Three Weston College lecturers have been chosen to join Microsoft’s global network of educator experts. This means a wealth of benefits and possibilities for learners.

Louise Pratten, lecturer in English, Shaun LaTouche, lecturer in Foundation Learning and Lynne Richards, lecturer in ICT, have been awarded Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert status.

As MIE experts, the trio will get to use a huge range of the technology giant’s resources and programmes and be able to test new products before they’re released. They’ll also have the opportunity to share innovative and exciting teaching methods with thousands of fellow experts around the world.

And this will all be channelled into developing innovative teaching methods and engaging learning environments – with the ultimate aim of improving the learner experience.

The MIE experts will have the expertise and knowledge to:

• Enable learners to get the best out of Microsoft’s resources
• Use technology to spark learners’ creativity and uncover hidden talents
• Help learners overcome barriers to learning and support learners with special educational needs or disabilities
• Create more inclusive learner-centred classrooms and environments
• Communicate more effectively with classes and encourage learners to collaborate with a range of resources
• Create learning resources in a variety of formats to suit a range of needs and learning styles.

Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft, perfectly sums up the role MIE experts play: “Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts are inspiring examples of educators, applying new ways of teaching and learning in their classrooms that motivate learners and empower them to achieve more.

“We celebrate and support the work they do every day.”

This news follows hot on the heels of the announcement that we are one of 14 providers in the UK to be awarded ‘Microsoft Showcase College’ status.

As a Showcase College, we’ll benefit from billions of pounds of research and knowledge, as well as Microsoft’s support in the personalising student education. This includes the use of one-to-one devices, Office 365 Education, Office Mix, OneNote, Skype, Minecraft and more.

Interested in joining us, browse our courses:

• 16-18 full-time courses for school leavers
• Part-time adult courses

The College is celebrating the end of its first year teaching plumbing and gearing up for a 300 per cent increase in demand for places this September.

So far 12 men and one woman have gained plumbing qualifications at the Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence (CECE) in Locking Road.

Plumbing lecturer Scott Austin said: “There’s been an enormous growth in demand for the course. Now we are set to put on a Level One course, two Level Twos and a Level Three.

“We’ve also set up school links for older secondary students who want to do more hands-on study. We are delighted with the response regionally.”

Plumber of the year was awarded to 17-year-old Jake Payne of Jubilee Street,  Burnham-on-Sea.

Runner up was awarded to Daniel Rihan, 35, Weston-super-Mare and third was Kieran Rigney, 17 of Weston-super-Mare.

Green technologies are at the forefront of a new £10 million building project at Weston College which is a leading National Skills Environmental Academy Hub.

They include a rainwater harvesting system, wood biomass boiler, solar thermal array, ground source heat pump and solar photovoltaic system.

Part of the programme will also see a £300,000 sustainable detached eco- house built for students and visitors to show how environmental and renewable technology can transform the construction industry.

In 2010, the CECE won a ‘National Training Award’ for the South West of England.

It delivers training in a wide range of construction occupations including, plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry, trowel trades, painting, decorating, plastering, property maintenance, renewable energy courses and apprenticeships.

The CECE holds specialist electrical workshops, bespoke brickwork and carpentry workshops and has a resource-based learning centre for online learning.

It is also a test centre for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and health and safety card.

There is a 100 per cent success rate for Level 2 qualifications with around 70 per cent of CECE students finding work in industry while others enhance their DIY skills.

Weston College is to open officially its bespoke £2.5 million engineering training centre with a ceremony attended by leading local and national businesses.

The College has invested £1.5 million in machinery and equipment and £1 million in building works at its South West Skills Campus, which now offers a full engineering and manufacturing curriculum.

Among those attending the launch event on November 2 will be representatives from major companies including Serco (one of the largest employers in the country), GKN (whose apprentices are currently undergoing training at the College), Thatchers, Midas and SKF Clevedon.

Dr Paul Phillips, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “Weston College is committed to helping businesses in the engineering, aerospace and manufacturing sectors grow and develop the talent of the future by supporting the development of a highly skilled, innovative and valuable workforce.

“To achieve this aim, the College has invested in facilities including bespoke engineering and advanced technology workshops, composite manufacturing workshops, 3D printing suites and classrooms, IT suites and learning spaces.”

The new facilities have enabled the College, which has been rating ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, to expand its engineering courses. It now offers qualifications in a wide range of engineering skills including mechanical, fabrication and welding, aeronautical, manufacturing, digital technologies and maintenance.

The College has also become one of the first in the UK to offer a new Trailblazer Apprenticeship for the aerospace industry, and is one of the few colleges in the country to offer an apprenticeship pathway in advanced composites.

Andy Davidson, Weston College’s Executive Director of Professional and Technical Curriculum, said that engineering graduates can expect to earn 20% more per year than graduates from most other subjects and it is expected that there will be 1.86 million jobs in the sector available over the next five years.

“Engineering is an incredibly important part of both the local and national economy, and is responsible for £280 billion of the country’s gross added value.

“It’s a fast growing industry in the UK and there is an enormous amount of demand for qualified engineers. Weston College’s brand-new facilities will enable us to provide students with training on the most current and up-to-date machines, and properly prepare them for jobs in the engineering industry.”

The College - which was named ‘College of the Year’ and ‘Overall FE Provider of the Year’ at the national TES Awards – has installed cutting-edge technology including fully equipped machining workshops, materials labs, hydraulics and pneumatics labs, PLC and control systems labs, electronics workshop, CAD suites, composites workshops, 3D printing facilities and maintenance and fabrication workshops.

Many of these facilities will be demonstrated during a tour that will take place as part of the launch of the new £2.5 million engineering workshops, in addition to presentations that will be made by representatives from the University of the West of England.