Weston College recently welcomed colleagues from the Department for Education (DfE) to showcase its inclusive approach to supporting learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), those experiencing disadvantage, and learners requiring mental health support. 

The visit gave the DfE the opportunity to see how inclusion is embedded across the College, from specialist SEND provision and supported employment pathways to mental health support and strong partnerships with local communities and external organisations. 

DfE visitors Paddy Breeze, Post-16 SEND Policy Adviser, and Mike Lewis, Mental Health Policy Adviser, both from the Social Justice and Disadvantage Division, met with staff and learners to hear more about how Weston College is translating national priorities into practical, day-to-day support for young people. 

During the visit, the College highlighted several key initiatives designed to improve outcomes, wellbeing and progression for learners. These included the Five Cs for a Compassionate College, the Equity in Education Framework, and the impact of its specialist SEND curriculum and Supported Employment Excellence Hub. Together, these initiatives reflect a whole-college commitment to equity, inclusion and opportunity. 

The visit was particularly timely, coming soon after the launch of Weston College’s Inclusion Strategy and Inclusion Promise in January, as well as the introduction of the new Ofsted inspection framework with its increased focus on inclusion. It also aligns with national discussions ahead of the expected publication of the new SEND White Paper. 

Ben Knocks, Deputy Principal at Weston College, said: 

“We were really pleased to welcome colleagues from the Department for Education and to share the work we are doing across the College to support SEND learners and those facing disadvantage. Inclusion is not a bolt-on for us – it sits at the heart of everything we do. Our Inclusion Strategy and Inclusion Promise are about making sure every learner and member of staff feels supported, understood and able to succeed, whatever their starting point.” 

The visit provided a valuable opportunity for discussion and shared learning around inclusion, SEND and mental health support in further education, and how national priorities are being reflected in practice at college level. 

Weston College is celebrating the launch of its first cohort of Engineering Foundation Apprenticeships, with 21 learners enrolling with GKN Aerospace this week. This represents almost two thirds of all Foundation Apprenticeship starts nationally since the programme launched in August 2025.

The milestone comes as new national figures show that just 36 Foundation Apprentices have started across England in the first three months of the government-backed initiative, highlighting the significance of Weston College’s early progress in delivering the programme with GKN Aerospace.

Introduced by the government in August 2025, the Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship is designed to provide a supportive entry route into technical careers for young people who may not yet be ready to start a full Level 2 apprenticeship. Weston College’s partnership with GKN Aerospace has resulted in one of the largest early cohorts nationally, positioning the College and the employer as early adopters of the new pathway.

The 21 apprentices were officially onboarded this week, with Weston College staff attending the GKN Aerospace site to support induction and welcome learners onto the programme.

All recruits are enrolled on the Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship, which places emphasis on attitude, curiosity and motivation, rather than formal academic achievement. There are no minimum academic entry requirements, ensuring the programme is accessible to young people with the potential to succeed in engineering.

The Foundation Apprenticeship lasts eight months and is delivered through a block-release model, shared between Weston College and GKN Aerospace. The programme begins with a strong focus on employability skills, confidence building and workplace behaviours, before progressing into technical learning and practical industry experience.

On completion, learners can move on to a Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship, followed by a possible progression onto a Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship, creating a clear progression and career development pathway within the sector.

GKN Aerospace has taken a deliberately different and innovative approach to recruitment for the programme, focusing on potential rather than prior attainment. By removing minimum academic entry requirements and working closely with Weston College to reach young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET, the company has widened access to engineering careers while building a strong future talent pipeline for the business.

The new apprentices have spoken positively about the opportunity and their future ambitions in engineering. Harry said: “I am excited about starting this foundation apprenticeship. I see it as an excellent entry point into a great career. I am passionate about mechanical and scientific work and prefer hands-on learning, which is why an apprenticeship is the ideal route for me. I am committed to building a long-term career with GKN Aerospace and am open to progressing to higher qualification levels in the future.”

Rubie added: “This feels like the right opportunity for me as it aligns with my long-standing interest in engineering. I want to pursue my career ambitions while I am young and see this apprenticeship as a strong foundation for the future. I am open to seeing where the apprenticeship leads but would like to work towards a Level 6 qualification in the long term.”

With employer demand continuing to grow and further cohorts already under discussion, Weston College believes its partnership-led approach could help accelerate the national take-up of Foundation Apprenticeships.

Last month, our Hairdressing and Barbering Careers Excellence Hub (CEH) signed a new partnership with White&Co hair salon in Bristol. This is an excellent opportunity for students to work with industry professionals, learn new techniques and gain real-world experience through workshops. 

White&Co founder, Rachel White, is an award-winning L'Oréal Colour blonde specialist and the owner of White&Co hair salon in Bristol, known for its luxury colour services and for being a blonde and balayage expert. Rachel has several years of professional experience in the industry, gaining qualifications and awards before finally opening her own luxury salon, White&Co, in 2025.

Prior to the partnership, our Level 3 Hairdressing students took part in a photoshoot session where our students were given a brief, having to put half of the model’s hair up and use their own homemade ornamentation within their designs. They came up with inspiration and created mood boards of their ideas before executing them on their models, showcasing a range of techniques and designs that they had learnt.

Students created headdresses using customised hairbands, felt flowers, and cushions with gems and a veil. These innovative creations gave our students the chance to build skills and techniques in a different form of hairdressing, giving them flexibility and creativity when styling their model’s hair. This was a great way for students to explore new pathways and learn different techniques from industry professionals. 

Following this, students then took part in a photoshoot of their styles, using professional lighting settings and Rachel’s guidance to create a real-world photoshoot for the students to experience and learn from. This experience was a fantastic opportunity for 

Rachel White, owner of Whitecoat hair salon in Bristol, said:

“This collaboration with Weston College means a lot to me as my own career in hairdressing began with college training. Being able to support students at such a formative stage feels very personal and rewarding, and allows me to share real industry experience while giving back to the pathway that shaped my career.”

“My advice to aspiring hairdressing students would be to try everything!  When I first started my career, I didn’t enjoy colouring at all and thought I would go on to become a session stylist. Although I still love styling hair, I’m now a colour specialist and all my success within the industry has come from a path I never expected to take. You just don't know unless you try, that thing you’re scared of might just be your making!”

“Thank you to Weston College for giving me the opportunity to be part of such an exciting project. I’m looking forward to what’s to come and to working closely with the students.”

A huge thank you to Rachel for delivering an insightful workshop and becoming an industry partner to help shape the future generation of hairdressers!

This partnership forms part of the Hairdressing and Barbering Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

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.