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Weston College has partnered with Jisc and Barco to build trailblazing ‘virtual classroom’ to support West of England Institute of Technology.

Weston College, the lead organisation for the West of England Institute of Technology (IoT), has launched a virtual classroom in a first for further education (FE) in the UK.

The project, developed with support from Jisc and technology supplier Barco, includes innovations such as mobile extending cameras, and provides the opportunity for enhanced remote-access education.

Jon Hofgartner, director of education technology at Weston College, says: “Using digital technology to amplify ‘the human factor’ in teaching might seem counter-intuitive, but using tech in the right way can break down barriers and help educators facilitate learning.

“It’s all in the design and implementation. We’ve tried to make our virtual classroom as straightforward as possible, so nobody needs a technical degree to work it.”

The classroom includes a bank of six 55-inch screens with cameras and Barco virtual classroom software, to allow an integrated experience for both teacher and students. It utilises the superfast and secure Janet Network connection from Jisc to support the infrastructure.

Simon Farr, director of innovation at Jisc, says: “Over the last six months, video technology has evolved and become much more the norm for delivery of teaching and learning.

“The virtual classroom at Weston College allows students and staff to fully engage with one another in real time, while in different locations with an almost in-classroom experience.”

Apprenticeships minister Gillian Keegan officially opened the West of England IoT on October 8th in a virtual ceremony. Ahead of her visit, she said: “IoTs will be the pinnacle of technical training, offering higher technical STEM education and training in key sectors.”

“[Digital education] will be even more important as we build back better from the pandemic.

“By collaborating with businesses, IoTs can deliver the technical knowledge and practical workplace skills employers are demanding – like nowhere else.”

For more information about the West of England Institute of Technology, please click here.

Anxiety can be a good thing; it generally means you care about the event you feel nervous about.

If things fall outside of what we can control, it’s easy to become anxious/fearful about them.

Exams are challenging because there is no way of us knowing the outcome. Our brains love predictability, but of course, this can’t be the case here.

Exams measure a snapshot in time of our academic journey, inevitably this makes us nervous and worried that we may not get our knowledge across in the allotted time period. These feelings are normal.

Watch this short video and find out how to manage exam anxiety:

Useful resources:

• TogetherAll
• Let's Chat workshops - visit the student zone to find out more and book your place

Gillian Keegan, Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, will be ‘virtually’ opening the West of England Institute of Technology (WEIoT) on Thursday (8th October).

The official WEIoT launch will be a virtual event, which brings together all the education institutions and employers that have been involved bringing it to its fruition.

In 2019 the first Institutes of Technology (IoT) were selected through a government-led competition and 12 were awarded – the WEIoT was one of these.

The WEIoT is a consortium of education providers and key employers across the West of England. It has been led by Weston College and includes the University of the West of England, Bath College, Gloucestershire College, and Yeovil College as well as a network of key local employers, including; GKN Aerospace, Airbus, GE Aviation, Renishaw, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust, , St Monica Trust, Jisc, Mayden Academy, National Composites Centre (NCC), North Somerset Council, Leonardo, Rolls Royce and Bamboo Technology.

Speaking ahead of her visit, the Apprenticeships Minister said: “I’m looking forward to launching the West of England Institute of Technology and speaking to some of the employers, including GKN Aerospace Services Limited, Mayden Academy and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, who have worked so hard to bring it to life.

“Institutes of Technology will be the pinnacle of technical training, offering higher technical STEM education and training in key sectors, such as advanced manufacturing and engineering, construction and infrastructure, and digital which will be even more important as we build back better from the pandemic. By collaborating with businesses, IoTs can deliver the technical knowledge and practical workplace skills employers are demanding – like nowhere else.

“I’m excited to speak to students and staff about the opportunities the IoT will offer them and the wider benefits it will have for the wider community.”

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, commented: “We are thrilled to be launching the WEIoT, and to welcome the Minister to witness the investment that this initiative is bringing. The WEIoT will significantly influence skills development and innovation on both a regional and national basis and the WEIoT strength is working collaboratively with other institutes and employers.”

In December 2019, the consortium appointed Claire Arbery as the Director of the WEIoT. Claire has been pivotal to the mobilisation of the project, Claire commented on the importance of the investment for the area: “The WEIoT funding has created opportunities for the educational partners to invest in cutting edge technology to provide their learners and employers with facilities to drive forward the developments needed to help build recovery. The focus on technical skills and education offered by the collaborative approach will bring wider benefits and the IoT will be able to support learners who may not have thought that higher level skills training was for them using our digital connectivity to its full potential.”

The West of England Combined Authority has also contributed £500,000 towards the project, and this funding has been used to support the digital capability toolkit for the WEIoT, so that all FE partners can be upskilled to deliver digital lessons.

Tim Bowles, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Technical skills are vital to our region’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. My plan for our Economic Recovery sets out how we will make sure our residents have the opportunities they need to train or retrain in this growing sector.

“Improving job prospects, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can fulfil their potential is one of my key ambitions for the region and the new West of England Institute of Technology will help make that a reality. It will give us the training we need for our residents to get the decent, well paid jobs that our region will rely on in the future.”

Our careers team are here to help with any enquiry you may have related to following the careerpath that's right for you!

We caught up with the team to answer some Frequently Asked Questions.

So you chose to stay at school to complete your further education, but are unsure if you have made the right choice?

We understand different people learn in different ways, and some may choose to stay on at a local sixth form.

However, for the majority of local school leavers, Weston College is a popular option due to the diverse range of courses and wanting to experience a fresh environment with a lively and exciting atmosphere as well. If you're considering changing your mind and joining us, here is how further education at college compares to further education at school, read on!

The way you're taught is different

Here in the college environment the relationship you have with the lecturers is totally different. You won't be expected to call them 'Sir' or 'Miss', and they'll treat you like an adult. They expect you to be able to work more independently, but also trust that you are able to manage your own time and work to deadlines in your own way.

Staff are industry professionals and will make learning more insightful by infusing their real-life industry knowledge into the course to prepare you for the world of work. 

You’ll study a subject area you enjoy

At college, we hope you will choose your course because it’s what you love to do, and something you would eventually like to turn into a career. Whereas in school, you still have to study a ‘core curriculum’, there’s none of that at college.

The only thing you may be asked to take is English or maths GCSE or functional skills if you were unsuccessful at secondary school, but we have plenty of extra support for this.

Your social circle will widen

Prepare to meet new people in a covid secure way! Although you will probably stay close with your secondary school friends, college opens you up to a whole new pool of potential pals. It can be really refreshing to mix with people from different schools and gain a whole new bunch of friends, whether this is from your course or outside of lessons e.g. sports academies.

Your timetable structure is different

Everyone is on different timetables and, depending on your course, you might not be in five days a week. You will have ‘free periods’ or times when you may not have to be in colleges but your friends may be. ‘Free periods’ enable you to catch up on coursework or study for exams. You also don’t need to stay on site for your free periods, the time is your own - but we will encourage you to be productive and proactive in this time, and make use of the excellent LibraryPlus and other facilities to use your time wisely!

Industry placements

All study programmes include work or industry placements, these enable you to gain the first-hand experience you need to stand out from the crowd in the employment market. Many students have gained employment directly from their industry placement!

The new term may have started but there is still time to apply and join us – find out how here >>

The Health and Active Living Skills Centre was a finalist in the recent LABC West of England Building Excellence Awards 2020, for the best educational building. These annual awards celebrate quality and building excellence in the delivery of outstanding construction and workmanship.

Weston College, Midas Construction Ltd and View Architects were recognised for their work to create the Health and Active Living Skills Centre, which boosts a modern learning environment for students studying courses in sport and health and social care, a full-sized 3G sports pitch, multi-purpose indoor sports hall and state-of-the-art hospital ward simulation room. The build had many considerations such as:

• Lighting design had to ensure it mitigated the light spill onto the adjacent hedgerows, due to the area being a bats commuting corridor.
• High voltage cables span above the northern end of the site.
• Wessex Water asset (rising main) runs along the eastern and southern boundaries.
• Hydro modelling took place to ascertain the storage requirements on site with attenuated flows controlled by hydrobrakes ensuring the site does not result in flooding elsewhere.
• The building aimed to, where feasible, use natural ventilation (ie sports areas) - Teaching areas made use of modular hybrid ventilators to achieve BB93 acoustic performance requirements and lower energy consumption compared to a mechanical ventilation alternative.
• The sports hall has large insulated translucent panels to provide light (normally a black box). The insulated translucent cladding provides an improved thermal performance over glass and helps diffuse the light reducing the risk of glare.

The project site was registered under the considerate constructors scheme (achieving an average score of 40/45) meaning they were independently evaluated helping to ensure they are safe and healthy environments for both the workers and the public.

Waste management strategies enabled the contractor to achieve 100% diversion of waste from landfill on the scheme. The Health and Active Living Skills Centre opened in 2019, it was the first of its kind in the region, not only for students of the college but also providing members of the public with access to modern facilities with the aim to improve the general health and wellbeing of the local community.

Read more about the Health and Active Living Skills Centre >>

Investors in People is delighted to award Weston College, a Weston-super-Mare based FE and HE college, the “We invest in people” Platinum accreditation.

Platinum is the highest level of accreditation possible to achieve and is a category that only 2% of organisations secure nationwide.

Building on its existing Gold accreditation and Champion status, the College received Platinum as a result of a whole-College approach to prioritising the development and well-being of its employees.

The quality standard was awarded following rigorous assessment, an online survey, staff interviews and the submission of detailed evidence. The College has had a track record with Investors in People since 1997, rising up the ranks each time it is assessed.

The College has held Gold status since 2010 and secured Champion in 2016. The assessment also included the College’s Prison Education staff who teach in prisons in the South West and South East.

Due to the College’s high score it has ranked in the top 20 organisations UK-wide, meaning it has also been nominated for the Investors in People national Employer of the Year.

Lynne Richards, Investors in People Practitioner who assessed the College commented: “On behalf of Investors in People I’d like to congratulate Weston College. Platinum accreditation on “We invest in people” is a remarkable effort for any organisation, and places Weston College in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.

“I was particularly impressed with the College’s approach in lockdown, during this unprecedented time the College opted to continue with the assessment, which ensured a real authenticity of process and all interviews with staff happened virtually, whilst they were also faced with new challenges in the remote delivery of outstanding education.”

Commenting on the award, Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Weston College Group said: “I am delighted that we have achieved this prestigious status – I believe that the success of an organisation begins and ends with people, and this major achievement is testament to the emphasis we place on putting our staff at the heart of the business.

“Employee engagement and investment are among our highest priorities. This achievement reflects those priorities, as well as the commitment and dedication our people give us in return. "Being recognised at UK level is hugely rewarding and we will continue to work hard to support our employees both personally and professionally.”

The College’s “We invest in people”, platinum accreditation, alongside the achievement of winning Lloyds Business National Business Awards Employer of the Year in 2019 and being the highest ranked college in 2019 Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For list, confirms the College’s status as not just a leading Further Education College, but also as a top employer in the country.

Want to join our team?
Click here for our latest vacancies >>

We have been in regular communication over the last two months with both our transport partners, First Bus and Bakers Dolphin, and can now confirm that services will operate with a few adjustments and certain guidelines:

• Both First and Bakers Dolphin services are currently operating at 50% capacity to meet social distancing guidelines.
• Learners must wear a mask on all services. Without a mask, learners will not be permitted to travel.

FIRST BUS - Passes can be purchased via the College shop

• First bus mTickets become active from Monday 7th September.
• Timetable information can be found via the First website or via the ‘travelling to college’ section of our website.
• Learners via the First Bus app will be able to access live data including number of seats available on a service.
• Instructions on how to use the mTicket can be found by clicking here.
• We have been able to negotiate with First additional services to support learner demand, as well as the creation of a specific service that will only be accessible for Weston College mTicket/bus pass holders.
  • The X5s will run solely for the College in the mornings only from Clevedon to Weston-super-Mare (timetable to be released in next day via First website).

BAKERS DOLPHIN - Passes can be purchased via the College shop

• The College will continue to run 5 core service routes via Bakers starting from 7th September.
  • Blagdon/Bridgwater/Clevedon/Nailsea/Portishead
• Timetables for these can be found here on our website.
• Learners must have purchased a Bakers Dolphin bus pass and collected this from a campus reception. Without a bus pass learners will not be able to access these services.
• Bakers will continue to provide a service for some of our apprenticeship learners travelling from Bristol (Rolls Royce and GKN).

TRAIN TRAVEL

A reminder that a variety of discounted railcards are available to learners including:

• 16-17 Saver (50% discount)
• 16-25 Railcard (33% discount)

Further information including purchasing these can be found here.

Train timetables can be accessed here.