We have been in regular communication over the last two months with both our transport partners, First Bus and Bakers Dolphin, and can now confirm that services will operate with a few adjustments and certain guidelines:

• Both First and Bakers Dolphin services are currently operating at 50% capacity to meet social distancing guidelines.
• Learners must wear a mask on all services. Without a mask, learners will not be permitted to travel.

FIRST BUS - Passes can be purchased via the College shop

• First bus mTickets become active from Monday 7th September.
• Timetable information can be found via the First website or via the ‘travelling to college’ section of our website.
• Learners via the First Bus app will be able to access live data including number of seats available on a service.
• Instructions on how to use the mTicket can be found by clicking here.
• We have been able to negotiate with First additional services to support learner demand, as well as the creation of a specific service that will only be accessible for Weston College mTicket/bus pass holders.
  • The X5s will run solely for the College in the mornings only from Clevedon to Weston-super-Mare (timetable to be released in next day via First website).

BAKERS DOLPHIN - Passes can be purchased via the College shop

• The College will continue to run 5 core service routes via Bakers starting from 7th September.
  • Blagdon/Bridgwater/Clevedon/Nailsea/Portishead
• Timetables for these can be found here on our website.
• Learners must have purchased a Bakers Dolphin bus pass and collected this from a campus reception. Without a bus pass learners will not be able to access these services.
• Bakers will continue to provide a service for some of our apprenticeship learners travelling from Bristol (Rolls Royce and GKN).

TRAIN TRAVEL

A reminder that a variety of discounted railcards are available to learners including:

• 16-17 Saver (50% discount)
• 16-25 Railcard (33% discount)

Further information including purchasing these can be found here.

Train timetables can be accessed here.

Seven college students across the UK have been selected to attend the annual FA Leadership Academy (FALA).

We are extremely proud and excited to share that two of these young people are Weston Sport learners.

Katie Sharkey and Ethan Reed, studying Level 3 BTEC in Sports Coaching and Performance and Foundation Degree in Sports Studies at University Centre Weston respectively.

Supported by the College, they were chosen by the FA after a rigorous application process where they displayed their current involvement in the local sport community.

Katie’s experience involves planning and delivering all SFA youth tournaments at Weston College’s new Health and Active Living Skills Centre, plus delivering sessions at local primary schools. Outside of college Katie has set up a Wildcats programme from scratch, helps at her local u15s female football team and referees in both local and college fixtures.

Ethan has engaged in multiple volunteering opportunities, including delivering primary and secondary school football sessions across a wide range of settings. He also works at his local football club and delivers sessions in the community to children from deprived areas.

Jack Gadd, Weston Sport Academy and Enrichment Manager commented: “This is an extremely exciting opportunity for Ethan and Katie as they both have high ambitions to work in coaching in the future. They are passionate and driven students and I am pleased to see them get rewarded with this opportunity.”

Taking place virtually this year, the FALA is a nationally recognised event which provides an opportunity for young people to develop themselves and build the collective capability of youth leaders and of the network of Youth Councils and Forums.

Delivered over three days, the event will be packed with exciting opportunities to connect with and hear from special guests, take part in mind and body physical activity sessions and other engaging challenges run by the FA National Youth Council.

In addition, this is followed by a 12-month learning and development plan where youth leaders implement a community project, delivering events in our local area aimed around increasing participation and engagement within football.

Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips CBE, added: “Ethan and Katie are helping to put Weston-super-Mare on the map with this fantastic national achievement.

“I’d like to thank them for their dedication and commitment, and I look forward to hearing more about their ongoing successes within the local sporting community and the industry moving forward as potential leaders in the sporting sector”.

"Congratulations Ethan and Katie!”

Click here to read more about the FALA on the AoC Website

Click here to discover more about our courses in Sport

In September 2020, Weston College will be one of only fifteen education providers delivering T Levels and will launch with the new Digital T Level.

The new qualification is highly anticipated, with one of the benefits being learners will spend a minimum of 45 days with a relevant employer carrying out their Industry Placement to really hone what they learn in the classroom.

Employers are recognising the potential that this new qualification can bring to their company; by building a pool of new talent, gaining support from an additional pair of hands, who can bring fresh ideas and provide them with the opportunity to mould a learner into a future employee.

Leading digital companies, Wiltshire based Zircon Software, and Somerset based Eloquent Technologies and Cardstream, have pledged their support to Weston College and the new qualification, by committing to take on Digital T Level learners for their Industry Placements for 2020.

David Owen, Managing Director at Zircon Software, said: “Industry placements are an excellent way for a business to identify future tech talent by offering a structured work placement programme.

“Key to the success of our business is building a talented workforce and we are delighted to work in partnership with Weston College to offer industry placements to students studying digital technology courses.”

These thoughts were echoed by David Ford, Managing Director of Eloquent Technologies, who said: “We had great success last year through offering industry placements to Weston College learners and we are excited to be extending the partnership into next year.

“Our placement student’s work was of such a high standard, that when he told us he was intending on taking a gap year, we hired him on a fixed term contract as he had become a critical member of our team.”

Adam Sharpe, CEO of Cardstream, added: “Industry Placements offer the opportunity to meet keen and eager potential employees, that can be developed into future leaders of your business.

“We are delighted to support Weston College, through their Digital T Level programme, from experience we know that the College develops learners of a high standard, that can support our business and who we can help further develop their talents.”

T Levels are delivered over a two-year period and provide an alternative to A Levels for 16 to 19-year-olds who would rather study work-related courses than traditional academic subjects. They provide a mix of industry-specific technical knowledge and practical skills and an industry placement of at least 45 days.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “We are excited to launch the Digital T Level in September, and to have endorsements from Eloquent Technologies, Cardstream and Zircon Software shows how important these qualifications are going to be for the business community.

“We have had success stories throughout the industry placement programme, and we are looking forward to this extending this into T Levels, and developing career pathways for our learners, in partnership with leading tech sector employers.”

You can find out more about the Digital T Level, by clicking below.

Students

Employers