Last week, our Esports society students, the Weston Waveriders, competed in a three-day inter-college LAN Esports tournament, the #TakeYourShot challenge. This was an opportunity for our students to compete against like-minded students from other colleges and build their skills in a high-pressure environment.

Our Esports Society is made up of many students from different courses across the college such as Computing, Engineering, A Levels and many more, all with a passion for gaming. It gives students the opportunity to game as part of a team in a competitive and social environment outside of their course, as well as join tournaments and represent Weston College with other students who have similar interests.

The competition was hosted by SGS College and their team, SGS FirstShot, ran the full live production, broadcast and event delivery. This was a seamless event that gave our students the chance to compete against SGS College, Swindon College, and even the Royal Army Esports team, the Royal Signals.

During the competition, our students competed in Overwatch and Valorant, working together to defeat the opposition and win their games. Our students did a fantastic job, winning every game and taking out the current British Esports Student Championship title holders.

The Valorant game against Swindon was particularly impressive due to our team initially being down 2-10 in the first half of the game, but with our students showing excellent resilience and determination, they made an incredible comeback with a final score of 14-12 to Weston Waveriders.

This was an excellent opportunity for students to further develop their teamwork, adaptability and communication skills, with players coordinating strategies in real-world, time-pressures environment. It also provides an excellent networking opportunity for players, building strong social connections with students from different college.

From an academic perspective, students can develop transferable skills such as leadership, time management, and critical thinking, while also gaining exposure to the growing Esports industry and potential careers in event management, broadcasting, game design, and more.

Will Price, Computing and Esports lecturer at Weston College, said, “Competitions like these are always a fantastic opportunity for our students to level up and promote themselves within the Esports industry whilst developing their confidence by competing against other well-known Esports college teams. It is amazing to see how far they’ve all come since September and I’m looking forward to see what they do next!”

This tournament forms part of the Digital 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 Computing and Digital! 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.

Last term, Weston College hosted an NFL Flag UK programme for teachers from across North Somerset. During the session, two of our Sport & Fitness lecturers, Dan Pratlett and Morgan Sealey, took part, giving Weston College the opportunity to become an official NFL Flag School and introduce non-contact flag football to our students. 

The programme is completely free for schools and provides teachers with a strong foundation in the sport, including the basic rules, as well as the tactics and strategies required to succeed. In addition, staff received comprehensive training on the health and safety elements of the game, ensuring students are taught how to participate safely and correctly in NFL-inspired activities. 

NFL Flag UK also delivers ongoing training, development opportunities, and tournament pathways, alongside providing all necessary equipment and teaching resources at no cost. This gives our staff access to structured lesson plans designed to introduce the sport through engaging drills and skills-based activities, ensuring all students have an equal opportunity to take part and develop confidence while learning a new sport. 

By upskilling our staff, we are able to offer students exciting new opportunities that inspire and re-engage them with physical activity. Participation in a new team sport supports students’ personal development by encouraging responsibility, teamwork, and resilience, while also giving them access to experiences they may not otherwise have had. 

Dan Pratlett, Head of Sport at Weston College, said, “The NFL Flag Programme equips our staff with the confidence and expertise to introduce this sport to our students, broadening the range of pathways available to them. Through this programme, students develop key skills such as resilience, confidence, and teamwork, supporting both their personal growth and long-term success. This experience extends beyond college, helping students gain a wider understanding of sport and the transferable skills needed to succeed in the industry.” 

A huge thank you to NFL Flag UK for providing our staff and students with this fantastic opportunity.  

This programme forms part of the Sport & Fitness 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.

Weston College is delighted to announce its involvement in an upcoming project, On Air, on 22-23rd October in partnership with Media Talent Manifesto (MTM). On Air 2026 is the world’s largest student-led broadcast, bringing together students and industry partners from across the globe for a 24-hour, multi-channel, student-led broadcast. 

This fantastic project will enable our Media and Communications students to explore a wide range of career opportunities, taking the lead in many roles such as script and content development, gallery and TV studio operations, location filming, channel creation, distribution, post-production and editing, and social media. This hands-on experience allows our students to develop practical production skills across the full broadcasting supply chain, helping them explore potential career pathways within the industry. 

Launched in 2025, On Air involved more than 1,000 students from six continents, delivering content across a single channel. In 2026, the project will expand significantly, introducing five dedicated channels such as Culture, Film, Sport, News and Kids. Educational providers are invited to contribute to one or more channels through either live or pre-recorded broadcasts. 

Like last year, On Air will be supported by a diverse range of industry partners, including the BBC, Into Film and Amazon Web Services (AWS), alongside global media companies such as CNN, SVG Europe, InSync and Techex. Working with these organisations gives our Media students valuable insight into the breadth of roles within the media industry, as well as providing excellent networking opportunities with professionals operating in a fast-paced, global environment. 

This project not only enables our Media students to take part in a growing international broadcast, but also connects learners worldwide, encourages collaboration, and supports skills development beyond the classroom. For students who are unsure of their next steps, On Air offers an invaluable opportunity to broaden their skillset, gain confidence, and showcase their abilities to industry professionals.  

Gina Hele, Head of Media, Game & Animation, and Photography at Weston College, said, “This fantastic opportunity provided by Media Talent Manifesto will open many doors for our students. We are excited to see how they shape this project and apply their classroom learning in a real-world context. The experience will not only further develop their skills, but also build their confidence, while giving them valuable access to feedback and guidance from industry professionals - an invaluable contribution to both their personal and professional development.” 

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Media Talent Manifesto for providing our Media students with this outstanding opportunity to collaborate with colleges, universities and educators from around the world. 

This project forms part of the Media and Communication 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 Film and Media! 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.