Weston College has been selected as one of three Centres for Excellence in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

As a Centre of Excellence, the College will become a national leader in SEND learning.

It will be a focal point for expertise and resources, and a key provider in helping young people with SEND achieve their potential.

The College will also be responsible for sharing expertise and resources with practitioners and organisations, and providers across the further education (FE) sector.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “To be chosen as a Centre for Excellence in SEND learning is a huge honour.

“We’ve always taken great pride in the quality of our provision and the expertise of our SEND staff. But, to become a national hub within the sector, sets us apart as a leader in the field.

“It also represents a major challenge – but it’s one we relish.

“As a College we’ve always embraced the ideals and ethos of inclusive learning and supported employment. Becoming a national SEND centre provides the opportunity to help even more learners transition successfully into adulthood. Working with the Education Training Foundation and providers we are poised to embark upon a journey of impact, entrepreneurship and inclusion ensuring it is led from the top of the organisation. ”

The College was awarded the Centre for Excellence contract after competitive tender, which was open to every SEND provider in England. Each centre will deliver a specific aspect of SEND learning, with Weston College selected to focus on the theme of ‘people’, supporting organisations to create an inclusive culture, motivating staff to engage in continued professional development with an emphasis on supporting the development of innovative evidence based approaches to supporting the success of students with social, emotional and mental health needs.

In recent years, Weston College has won a string of prestigious accolades for its SEND provision.

These include the Queen’s Anniversary Prize – regarded the highest honour in the education sector – three AOC Beacon Awards, SEND Champion at the Apprenticeship Awards and ‘Inclusion in Employment’ winner at the national SEND Awards.

Weston College works with hundreds of employers across a range of sectors to create training opportunities for students.

Among these is Weston Museum, which provides work experience opportunities for learners who face barriers to employment.

As well as matching roles to individual abilities and providing each learner with a mentor, the Museum offers their staff autism training to develop their understanding of the condition.

In recognition of its efforts, the Museum was named Disability Confident Employer of the Year at the College’s annual Business Awards.

Matthew Hardy, Weston Museum’s Visitor Services Manager, said it was an honour for the Museum to win the award.

“Being nominated and receiving the Disability Employer of the Year was a huge achievement for us,” he said. “We take pride in our inclusivity, so to be recognised in that way was amazing.

“We offer volunteering opportunities and work experience in customer service, the café and administration. Staff and volunteers are also encouraged to undertake autism awareness training, which is facilitated by Nina from Weston Bay (the College’s residential training centre for students on the autism spectrum).

“As well as staff support, our learners shadow existing volunteers who have been doing the role for a while. This not only helps with learning but also boosts confidence.”

Matthew believes that these steps enable learners to make a noticeable impact on the business.

He said: “The learners, like all of our volunteers, enrich Weston Museum and enable us to offer the diverse range of services that we do. Their support is invaluable.

“The learners vary so much in terms of ability, confidence and skills when we first meet them, but they all develop during their time with us – especially their confidence and social skills.

“Many are completely unrecognisable as the person they were when they started, which is fantastic.”

And Matthew insists that the relationship with the College is central to the work it does for learners who need additional support when it comes to learning and employment.

He said: “Weston Museum values its relationship with Weston College hugely. Whilst we are limited in what we can offer, what we do offer is very important to our culture and is at the heart of our inclusive ethos. We genuinely couldn’t do what we do without them.”

To find out how we can help you to create an inclusive workforce, click here. 

Please contact us for information about the current Apprenticeship Funding and Grants for Employers...

01934 411 594
apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk

The chance to be part of a Taster Day celebrating all things Higher Education is being offered next month (October) at Weston College.

The College’s University Centre and Loxton Campus will open their doors on October 27 to anyone interested in studying for a Degree and looking to start in Autumn 2015.

As well as receiving all the information needed to consider an application, prospective students will be able to take part in a series of ‘hands-on’ workshops in a variety of subject fields, giving them a vital taste of Degree level study.

On offer are workshops in Musical Theatre, Sports Studies, Performing Arts, Computing and Photography, among many other subjects. Those taking part will also be treated to lunch, and can attend a number of information sessions about applying via UCAS, managing finances and accommodation, and what to expect in the first few weeks.

Anthony Murray, Weston College’s Director of Higher Education, said: “We are very pleased to be offering this Higher Education Taster Day, which is aimed at giving aspiring students a clearer understanding of the step-up from Level 3 to University-level study in a wide variety of subject areas. Taking part in this kind of preparatory activity will give students an advantage throughout the university application process and once they start their degrees, wherever they choose to study.

“Weston College offers degree-level study in partnership with Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England, and our range of courses is expanding every year. As a recently designated College of Further and Higher Education, we are committed to providing effective information, advice and guidance to boost the aspirations and prospects of young people thinking about progressing to Higher Education. We look forward to welcoming students from near and far to this exciting day.”

Parents of prospective students are welcome to attend the Taster Day, as are adults returning to HE, or entering it for the first time.

Demonstrating experience of HE through taster sessions and other events is very useful when applying to UCAS, and all visitors to the College’s Taster Day will come away with something tangible to use in their portfolio.

Weston College is one of the top performing Colleges in the South West and is now officially a College of Further and Higher Education. Almost 100 per cent of graduates to on to employment within six months of graduating, and of those graduating in 2014, more than 20 per cent came away with First Class Honours degrees, compared with a national average of 16 per cent.

Anyone interested in coming to the HE Taster Day needs to book before Friday October 3. For more details please contact Weston College’s Higher Education Team on 01934 411 409 or by emailing  he.unit@weston.ac.uk

Changes to Advanced Learner Loans mean adult and part-time education at Weston College is more accessible and affordable than ever.

For people who want to get new qualifications or retrain, but are worried about the cost, the Advanced Learner Loan is the answer.

These loans have previously only been available for people aged 24 or over but from the 2016-17 academic year they will be available to learners aged 19 or over.

Ceri Forsdike took out a loan to pay for a Level 3 Hairdressing course at Weston College, and now runs her own mobile hairdressing business.

She said: “I would not have been able to progress onto my Level 3 course without having an Advanced Learner Loan – it allowed me to complete my learning to the best possible level.

“This has given me the confidence to set up my own business, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without my qualifications.”

The loan covers tuition and exam fees and does not have to be paid back until a person is earning more than £21,000 per year. Even then repayments are automatically deducted from a person’s salary at a rate of 9%, so if someone earns £22,000 their monthly repayment is just £7.50.

If you take out an Advanced Learner Loan for an Access to Higher Education course and then go on to complete a Higher Education course the loan is written off completely and you will never have to pay a penny back.

The provision has also been expanded to not only cover Level 3 and 4 courses, but also some Level 5 and 6 courses.

James Moodhoo was a self-employed builder who wanted to retrain to become a fully-qualified electrician.

He said: “Funding was my biggest issue when I was considering furthering my studies.

“I was a new father, and we didn’t have a lot of money. Self-funding the course just wasn’t an option.

“Weston College provided fantastic advice and the Advanced Learner Loan has really opened doors for me.”

A new short film has been produced about the Advanced Learner Loan scheme; it can be viewed via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PJQTvnhZes

There is also a dedicated section, with some helpful FAQs, here: www.weston.ac.uk/supporting-you/financial-support/advanced-learner-loans

When Weston College bought the Winter Gardens for £1 in 2015, nobody could have guessed they'd do this to it...

We didn't turn the pond into a carpark

We cleaned out the pond on day one, and while the fish were on holiday we repaired the lining and installed new fountains and colour changing lights. We released the fish back in September 2017 and plan to plant the area up in 2018.

We didn't turn the ballroom into a lecture theatre

The ballroom has been refurbished, the floor fixed, and repairs have been carried out to the dome. New technology has been installed to bring the building into the 21st century while retaining its 1920s character. The ballroom is available for public booking, and we are already putting on a range of events for the public.

No more Prince Consort Hall

We have transformed the little-used Prince Consort Hall into a series of classrooms and independent study spaces. 

There's a new entrance (but it isn't four stories tall...)

To keep the education and public side separate, we moved the public entrance back to the front of the building and turned an ugly 1980s concrete block into the new entrance to the education section of the building.

We've restored the iconic seafront facade

We've completely removed some of the 1980s additions to the facade of the building as well as intrusive signage that spoiled the building's aesthetics. We've installed more-subtle outdoor lighting and replaced all of the windows to make sure they match.

The cafe's more cosy

Leather sofas, booths, quality tables and chairs... The Florentine bistro (opened in October 2017) serves a selection of cakes, hot meals, sandwiches and baguettes.

The decor has had a much-needed update

It's more than just a lick of paint too - new lights, a new colour scheme, and new fixtures and fittings were all part of our plan to restore the iconic ballroom.

The restaurant's been moved

Located in the former Tourist Information Centre, Lasseter's Restaurant and Bar interprets the Winter Gardens' 1920s character with a modern twist. Serving a selection of locally-sourced dishes created by Head Chef Dave Newman, Lasseter's at the Winter Gardens brings together top-quality food and service in Weston-super-Mare's most iconic building.

It's got a new identity

On top of all of the upgrades, enhancements and refurbishment, we've updated the Winter Gardens' logo, designed by a former Weston College and University Centre Weston graphic design student.

Are you still unsure on what apprenticeship is best suited to you?

Take our quiz to find out which area you could consider a career in. If you need any help or support in choosing the right industry for you, click here.

The hospitality and catering industry is constantly growing and changing, which is why it’s perfect for anyone looking for an interesting future career. We’ve put together our top reasons why you should consider it!

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