Creating brighter futures

This week the Governing Body of Weston College, announced the appointment of Alex Warner as the new Deputy Principal, Curriculum of the Weston College Group.

Alex brings 15 years of experience in the Further and Higher Education sector. His most recent role was at Milton Keynes College where he was Principal with responsibility for campus-based provision and the development of the South Central Institute of Technology.

Alex was a Milton Keynes College Group executive team member and has Prison Education experience. In addition to having held senior leadership roles and responsibilities, Alex also works as an Ofsted Inspector. He has a real passion and enthusiasm for the craft of teaching and learning. 

On his appointment, Alex commented: “I am delighted to be joining Weston College. While the College's reputation and ambitions are reasons in their own right to want to join, the opportunity to work with brilliant colleagues attracted me the most. 

"I have followed the College and many of its brilliant staff for some time and I am looking forward to getting started.”

Alex will be joining Weston College on a fractional basis in May, and then commence full-time in the coming months. 

Andrew Leighton-Price Chair of Governors commented: “The Board is excited that Alex is joining us to strengthen our team, we see Alex continuing and supporting all the great work that our staff teams are doing to make Weston College one of the best in the country. Giving our learners the best start we can.”

This year we’re recognising Mental Health Awareness Week, a week-long celebration from May 13th to May 19th, dedicated to acknowledging and enhancing mental health for all students and lecturers. Each year, we address aspects of mental well-being, and this year's theme, "Moving More," shows the connection between physical activity and mental health.

Movement stems from the link between physical activity and mental wellness. Regular exercise is found to have a positive impact on mental health, enhancing quality of life and overall well-being.

Exercise has been scientifically proven to release endorphins, often referred to as "feel-good" hormones, which reduce stress and promotes contentment. Despite these well-documented benefits, many people struggle to incorporate sufficient movement into their daily lives. Mental Health Awareness Week serves as an opportunity to address these challenges and inspire individuals to prioritise movement for their mental well-being.

It is crucial to acknowledge that messages promoting movement may be triggering for individuals with a history of eating disorders or exercise addiction. For those who may be concerned about excessive exercise or harmful behaviours, please don’t hesitate to contact our welfare team, located at each campus or visit our welfare page here. 

You can always find further resources and support via the Welfare SharePoint. 

Resources you can access:

•  24/7 support via our Student Assistance Programme SAP

   

• Let’s Chat: a hub of resources to help with resilience, esteem, relaxation, moving, eating, anxiety, uncertainty, stress, social media and much more.

   

• Kooth – your online mental wellbeing community. Free, safe and anonymous support.

   

• Samaritans – call 116 123. Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you 24/7.

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.

Last week we hosted a successful Fast Track Engineering Interview Event at our South West Skills Campus. The event provided an excellent platform for students to directly engage with leading employers in the engineering industry actively seeking new talent. 

From Level 2 to degree apprenticeships, the event offered a variety of opportunities, providing students a gateway to prestigious positions within the region's most impressive companies. Learners were given exclusive access to renowned employers, without the need for a formal CV, only required to have a passion for engineering. 

The event offered face-to-face interactions between students and key decision-makers, creating meaningful connections and opening doors to promising career paths within the engineering sector. Notable participating employers included Bristol Airport, Rotamec, Bristol Port Company, among others, highlighting the number of opportunities available to attendees. 

If you missed out on this fantastic event, you can still browse our Apprenticeships page here to find your dream career.

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.