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.
Ranging from Maths to English Literature, Photography to Psychology, these newly devised Adult A Level programmes offer a flexible approach to study.
Weston College are pleased to offer a range of 7 A Level courses for adults. Following the demand for the programmes to be continued, the college have now also added two new courses, Photography and Sociology, which traditionally have only been available for 16-19 year olds.
All the adult A Levels will be delivered online with specialist tutors, who will provide learners with online group lessons, individual one-to-one and small group tutorials on a weekly basis in the evenings.
There are also fast-track A Levels available, meaning learners can complete the qualification in just one year via a mixture each week of three hours of teaching, small groups sessions and one-to-one tutorials. The College have advised adults that they should also be prepared to do at least three hours of reading and research outside of these sessions each week.
The Government invested £2.5 billion into The National Skills Fund in 2020 to help adults retrain and gain the valuable skills they need to improve their job prospects and support the economy. As part of this scheme the College can offer the Business and Maths A Level for free if learners do not already have a Level 3 qualification.
Sir Paul Phillips KBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “Weston College is delighted to continue to provide A Level qualifications to adults, now with two added courses in Photography and Sociology! An A Level is an incredibly valuable and rewarding qualification to study and can lead to several positive outcomes such as University, improving job prospects or simply expanding your knowledge on a deeper level. The delivery of these programmes is particularly innovative and has been designed to support adults to progress whilst fitting it in around their busy lives.”
Former Weston College Music Performance and Production Learner, Michael "Mike-e", has gained an outstanding achievement in securing a place on the highly reputable MA Electronic Music Production at dB’s Institute of Sound and Digital Technologies, partnered with Falmouth University.
Mike-e has been a part of the Weston College Group family since joining onto a Level 1 Music course in 2015.
Since then, he has gone from strength to strength - excelling into Level 2 and 3, then into the UCW Professional Music Performance and Production Degree and finally earning a spot to study his MA with Bristol-based dB’s Institute of Sound and Digital Technologies, commencing in September.
Mike-e's journey and success is a truly commendable achievement and a powerful demonstration of hard work, passion, and dedication.
Upon hearing news of his offer to study at dB’s Institute of Sound and Digital Technologies, Mike-e tell us he was ecstatic; “I have a habit of telling myself I won’t be successful in these kinds of opportunities so to hear back so quickly was so uplifting”.
Mike-e's future career prospects and goals after University include continuing to work as a sound designer and composer for films and video games while operating a sample library and software instrument business.
When asked about his time studying Music at UCW he told us: “I would recommend the course to anyone who wants to better their performance skills and develop some business knowledge. The studios and equipment are amazing, and I’ve really enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to use them”.
The Creative Arts Department (CAD) at Weston College are proud to present their new Instagram page, @westoncreative
The page was recently created as a way of exhibiting and showcasing the incredible work from our talented learners across the department.
These include those from: Art and Design, Games and Animation, Graphic Design, Creative and Digital Media, Photography and Performing Arts and more!
Instagram is a brilliant platform to present the amazing work of our CAD students, utilised throughout the creative industries by professionals to show-off and market brands or personal work.
This is yet another example of our creative courses using initiative and innovation to ensure our learners always remain up-to-date and involved in relevant industry practice.
Follow @westoncreative to see more of their outstanding work.
To find out more about our Creative Arts courses click here.
Fantastic news in Health and Social Care as Level 3 learner, Leah, finishes off her second-year studies and heads straight into full-time employment as a Paediatrics Nursing Associate with the prestigious John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Leah has had immense success throughout her time at college, previously taking part in Lateral Flow and Vaccination training, selected by tutors in recognition of her hard work and dedication to her studies. This led to further opportunities, with Leah working as a qualified vaccinator administering Covid vaccines to patients throughout the pandemic.
To celebrate Leah’s success and the beginning of her career in the Healthcare industry, we asked her some questions:
What made you want to go into Paediatrics?
I’ve always preferred working with children. I used to think I might like to go into teaching, but I've always been more interested in the health side of things.
Was there anything about the course you have studied that helped you along your way to making that decision?
Yes definitely. Studying Health and Social Care helped me learn about the different jobs and opportunities in nursing. Working with case studies within my assignments really interested me because it gave me insight into real life situations that happen when working with patients.
What about your course has helped you prepare for this job?
My placements really helped. I have been doing Covid vaccinations, which has really inspired and motivated me to feel confident talking to new people and deal with difficult situations. Through the course, I have also had the opportunity to work in several care homes and I’ve realised that’s not really what I want to do. So, the course has really helped me work out what I enjoy and what I want to pursue, and also show me what I what I don’t really want to do in the future.
What would you say is the best thing about studying here?
The staff definitely push you, which at first seemed stressful, but now that I’m finishing and looking back I realise that it actually really helped me and allowed me to learn and grow a lot – they just push you to do your best. There’s also always lots of opportunities, becoming a vaccinator was an opportunity that came up through college, my lecturers recognised my hard work and put me forward for the training. It was really nice to be selected.
What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of studying Health and Social Care?
I would say go for it! I wasn’t sure what to choose at first, but it’s a great course to pick because there are so many options afterwards, whether you go down the Health side or the Social Care side. It gives you an overview and experience of both so you get it helps you to choose.
The Health and Social Care team are exceptionally proud of Leah and her incredible achievements.
To find out more about the opportunities available in Health and Social Care at Weston College click here.
Join us to celebrate the incredible creative minds of Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW)!
With the class of 2022 coming to an end, this festival style event will feature a grand display of artwork for all to see from our creative subject areas:
- Art and Design
- Game and Animation
- Graphic Design
- Film and Media
- Fashion
- Music
- Performing Arts (Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre)
- Photography
- Creative degree programmes (UCW)
This is a phenomenal trip out for the family with live music, performances, artwork, locally sourced food, drink and more - all in celebration of the arts and young people in Weston-super-Mare.
To find out more about the day and book your tickets click here.
Our UAL Creative Media Production courses are exceptionally proud to announce they have been awarded a ScreenSkills accreditation for a further four years.
ScreenSkills is a prestigious and industry-led body for screen industry, covering an array of media practices including film, television, visual effects, animation, and games.
ScreenSkills pride themselves on “supporting continued growth and future innovation across the country by investing in the skilled and inclusive workforce who are critical to the UK screen industries' global success.” They do this by working closely with learners and institutions to help provide insight into career development and fantastic opportunities to support people to enter and progress in industry.
An endorsement from ScreenSkills is incredibly highly sought-after, and the opportunity to be awarded such an accreditation is an astounding privilege for our UAL Creative Media Production courses - which already boast an impressive level of professionalism.
Gina Hele, Subject Area Manager, says “We are incredibly proud that Screenskills have recognised our Level 2 and Level 3 UAL Creative media production courses, and awarded us accreditation for a further four years. We look forward to continuing to work with Screenskills to benefit our students and their future Screen Industry career pathways.
We value input from the industry when designing and delivering our curriculum and this allows us to get real time information about changes in the demands of the sector. The report states that the course is achieving standards of excellence, in terms of its industry relevance. The Team and I are delighted with this outcome.”
This is fantastic news for our staff and learners, ensuring that the courses available are of the utmost quality and relevance to prepare students for their future careers in industry.
If you are interested in starting your journey in Creative Media Production, or would like to find out more about our ScreenSkills accredited courses Click Here.
Last year we launched our Career Excellence Hubs (CEH), which connects industry and education with a closer alignment than ever before. Across our fourteen Career Excellence Hubs are employer endorsers, who play a key role in supporting our learners by:
- Co-designing training provision
- Creating an inspirational learning experience
- Providing the skills training required for your business and wider industry
- Delivering a talented workforce so your business and industry will thrive.
Each of the employers we work with are doing a fantastic job, and picking a top three was very difficult, but here is our shortlist for this year’s Business Awards:
At Em2, we love welcoming learners into our salon for work experience, with the aim of assisting them as they progress and develop skills in hairdressing. When learners come to us, we expect them to be polite, professional and punctual, as well as an open mind for watching and learning new skills. We also expect them to support the team in any way they can, including keeping on top of cleaning jobs and getting clients refreshments.
Elise and Poppy are our two learners currently with us on work experience, who are studying Hairdressing and Barbering and are constantly working incredibly hard to support the team. They are consistently punctual and reliable, and always go the extra mile to work to improve on becoming a better hairdresser.
Both have learnt treatments they can offer to clients, as well as becoming educated on the products used, to correctly inform the customers on what they want to know. Since day one, they have always had the right attitude for wanting to improve.
We feel that work experience at our salon has been hugely beneficial to Elise and Poppy as it has allowed them to grow in confidence, by shadowing established hairdressers. The business’s connection with the Fellowship for British Hairdressing has also enabled them to learn valuable skills, and build up regular clients of their own.
Their progress in the work has been evident, but also the progress in themselves as people has also been clear. They each have acquired skills in many areas, both directly in the field as hairdressing, as well as confidence in welcoming and engaging in conversations with clients. I’m a very proud manager of both, and we love having them in with us.
Emma, Em2 Hair
Media learners are starting their very own radio station!
Creative Media Production doesn’t just mean making videos. As well as full-blown TV production, podcasts and all aspects of filmmaking, our Creative Media department also expands into radio production.
As a result, learners are excited to be launching their very own radio station: Weston Waves!
From hosting shows/interviews and mixing music to elements of video and managing broadcast output, Media learners are developing a huge range of skills in order to manage all aspects of producing a professional show. Learners have access to industry standard equipment, enabling them to gain relevant and invaluable experience that will make them extremely employable on completion of their course.
The station is being championed by Media lecturer Mel Edmonds, who has a huge range of skills and experience from a diverse background as a News Editor and Broadcast Journalist with 20 years of experience working in commercial radio newsrooms alongside training presenters and journalists.
Mel’s industry background has not only brought years of knowledge for students to learn from but has also led to famous faces from high-profile stations sending in their words of wisdom and support for the Weston Waves team!
INDUSTRY TESTIMONIALS
Steve Parkinson from Bauer Media:
"Hi - I'm Steve Parkinson from Bauer Media and boss of KISS Kerrang! Absolute Radio and more fantastic radio stations. Radio and audio IS fantastic and so important to the creative arts. 9 out of 10 people listen to radio in the UK each week, and it’s the oldest medium still evolving and launching new services on a multitude of platforms. Radio and audio is visual now too which opens up even more opportunities career wise. So to you all at Weston College - good luck for a great launch of Weston Waves!"
Voice Over Artist Sally Bailey (who has recorded the jingles for Weston Waves):
"Media students have also played a big part in marketing the station. From designing the logo, posters and banners, to sourcing a professional voice over artist”
Video form Virgin Radio's Mike Cass:
Weston College’s Creative Arts department increases career-boosting benefits through the creation of the Creative Arts Career Excellence Hub. These innovative subject specific hubs allow for students at Weston College to have access to exclusive opportunities such as these close connections with big industry names. Endorsed by employers, this enables for better integration with the sector to make sure class content is relative and opens doors for learners, so they leave college with more than just a qualification.
Weston Waves is set to debut at the college’s Creative Arts Summer Festival – a phenomenal showcase of performances and art from across all our creative courses. This festival style event for all the family is running 16th – 18th June at Loxton Campus.
In preparation, learners were visited by Weston College Group Principal and Chief Executive Dr Paul Phillips CBE, who is to receive a Knighthood from the Queen for outstanding contributions in his field. The talented team were able to talk with the “Sir” to be, talk about Creative Arts at Weston College and also got the Principal to request 3 songs top play!
From September, it will broadcast to all campuses via Teams every lunchtime and late opening hours.
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.
