the students asked, said that they’d want to apply for Weston College.
Sandra Bull, Dean of the Faculty, said: “Here at Weston College, it’s crucial to us that every potential student is given the opportunity to explore every pathway that could lead them to their dream career. The taster day was incredible, and the engagement, passion at positive feedback from the attendees is the reason we continue doing the work we do. We can’t wait to welcome our next group of year 11s to have their taster day with the college.”
Find out more about upcoming taster days, and other events, via the links!
In October we welcomed Gordano School to the College, where our Level 2 learners put twenty Year 9 students through their paces, participating in a jamboree of team tasks on our 3G pitch.
Students developed many ID skills such as rapport building and team work as they supported, coached and motivated the school pupils throughout the morning. Jamie-Lee, Level 2 learner, said: “This was an amazing experience and I was really impressed with the enthusiasm displayed by the Gordano Kids!”
On 21st October, World Esports Day, our incredible Esports team took part in a Twitch livestream Charity event for the Winston’s Wish; a charity supporting children and families coping with the loss of a parent or sibling. The event was in partnership with Coventry College’s Coventry Crosshairs, and the teams competed in games of Overwatch, Valorant and Rocket League.
When the goal of £250 was smashed before the first games had even finished, it was increased to an ambitious £500 in the break. Everyone was thrilled when that goal was also reached, reaching £506 in the end!
The results of the games are as follows:
Our Rocket League team lost 3-2, going the entire distance in the best of 5, and only losing after 4 minutes of Overtime. They showed incredible effort, however, and provided amazing entertainment for the audience!
The Coventry Crosshairs Valorant team were very strong, and won 13-5 against the Weston Waveriders.
Finally, our Overwatch team got a 3-1 win against Coventry, though the Crosshairs showed incredible resilience and sportsmanship.
When the stream ended, the average viewership was 55 concurrent views across 4 hours of stream time – the team were so grateful for the continued support throughout gameplay.
The lecturers want to give a huge shout-out to the learners who got involved and allowed this to all take place. It was an incredible event, and we’re so proud of everyone who took part, and a huge thank you to everyone who donated and watched the stream!
Some of our wonderful Creative and Digital Media students will be creating amazing content as they help out at this year's Weston Beach Race!
Located on Weston-super-Mare's seafront, the annual Beach Race is the UK’s biggest Offroad Motorsport event. Spanning over 6 miles, the race brings in competitors and supporters from all over Europe, with over 100,000 people attending across the three-day weekend.
Our learners will be filming content of the race, crowds, and riders, alongside presenting their student-run radio station, Weston Waves, at the event.
Weston Waves was launched earlier this year and has been a triumphant success and excellent learning experience for our media students.
Between hosting shows and mixing music, the radio station has given our learners the opportunity to develop a vast range of skills, progress their understanding of industry-relevant practices and take ownership of their hard work. The Beach Race is a perfect place to evolve the Weston Waves station even further, interviewing sportspeople and covering a live event!
This is just one of many amazing opportunities learners on our Creative and Digital Media course get to work and interact with live projects, within a real industry setting.
The event will begin Friday 21st October 2022 and will run until Sunday 23rd October 2022. To find out more about the Beach Race, click here.
To find out more about the Creative and Digital Media course, click here.
We have seen fantastic progress with the fitness of our Protective Services learners. The majority of classes have been introduced to Initial Military Fitness (IMF) as well as more functional fitness such as stretcher races on the beach.
Students have done an amazing job so far, and will continue to be “pushed” for the remainder of the year. Students are also working on their fitness outside of college in their own time and take ownership on their progress, which is great to see. The benefits of this will help career progression as well as physical and mental health promotion.
Marketing and Communications
The marketing department is responsible for promoting Weston College to the public, by promoting the Colleges courses, achievements and events.
Our aims are to attract learners to study within the Weston College Group, build and grow the College’s brand and highlight its reputation, and promote the College Group’s success, student progression and outstanding support for our learners.
The marketing department manages the College’s websites and official social media accounts, runs advertising campaigns, creates press releases, and manages many of the College Group’s events, such as Graduation, the Celebration of Success and the Business Awards.
We produce a wide range of publications including our full-time, Higher Education and part-time prospectuses, course leaflets and posters, and other documents such as the College’s annual report, magazines and newsletters, course brochures and the student handbook.
Weston College is committed to providing accurate and timely information for local, regional and national media, and the general public.
The marketing team is available between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays. You can get in touch with us by emailing marketing@weston.ac.uk.
All of our press releases are uploaded to the news section of our websites. News from the academies we sponsor, including the North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College, can be found on the news section of the Inspirational Futures Trust’s website. News pertaining to our Higher Education Provision can be found on www.ucw.ac.uk.
The marketing department produces most imagery and film in house, and keeps an extensive archive of the photographs it takes. If you would like a copy of an image featuring you or a member of your family, please contact us at photography@weston.ac.uk.
Our photos of graduation and many other events can be found on the College’s Facebook page. High quality images can be found on the College’s Flickr account.
Weston College is able to accommodate many requests to provide locations for film and photography. The College has a range of attractive, modern and adaptable facilities which can be viewed on our youtube channel.
We also are able to provide heritage facilities such as the Victorian Hans Price designed Conference Centre and, from September 2017, the 1927 Winter Gardens Pavilion.
For booking details, contact marketing@weston.ac.uk.
For enquiries about sponsoring key events such as Celebration of Success, Business Breakfast, Business Awards and Graduation, please contact the marketing team by email at marketing@weston.ac.uk.
