Weston College is delighted to announce its partnership with Rotamec as a Career Excellence Hub endorser for engineering, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to providing exceptional learning opportunities for its learners.

Through this partnership, Rotamec will play a pivotal role in co-designing the engineering training provision, creating an inspiring learning experience, and equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in the business and wider industry.

Paul Pearce, Sales & Operations Director of Rotamec, said: "Our partnership with Weston College is paramount to the continued success, growth and sustainability of our engineering business. We work closely with Weston College at every juncture, ensuring we provide the best learning opportunities and facilities for all students. Our shared vision is to create an environment where students can learn, develop and enhance our core engineering skills, securing the future of our industry."

Andrew Webster, Education Sector Manager – Further Education & Skills at The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “The team at Weston College don’t just work on one off projects about careers and the world of work, they work strategically, embedding information and examples about careers into so much of what they do. All of this means their young people are as well prepared as possible to take on the future.”

Sir Paul Phillips, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, added: “At Weston College, our mission statement is ‘creating brighter futures’ and we passionately believe in helping all our students reach their ultimate goal, focussing on their future employability and developing the skills they will need to have a successful career.

“The partnership between Weston College and Rotamec signifies a shared vision for developing a highly skilled workforce that can drive businesses and industries forward. By providing learners with access to industry-specific training and work experience opportunities, this collaboration will nurture a pool of talented individuals ready to contribute to the success and growth of the engineering industry.”

Find out more about Career Excellence Hubs, by clicking here. 

Recently we caught up with Holly, a dedicated student at Weston College, who has just finished her second year of studying BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care.

Throughout her college journey, Holly has undergone significant personal growth and development, both academically and professionally. With the support of her tutors, classroom learning, and hands-on experiences during placements, Holly has made remarkable progress in these areas. 

Holly's passion for her studies in Health and Social Care has been fuelled by the valuable practical experiences she has gained. These include her voluntary work in a local educational establishment, working with individuals with additional needs as well as training in Sepsis awareness. Engaging in industry placements has allowed her to apply her skills and witness the positive impact she can have on the lives of others, and she hopes to use this experience to train to be a paramedic in the future. Holly tells us “By meeting different people who came in to give us talks about different sectors, it has opened my eyes to how much variety and opportunity there is in the health and social care sector. This only makes me more excited to go on and develop into becoming a paramedic.” 

Through her academic studies, Holly has acquired a wealth of knowledge regarding mental and physical disorders. Assignments and practical sessions in the simulation room have equipped her with hands-on experience in patient care and the importance of handling individuals with care and compassion. Moreover, the experience has honed Holly's time management skills as she diligently meets assignment deadlines. 

Juggling academic commitments, industry placements, and volunteering activities has been a challenge for Holly. However, through effective time management and meticulous planning, she has successfully balanced her various responsibilities. Allocating dedicated time for assignments and revision has been crucial in achieving her desired academic outcomes. 

Receiving outstanding feedback from her industry placement has been a testament to Holly's hard work and dedication. The recognition from her teachers has affirmed her personal growth and has given her the confidence to pursue her future goals with determination. She says “I'm extremely pleased with the feedback as it shows my hard work has paid off, and the teachers are able to see the effort I've put in. As well as knowing I've grown so much as an individual, and it'll help me in my future goals.” 

Upon completion of her college studies, Holly's aspiration is to progress towards becoming a paramedic. She eagerly anticipates the opportunities that lie ahead and is determined to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field. 

Great work Holly! 

To find out more about Health and Social Care at Weston College, click here.  

Foundation Learning, our specialist provision for learners with SEND, introduced the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme as a curriculum choice for learners in 2019.

Fast forward to 2023 and this month, two of our first Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Gold Award achievers were invited to celebrate with 2000 other young people from across the UK to celebrate their outstanding achievement within Buckingham Palace Gardens. This provided the opportunity for them to enjoy a variety of activities and listen to famous DofE alumni and inspirational public figures about their personal journey. The Duke of Edinburgh Award at all levels is an amazing but challenging experience and we are very proud of all of our exceptional participants, and it has been a privilege to be part of this fantastic initiative.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award challenges young people to attain standards of achievement and endeavour in a wide variety of active interests, to support their communities, experience adventure and to develop and learn outside the classroom. It encompasses the true intent of our programme to support learners' personal development, behaviours and attitude and employability skills.

Following the visit to Buckingham Palace, we caught up with the two Gold-achieving learners who told us about their experience on the day: “The speakers were really inspirational. It reminded me of when I was on the DofE. I told myself I’m not going to give up! I felt proud of what I’d achieved, it was a once in a lifetime experience.”

“When I got the invite to go to Buckingham Palace, I was feeling nervous and not sure about going. I am really happy I went because it was a really good experience and opportunity to go. I had amazing day. I am so glad I went. I will always remember the day. I was really proud of myself for going because I feel like I have overcome one of my fears. Thank you for the teachers at college who supported me and encouraged me to go."

Nick Chadwick, lecturer at Weston College, said: “It was with great pride that we were able to accompany our first Gold achievers to the celebrations at Buckingham Palace. They thoroughly deserved this accolade, and it was fantastic that we were able to celebrate and recognise their amazing determination, resilience and creativity they have shown to achieve their gold award.”

One parent, who accompanied the learners to Buckingham Palace, commented: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you for your support! It was such an amazing day, and one full of wonderful memories we will enjoy for years to come. Liana was thrilled to have been there and for all she experienced. She keeps talking about how she wants to be your Ambassador for DofE!”

It was an incredible day for everyone involved, and a memory that the learners will carry with them for years to come. We are so proud we are able to provide these enrichment experiences, where learners are developing their skills outside of the traditional classroom environment, developing and showcasing transferable skills that prepare learners for their future progression. We look forward to continuing to explore how we can further develop the DofE across our provision to support these amazing outcomes for learners.