Seven college students across the UK have been selected to attend the annual FA Leadership Academy (FALA).

We are extremely proud and excited to share that two of these young people are Weston Sport learners.

Katie Sharkey and Ethan Reed, studying Level 3 BTEC in Sports Coaching and Performance and Foundation Degree in Sports Studies at University Centre Weston respectively.

Supported by the College, they were chosen by the FA after a rigorous application process where they displayed their current involvement in the local sport community.

Katie’s experience involves planning and delivering all SFA youth tournaments at Weston College’s new Health and Active Living Skills Centre, plus delivering sessions at local primary schools. Outside of college Katie has set up a Wildcats programme from scratch, helps at her local u15s female football team and referees in both local and college fixtures.

Ethan has engaged in multiple volunteering opportunities, including delivering primary and secondary school football sessions across a wide range of settings. He also works at his local football club and delivers sessions in the community to children from deprived areas.

Jack Gadd, Weston Sport Academy and Enrichment Manager commented: “This is an extremely exciting opportunity for Ethan and Katie as they both have high ambitions to work in coaching in the future. They are passionate and driven students and I am pleased to see them get rewarded with this opportunity.”

Taking place virtually this year, the FALA is a nationally recognised event which provides an opportunity for young people to develop themselves and build the collective capability of youth leaders and of the network of Youth Councils and Forums.

Delivered over three days, the event will be packed with exciting opportunities to connect with and hear from special guests, take part in mind and body physical activity sessions and other engaging challenges run by the FA National Youth Council.

In addition, this is followed by a 12-month learning and development plan where youth leaders implement a community project, delivering events in our local area aimed around increasing participation and engagement within football.

Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips CBE, added: “Ethan and Katie are helping to put Weston-super-Mare on the map with this fantastic national achievement.

“I’d like to thank them for their dedication and commitment, and I look forward to hearing more about their ongoing successes within the local sporting community and the industry moving forward as potential leaders in the sporting sector”.

"Congratulations Ethan and Katie!”

Click here to read more about the FALA on the AoC Website

Click here to discover more about our courses in Sport

In September 2020, Weston College will be one of only fifteen education providers delivering T Levels and will launch with the new Digital T Level.

The new qualification is highly anticipated, with one of the benefits being learners will spend a minimum of 45 days with a relevant employer carrying out their Industry Placement to really hone what they learn in the classroom.

Employers are recognising the potential that this new qualification can bring to their company; by building a pool of new talent, gaining support from an additional pair of hands, who can bring fresh ideas and provide them with the opportunity to mould a learner into a future employee.

Leading digital companies, Wiltshire based Zircon Software, and Somerset based Eloquent Technologies and Cardstream, have pledged their support to Weston College and the new qualification, by committing to take on Digital T Level learners for their Industry Placements for 2020.

David Owen, Managing Director at Zircon Software, said: “Industry placements are an excellent way for a business to identify future tech talent by offering a structured work placement programme.

“Key to the success of our business is building a talented workforce and we are delighted to work in partnership with Weston College to offer industry placements to students studying digital technology courses.”

These thoughts were echoed by David Ford, Managing Director of Eloquent Technologies, who said: “We had great success last year through offering industry placements to Weston College learners and we are excited to be extending the partnership into next year.

“Our placement student’s work was of such a high standard, that when he told us he was intending on taking a gap year, we hired him on a fixed term contract as he had become a critical member of our team.”

Adam Sharpe, CEO of Cardstream, added: “Industry Placements offer the opportunity to meet keen and eager potential employees, that can be developed into future leaders of your business.

“We are delighted to support Weston College, through their Digital T Level programme, from experience we know that the College develops learners of a high standard, that can support our business and who we can help further develop their talents.”

T Levels are delivered over a two-year period and provide an alternative to A Levels for 16 to 19-year-olds who would rather study work-related courses than traditional academic subjects. They provide a mix of industry-specific technical knowledge and practical skills and an industry placement of at least 45 days.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “We are excited to launch the Digital T Level in September, and to have endorsements from Eloquent Technologies, Cardstream and Zircon Software shows how important these qualifications are going to be for the business community.

“We have had success stories throughout the industry placement programme, and we are looking forward to this extending this into T Levels, and developing career pathways for our learners, in partnership with leading tech sector employers.”

You can find out more about the Digital T Level, by clicking below.

Students

Employers

This year’s ceremony for the UK Business Awards was held virtually for the first time, but this didn’t stop Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Weston College winning GOLD and being crowned ‘Leader for the Future’ for his exemplary leadership shown during COVID19 in creating #MyVirtualCollege.

His innovative strategy ensured that all the College’s provision was moved across within seven days prior to lockdown, for day one readiness, so that no one got left behind in relation to receiving an outstanding education. The speed of his response and high engagement levels by students, staff and businesses during the pandemic, was applauded by judges as a model of excellence for the UK, with 4,043 virtual teaching/support sessions delivered in the first week.

In winning GOLD, his leadership to keep education moving during lockdown, was recognised as ‘exceptional’ by the panel of judges, comprising the very best in leading business experts for the UK.

Dr Phillips was also recognised for providing impressive virtual support for the College’s 1,200 employers creating #WednesdayWorkingLunch - with topics e.g. ‘Crisis Leadership’, ‘Rebuilding for the New Normal’, and providing successful roadmaps for economic recovery/networking. Judges were also highly impressed with his voluntary COVID19 community support, e.g. PPE assistance, supporting Foodbank Friday and the vital training carried out in the early lockdown period e.g. by responding at pace to the government’s call for ex-healthcare staff/volunteers to receive essential training to assist on the front line. In this area alone, the College upskilled 176 ex staff returners/volunteers with the necessary skills, to enable extra staff to be fast tracked to provide much needed respite for exhausted NHS and social care staff.

The College under his leadership was also recognised by winning GOLD in the Wellbeing at Work Category for his equally impressive approach to tackle mental health and wellbeing through his ‘Body and Mind strategy. Prior to lockdown, mental health and wellbeing support was accelerated using highly trained staff and impressive digital capability as a Microsoft Showcase College to live stream group yoga, mindfulness, healthy exercise routines and counselling. Dr Phillips impressive investment and innovative methodology to reduce self- isolation and promote positive mental health during lockdown, for the College’s staff, students and community, was unanimously cited by judges as ‘inspirational’ and showcased as an approach that all businesses in the UK could learn from for best practice to aid recovery.