LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES
There is always so much going on across our various campuses and courses.
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Weston College is delighted that its Principal Dr Paul Phillips CBE has been given a knighthood.
The award was made by Her Majesty the Queen in this year’s Jubilee birthday honours list in recognition of his services to education and in particular his leadership commitment to key national educational agendas such as mental health, higher technical education and inclusive practice for which he has shown a lifelong commitment, sharing best practice as the National People Lead, for one of three Department for Education National SEND Centres for Excellence in the UK – a status awarded to the College in 2019.
The Chair of Governors Andrew Leighton Price said:
“The work of Paul Phillips has been phenomenal for the College, turning it around from a College requiring improvement and in dire financial straits on his arrival in 2001, to building it to ‘outstanding’ and one of the best performing College’s in the country (c£69m), It is testament to his leadership, that this growth has been achieved organically rather than through merger, with the College now part of the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence network and having its own University Centre (University Centre Weston).
“His financial capability, people leadership and entrepreneurial ability, has shown a strong track record of being in surplus year on year, and his work with employers and stakeholders has gone way beyond that of a educational institution - with the College leading a strong skills focused coastal regeneration strategy for the last ten years to benefit the people of Weston-super-Mare and the West of England, which has acted as both a catalyst for job creation and economic growth.
“However it is his commitment to provide responsive solutions to complex learner educational agendas on a national scale that have made a difference to thousands of students, as a National Leader of Further Education (NLFE) he has been trailblazing an education based mental health support service, his specialist model of best practice for learners with SEND, his commitment to prison education delivered in nineteen prisons and his determination to secure and lead the West of England Institute of Technology.
“His work has developed truly innovative levelling up strategies, which he has shared with hundreds of schools and colleges across the UK and overseas, and it is this sharing of best practice which has shown him to be truly worthy of this award.”
On receiving the news, Dr Phillips said:
“I have always believed that everyone has the ability to achieve their potential regardless of their background and starting point in life. As leaders of education, it is our duty to show ingenuity, inclusiveness and responsiveness to get every leaner to where they want to be. We have to keep ensuring that education is as individualised as possible, putting in support where it is needed most and at the correct time for each learner. We owe it to every student to get it right. This year being the Platinum Jubilee is an extremely special year to be in receipt of this award from Her Majesty, and I would like to thank my fantastic staff and Governing Body for believing in me over the years, as well as the region’s employers who provide fantastic progression career opportunities, and of course my students who continually make me proud on a daily basis."
I began the Childcare Level 3 course at Weston College straight after finishing school. Many placements were offered throughout the course to help give an insight into what working in this field would be like, including the responsibilities and daily tasks of the nursery practitioners.
My first placement on the course with Weston College was at Little Bears Day Nursery, which then allowed me to return to work there full-time after I qualified. I have now been there for almost 5 years. Throughout that time, I have been able to progress from room support to Key Worker, and then again to Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo).
I think work experience benefits the learning experience at Weston College hugely, as it helped me understand how much more goes into being a practitioner in a nursery, including the impact and responsibility you have for the children that we look after. Placements at Little Bears hugely benefit the learners as they can see how we work with the children, and help gain confidence to achieve good communication with the parents and other practitioners.
In order to enhance their college journey, a learner can experience a more hands-on and practical experience in a work environment, whilst learning and doing the job. It can show them how to work as part of a team and building good relationships with colleagues and professionals. In this field in particular, it allows the learner to deeper understand many aspects including the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), taking good quality observations, and working with children of all ages and developmental needs.
As a local employer and a Career Excellence Hub endorser, I would expect learners to be enthusiastic and have a positive attitude when coming into this workplace, with a passion to work with children and eager to learn new things. I very much look forward to taking on new learners on placement and hopefully, in the future, taking them on as employees!
Kayleigh and Kim, Little Bears Nursery
Weston College Business Awards is back for 2022, after a three-year break.
The event which is taking place at the Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare on the 30th June, is a fantastic celebration of learners and employers, with a total of 29 awards up for grabs during the event.
We are delighted to share our shortlist for the ten employer awards, with the winners being announced on the night.
Good luck to all of the nominees!
Weston College continues to be recognised for its highly inclusive approach and innovative practice in SEND and has been successful in continuing to lead the sector for the next three years in partnership with the Education Training Foundation, as a delivery partner on behalf of the Department for Education’s Universal SEND services.
In 2019 Weston College was named as one of the three National Centres for Excellence in SEND, alongside City College Norwich and Derby College and over the last two and a half years, a powerful partnership has been established to share and innovate best practice. Each centre delivers a different theme, with Weston College focussing on ‘people’, supporting organisations to create an inclusive culture, creating a motivational career structure that enable staff to specialise in SEND and professionalise the provision.
This extended tenure means that Weston College will continue to support a step change across the FE sector, improving inclusivity for young people with SEND through their leadership hub and communities of practice, collaborating with NASEN and the Autism Education Trust to join together our outstanding work to support and develop inclusive practice from early years through to post 16.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “To retain our status as a Centre for Excellence in SEND is a huge honour. This announcement will enable us to continue the momentum we have gathered proactively informing the sector, sharing good practice, and developing highly innovative and successful provision for all learners.
“We’ve always taken great pride in the quality of our provision and the development of our specialist provision for learner with SEND. The College places enablement and personalisation at the heart of its strategic plans, creating a highly inclusive ethos and culture.
“Continuing as a Centre of Excellence in SEND in partnership with the Education Training Foundation, City College Norwich and Derby College will provide the opportunity to continue on this journey of impact, entrepreneurship and inclusivity ensuring this led from the top of the organisation to ensure no learners are left behind.”
I am Kacey Allen, the Office Manager and PA to the director of Bespoke Building and Carpentry. We do anything from renovations and conversions to new builds, using the latest cutting-edge technology, tools and products.
Due to the pandemic, cost increases have created challenges for us, as well as the availability of materials decreasing, creating a huge issue in the construction industry, leading to delays in jobs and price changes to both us and clients. Alongside this, there was a shortage of skilled workers generally, meaning not enough carpenters and groundworkers for us. As we have two newbuilds currently underway in Weston and Wedmore, we definitely needed to increase the support in our workload.
With the help of Weston College and the Constructing Lives Together programme, we were able to take on some eager-to-learn labourers and give Bespoke the support we needed with the general labouring jobs in the team, to help produce top quality services and products, particularly in the newbuilds currently being worked on. Each of the workers had completed training in Health and Safety, Construction Industry Training Board, and Construction Skills Certification Scheme, as well as gaining re-employment skills – which has been really beneficial to us!
Over the next few months we will be engaging with Constructing Lives Together again to continue to build our team and hopefully fill the shortage of skilled workers and reduce the delay in jobs we were struggling with before.
We would definitely recommend this programme to other construction firms who are looking to recruit newly trained workers, as you can ensure they will be willing to learn and looking for experience on the job. Furthermore, this programme provides an effective process of finding if the individual is suitable and a good match to the company before making your final decision.
We are excited to see what the future holds for both Constructing Lives Together and Bespoke Building and Carpentry, and look forward to taking on new skilled workers.
Kacey Allen, Bespoke Building and Carpentry.
You can find out more about Constructing Lives Together by clicking here.
On 24th May, Weston College hosted the Inclusion in Technology conference at the Winter Gardens.
The event was well attended, with learners, staff and local employers in attendance, to hear from two engaging speakers, highlighting the importance of inclusion of tech in regard to diversity, equality, inclusion and accessibility within the industry.
The first guest speaker was founder of Structur3dpeople, Rav Bumbra, a tech recruitment specialist who pioneers diversity initiatives in the industry.
Rav delivered a fantastic talk, with a key element being that anything is possible in a technology driven world.
The second guest speaker was SEND Advanced Practitioner, and Mental Health Specialist, Georgie Ford, who looked at the inclusivity paradigm shift, and neurodiversity.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “At Weston College we are proud to be advocates for inclusion across all sectors, and this event was beneficial in taking a deeper look into the tech industry – especially for our learners, as it opened their eyes to new opportunities which was very exciting.
“Last year we created our Career Excellence Hubs, and a key theme of these is to boost opportunities for our learners through real world opportunities, as well as supporting local employers to access a talented, inclusive workforce.
“Working with key advocates such as Rav and Georgie, is critical in amplifying inclusion and gender diversity, within the tech industry and we look forward to hosting similar events for other industries in the coming months.”
You can see Weston College’s full event list, by clicking here.
Recently Weston College hosted an innovative and forward-thinking Learner Sustainability and Social Action Conference at the grand Winter Gardens ballroom. The event welcomed our Weston College and UCW learners, as well as local business partners, working to raise awareness and develop ideas surrounding sustainability.
Principal Dr Paul opened the conference with powerful words outlining the Weston College approach to “Creating Greener Futures”, establishing how we will reach Net Zero through the implementation of our new Sustainability Framework.
After Dr Paul’s inspiring address, the conference welcomed Peter Lefort from the University of Exter’s Green Futures Network. Peter gave a daunting yet moving presentation, discussing the future of Climate Change, and the action that must be taken towards achieving a “Greener Future”.
He told the conference attendees “We often get caught up in the words Climate Change, but ‘change’ is the thing that we need to focus on and understand about the environment”.
This was a pivotal moment in Peter’s presentation, demonstrating to the audience of Weston College and UCW learners that our fates are not sealed, and each and every one of them can implement and enact real change to make a difference and strive towards a “Greener Future”.
This was further reiterated by our Weston College Head of Business Growth and Employer Partnership, Dave Crew, who outlined the current employability landscape and the growing demand for ‘Green Jobs’.
Dave’s words powerfully cemented the sentiment that our learners are the future and the actions they take towards establishing and working in greener careers will be imperative to “Creating Green Futures”.
Weston College is proud to be working to be part of the solution, encouraging our learners to engage in debate and thought-provoking discussion to develop thinking surrounding sustainability.
Animal Management are delighted to introduce the newest addition to the team: baby Emu, Egbert. Egbert’s carers have been spending lots of quality time with the little chick, in the hopes that he would imprint on them.
This is something that Emus do in the wild in order to learn and identify with their caregivers, in Egbert’s case this is the wonderful Animal Management team.
The incredible staff and students have had great success, with Egbert following them around everywhere and becoming a popular and beloved member of the family.
Emus are native to Australia, and so the students have relished in the rare opportunity to engage in such hands-on experience working with the unique and interesting Egbert.
Our Level 3 Animal Management BTEC Extended Diploma is taught at Knightstone Campus, with practical work based at our Puxton Park facilities, offering students relevant and crucial industry experience.
This course provides learners with the opportunity to work with a wide range of animals while gaining detailed academic knowledge of animal science, behaviours and management.
Our brilliant tutors cover topics such as animal health, nutrition, welfare and breed development as well as supporting learners to interact with amazing animals like Egbert.
Our Animal department increases career-boosting benefits through the creation of the Animal Management Career Excellence Hub.
These innovative subject specific hubs allow for students at Weston College to have access to exclusive opportunities such as this.
Endorsed by employers from within the industry, 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.
Name: Lutz
Studying: Counselling Level 2
Location: UWE Bristol
Why did you decide to study counselling?
I gravitate to being a helper in my personal and professional life. What brought me to the programme is the recognition that I need the correct tools in my toolbox to be able to deliver a professional service in all circumstances.
I want to ensure that the help I give is ethically sound, and based on solid foundation that guide my friend, family, or student to rise above whatever form of challenges they face.
I found it necessary for me to have a deeper understanding of what counselling skills entail, how it works and why. On many occasions, when someone offloads their circumstances, I empathise with them and feel that weight that is weighing them down. I realised that when I am fully trained, I can help others to a much greater depth whilst protecting my own safety and wellbeing.
Your experience of the Weston College course delivered at UWE
My caring, knowledgeable, and experienced tutors from Weston College are experts in their fields and provide a lot of authentic practice of using counselling skills in the course.
This positive experience is echoed by my cohort because everyone looks forward to attending this course every Tuesday evening after work and family life.
This wonderful collaboration between Weston College and the convenience of attending the course at UWE enables the commute. This is valuable for me and my cohorts as it motivates us to pursue our career and support those that need us.
How the course is assuring your job role or progression at work or further studies
The counselling skills course has been useful in my current role as an educator when addressing children’s emotional needs during these challenging times. The course has also given me a clear vision of the career path I want to take.
If you’d like to follow in Lutz’s footsteps, and study a counselling course, you can do so, by clicking here.
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.
