Last night, our Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub came together to produce a fantastic preview evening of the Summer Showcase which exhibited the work of our Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) Creative Arts students, giving them the chance to display their incredible work, not only to their peers and lecturers, but also to their friends, family, members of the public and potential employers. The exhibition will continue to run every weekday between 9:00am-4:30pm until 20th June at Loxton Campus so everyone can experience the creativity and achievements of our students.  

This exhibition consists of a mixture of Arts & Design, Photography, Fashion, Media, Games & Animation, and Graphic Design student work, where they display their amazing Final Projects to not only present their hard work and professional development, but also network with people and gain connections with possible employers.  

Sandra Bull, Assistant Principal for this area commented: “The College’s Summer Showcase celebrates individualism of our students, showing different interpretations and styles in a range of mediums. It allows students to express the background behind their work, the process that accompanies it, and the messages and meanings behind them to create a holistic appreciation for the students and their artwork being presented.”  

“I am so proud of how the student have developed both personally and professionally since September and being able to put on this showcase is just one way for us to celebrate how proud every member of staff is of our students. “ 

On arrival at the preview evening, people were greeted by students serving glasses of Elderflower fizz and canapés to welcome their guests, alongside our Music and Performance students playing live music in the foyer to set the tone of this fantastic celebration.

Throughout the exhibition, there are a range of pieces on display throughout the classrooms, from sculptures and fashion designs, to a gallery of photographs, graphics and artwork. The Media faculty even created their own in-house theatre with popcorn and red carpets to display the fantastic films and Final Projects that the students have been working hard on.  

The event has been displayed extremely professionally, with each classroom acting as a gallery, with artwork and podiums lining the white walls so each student has their own designated space to exhibit their work. Last night’s preview event had a fantastic turnout, with everyone admiring and complimenting the attention to detail that had gone into each piece of work.  

Both the staff and the students worked extremely hard to put this showcase together, giving everyone from all years, levels and disciplines the chance to present their work to the public. Many students were in disbelief at seeing how their projects came together when displayed professionally, feeling proud of their work and expressing their gratitude to have this opportunity.  

Kyle, one of our Level 3 Games and Animation students, shared his thoughts on the event, saying, “Having my artwork being displayed actually feels quite lifechanging and surreal because, a lot of the time, I kept my artwork to myself in fear of judgement, but to actually have it up on the wall like this and seeing it being appreciated has actually changed my perspective on my work.”   

This Summer Showcase forms part of the Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

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.

Since leaving Weston College, Charlie Williams has earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Essex and a Master’s in Political Communication at the University of Leeds, appeared on BBC Radio 4, reported for the Weston Mercury, and been elected as the youngest councillor on Weston Town Council. Now working in Bristol and eyeing a future in national journalism — and even a PhD — Charlie’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Charlie studied A Levels in History, Politics, and Law at Weston College’s Loxton Campus between 2016 and 2018. Charlie chose Weston College over other local options, realising that Weston College offered the best environment for him to study. “I also knew many people who studied there and everybody from my school was also going to the College,” he says. “So, it was a no-brainer really!”

Despite his successes, Charlie’s path wasn’t without challenges. He describes the step up from GCSEs to A Levels as the toughest academic leap he’s experienced — even harder than the transition to university. “The best skill I learnt was 100% organisational skills and time management,” he says, reflecting on the content-heavy demands of his subjects. With limited access to resources at home, including no personal laptop and unaffordable textbooks, Charlie relied on the support of his teachers to stay on track. “With the help of my amazing teachers, I ended up getting the hang of things.”

Charlie speaks fondly about his lecturers and looks back upon the positive impact of his second-year History tutor, who brought a fresh perspective, and his Law lecturer, whose unorthodox teaching style made a lasting impression.

After Weston College, Charlie studied a BA in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Essex, securing placements with the BBC and appearing on Radio 4’s The World at One. He then returned home to join the Weston Mercury, where he investigated public spending around the See Monster exhibition — a piece he proudly calls his “magnum opus.”

His involvement in the local community continued when he was elected as a councillor for Haywood Village, becoming the youngest member of Weston Town Council. In a full-circle moment, he played a key role in relocating the council offices to the former Mercury building — the very newsroom where he once worked as a journalist. “I must be one of very few people in the world to ever say that I was part of the process to change my old work office and continue to work there under a different organisation!”

Charlie then went on to complete a master's in political communication at the University of Leeds, graduating with distinction and achieving the highest grades in his programme.

Today, he works in Bristol and hopes to secure a role at a national newspaper, hoping to pursue a PhD in the future. “Since leaving Weston College, I have achieved: a BA and master’s degree, was a reporter with my local paper and have been elected a councillor,” he says.

Would he recommend Weston College? “Yes, because of the wide-ranging courses they offer. It's not just A Levels — it's everything, and I think that's a very good thing indeed.”

Charlie’s journey shows how a strong foundation, hard work, and the right support can open up a wide range of opportunities. From studying A Levels at Weston College to working in journalism and the local council, he’s made the most of each step along the way. We look forward to seeing where his path takes him next.

Last week, our Media and Photography students visited the Bristol Hippodrome to gain work experience photographing the performing arts venue. They photographed both the interior and exterior as well as the staff at work.

This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to gain valuable, hands-on experience, learning more about Press photography, portraiture, and working within creative arts in a popular and well-known venue.

During the visit, students received a tour of the building, got a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals for the performance, War Horse, where they were warming up vocals and fitness, and met members of the Bristol Hippodrome staff.

The day began with the students capturing some interior photography of the bar, lounge, auditorium and foyer areas to take promotional photos of the venue using the correct lighting, angles and camera modes.

Following lunch in the Grand Bar, the students then shot more photos from the exterior of the building which was a great way for students to learn to adapt between natural and artificial lighting.

Not only did they learn about the different settings required for public venues, but they also got to consider how to be more discrete when taking photos in such a high-profile environments, making sure to capture up-close and detailed photos without causing disruption or distractions.

During the day they improved their compositional techniques when framing their photographs which allowed them to achieve a variety of shots and develop their portfolios. 

Sam Brooks, one of our Photography lecturers at Weston College, expressed the impact that this experience had on the students’ personal and professional development, saying, “This opportunity introduced our students to high-profile client work with a leading Performing Arts venue. It provided them with invaluable practical experience and the chance to network within a dynamic industry that has a high demand for talented photographers — one we hope to collaborate with again in the future.”

Thank you to the Bristol Hippodrome for accommodating our students and giving them this fantastic opportunity. 

If you’re interested in applying to one of our Photography or Media courses, click here.

This curriculum trip forms part of the Photography and Media Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.

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.