Wednesday 12 June, 14:00-17:00

Today the College’s Hospitality and Hair and Beauty sectors had an end-of-year celebration and competition in the theme - The Mad Hatters Tea Party.

The day ran from 14.00-17:00, with competitions starting at 11 in the kitchens and 14.00 on the main floor, and the awards presentation took place at 16.00.

The competition was open to all learners from the areas who are studying full programmes and apprenticeships. Two learners from each group progress from the heat to the final on the day.

Those not taking part in the competitions arrived at 3pm for mocktails.

After the competitions, the Mad Hatters Tea Party took place, and high tea was served. Prizes were then be awarded:

• Hair and Beauty Learner of the Year - Natasha Bryant
• Hospitality and Catering Learner of the Year - Georgia Perry-Wilkinson
• Apprentice learner of the year - Hannah Handsford, Beautylicious in Taunton

The competitions that took place today included (all one hour):

• Level 1 Hair and Beauty (open to entry level also) – Cheshire Cat-themed face paint. Model to be in costume. Judged by Lyndsey Fiddler, Inspire
• Level 1 Hair (open to entry level also) – Mad Hatter-themed plaiting and twisting. Accessories should be used and model in costume. Judged by Lyndsey Fiddler, Inspire
• Level 1 Hospitality (open to Entry level also) – A selection of Queen of Hearts Tarts. Judged by Alex Parsons, The Old Down Estate
• Level 2 Hair and Media Make-up – Mad Hatter-themed hair and make-up. Accessories and costume are compulsory. Hair preparation can begin before but must be dressed during the hour. Make-up preparation base can also be applied. All models must have costume. Judged by Adam Thomas, Weston Hair Studios
• Level 2/3 Barbering – Create an image to a Mad Hatters theme. Hair can be pre-coloured and model dressed for the tea party. Judged by Lyndsey Fiddler, Inspire
• Level 2 Hairdressing – Mad Hatter-themed fantasy hair (to include a pre- colour). Hair preparation can be started prior but is required to be dressed in the time. Model must be in full costume. Judged by Adam Thomas, Weston Hair Studios
• Level 2 Beauty – A manicure and finish suitable for a party. Model dressed for a tea party. Glitter and jazz encouraged. Judged by Carol Goodhind, Beauty Retreat
• Level 2 Food and Beverages – A mocktail fit for Alice, with decoration. Judged by Nikon Baker, The Winter Gardens
• Level 2 Professional Cookery – A selection of 20 party-ready cakes with decoration. Judged by Alex Parsons, The Old Down Estate
• Level 3 Hairdressing – Create an image to a Mad Hatters Tea Party theme. Colour can be applied prior to the day. Model must have a full costume. Judged by Adam Thomas, Weston Hair Studios
• Level 3 Massage Therapy – Busy Rabbit relax with a hot stone back, neck and shoulder treatment. Judged by Carol Goodhind, Beauty Retreat
• Level 3 Theatrical Make-Up – Body stencilling (face and shoulders). Accessories and costume are desired. Judged by Adam Thomas, Weston Hair Studios
• Level 3 Sports Massage – Ankle or knee rehabilitation after a fall down the rabbit hole. Judged by Carol Goodhind, Beauty Retreat
• Level 3 Food and Beverage – A Mad Hatter-themed table decoration. Judged by Nikon Baker, The Winter Gardens
• Level 3 Advanced Professional Cookery – An Alice in Wonderland edible three-tier cake stand with selection of delights. Judged by Alex Parsons, The Old Down Estate

See all our courses and apprenticeships for more details.

It’s fitting that Weston College has the honour of sponsoring the Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing category at this year’s Bristol Law Society Awards.

As well as supporting a vital organisation in the local legal sector, this also gives us the opportunity highlight a range of subjects that resonate closely with the College’s values and priorities.

In recent years we’ve worked extremely hard to take our law-related provision to the next level and, in doing so, support local employers that operate in the legal industry.

We created the Law and Professional Services Academy following a multi-million-pound redevelopment to of the Winter Gardens Pavilion on Weston seafront.

It features a library, new computer equipment, technology-enhanced ‘pods’ for group study, a café, classrooms and social spaces, and we’ve also been able to maintain the traditional elements of design, which make the Winter Gardens so iconic.

This bright and spacious facility offers training across law and other professional services, and provides students with a large and diverse range of training.

We’ve worked closely with hundreds of employers across the region to create specialised and professional courses that offer clear progression routes.

As well as giving students clearly defined routes into the industry, the academy enables business to access cost-effective training courses and apprenticeships that will help them develop their workforce.

Employers have the opportunity to train their staff from Level 1 to university-level and can also work with us to create bespoke courses that meet their specific business needs.

Our courses range from the Law A Level and Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship through to the CILEx Law and Practice Diploma at Level 3 and Level 6.

The sponsorship of this award also enables us to highlight another area in which we’re leading the way – that of wellbeing and mental health.

We recently devised an organisation-wide initiative to enhance the mental health, wellbeing and welfare of our learners, staff and the sider community, and ensure they have the emotional resilience to meet the increasing demands of 21st century life.

The programme consists of a framework of ‘body and mind’ initiatives, including free mindfulness, meditation, dance and yoga sessions.

It also involves forging strong partnerships with the local authority, charities and clubs; hosting a series of sports, healthy eating and wellbeing sessions; and tackling issues such as low self-esteem, low confidence and smoking cessation.

This pioneering initiative received national recognition this year, by winning an Association of Colleges Beacon Award, with judges highlighting our commitment to creating an ethos that puts mental health, wellbeing and welfare at the forefront of its investment.

Aside from this programme, we’re proud to hold both the ‘Gold’ and ‘Champion’ Investors in People accreditation, which also recognise the College’s proactive approach to the mental health, wellbeing and welfare services of its staff. The College also offers staff free Mental Health First Aid training and provide a counselling service.

This issue of health and wellbeing was also central to the development of our Health and Active Skills Centre, which opened in September. As well as tackling the current skills shortage in the sector, this impressive facility also addresses longer-term issues that affect our health service and the health of the local population.

Like the finalists in this category of the Law Society’s Awards, we recognise that the most successful and robust organisations are diverse and inclusive. It’s in the fabric of the College that everyone has the right to be treated fairly and without discrimination, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, circumstances or background.

The finalists in this category – Barcan+Kirby, DAC Beachcroft and RPC – have all embraced these values wholeheartedly and any one of them will be a worthy winner on the night of October 24th.

I’m very much looking forward to the event and wish all three companies the very best of luck. To find out more about Weston College’s range of law courses and facilities, visit the Law and Professional Services Academy page of our website.

A group of former art students are keeping the skills they learned alive through exhibitions and workshops at the town’s Old Quarry Studios in Queen’s Road

A collection of old industrial buildings was converted for artists’ use in the late 1990s and now there is a thriving group of painters, potters, sculptors, photographers and printmakers - almost all of whom trained at the College - making work there.

The artists have just held a group exhibition at the Rowan Tree tea rooms, next to the studios, and have regular open days on the first Saturday of each month.

Next week a group of current  BA students will be exhibiting at the gallery, and there are plans to run courses for students in the use of a wood-fired kiln, which has been built by studio member Simon Taylor.

Simon is also a Ceramic Lecturer and Course Leader for the mature UAL Arts Foundation programme, and works alongside his dad, ceramicist Sinclair Taylor. Simon has taught several of the studio members and is hoping to inspire the latest generation of student artists with his ‘Anagama’ kiln, which he thinks might be one of the smallest of its kind in the world.

He said: “ I built this kiln not just for personal use as a practicing ceramicist but also for my students at the College.

“Weston Quarry Studios houses many artists and designers who have progressed from the College’s Foundation and Degree Courses and are now working as practicing artists with some flourishing professional businesses. I am particularly proud that I have taught many of these artists who have continue to demonstrate high motivation and commitment to the arts initiated from their original training at the College.”

Vicki Campbell is one of the artists at the studios and is a former College student and lecturer. She said: “My time at the College was very encouraging and stimulating and the staff were great. That experience has led to me joining this studio and pursuing my creativity in a lovely environment.”

Joan Hall is in her 80s, but still loves to paint JMW Turner-inspired seascapes. She said: “the College was a great experience for me and it taught me to explore different techniques that I still use in my painting.”