The Student Conference was a special celebration dedicated to the Student Executives and Student Representatives, recognising their hard work, dedication, and the positive changes they have helped put in motion throughout the year. It provided an opportunity for student representatives, key college leaders, and selected learners to come together, share ideas, give feedback, and help shape the future of the college. 

The day began with a welcome talk from Pat Jones, Principal and CEO of Weston College, who expressed thanks to the students for their efforts and acknowledged the changes they had driven within the college. Pat highlighted the importance of student voice and the impact of their contributions. 

Niya Thomas, the newly elected Students’ Union President, introduced herself next as well as the Student Executive team. She gave an overview of their individual roles and the dedication each member puts into their work. Niya's introduction was a reminder of every initiative the Students’ Union takes on. 

The event then welcomed guest speaker Adz Khan, whose inspirational story captivated the audience. He shared his incredible journey, from being falsely convicted for a crime at just 16 years old under the Joint Enterprise law and spending 7 years in prison, to educating himself in prison and becoming a successful business owner and motivational speaker. His session, titled My Kind of Criminal, explored his hardships and the lessons he learned along the way. 

Adz emphasised the importance of resilience, persistence, and staying positive, no matter the challenges faced. He spoke about his setbacks and how those experiences shaped his strength and character. “A setback is the setup for a comeback,” he told the students, encouraging them to view obstacles as opportunities. 

Throughout his talk, Adz left students with powerful reminders about success and positivity, “B+ is not my blood group, neither is it my grade in maths. It’s my favourite quote – be positive.” He reminded everyone that where you start doesn’t determine where you’ll end up, and success comes from consistency, resetting, and never quitting. 

Following the morning’s lectures, students enjoyed a buffet-style lunch made by the Level 2 Hospitality and Catering learners, giving the Student Reps and Executives time to relax and connect with peers from different campuses. 

The afternoon session began with a Student Values activity, where students reflected on what mattered most to them, ranking values to better understand what drives their decisions and ambitions. 

Vice Principals Ben Knocks and Edd Brown then led the next part of the conference, introducing the ‘You Said, We Did’ campaign. This session focused on strengthening the learner voice by reviewing the changes already made based on student feedback and exploring how the system could improve further. Students were given the opportunity to share their views, helping ensure that their input continues to shape the college’s future. 

The conference ended on a celebratory note with various student awards presented, recognising exceptional efforts within the Students’ Union and the wider community. Whether through hard work, leadership, or going above and beyond, students were applauded for their impact and dedication. 

Final thanks were given to the Student Engagement team, staff members, and most importantly, the students, for their commitment to their roles and the college. The Student Conference allowed students to connect, be inspired, and continue their journey of making a difference with the power of student voice.

Hi I’m Danny, and I completed the Work Ready You programme at Weston College, which helped me to gain 3 qualifications including an E2 Certificate in Preparation for Employment, an E3 Award in Preparation of Work, and a L1 Award in Employability Skills. This course has also helped me to progress into my current job role at Weston College, which I will discuss below!

I chose to enrol on a pre-employment course at Weston College because I had been out of work for a long time and felt I needed to rebuild my confidence and improve my chances for employment. The pre-employment course looked like a good way to help me get back into work and find some direction.

The course introduced us to various types of jobs and workplaces. We learned how to tailor our CVs for different roles, which was very useful. We also had lessons on communication skills, including giving PowerPoint presentations, working in groups, and participating in smaller team activities.

In the final week, we gained practical experience through a work placement, with some students visiting places like Cineworld and Puxton Park. The course lasted five weeks in total, and there were four weeks of classroom learning followed by one week of work experience.

Throughout the course, I improved my confidence, communication skills and how to work effectively in a team. These skills have been valuable in both my job search and everyday life.

Right from the start, I had support from a keyworker from the Moving Up team. They were available by phone or email whenever I needed help, and they continued to support me even after the course ended. Most importantly, my tutor Juliette Weaver provided exceptional guidance. She was kind, energetic, and always made sure we all felt included while offering useful resources for learning.

Shortly after completing the course, I was offered a job at Weston College as a Learning Support Assistant through Forward Futures. The transition was smoother than I expected. Juliette believed in my abilities and recommended me for the job, which made a big difference. When I started working, I found that everyone was very welcoming, and it quickly felt like a supportive team environment.

A very proud moment for me was to be recognised at the Celebration of Success awards at Weston College. It felt encouraging to see all the hard work of both learners and staff celebrated, and winning the ‘Pre-Employment Student of the Year’ award was a real boost to my confidence.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at Weston College for giving me this opportunity. The course has made a significant difference in my life. I am especially grateful to Juliette Weaver, who helped me to see my potential when I could not see it myself. Without her support and guidance, I might still be struggling to find work.

Weston College Performing Arts and Media students have teamed up with Avon and Somerset Police to produce a powerful new short film to educate young people on bystander intervention in situations involving violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Led by Adrian Harris, Performing Arts Lecturer at the College, the project brought together FE Performing Arts students from the Acting Pathway and Year 1 FE Media students. The collaborative piece, filmed in April following months of weekly planning sessions, seeks to raise awareness of how members of the public, particularly young people, can safely and effectively intervene in violent or abusive situations.

Avon and Somerset Police delivered a briefing on the sensitive topic, sharing the project’s aims but offering students creative freedom. With professionalism and maturity, learners devised different approaches to intervention, enabling the Police to tailor the message to specific audiences and scenarios.

Rehearsals took place at Weston College’s Knightstone campus, with filming completed in the picturesque setting of Grove Park to lend authenticity and impact to the final production.

Adrian Harris, Performing Arts Lecturer, explained:

“The students have been brilliant. After watching the short films by Avon and Somerset Police, they expressed what worked and what didn’t, whether the message was clear or not, and offered original ideas and points of view to make it relevant to the younger generation.”

“The film will be shown to secondary school students - to help them deal with issues they come across and to show the different ways that, instead of being bystanders, they can be active contributors and help prevent violence against women and girls.”

This project forms part of the Performing Arts and Media Careers Excellence Hubs. 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. 

Participating students described the project as both educational and empowering.

Brooke, a Performing Arts Acting Pathway student, shared:

“I think it’s important for this type of film to be portrayed by young adults like us because relationships are so common in teens, and it’s critical to show that it’s not okay to display certain behaviours, and to get that message across early on because it could prevent serious situations from happening. It’s so important that young people learn about consent and respecting people’s boundaries.”

Patrick, a Musical Theatre student, added:

“This project teaches people how to not be a bystander in a situation where you may see violence against women. If I was in a real-life violent situation, I might have struggled knowing how to intervene but now I’ve gained an understanding of the different ways I can get involved and help.”

The project also offered invaluable professional development for students, many of whom were engaging in a professional filming environment for the first time. Working with a crew of directors, sound technicians, and photographers gave them real-world experience in following a brief, taking direction, and collaborating under pressure.

This collaboration highlights the power of creative education in tackling real-world issues. By engaging with challenging topics like VAWG, our students are building professional skills and becoming advocates for positive change in their communities.

Thank you to Avon and Somerset Police for giving our students this fantastic opportunity!

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.