News and events

Our Hospitality and Catering students have been at it again, preparing delicious meals with the help of professional chef masterclasses and learning new skills that they wouldn’t normally learn until later in their career. 

The executive head chef from Coast & Country Catering, Chris Chatfield, came in to deliver a masterclass to our hospitality students over two days. On the first day, he gave them a chocolate masterclass which included making a pre-dessert of Pina Colada, followed by an out-of-the-ordinary ‘apple’ crumble, and on the second day, the learners created an outstanding dinner menu using a range of techniques and foods to be presented as the Grove’s dinner menu to the public. 

The pre-dessert Pina Colada consisted of a chocolate and coconut shell with a pineapple salsa and a coconut foam. The ‘apple’ crumble was also no ordinary apple crumble, but was rather a white chocolate mousse, set in a green coloured chocolate to look like an apple, with an apple and blackberry centre and set on a bed of crumble. These dishes taught the learners how to uniquely present their dishes to look even more high-quality and professional due to the time and effort gone into them. 

On the second day, the learners readied for the Tuesday night dinner service at the Grove, and, with the help of Chris, the students created some exceptional final dishes including starters like Crab Mille Feuille and Haricot Blanc Velouté, and mains including Mizo Glazed Venison Loin, Hen of the Woods, and Stone Bass. 

During this takeover, the students developed their skills and learnt new techniques, not only in cooking but also with presentation and serving. The technical skills included high-end plating skills, cooking and picking crabs, breaking down venison saddles to produce sous vide loin, salt baking vegetables, smoking vegetables, curing, pickling and making a classic au jus. 

Chris also offered an insight into Michelin level cooking, as well as outlining the expectations and behaviours that are expected within the industry at that level so the learners could develop an understanding of a real-world professional kitchen. 

Overall, the masterclass was a success, allowing students to flex their culinary skills and learn new ways of cooking and presenting in order to create quality dishes in all aspects. The learners learnt so much from Chris and produced a fantastic final menu that they should be proud of. 

We’d like to say a big thank you to Chris for helping our learners better their abilities and improve their confidence in the kitchen so they can become our future professionals in the culinary industry. 

If you’re interested in applying to one of Hospitality and Catering courses in September, click here. 

Recently, we welcomed Boris Zamba from the band Voodoo Ramble to the Michael Eavis Suite at Loxton Campus, performing live alongside The Blue Horizon, one of our very own alumni bands. Together, these two groups merged elements of the UK blues scene with Croatian influences, offering our Year 2 cohort of Level 3 TV, Film, and Creative Production students the chance to develop their skills in a real-world setting through live performance and hands-on music production. 

The TV, Film, and Creative Production students were immersed in numerous performance-making opportunities, while also showcasing their expertise by capturing footage of the event. Our Creative and Commercial Photography students documented every moment, working collaboratively to curate a fully produced live album and video, demonstrating their technical skills and artistic talent. 

The Blue Horizon anchored the rhythm section, supported by two of our Music students on backing vocals. This performance was a remarkable success, featuring dynamic collaboration led by music legend Boris Zamba on guitar and lead vocals. Despite facing some unexpected technical challenges, the students demonstrated resilience and professionalism, earning praise from the audience and guest performers alike. 

Jade Hicks, our Head of Performance and Production, reflected on the experience: “This project has been an exceptional opportunity for students to learn the end-to-end process of creating a commercial release.” She emphasised that students gained invaluable industry skills, including “technical setup, live sound engineering, visual capture, and post-production.” 

The event showcased phenomenal performances by the music students, The Blue Horizon, and Boris Zamba. Through this practical industry experience, students not only enhanced their confidence in performing but also opened doors for future networking opportunities in their musical journeys. 

This partnership forms part of the Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.    

To see more about our Creative Arts courses, click here. 

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

What is a T Level? 

T Levels are a new and emerging Further Education (FE) qualification that are available to all learners aged 16 to 19. It is the perfect blend of 20% theoretical knowledge and 80% practical experience to provide the learner with a holistic understanding of the industry. This not only improves the learners' skills and confidence, but it also provides invaluable hands-on experience and networking opportunities. 

It is difficult and daunting to know what you want to do after you finish here at Weston College, but once you have completed your T Level, there are many different progression routes available to you, whether that is a Degree Apprenticeship, University, or full-time employment. 

Degree Apprenticeship: 

You could choose to further your hands-on experience by applying for a Degree Apprenticeship and get a fully funded degree whilst earning a salary. Degree Apprenticeships are increasing in popularity as they have the best of both worlds, allowing you to obtain a Higher Education (HE) degree whilst also getting real-world work experience which many employers value.  

One student, Ben, was a former Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning, T Level learner and completed his practical placement at Hydrock. Once his T Level was complete, Hydrock recognised Ben’s talent and hard work and kept him on as a degree apprentice through University Centre Weston (UCW). 

Ben said, “I have developed my technical skills and have had the chance to experience every aspect of different teams which has allowed me to broaden my overview of the industry and experience different areas that I could potentially go into.  

T Levels are definitely worth it! They’re concise and specific to the industry you’re interested in which gives you a great understanding of what to expect for the future.” 

University: 

On the other hand, T Levels do provide learners with UCAS points so you also have the option to go to university and further your knowledge of the subject. At the end of your T Level, you will achieve an overall grade of either a pass, merit, distinction, or distinction* which are equivalent in UCAS points to three A Levels. 

One learner, Grace, studied the Early Years Educator T Level and finished with a Distinction. Her work placement was completed at Stationhouse Nursery where she gained a lot of hands-on experience and got the opportunity to work there over summer. She has now progressed to Norland University which is famous for providing the very best early years training and education course. 

Grace said, “I would tell anyone considering a T Level to 100% go for it, especially if you have an idea of what you want to do!  

I think it is the best of both worlds, you will have UCAS points to go to university if you wish, but you also have the practical experience which sets you apart from everyone else and allows you to find a job straight away! It’s a lot of hard work but so worth it.” 

Employment: 

Alternatively, you can also go straight into work after completing your T Level. Many employers encourage work experience prior to employment which is exactly what a T Level provides due to the placement hours, but it also gives learners a large, theoretical knowledge base surrounding the subject. The practical element that a T Level provides is incomparable and is thought to be invaluable to employers. 

Jodine, a Business, Management and Leadership T Level learner, completed her T Level placement at Sytner Mercedes-Benz and was even offered employment after her T Level was complete. She worked hard throughout her placement, and it paid off, learning many skills and applying them excellently in practical scenarios. 

Jodine said, “I gained invaluable insights into each role and its responsibilities, enabling me to define my future career aspirations, which ultimately led to me getting an amazing job opportunity and joining the team. 

The challenges encountered during the placement have fortified my resilience, contributing to a comprehensive and enriched learning journey that seamlessly complements my academic curriculum. 

I would recommend a T Level because the work experience element of the course can open many doors.” 

Overall, T Levels are proving to be a fantastic opportunity for young adults to experience a real-life working environment and begin networking at an early stage. It allows them to experience the expectations and professionalism that an industry entails and put their theoretical knowledge into practice.  

If you are interested in applying for a T Level in September, click here.