<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Our Fashion, Photography, and Art students recently had the exciting opportunity to visit the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum (V&amp;A) in Knightsbridge, London, where they immersed themselves in the world of fashion and photography. The group explored the iconic career of supermodel Naomi Campbell, whose exhibition at the V&amp;A showcased a collection of works by some of the world’s top designers and photographers. The exhibition also highlighted Naomi’s significant activism and her cultural impact.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;students standing outside victoria and albert museum in london&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73af149f-eb37-430a-afd5-3051f6247da7" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_650x650&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>In addition to the Naomi Campbell exhibition, the students visited the Fragile Beauty exhibition, which featured a remarkable collection of photographs owned by Elton John. This collection included works from some of the most respected photographers in the industry, covering themes of fashion, celebrity, reportage, and the male body. The exhibition provided a unique opportunity for the learners to explore contemporary and modern photography and how it intersects with fashion and society.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;students at albert and victoria museum of fashion and photography&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="361b93ec-843f-4ce6-810c-4f5acb07248b" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_650x650&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>The trip was led by Nicola Stent, Samantha Gilraine, and Dan Wheatley, who were all impressed by the students’ engagement and enthusiasm throughout the day. Nicola Stent shared her thoughts on the experience, saying, “It was an absolute joy to witness the learners gather inspiration, capture their own photography during the visit, and develop their creative ideas. The students truly showcased their talent, and it’s clear they are on a path to success. They represented Weston College exceptionally well, and we are excited for the next creative visit.”&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;students at albert and victoria museum of fashion and photography&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7276bd77-9004-4b54-a5b3-06e5f3405535" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_650x650&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>This insightful and exciting visit to the V&amp;A provided a wealth of inspiration for the learners, offering them the chance to explore the intersection of art, fashion, and photography at one of the world’s leading cultural institutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">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.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>To find out about what A Level subject courses we have to offer, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… click here.</u></a>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>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.</strong></p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Last month in November, our staff and students came together in a powerful display of solidarity for Movember, a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about men’s mental health and prostate cancer. Building on the success of last year’s initiative, our vice principals and student engagement team organised a series of activities aimed at promoting physical and mental well-being.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>“Move for Movember” Challenge: Aiming for 96,000 Minutes of Exercise</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>As part of the Movember initiative, we launched the "Move for Movember" challenge, encouraging staff to accumulate as many minutes of exercise as possible throughout the month of November. In recognition of the 60 men lost to suicide every hour globally, the challenge aimed to reach a target of 96,000 minutes—160% of last year’s total of 60,000 minutes. Last year, staff members collectively exceeded expectations with 69,610 minutes of exercise recorded across more than 1,000 entries, and this year’s goal was to take that achievement even further.&nbsp;</p><p>Two of Weston College’s Vice Principals committed to exercising for 60 minutes daily throughout the month, as a show of dedication to the cause. In total, staff participated in a variety of activities, ranging from high-intensity workouts to low-impact exercises, such as leisurely dog walks, chair aerobics, and swimming. As part of the challenge, participants were also encouraged to join in at their own pace and find exercise that worked for them, reinforcing the connection between physical activity and mental well-being.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Men’s Talk Club: Offering Safe Spaces for Discussion</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>In addition to the physical activity challenge, we introduced Men’s Talk Club taster sessions at its three campuses to further engage students in conversations about mental health. These sessions, facilitated by staff and a member of the External Men’s Talk Club charity, provided a safe, non-judgmental space for male students to discuss their emotions and experiences. The aim was to establish permanent Talk Clubs on campus, offering peer support and creating networks for students facing common stresses and worries.&nbsp;</p><p>These initial sessions provided an introduction to the future Talk Clubs, giving students the opportunity to learn about the supportive networks being created and understand the importance of mental health awareness.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Campus Challenges: Building Community Spirit</strong>&nbsp;</p><p>We also introduced a fun and competitive element to Movember with a series of campus v campus rowing challenges. A rowing machine was placed in the reception area of each campus, with students encouraged to row as many metres as possible for their campus. The challenge sparked excitement and friendly competition among the students, with some pushing themselves to extraordinary distances. The event was a fantastic success, helping students to stay active while supporting a crucial cause.&nbsp;</p><p>" A huge thank you to all the staff who participated in Move for Movember 2024 - we recorded a staggering&nbsp;73,703&nbsp;minutes of exercise across the month," said Ben Knocks, Vice Principal for Student Experience and Support. "This may not have been above our challenging target but is still&nbsp;4,092&nbsp;more minutes&nbsp;than we achieved in 2023. "&nbsp;</p><p>We'd like to extend our&nbsp;heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in Movember activities, from the "Move for Movember" challenge to the rowing competition and Men’s Talk Club taster sessions. The community spirit displayed this month has been exceptional, and we are grateful for everyone’s involvement in helping to raise awareness for men’s mental health.</p><div class="news-content-first et_pb_row node-content news layout-" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);flex:1 1 700px;font-family:&quot;HCo Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:auto;max-width:unset !important;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:57.0781px 0px;position:relative;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;width:unset !important;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item" style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:18px;margin:auto !important;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;width:1192.55px;"><p style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:500 !important;line-height:1.6em;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;width:1192.55px;"><strong style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">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&nbsp;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.</strong></p></div></div>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The real highlight of Helen’s 20 years at the College has been ‘the people’. It has been the friendships formed, the teamwork, the celebrations of shared successes, and during the tougher times, when staff always come together to support one another. It is these connections that made every day worthwhile and the reason why Helen continues to be totally committed to the College.</p><p>During her time at the college Helen is thankful to have had the privilege of working alongside so many talented, dedicated, and inspiring individuals. Reflecting on when she first walked through the doors for her interview two decades ago, she never could have imagined the journey ahead. What makes Weston College so special for Helen is the ethos and unwavering commitment to excellence.</p><p>Throughout her time at the college, she has always felt valued as a staff member and feels that she has been given countless opportunities to grow and to take on new challenges. Beginning her career as a Business Lecturer, Helen quickly progressed to a Curriculum Manager, then Head of Faculty, Dean, and now an Assistant Principal.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Helen George, assistant principal of curriculum&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="98c2b0c2-98c2-48e0-8e32-d0cbdc7ab17d" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_400x400&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>Helen reflects on some of her fondest memories and the ‘stand out’ moments she recalls are the numerous team events which have been instrumental in helping teams to bond and form long lasting and trusting relationships and most importantly life-long friendships.</p><p>Reflecting on what Helen is most proud of, it is the countless learners’ achievements, both academic and personal. Being part of their growth, their progress, and their achievements are what truly makes working here so meaningful and rewarding. It has been a privilege to be part of so many inspirational learner journeys.</p><p>A few pieces of wisdom that Helen would like to share which she still reminds herself of regularly is: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions.” It’s simple, but powerful. Early on, she recalls hesitating in meetings to ask questions for fear of looking inexperienced or unprepared. But she quickly learned that asking questions is one of the most important things we can do to grow. It shows curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn, traits that are invaluable and not a sign of weakness but strength.</p><p>One of the most impactful pieces of advice Helen received was from a colleague who taught her the importance of balance. “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” In our fast-paced world in education, it’s easy to get caught up in work and forget to take care of yourself. But this simple reminder about self-care, about taking time to recharge, to focus on your health and well-being has been a game-changer for me. It’s not just about being productive; it’s about being sustainable in your work and your life.</p><p>Looking to the future, Helen is excited about the direction we are heading, under our direction of the new Leadership Team and our new Principal Pat.&nbsp; There are new challenges ahead and who knows what the education landscape will look like in the next 10 years, but she is looking forward to this with optimism and the same enthusiasm and dedication that have fuelled her over the past 20 years.</p>