News and events

On Thursday 18th August, Weston College celebrated the success of the first ever Digital T Level cohort, with a lunch hosted in the Greenhouse.

Earlier in the day, we found out that there was a 100% pass rate, including some highly impressive results, with Distinctions and Distinction *’s, with one learner receiving a scholarship for his university course on the back of such fantastic grades.

The event was attended by learners, staff and employers, who all played a key role in making the first cohort of Digital T Levels a success. There was also a very special guest, with Steve Frampton from the Association of Colleges also in attendance.

Weston College Group Principal and Chief Executive Sir Paul Phillips CBE opened the event, praising the learners for their hard work and dedication, as well as highlighting some of the amazing individual achievements.

Weston College Group Principal and Chief Executive Sir Paul Phillips CBE said: "I’m incredibly proud that our talented learners and my dedicated staff have surpassed national standards and worked so hard for the fantastic results they truly deserve.

“However, here at Weston College you’re not just taught how to pass an exam. Our focus looks not only on the present, but the future too with a key focus on kickstarting incredible careers. Our study programmes raise aspirations, and we work alongside industry to prepare students for their next step – whether that’s a Degree, Higher Apprenticeship or the world of work.

“A massive congratulations and thank-you to the cohort of 2022. I wish each learner every success in their onward journey.”

T Level learner, Alisha, was one of the learners that completed a Digital T Level, said: “I was thrilled with my result! It was the first real exam that I have ever done, so I was quite nervous. I am so proud of what I managed to achieve. I have been awarded a Distinction* (the top grade). The course has honestly been excellent, and I am so glad that I decided to go down the T Level route. It has helped me to develop a range of skills, from soft to hard skills – as well as developing my technical skills which I can already tell are going to benefit me in the future.

“I completed my placement at a company called Next Theme where I focussed on web development. I experienced creating a website for a company and used languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP. I particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to put the theory I’d learnt in the classroom into practice, by experiencing a real working environment.”

We also caught up with two T Level learners, Brandon and Alex, to get their thoughts on T Levels, and what they’re going on to do next, you can watch the video here.

To find out more about T Levels, please click here.

Four Health and Social Care Alumni, Finn, Jade, Nonna and Emily, had a long overdue reunion with their teacher, Sarah-Jane, a week ago. We were able to catch up with them to find out what they had been up to in their time since leaving the college, including their time so far at university, and their plans for the future.

The four had all progressed onto university courses in the Health and Social Care field, with Jade, Finn and Nonna opting for Adult Nursing, and Emily completing Paramedic Sciences.

Each student excitedly spoke about how their level 3 course at college prepared them for the tricky transition up to university, Finn sharing, “It was quite hard for a little bit because we were using Zoom – we used zoom and teams sometimes at college so it helped to prepare us, but trying to meet new people was difficult. Sarah-Jane used to teach us in the way that uni lecturers do though, where they put the slides on the screen and just talk. That definitely helped us get used to that style of teaching!”

Jade commented, “I actually found the transition really easy! The first module was basically what I had learnt at college, which made me more confident as I knew what I was doing. My first assignment was similar to ones we’d done previously at college, so I felt fully prepared!”

The students also shared their favourite part of studying at Weston College; Finn told us, “Undoubtedly the social side. I’m not from Weston so I didn’t know anyone when I first started, but you meet so many people so quickly. It really helps build your social skills which is so important when going into Nursing.”

Nonna and Jade added, “The lessons in the Sim Room (the simulation industry-standard hospital ward on campus) were incredibly helpful in preparing us for the nitty gritty of personal care, as well as the work placements we were lucky enough to complete. Both of these helped all of us out so much in getting a head start on our courses at uni!”

Our four learners all hope to go into nursing after gaining their degree! Finn hopes to specialise in burns and trauma, and plans on staying in the nursing career for “the next forty odd years”! Jade is looking into working in sexual health, though recently did a placement on an endoscopy unit which she also found really interesting. Nonna plans to travel with her nursing degree, and hopes it can take her to Australia. Emily would love to become a paramedic, and in the future specialise in critical care.

Congratulations to all our amazing alumni for how far they’ve come since leaving college, and good luck for their incredibly promising futures!

If you're interested in courses in Health and Social Care, click here!

What makes a good teacher? Endless qualifications and certificates? An encyclopaedic knowledge of a given subject? Here at Weston College, we have always stood by the belief that lived experience is far superior to any badge or certification. First person knowledge and in-depth understanding of real industry practice is what makes a good teacher!