Weston College is one of just 14 providers in the UK to be recognised as a Microsoft Showcase College.

As a ‘Microsoft Showcase College’, the College will benefit from the IT giant’s support in the personalised learning of students. This includes the use of one-to-one devices and Office 365 Education, Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Skype, Minecraft and more.

Microsoft will also share ideas to enhance staff development, student employability and innovation, and provide the College with opportunities to host Microsoft-branded educational events.

The status is awarded to Colleges that demonstrate “a commitment to education transformation and empowering educators and students to innovate and exercise a growth mindset”.

This new global education programme is an extension of Microsoft’s global network of institutions that use technology to improve teaching and learning.

Tina Jones, UK Education Engagement Manager at Microsoft, said: “We recently held a two-day session for our Showcase Schools and Colleges, which was a tremendous success.

“It was an amazing opportunity for our team to share updates on Accessibility, STEM, Apprenticeships, Azure and plan together for the future as well as learning from these amazing institutions on how they have achieved such inspirational digital transformation in their school or college.”

Jon Hofgartner, Weston College Assistant Director for Technology, Learning Resources and Skills for Progression, said: “It’s exciting to be working with one of the world’s leading technology corporations.

“Weston College is dedicated to using innovation in technology for learning and business, and this commitment will be enhanced by the partnership with Microsoft and its family of pioneering institutions across the globe.

“As a Microsoft Showcase College, we will benefit from billions of pounds of research and knowledge that we would never usually have access to.

“Microsoft technologies empower people and businesses around the world, and many jobs that young people apply for will require them to use digital working environments such as Office 365, so embedding this technology as well as digital skills and capabilities into our teaching and learning is vital for all our students.”

Weston College’s results this year exceeded all expectations at every level. This included a 99% A Level pass rate, vocational results at a similar level plus over 30% of its degree provision achieving First Class Honours.

Alongside this the College are experiencing a demand for A Level places, which has grown exponentially with the realisation of the value of post-16 study. As a result the college has decided to expand its provision.

These developments will include new facilities and a significant investment at Loxton Campus in Weston-super-Mare.

In addition Weston College has been awarded a Career College status which will mean it can expand the range of provision to include technical qualifications in engineering and digital subjects alongside existing courses.

As a result the College will be able to offer up to 1000 new places for the 2019 academic year with many new buildings completed in early 2019. The intention is not to change the highly successful delivery models but actually to enhance resources available to all learners.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Weston College Group Principal and Chief Executive, said “The new resources will create a ground breaking educational centre for Weston-super-Mare and the wider area.

“Our learners will benefit from a unique education that takes advantage of the latest technology, and receive unrivalled opportunities to succeed.

“We will continue to develop links with local and national employers, providing learners with employability skills in a range of technical areas, fully equipping them for university or the world of work.

“Loxton Campus will therefore provide major opportunity for training post-16 learners in A Levels, vocational creative subjects and the whole health and wellbeing agenda with major involvement from Weston Area Health Trust and other bodies.”

The above investment has been made possible by the College match-funding a successful bid for funding from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Local Growth Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority. This will create bespoke science labs, a health and well-being centre, sports pitches and gymnasiums.

Chair of the West of England LEP, Prof Steve West, said: “It’s great to see Weston College going from strength-to-strength. We’re pleased to help build on that success by supporting the improvements at Loxton Campus, which will give young people the skills they need to progress further in their education and secure better career prospects with the great selection of businesses right here in the West of England.”

The Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry, said: “This Government is committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the UK and building a Britain fit for the future.

“Enhancing learning and career opportunities is central to our plan for a stronger, more resilient West of England economy. These improvements at Weston College made possible by the Local Growth Fund will make a huge difference – both for students and local employers looking for home-grown talent.”

James Rimmer, Chief Executive of Weston Area Health Trust, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for partnership working between Weston College and Weston General Hospital. “This demonstrates the investment we are both making to support the learning and development of students. We hope it will also help the recruitment and retention of staff as well as supporting the increased demand on healthcare locally”.

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a Weston College student, call 01934 411 411 or email enquiries@weston.ac.uk

Weston College has been awarded a Beacon Award for its work in improving functional, vocational and transferable skills among offenders in nine prisons across the South West of England and detainees at The Verne Immigration Removal Centre.

The College took home the Association of Colleges’ Beacon Award for Widening Participation in Learning, sponsored by Gateway Qualifications. This is the first time a Beacon Award has been won recognising excellence within offender and detainee learning services.

Judges highlighted the College’s inclusive approach to learning which reflects “the best in adult further education within the community” and “inspires the most educationally disadvantaged to engage, improve their skills, discover and fulfil their potential and increase their life and work opportunities on release or repatriation.”

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, commended his staff and said: “This award shows that Weston College is leading the field when it comes to providing effective opportunities for some of the most disenfranchised learners in the country. Our Beacon Award’s success confirms the innovative and student-centred practice that permeates the whole of the Weston College Group.

“When it comes to offender and detainee learning, we provide the same award-winning level of teaching and support that we offer students across the College. Our approach is to put our learners first and to enable them to realise their full potential.

“This College-wide ethos is why learners in all aspects of Weston College’s provision can expect the same outstanding teaching standards, and the same dedication to providing an engaging and inclusive learning environment.”

This latest award follows national recognition of the College’s offender learning provision through successful inspections from Ofsted and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Prisons. In 2015, offender learning lecturer Jerry Nightingale became the first prison lecturer to be named Further Education Lecturer of the Year at the Pearson Teaching Awards for ‘Britain’s classroom heroes’.