Weston College’s student progression team, now rebranded as ASPECT, is extending their offer of careers information, advice and guidance to prospective learners across North Somerset and beyond as the new term gets underway.

The team is now in place to boost the Weston College brand and provide local schoolchildren with information about College courses and facilities.

In addition, ASPECT will work with current College students aged 14-18 to support them through their time at Weston and to assist with their aspirations for post-College employment or higher education.

Ben Cocks, Progression and IAG coordinator, said: “Over the summer we decided to rebrand for a variety of reasons, not least because we are now more visible around the College and more accessible as a service.”

“We will be building on our outreach work as well as organising careers fairs, helping students with their UCAS applications and supporting the tutorials that form part of the learner’s study programmes.”

The chance to be part of a Taster Day celebrating all things Higher Education is being offered next month (October) at Weston College.

The College’s University Centre and Loxton Campus will open their doors on October 27 to anyone interested in studying for a Degree and looking to start in Autumn 2015.

As well as receiving all the information needed to consider an application, prospective students will be able to take part in a series of ‘hands-on’ workshops in a variety of subject fields, giving them a vital taste of Degree level study.

On offer are workshops in Musical Theatre, Sports Studies, Performing Arts, Computing and Photography, among many other subjects. Those taking part will also be treated to lunch, and can attend a number of information sessions about applying via UCAS, managing finances and accommodation, and what to expect in the first few weeks.

Anthony Murray, Weston College’s Director of Higher Education, said: “We are very pleased to be offering this Higher Education Taster Day, which is aimed at giving aspiring students a clearer understanding of the step-up from Level 3 to University-level study in a wide variety of subject areas. Taking part in this kind of preparatory activity will give students an advantage throughout the university application process and once they start their degrees, wherever they choose to study.

“Weston College offers degree-level study in partnership with Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England, and our range of courses is expanding every year. As a recently designated College of Further and Higher Education, we are committed to providing effective information, advice and guidance to boost the aspirations and prospects of young people thinking about progressing to Higher Education. We look forward to welcoming students from near and far to this exciting day.”

Parents of prospective students are welcome to attend the Taster Day, as are adults returning to HE, or entering it for the first time.

Demonstrating experience of HE through taster sessions and other events is very useful when applying to UCAS, and all visitors to the College’s Taster Day will come away with something tangible to use in their portfolio.

Weston College is one of the top performing Colleges in the South West and is now officially a College of Further and Higher Education. Almost 100 per cent of graduates to on to employment within six months of graduating, and of those graduating in 2014, more than 20 per cent came away with First Class Honours degrees, compared with a national average of 16 per cent.

Anyone interested in coming to the HE Taster Day needs to book before Friday October 3. For more details please contact Weston College’s Higher Education Team on 01934 411 409 or by emailing  he.unit@weston.ac.uk

Weston College of Further and Higher Education are taking a major step to enhance their already highly successful delivery of Higher Education. 

The College has submitted two key bids to the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which, if successful, will bring in bespoke centres for high technologies and professional services to the region.  Both these centres will be built in Weston-super-Mare and will provide a major catalyst for business regeneration.

If the bids are successful there is an opportunity for state-of-the-art facilities in both disciplines and a growth in students studying and living in North Somerset.  The Professional Studies Academy is a response to employers for an existing demand for specific training in a wide range of disciplines.  This includes law, accountancy, business, management, justice services and many more.  Simultaneously the High Technology Centre will include bespoke facilities for composite engineering, digital media, computer-aided design and games design.

The College bids have been supported by North Somerset Council and a range of other agencies.  There is a joint ambition to have 1,000 undergraduates in Weston-super-Mare within the next twenty four months, with a longer term ambition to grow this provision significantly in conjunction with other key partners. 

Both the College, Council and others are aware of the potential for the future which will build upon the significant success already achieved.  In January this year the College received the highest accolade from Ofsted when it gained Outstanding status for its provision.  This made the College the very first in the South West under the new Ofsted framework to gain such recognition.  In addition, almost 100 per cent of graduates from the degree courses progressed to employment within months of graduating.  The 2014 statistics indicated that more than 20 per cent achieved first class honours, significantly above the national average for the UK. 

Dr Paul Phillips, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “The West of England LEP has set a dynamic standard for skills, development and economic regeneration.  Our bid is massively important for both the town and the region.  If successful, the LEP will in reality provide the leverage to bring state of the art facilities to the area.  In an ideal world I would hope that such facilities would not only effect major change but could provide community resources for use by everyone.”

Cllr Nigel Ashton, Leader of North Somerset Council, said: “Higher Education provision is vital to the growing employment needs of Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset and the wider West of England area.

“We are working closely with Weston College to ensure they can deliver their ambitions for a greater emphasis on learning in the town centre which will in turn provide a catalyst for further regeneration opportunities.”