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.
We love a good progression story!
Studying degree programmes has never been more convenient with higher education provider University Centre Weston (UCW) on our doorstep. This means learners can study all the way up to degree level whilst staying at home, saving money and still getting an outstanding qualification.
Early Years student Lacey progressed from her Level 3 course at Weston College to the Early Years and Education FdA at UCW in September 2021. She told us all about her journey so far:
"I studied Level 3 in Children’s Play, Learning and Development at Weston College. I was inspired to study at HE due to my love of learning and wanting to push myself further to succeed.
"I decided to stay at UCW to gain this further knowledge as many people recommended it to me including friends, it also meant I could stay at home to complete my studies which has been great.
Since Lacey studied at Weston College, the Level 3 programme she studied has since been replaced by a T Level qualification. As well as brand new facilities, the has department has also benefitted from the introduction of the Education Careers Excellence Hub, endorsed by employers to ensure the courses are relevant to the industry and to maximise opportunities!
Lacey continues:
"So far, I am loving the course at UCW, the methods of teaching vary, and I think that is really good. There is a nice balance of discussion, lectures, and guest lecturers throughout the course.
"I am hoping to go on to do the full BA honours degree and search for work within the family support sector as a long-term career, I am hoping to have a placement based in this area to help me gain experience."
Thanks for sharing Lacey, we can't wait to hear more about your future successes!
Hi, I’m Georgia, an apprentice at Weston College.
I started my Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship in May 2021 working in the Employment Services Department. It has been such a fantastic experience for me, and I have actually already received a promotion as an Account Co-ordinator within the West of England Works Team – whilst still completing my apprenticeship.
I didn’t start an apprenticeship fresh out of school or college, I was actually working in a full-time, permanent position, however I felt I wanted to gain a qualification whilst continuing to earn a wage. It was at this point I looked down the apprenticeship route.
After researching further into the different apprenticeship routes available, I decided that the Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship was perfect for me. I feel that an apprenticeship gives you the perfect balance between work and study and this is just what I was after.
My apprenticeship has provided me with so many opportunities, and it has really helped me to develop a number of key skills, which will benefit me in my career.
One of the biggest skills I was able to learn and improve during my apprenticeship was my Digital Skills. I had the opportunity to complete my Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel Certifications and I was able to earn the Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate Level Certification.
My apprenticeship has also helped me gain confidence in communicating with external stakeholders, as I have built the skills which enable me to communicate professionally and confidently. This has really benefited me in my new role, as I am required to communicate regularly with the external partners from the West of England Works Project.
If you’re reading this and considering an apprenticeship, you should definitely go for it! It will open new doors to you, and give you many transferable skills which will help you to achieve your career goals.
Not only that, the support available is second to none. I have received support from my assessor, manager and colleagues, which has meant that the whole process of my apprenticeship has been smooth and manageable.
Thanks to my apprenticeship, I have been able to start my career and I am excited to see what the future holds for me.
Georgia Stanbridge, Account Co-ordinator within the West of England Works Team
If you'd like to follow in Georgia's footsteps with an apprenticeship, you can start your journey, here.
The adventure never stops for Uniformed Public Services!
10 Level 3 students demonstrated resilience and impressive physical capabilities by successfully navigating an arduous 18 mile route through the Brecon Beacon Mountains followed by an overnight camp! ?⛺️
Trips such as this help to immerse our learners in the environment and grow their understanding of the local landscape and the impact they can have. Whilst camping and walking, leaners ensured that no litter or evidence of people was left behind. As well as reducing our carbon footprint, Weston College is committed to creating brighter and greener future for our community.
Trekking through challenging conditions, the team finished at 9pm in the dark with students tired but elated with their achievement!
Our Public Services Career Excellence Hub supports learners in developing key skills, that employers are looking for, such as discipline, communication and team work.
? Faculty Dean Helen George commended the group on their achievement recognising it as "monumental" - A HUGE well done everyone!
Click here to discover our full time courses and apprenticeships in Uniformed Public Services
Our Fashion students' next project: Accessorize!
The Level 3 Fashion and Textiles learners have been building on their skills, making dresses, and working with porcelain in our professional ceramics studio to create some beautiful jewellery including brooches, earrings, and necklaces!
All our Creative Arts courses are taught at our Loxton Campus, the home, heart, and hub of creative arts in Weston. Learners are taught by industry professionals, and are encouraged to find their voice, express their personality in a multitude of art forms and blossom beyond their expectations.
As a student on our Level 3 UAL Extended Diploma in Fashion and Textiles course learners are given the chance to explore fashion and develop their understanding of fashion by experiencing varied disciplines across fashion design, production, digital media, communication, and fashion business.
This course is part of the Creative Arts Career Excellence Hub. These innovative subject specific hubs allow for students at Weston College to have access to exclusive opportunities. 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.
Click here to:
Organisations in North Somerset have joined together, to create Accelerate, which is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
The new initiative has been created to support local business to thrive, through short term training designed to establish a culture of innovation and growth.
It will be run by several local project partners, which includes: North Somerset Council, The Food and Drink Forum, North Somerset Enterprise Agency and Weston College.
Organisations will be able to access a vast programme of 56 dedicated skills sessions and masterclasses, for free. They will be delivered by industry experts and trainers focussing on themes that will support local business, including business planning, digital support, sustainability, green agenda, mental health and wellbeing, sales, and business planning.
The skills sessions will offer qualification-based training and more advanced professional support as we invest in the skills, employment opportunities, business growth and capability of you and your business needs.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “Accelerate is a really exciting project, and we are delighted to be playing our part in supporting local businesses.
“We’re offering a wide range of free training sessions, which will assist our community in key areas such as sustainability and diversity, which is at heart of our ethos at Weston College.
“It is fantastic to be linking up with other likeminded, forward thinking organisations in North Somerset Council, The Food and Drink Forum, and North Somerset Enterprise Agency to deliver Accelerate.”
You can sign up for these free training sessions, here.
As a business and from a personal perspective, I believe it’s vitally important to support education, training and the development of all students at Weston College.
This opinion is twofold for me, first of all I was indeed a student at Weston College myself, before embarking on my career. Secondly my eighteen-year-old son has just graduated from Loxton Campus with three A-Levels. These qualifications earned him a well-deserved place in a Business School at a Cambridge University campus, to say I am proud of him is an understatement.
There is so much talent within Further Education, and I strongly believe that as employers we should be investing in young people who will become the leaders of our businesses in the future.
Interaction between industry and education is very important. Students need to be able to navigate their way through from classrooms and coursework to a career and the workplace – with practical experience and industry knowledge playing a critical part in development.
Through Weston College’s Hair and Beauty Career Excellence Hub, we are able to get involved and support students, whether that be through delivering masterclass sessions, playing a part in the development of curriculum or offering work experience.
As a business, we also want to grow our team, and see Weston College students as the perfect candidates to be valued members of our team.
The Beauty Spot Weston is a proud supporter of Weston College and have been for a number of years now. This support will continue for many years to come.
Hannah Hoskin-Love, The Beauty Spot
A PE teacher will work in schools and colleges teaching a range of sports and fitness to young people of all ages from primary school to college.
Could you be a PE Teacher?
To be a PE teacher some of the skills and knowledge you will need to have the ability to motivate and inspire pupils of all abilities, can use your knowledge to design courses and lessons, you must be able to work well with others and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. You will need to pass enhanced background checks to become a teacher. Some of the daily tasks you may do as a PE teacher could be teaching and coaching a range of sports and activities to pupils of different abilities and ages, organising events like sports days and matches against other schools/colleges, prepare pupils for their exams and set assignments, meet with parents/carers to discuss their children's progress.
The working environment could be within a college, or a school and you will be required to work in environments which could be indoors or outside in all weathers.
Check the entry criteria:
Depending on the school and level you apply for the entry criteria will be different. you will need to decide who you want to teach, this could be primary, secondary, or further education. All teaching jobs will require you to have at least 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and if you wish to teach primary you will need at least a 4 (C) in science, or the equivalent qualifications. You will need a university degree or an equivalent qualification to gain your QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). To get into university you will need to have at least 2 or 3 A levels or a level 3 qualification. To become a teacher, you will need either a degree with QTS or if you were to do a degree without QTS a completed PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education), which can be either at university or on a school-based training programme. To specialise as a PE teacher, you will need to have a degree in sports science or the equivalent.
To get into PE teaching you could apply for the Sports Coaching & Physical Education, BTEC Extended Diploma at Weston College which would give you the relevant information to go onto a sports science course at university.
Get the relevant training/ How to become:
To get into the PE Teacher role you can go the university route, go through an apprenticeship or work towards the role. Through university you will gain a degree with a QTS which would allow you to go straight into teaching. If you get a degree that is not a QTS you can then take the apprenticeship route and complete a PGCE with a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship. If you were to become a graduate in a sport related course without at QTS then you may be able to get into teaching by working as a sports coach in schools and then moving into a teacher training programme.
To improve your application, you could attend teacher training events before you apply to get advice about the profession, the different training routes you could take, and the funding. You can attend these events in person and online and attending these could be incredibly useful for teachers in training. A useful skill to have on your application would be being able to drive as you may be expected to drive a minibus to take teams of pupils to sporting events.
Further development…
As a qualified PE teacher, you could further progress into becoming a specialist leader of education where you would be supporting teachers in other schools. Other roles you could pursue would be a curriculum leader, head of department or even head teacher or deputy head.
Our first Open Evening of the academic year is just around the corner! If you've not yet registered to attend, please click here to book your place for the evening of Thursday 27 January - Visitors must book in order to attend.
To keep everyone as safe as possible we’d like to remind you that in order to enter, visitors must provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test.
If ahead of the event you or a member of your household experience any COVID-19 symptoms or have a positive COVID-19 test you must not attend the event.
What will happen on arrival?
- Please arrive promptly for your time slot at the campus you have booked for.
- Be prepared to show your negative lateral flow test.
- Be prepared to be asked if you, or any member of your household, are suffering symptoms associated with COVID-19.
- Confirm you haven’t been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and should currently be self-isolating.
- Once you are signed in you will be paired with a chaperone who will take you to visit the subject area(s) you are interested in.
Face coverings
Face coverings are required in order to attend this event unless mask exemptions to individuals apply.
Toilets and Hygiene
Toilets and handwashing/sanitising facilities will be available onsite.
Thank-you for your co-operation, we hope you enjoy the evening!
Today (26th January) Dr Paul Phillips CBE was announced as part of the shortlist for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Heroes Awards, in partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and NCFE.
The awards honour, celebrate, and shine a light on individuals and organisations championing diversity and inclusion within the business, and technical education sectors. There was an outstanding field of entries, and the winners will be revealed at a virtual awards ceremony on 24 February inspiring others on their own diversity and inclusion journey.
Dr Phillips commented on the news:
“I am delighted to be shortlisted for these prestigious awards for our role as the competition organising partner in hosting the National WorldSkills UK Web Design Competition, which took place in the fantastic Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare. This was a real example of where Weston College’s inclusive ethos really shone through to ensure all competitors were supported to achieve their very best, and to provide an event of a such a huge magnitude reflective of those that take place in the NEC and give competitors the chance to experience what a national WorldSkills UK final should be all about despite COVID 19.”
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.
