Last week, our Music and Production students got the chance to sit in on a live performance from the band, ‘The Peripheries’, and help them record an album within our Michael Eavis Performance suite, which links directly to the HE Recording Studio at Loxton Campus.  

The Peripheries are an Italian New Wave band with 1980s influences and experimental sounds. With connections to a member of staff at the college, they visited our students and performed for them, giving them the chance to hear a new variation of music that they may not have previously discovered.   

Our students are trained on top-of-the-range equipment to ensure they are fully equipped with the skills and knowledge required for working in the industry. They not only learn to set up for performances and gigs, but they also learn what to listen for when recording so they can make the correct adjustments. Students were taking charge of the settings on the music decks while other students were behind in the recording studio ensuring that all aspects of the gig were recorded smoothly.  

Giving students the chance to help record an album for the band gives them fantastic, real-world experience and practice working with clients. Not only this, our Media and Photography students also got involved with filming the performance so the band will have a professional album with a high-quality music video created by our students. This provides them with great hands-on experience and allows them to build their portfolio with a new and dynamic project.  

Some students will also assist in editing the raw materials to create the final album. This is a great opportunity to see how to fine-tune recordings to ensure high-quality products that are ready for external audiences.  

Within our Music faculty, students are encouraged to get involved and learn the trade wherever possible. They will often perform at local gigs and festivals with students helping with the set-up and production, acting as sound technicians to ensure to event runs seamlessly. Also, by inviting a range of musicians into the college who have different requests and preferences to enhance their sound helps to broaden the students' knowledge base and better prepare them for working with clients in the industry.  

Whether students are interested in playing music or working as a production technician, our Music courses enable students to be versed in every aspect, so they gain a holistic understanding of Music Production. This makes them an integral part of any gig or show as they have a level of experience working behind the scenes.  

Thank you to The Peripheries for joining us on campus and working with our students to give them hands-on experience in the industry. Also, well done to our students for taking on all responsibilities with professionalism and maturity! 

This live performance forms part of the Music 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.  

Progress to the next level in Music! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here! 

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. 

Weston College has officially launched its Social Action Report 2024–2025, showcasing the inspiring projects, partnerships, and initiatives that have made a tangible difference both within the college and across the wider community.

Social action continues to be a cornerstone of the college’s ethos, empowering learners to develop vital life skills while creating meaningful change in Weston-super-Mare and beyond.

Through initiatives embedded in the new STEPS personal development framework, learners are encouraged to see Engagement as a vital part of their journey towards a brighter future.

This year has seen significant investment and participation in social action. More than 1,700 learners completed ‘Making an Impact’ projects. Collectively, learners delivered 52 unique projects, raised over £12,000 for local causes, and partnered with eight residential and care homes.

The outcomes extend beyond financial contributions: 100% of tutors reported that the activities had a “significant impact” on learners’ empathy, with 78% of participants themselves recognising growth in their ability to connect with others.

The report also highlights the breadth of activity across the college, from the ever-popular Raising and Giving Week to entrepreneurial initiatives like the Business Enterprise Challenge, which alone raised an impressive £7,289.87 for Weston Hospicecare.

Speaking about the report, Ben Knocks, Deputy Principal – Students, Inclusion and Brand at Weston College, said:

“Social action at Weston College is about more than volunteering or fundraising – it’s about shaping confident, compassionate learners who see the impact they can have on the world around them.

“The results this year show that when learners engage with their community, they not only change lives but also transform their own.”

You can read the full report, by clicking here.

This year marks 180 years of Weston College, and to celebrate, we want to highlight our journey alongside an employer who has partnered with us for many years, playing a vital role in the success of many of our students.

We spoke with Sophie, Talent Development Executive at Thatchers, to explore how Thatchers have worked with the college over the years.

In what ways do you work with Weston College?

Weston College deliver training for our Level 3 Business Admin & Customer Services apprentices, as well as our Level 2 Commis Chef apprentices at our onsite pub, The Railway Inn. We also partner with the college as a proud member of the Careers Excellence Hub, and have utilised additional training offerings in the form of short courses, such as managing money training for our apprentices.

For how long have Thatchers been working with/had a relationship with Weston College?

We have worked with Weston College since we began our apprenticeship programme over 8 years ago. They have played a fundamental role not only as a training provider, but as a champion of apprenticeships at Thatchers, actively supporting our Careers Open Day events as well as being a part of our apprenticeship recruitment process.

What has the Thatchers and Weston College journey looked like over the years? 

Since we began the programme, Weston College have helped us support over 35 learners, across many different areas of our business, from commis chefs in our pub, to customer service specialists and engineers, achieving an incredible 84.6% pass rate across the board (above the national benchmark of 60.5%)! It's been amazing to see the careers they have now developed into: from Marketing Executives to Demi Chef de Parties, Customer Service Team Leaders to Ledger Assistants and even Quality Coordinators!

Are there any standout success stories Thatchers have had with Weston College over the years?

Yes, many! It's impossible to choose one standout as all of our apprentices who have completed their studies have stood-out, for various reasons whether it be their own personal development and growth or the careers and results they are achieving in their roles now- they're all stars!

Here are some of our brilliant past and current apprentices: 

How have Weston College been able to benefit Thatchers as a business over the years?

Weston College have been a huge asset to Thatchers since we began the Talent Programme, their tailored approach to how they can support our business with our goals and visions for the programme & working as a real partnership, has been really important to our growth of apprenticeship offerings at Thatchers and our approach to continuous development. 

The college recently supported our idea for developing personal skills for our apprentices further, by organising and delivering a 'Money Management' training session for our new apprentice cohort, arming them with essential life skills when it comes to dealing with money and what it encompasses, of which we've received such positive feedback from our apprentices. What's great about working with Weston is the support not only we receive as a business, but also the level of face-to-face support our apprentices studying with the college, receive too!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We're looking forward to continuing our partnership with Weston College, and excited for the future!