Weston College is proud to announce its continued recognition as a Microsoft Showcase School for the sixth consecutive year (2024-2025), marking half a decade of collaboration with Microsoft and commitment to educational excellence. This prestigious honour places the College in an elite global group of institutions that lead the way in educational innovation, emphasising the longstanding relationship we’ve cultivated with Microsoft and our community.

The ongoing recognition as a Microsoft Showcase School is a significant achievement for the entire Weston College community. Learners will continue to benefit from ongoing access to cutting-edge educational technologies and global best practices. This accreditation reinforces the College’s commitment to developing skills vital for today’s workforce, ensuring our students are well-prepared for future careers in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

For our staff, this recognition offers sustained access to a global network of educators, providing opportunities to exchange ideas, collaborate on forward-thinking teaching strategies, and pursue continued professional development. Weston College’s staff will benefit from ongoing access to Microsoft’s exclusive tools and resources, including the 2024-2025 Showcase School Badge, social media templates, and the Worldwide Educator Community Team, further enriching their teaching and learning experiences.

Louise Pratten, Head of the Digital Education Team, expressed pride in the College’s continued success: "Being recognised as a Microsoft Showcase School for the sixth year in a row is a tremendous honour for Weston College. This achievement not only highlights our enduring commitment to delivering future-focused education but also empowers our staff and learners with top-tier technological tools and global collaboration opportunities. We’re excited to continue sharing our educational journey with other educational organisations worldwide."

As part of the ongoing Microsoft Showcase School programme, Weston College will continue exploring innovative ways to integrate technology into teaching and learning.

With access to a wealth of resources, Weston College is well-positioned to advance its mission of providing a transformative and inclusive learning experience. This ongoing recognition underscores our unwavering dedication to harnessing technology to create dynamic, impactful learning environments for all.

This October, we are proud to celebrate Black History Month by honouring the rich history, culture, and contributions of Black communities. As part of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity, we are not only focusing on this important month but also standing for equality and justice all year round. 

The theme for 2024 is "Reclaiming Narratives," a call to action to actively stand against racism by amplifying marginalised voices. Through this theme, we aim to create a future rooted in equality and justice, supporting the empowerment of those historically under-represented. 

Event Spotlight: Black History Month Annual Forum 

As part of this year’s celebration, Louise invites students, staff, and the wider public to attend the Black History Month Annual Forum in Weston-Super-Mare on Thursday, 17th October, from 4-8pm. This event, hosted in collaboration with Race Equality North Somerset, is designed to uplift the local community and advance anti-racism through powerful stories and discussions. 

What to Expect at the Forum: 

1. Engaging Speakers: Hear from experts on topics including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDI), sports, health, well-being, intersectionality, and entrepreneurship. 
2. Community-driven Change: Get involved in discussions that push for meaningful progress and real impact. 
3. Networking & Performances: Connect with like-minded individuals and enjoy spoken word and musical performances. 

We invite everyone to join in celebrating Black history, get involved in community-driven change, and contribute to the ongoing fight for equality. Together, we can create a future that reflects justice and inclusion every day. 

How to Get Involved: Attend the Black History Month Annual Forum on 17th October. To secure your place or learn more, please visit Black History Month Annual Forum WSM 2024 'Reclaiming Narratives' and show your support by donating here!  

This incredible event is free and open to all. 

Weston College welcomed over 700 local people to the Winter Gardens, for their first open event of the year, What Next?

A key date in the calendar, ‘What Next?’ is one of the biggest events of the year, showcasing so many opportunities for year 11 students, and this year’s event did not disappoint.

Attendees had the opportunity to find out more about their potential career pathway; from meeting Weston College staff from all faculties, to speaking with a wide range of employers.

Some of the employers that attended the event included Bristol Airport, Thatchers, Lloyds Bank, the Royal Air Force, the Military of Defence and many, many more. They chatted to the students and parents about what they had to offer and discussed the opportunities and career prospects available to them in their line of work. 

One employer, Thatchers, offers great talent programmes and apprenticeships for students in multiple different areas to broaden their skillsets and encourage them to pursue their careers.

Thatchers Head of Talent Development, Stephen Penfold, said ‘Weston College has put on a fantastic, showcase event which gives us, as employers, the opportunity to speak to young people about how they develop their careers and inform them about our wonderful opportunities at Thatchers.

For young people, it gives them the chance to understand what direction they may want to take their careers in, but it also gives them the chance to speak to real people and really bond with businesses and colleges alike.

The world is growing and evolving and the opportunities for them have grown immensely over the last few years, so giving showcase events like ‘What Next?’ really gives them the chance to engage across all levels, talk to people, and think about opportunities, but also realise what they don’t want to do that they originally thought they did. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us, and for them.’

Not only did the event offer amazing employers, but also outlined each of the Weston College Careers Excellence Hubs to give students a better understanding of what the different courses have to offer. Whether you fancied Early Years, Creative Arts, Construction or Engineering, or any other course for that matter, there were a bunch of lecturers at each stall to provide you with all the information you need and answer any queries you may have had. 

If that wasn’t enough, there were even bookable Inspire Talks available for a more in-depth discussion about specific pathways such as A Levels, T Levels, Supported Internships (SEND), Apprenticeships and Traineeships, and Professional and Vocational courses. These talks outlined the key information regarding the chosen area, and also opened the floor to the participants by answering any questions at the end. These talks were extremely popular and helped students and parents gain a better understanding of what they can expect when they start college next September. 

Overall, ‘What Next?’ was an outstanding event filled with a range of interesting curriculum and professional opportunities for young adults to browse and discuss their future.  

Weston College’s next open event is taking place across all campuses on 9th October, you can book your place, by clicking here.