Three lecturers have become Weston College’s first graduates from a Master’s degree delivered in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE).

Mark Harvey, James Hazzard and Gill Cook were all presented with the award of MA in Education at a graduation ceremony held at UWE.

The first 60 credits (PGCert stage) of the degree were delivered through tutorial sessions at Weston College, with candidates completing the rest of the award through taught sessions at UWE and independent research.           

Mark, who is the Programme Coordinator for degree courses in Uniformed and Public Services, said: “The course fitted well around my work commitments and has enhanced my knowledge. The support from Weston College gave me the confidence to engage fully in the course and embrace the challenges it held.”

James, who teaches further education (FE) and higher education (HE) courses in Sport and has recently taken on a role in HE Quality and Curriculum, said: “The College encouraged and supported me to complete the MA in Education, which was tailored to meet the needs of a full-time employee, focusing on twilight lectures and flexible tutorial meetings. The one-to-one support at the College was outstanding and really helped me to develop the skills to enter the research project phase of the course.

“The course has allowed me to develop research skills that are transferable to a number of areas within the profession, as well as developing knowledge enabling me to further support Higher Education learners at Weston College.

“The course was very challenging but ultimately rewarding, and the skills I have acquired have encouraged me to potentially progress onto Doctorate research and become involved in teaching the MA programme at Weston College and UWE.”

Gill, who is the Programme Co-ordinator for degree courses in Animal and Equine Management and a Tutorial Champion for the Business, Management and IT Faculty, said: “The MA has enhanced my ability to support students through the research process and allowed me to expand my teaching to research-based modules within our Foundation Degrees.

“It has also supported my tutoring at FE level and supported my role as Senior Tutor to guide and advise the Faculty on the most effective way to use tutorial and support systems.

“The course was really enjoyable and the support from Weston College tutors was excellent.”

The degree is now open for applications from suitably qualified members of the public wanting to study the first stage at Weston College. Please contact the Higher Education team at Weston College to find out more: he.unit@weston.ac.uk

A former Weston College student is to become one of the youngest people in the country to be awarded a doctorate, after her work with local charity Integrate Bristol successfully raised the awareness of Muslim women’s rights issues.

Fahma Mohamed, 19, who studied Access to Higher Education at Weston College, is to be awarded an honorary Doctorate in Laws by the University of Bristol on Friday (15th July).

She gained prominence after her successful campaign to raise awareness of female genital mutilation (FGM) gained the attention of the former Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove.

The petition led to training to help teachers, doctors and social workers identify and assist girls at risk of FGM.

Sarah McLaughlin, Lecturer and Study Skills Tutor for Access to HE, congratulated her by saying: “We are extremely proud of Fahma and are delighted that her dedication to raise awareness of such an important issue has been recognised.

“She has worked diligently to achieve her Access to Higher Education diploma and her commitment to her charity work prior to and during her studies, is commendable.”

Access to Higher Education is a course designed to give adult learners the qualifications they need to get into university.

Fahma studied the Medical Sciences pathway, successfully completing the course in June this year. She will progress to study Biomedical Science at Kings College London this September.

1. Do apprentices get paid?

All apprentices get paid! Currently, the National Minimum Wage is £4.15 per hour, but this is being increased to £4.30 in April 2021.

If you are 19 or over and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, you will be entitled to the minimum wage for your age.

Most businesses will pay more than minimum wage as they want to attract the best candidates, some apprentices earn over £10,000 per year!

2. Where does the qualification lead?

Becoming an apprentice unlocks many opportunities. Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship you can:

• Continue on to the next level apprenticeship e.g. if you complete a Level 2 you can progress to Level 3
• Apply to university
• Work full-time, either for the business you studied your apprenticeship with or you could apply for a new job
• Apply for a promotion

3. What’s expected of apprentices?

You will be entering the world of work and with this comes expectations. Don’t panic, you will be told what’s expected of you when you start and we can help you prepare. Each apprenticeship and business is different, but the main things to consider are; arriving on time, adhering to the dress code and following sickness/holiday procedures.

Apprentices aren’t just there to make cups of tea! – You will find yourself being immersed a variety of different tasks and the more enthusiastic and eager to learn you are, the more responsibility you may be given.

4. Do apprentices get holiday pay?

Apprentices receive at least 20 days paid holiday each year, plus bank holidays, although some businesses may offer more.

5. Do apprentices get taxed?

Yes, apprentices earning over £11,000 per year will be taxed as per the standard government regulations.

6. When do apprenticeships start?

Most apprenticeships can start at any time throughout the year but some may need to start at certain times in the academic year to fit in with class timetables. 

7. Do I have to pay?

No, your employer will pay for your qualification and pay your wage. 

8. Will I have to go to college?

Some apprenticeships can be completed entirely at your workplace and an assessor will come out to visit you and set you new tasks. Apprenticeships with a technical element such as; plastering, hairdressing and engineering will involve regular days at college to perfect your practical skills.

9. Can I get help with my application?

Weston College has a specialist support network for apprentices. We can meet with you to discuss your ambitions and help match you to the perfect role. We can even help you write your CV and provide support in preparation for your interview.

10. How do I start?

You can view all of our apprenticeship vacancies here. If you want to speak to our team for further support please contact us using the details below.