We were delighted to welcome Kate Still, Head of Farming at the Soil Association, who delivered an insightful guest lecture to our A Level Environmental Science students. 

Kate introduced the concept of regenerative farming systems, emphasising the importance of soil health as the foundation of sustainable agriculture. She explained how soil is at the heart of organic systems, supporting not only crop growth but also biodiversity and environmental resilience. 

The session explored how regenerative practices, such as building long retentive phases through thoughtful crop rotations, help to restore and maintain soil structure, fertility, and carbon retention. She also discussed the impacts of soil nutrients and biodiversity on healthy plant development, whilst highlighting the Soil Association’s strong emphasis on high animal welfare; ensuring livestock are raised to high living standards as part of a healthy farm ecosystem. 

As the leader of the Soil Association's farming team, Kate shared her involvement in a European project focused on innovation in organic farming. Her team works actively on knowledge exchange, supporting farmers through case studies, training, events, and the development of technical resources. This collaborative approach is helping farmers to grow in confidence and adopt more sustainable, future-facing farming methods. 

The lecture also touched on the importance of government support in providing payment incentives to encourage environmentally friendly farming practices. 

To close the session, Kate gave an inspiring, career-focused talk, outlining the variety of roles within the Soil Association; from research and policy to education and farm support, encouraging students to consider pathways into the growing sector of sustainable agriculture.  

Charlie Colenso, the Environmental Science lecturer at Weston College, expressed her gratitude to the Soil Association for taking the time to visit our students, saying, “Guest speakers bring real-world insight to A-level learners, allowing them to apply their classroom knowledge to practical scenarios, as well as opening their eyes to a range of career paths and further study opportunities they may not have considered. 

“This workshop provided students with useful information regarding soil and the impacts it has on agriculture. Although they haven’t yet covered the Soil chapter in their course, this workshop gave them an excellent preview into the benefits of nutrient-rich soil in a hands-on activity. They said they particularly enjoyed learning about the potential career pathways in the growing sector of sustainable agriculture.” 

This was a fantastic opportunity for students to not only expand their knowledge on certain areas of their course, but also network with industry professionals to discuss possible opportunities with the Soil Association. 

A big thank you to the Soil Association for visiting our A Level Environmental Science students! 

If you are interested in joining our Sixth Form in September, click here. 

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. 

Recently, students from the Inclusive Practice Football Academy returned from two national tournaments with medals, trophies and unforgettable memories and life lessons in teamwork, resilience, and inclusive excellence. Led by George Fake, Mitch Spencer, and supported by staff including Nick Chadwick, Helen Mann, and Pete Lane, the squad competed in two high-level national disability football competitions within a month: the AoC National League Finals in Nottingham and the National Pan Ability Football Cup at St George’s Park. 

In April, the team travelled to Nottingham to face the top regional qualifiers in the AoC National League Finals. Facing fierce competition, they secured two wins and a draw, finishing 5th out of 8 teams in the league. But it was their attitude that stole the spotlight—they were awarded the Fair Play Award, recognising their outstanding sportsmanship and positive spirit. 

 Fast forward to St George’s Park (the home of England’s national teams) the squad was ready for redemption. After a mixed start, the team bounced back with determination. They got impressive wins against teams that had beaten them before, including a perfect performance against Birmingham Met College, who hadn’t lost a game in either tournament. With four dominant wins and a 1-0 victory to close the day, the squad finished top of the league on goal difference. Despite this, the title went to Lincoln College based on head-to-head results - a narrow technicality that didn’t dampen the team's pride. 

Luca Tarman-Cooke from Re-engage was named Player of the Tournament, and every player left the field with a well-earned runners-up medal and a sense of pride that can’t be measured on a scoreboard.  

Reflecting on the experience, George shared: 

“Across the two trips, myself, Nick Chadwick, Helen Mann, Mitch Spencer and Pete Lane could not have been more proud of the efforts of all the players, especially how they rose to the occasion at St George’s and battled adversity and showed excellent resilience and sportsmanship throughout.” 

Interested in exploring our SEND courses? Click here

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. 

Following the South West Regional heats of the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) Competition hosted at Weston College, some of our HE and FE students progressed to the AHT Final in Blackpool that took place over 2 days. 

Throughout the competitions, our FE and HE learners showcased exceptional skill, determination, and passion across the two days in each category, and this was truly reflected in the fantastic results of our students.  

Weston College Further Education (FE) students from Hairdressing, Hair and Media, and Beauty attended, as well as UCW Higher Education (HE) students from Makeup and Prosthetics.

For the competition, the students and staff travelled up on the Saturday to explore Blackpool and settle in before the competition ahead. On the Sunday, learners competed in the direct entry competitions which included Spa Body Massage, Prosthetics, Nails, and Catwalk Hair. Within these categories, the learners managed to secure 1st place in Spa Body Massages and Prosthetics, a 3rd place in Prosthetics, and 4th place in Nails. 

The National Finals took place on the Monday where both HE and FE students competed in a range of categories, including Body Painting, Create an Injury, Face Painting, Fantasy Make up, Cut and Blow dry, Fantasy Hair, and Hair styling. Similar to the direct entry competitions, the results for these competitions were amazing, with the Face Painting securing 1st place, Create an Injury achieving 3rd place, and Fantasy Makeup gaining 4th place out of 27 participants! 

Throughout the competition, students were required to adhere to very strict guidelines and themes. This created a real-life, client-customer simulation for some students as it required learners to think creatively whilst remaining within the rules, regulations and requirements set by the competition. 

This was a fantastic opportunity for learners to apply their skills and follow instructions whilst adding their own creative freedom to their work. Not only this, they also got the chance to meet like-minded individuals with a passion for hairdressing, makeup and beauty, as well as network with industry professionals and gain constructive criticism to further enhance their skills. 

These types of competitions are great for building confidence in the next generation of professionals, whilst also giving them credited awards that they can include in their portfolio in order to show off their talent and ability to future employers.  

Jenna Ratcliffe, Head of Service Sectors at Weston College and AHT Chair for the South West, expressed the pride she felt for the students, saying, “to step onto the competition floor takes courage, but to medal among such outstanding talent is even more impressive! Many of our learners pushed well beyond the limits of their qualifications, proving just how committed and capable they are. 

Competitions such as this allow students to gain hands-on experience of working with specifications in a pressured environment which only improves and develops their time-management, professionalism, and their general abilities. We couldn’t be prouder of how our students did and how they represented Weston College. It was a true testament to their hard work!” 

Well done to all the students who participated in this competition! 

If you are interested in applying to one of our Makeup & Prosthetics or Hairdressing & Barbering courses, click here.  

If you are interested in applying to the UCW Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics Degree course, click here. 

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.