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.
From September, we will welcome our first cohort of engineering T Level learners, into our Engineering Career Excellence Hub.
T Levels offer learners an alternative to A Levels and apprenticeships, with a real focus on work experience, as learners must complete a 45-day industry placement with a local employer.
The engineering T Level, offers both a practical and academic focus, providing learners with skills, knowledge and understanding of subjects such as design, project, maths, materials and manufacturing principles.
Employers across the country are recognising how important T Levels are going to be, especially in their plans for developing their future work force.
Leading engineering company, Belcan, has pledged their support to Weston College and T Levels, by committing to offering an industry placement to T Level learners.
Steve Beasley, Head of Repair Engineering at Belcan, said: “Our philosophy is to build an inclusive work environment to attract and retain talented people, encourage innovation, and inspire top performance from employees to achieve superior business results by putting people first.
“We’re excited to be supporting Weston College through their new engineering T Level, and provide opportunities to young people wanting to enter the exciting engineering industry.”
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Belcan, they are a forward-thinking company that are very keen on providing opportunities that are vital in developing the engineers of tomorrow.
“The new engineering T Level is going to be highly desirable for school leavers as the programme is built to be beneficial for both our learners and employer network, meaning we are all working together to get learners job-ready.”
You can find out more about the Engineering T Level, here.
Weston College with the support of their partners GKN Aerospace launched an aviation industry high-skilled personnel training project with Jiangsu Jingjiang Secondary Specialized School in China today (18th January 2022).
Whilst in the midst of a global pandemic it would be reasonable to assume that overseas partnerships would stall or cease entirely. Contrary to this, Weston College’s initial foray into the international arena has seen significant progress with the official signing of the partnership.
Utilising technology to overcome vast geographical distances, the College’s work with Jingjiang School, in developing a bespoke aerospace manufacturing training centre, has continued to progress on schedule with the official signing ceremony involving Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive, Weston College Group, Mr Weiguo Gu, Jingjiang Secondary Specialized School, Principal, Mr Paul Collinson, Operations Director – China, GKN Aerospace Services Ltd, Mr Gang Xu, Jingjiang Secondary Specialized School, Vice Principal, Mr Longfei Li，Human Resources Director of Kafei, Mr Jing Wang, Vice Director, Jingjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee.
The project involves the development, implementation and ongoing quality assurance of aerospace manufacturing training, onsite at Jingjiang School. Jingjiang School will provide the highly skilled workforce required to operate an aerospace manufacturing facility for a joint venture (JV) partnership involving GKN Aerospace, AVIC International and Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd (SAMC – subsidiary of COMAC).
The training of the employees for the JV facility involves the development of a range of specific skills and capabilities in manufacturing and assembling of metallic and composite aircraft structure, e.g., aircraft fuselage, wings, and empennage. This is the first of its kind in the Jiangsu Province.
The state-of-the-art, 80,000m2 facility in Jingjiang will offer COMAC, AVIC and Western customers the opportunity to access an important local supply of advanced aerostructures in the country.
The JV builds on COMAC, AVIC and GKN Aerospace’s proven track record in the global commercial aviation industry. Production is scheduled to begin in Q4 2023, and the workforce is expected to grow to 1,000 employees.
Jiangsu Jingjiang School are a large specialized vocational school that caters primarily to students of a similar age range to UK Further Education colleges. Jingjiang School, similar to Weston College, has an outstanding reputation through delivery of excellent outcomes for learners with employment rates, pass rates and student satisfaction rates in the high nineties year-on-year. The School boasts a national level engineering training centre with 85 practical laboratories and workshops specialising in electrical and electronical, hydraulics and pneumatics, numerical control machining, computer networking technologies, and automobile maintenance.
Aerospace manufacturing will be a new strand of activity for the school, drawing on the expertise and established educational systems currently delivered at Weston College.
With dining out being an important part of our culture, how can the catering sector join the debate and put sustainability on the menu?
Endorsed by employers, the Hospitality and Catering Careers Excellence Hub encourages collaboration between the college and companies. This ensures that classroom content is relevant and students will be "job ready" when they go into the industry. A growing part of the industry at the moment is sustainability and where we get our food from. We caught up with Sandra Bull, Dean of Faculty for Hair Beauty and Barbering, Hospitality and Catering, Early Years Education and Counselling, to talk all about sustainability in the catering sector...
Food is wasted at each step of the supply chain. It remains unpicked if it is ‘ugly’, it perishes over long distances, it is ‘trimmed’ for aesthetics and it is left on the plate of not-so-hungry customers.
Chefs have the ability to intercept at each of these junctures. They can champion crooked carrots, source local food in season, use peelings for stocks and offer different portion sizes. Additionally, when waste remains, they can donate surplus to food waste charities. So here at Weston College and in the Grove training kitchen and restaurant we are embracing this concept...
Let me introduce our sustainable menu for takeaway next Thursday. All produce is locally produced (meaning less mileage), ingredients are in season now and we waste less. The Hospitality learners are learning about plastic waste and the food journey from Farm to fork.
Takeaway Thursday 27th January . Please call 411422 to book yours ! ?
We hope you enjoy
Fish and chips
Beef and ale pie
Venison burger
Winter veggie pie
Apple and pear crumble
£2.50 main £3.50 main & a dessert £4.00 meal deal drink main & dessert
Please inform us of any food allergies or special dietary requirements upon ordering and we will be happy to advise you.
Do you ever wonder why some supermarket food is just so cheap? You may not pay for it at the cash register, but the cost to your health, the soil, and the environment are there.
Sustainable eating is not easy.
We are finding out more about where our suppliers get the food they deliver. What is its journey, is it in season and can we convince the supplier to cut down on single use plastic?
This time of year, root vegetables and hearty greens are great for adding to curries and stews. Salads, Tomatoes, and fruit in the summer make colourful additions to your plate. Of course, milk and dairy produced are here all year around.
Freezing, dehydrating, and preserving in pickles can help to add favour and use in season stock. But we are going to have a go at Growing our own window boxes this term so we can provide all the herbs for our café and restaurant. Watch this space!
Initiatives like this are Weston College is committed to creating brighter and greener futures
When you don’t know your farmer because you’re buying from a supermarket then look for the words “Fair-Trade” or the RED tractor on your packaging.
This may be the hardest part of changing the way you eat. On the other hand, it forces you to simplify your food in a way that promotes health and flavour. The simple truth is sustainable food does not outsource its preparation.
Without basic cooking knowledge, none of this is possible so look out for our short basic cooking courses to give you confidence in the kitchen. Learning to cook your favourite foods using local ingredients can really make all the difference.
Eating mindfully may take a bit more effort but the rewards, for your family and their future, are too big to pass up.
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Starting this year our A Level learners have had the chance to be a part of our Sixth Form Career Excellence Hub. The hub aims to get learners closer to the world of work by providing useful and high-quality work experience. This work experience will give our students vital skills for the world of work such as punctuality, reliability, and working as part of a team.
Our learners will gain significant industry experience from the Sixth Form Career Excellence Hubs. From studying A Levels there is a huge range of industries for learners to go into, including science labs, fashion and art – among many others! This means that Weston College works with a wide range of employers who are able to provide a diverse range of opportunities that students can be a part of. Learners will be able to transfer the skills they have learned to not only a workplace, but also to their university courses as many of these skills can be applied to both.
The Sixth Form has its own dedicated building at our state-of-the-art Loxton Campus with classrooms, communal areas and access to a great library. Our staff often have experience within industry allowing them to pass on this knowledge to students.
The employers who we work with on our Sixth Form Career Excellence Hubs love them! Emma Cox from Thatchers Cider, said: “Partnering with Weston College ensures that together we can bridge the gap between education and employment to provide the best outcomes and opportunities for students.
For us this is about bringing future talent into the business, working with the college allows us to work with students so that they have both the knowledge and the skills to make informed decisions about their future and choices.”
Neil Criddle from Neil’s Data Consultancy Ltd, said: “It's really important to understand the different paths a student can now take from education into employment.”
For more information on how to apply to Weston College and join our amazing Sixth Form Career Excellence Hub, click here.
Public Services learners are part of an initiative called Career Excellence Hubs. This is an initiative to give all of our learners interesting and high-quality work experience. This is vital for learners to get a feel for the working environment and what a job in public services would be like for them. Despite the learner working independently with the employer for work experience, they are always supported to find a placement, and support is given throughout the placement.
Some of the skills that would be learned through public services work experience are discipline, teamwork, and an understanding of duty. On top of this, work experience can teach lots of soft skills like punctuality, respect, and reliability. As well as teaching these skills, work experience can also be used by learners to get their foot in the door for an employer they want to work for in the future. Employers are more likely to seek out someone who has experience of the company.
There are many jobs that people who study public services can go into. For example, students can work for the police or as a firefighter – saving lives in a highly respected role. The armed forces also seek public services, with branches such as the army, navy, air force and the marines. Weston College works with both Avon and Somerset Police and Avon Fire and Rescue as part of the Career Excellence Hubs.
Public services learners will study at the whole seventh and eighth floors of Weston College’s Knightstone Campus. This area features a gym, classrooms, and a massive sports hall with a climbing wall, perfect for learning about fitness and service.
For more information on how to apply to Weston College and join our incredible Career Excellence Hub for Public Services, click here.
Your GCSE results will be available from 8am on the 13th January 2022 via the Exams tab on your eILP. A printed results slip will also be posted to you on results day but is not likely to arrive for 2 to 3 days.
Accessing your results on eILP
- Log into your eILP using your Username (WS number) and password (like you use to log onto PCs in college)
- Click on the My ILP
- Set the Academic Year to 2021/22
- Click on the Exams tab on the left of your screen
- Your GCSE results for November 2021 are the ones against Board Occurrence NOVBG21.
For more information see the Exams page. If you experience any issues in accessing your results, please call the Exams Department via 01934 411411
Student's from the Criminology course at Weston College Sixth Form visited Shepton Mallet Prison to further develop their understanding of the criminal justice system.
Level 3 Criminology BTEC Diploma (equivalent to one A Level) is studied alongside two other A Level subjects and includes elements of psychology, law and sociology.
The programme leads to the development of knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system, awareness of the cause and effects of different types of crime. You will also examine theories that explain the behaviours and reasons why people commit crime.
Taking place just before the Christmas break, the prison visit provided the second year students with a tour of the prison itself accompanied by a former prison officer, they also experienced a lock in the cells and an extensive question and answer session with the prison staff.
Trips such as these are one of the career-boosting benefits that stem from the college’s newly formed Sixth Form 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.
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The world of work is changing. Young people are coming out of mainstream education every year and looking to build sustainable, meaningful career paths that will not only enable them to reach their full potential in the workplace, but also contribute to the communities they live in and work for.
The earlier that organisations understand this and make these connections (by helping to influence content and opportunities), the easier it is for employers to build a workforce infrastructure fit for purpose and the future and find those individuals who are its future.
This is why we (the Soil Association) are passionate about supporting Weston College’s Business Career Excellence Hub.
The Career Excellence Hub allows us to support the future generation by:
- Co-designing the training provision
- Helping to create an inspirational learning experience
- Providing the skills training required for us and the wider industry
- Giving learners a real-life context to their studies – the barriers and opportunities of the workplace
- Creating a space for soft skills to be developed further
Weston College is an excellent further and higher education provider – one which has a fantastic reputation locally for supporting employers to build progressive, creative and agile employees. As a UK charity, we want to align ourselves with organisations like them, as we can inspire each other to positively impact the future workforce of our industry.
We are only in the early stages of this partnership through the Business Career Excellence Hubs, but I am excited to see the impact that this will have for years to come.
Katie Dominy, Head of HR, Soil Association
Last year Weston College announced that they were going to be supporting employers and local young people through the Kickstart scheme, and 16 months later 100 people have passed through the programme.
The Kickstart scheme launched in September 2020, to support young people whose employment prospects were adversely affected by the pandemic.
The scheme provided a 6-month placement for people aged 16-24, who received Universal Credit and were at risk of long-term unemployment.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “Kickstart has been the perfect opportunity for us to live out our ethos, of creating brighter futures.
“There were many people that were sadly left without job opportunities during the pandemic, but this scheme has allowed us to match these talented young people, with employers that were in need of additional skills and in some cases an extra pair of hands.
“Reaching the 100 mark is something that we can all be proud of, and I am delighted to see the positive impact that this has had.”
Local recruitment firm, Abatec, recruited three people in a real range of roles through the scheme; with opportunities in administration, finance and sales.
Richard Buchanan, Managing Director of Abatec Recruitment, said: “Kickstart has offered an excellent opportunity for our business to offer meaningful work placements to people affected by the pandemic, whilst also receiving extra resource from three young people that were eager to get an opportunity.
“We gave our placements the chance to showcase their talents in a fast-paced business setting and we were so impressed with one of our placements, that we have actually employed her full time on completion of her 6-month placement.
“We are also really grateful for the support from Weston College throughout the whole process. It is fair to say we needed our hand holding at the beginning of the process, and Weston College did this and guided us through the process of hiring, training, and paying our kick starters.”
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.
