Weston College has launched a new three-year law programme for apprentices and top regional legal firm Foot Anstey has already taken on six.

The Business Administration Level 2 with Legal Pathway Apprenticeship can progress to an Advanced Apprenticeship in Legal Services with careers leading to a variety of legal careers.

Weston College Business Administration Coordinator Liz Painter said: “We set up this Apprenticeship in response to requests from legal firms.

“The traditional approach to a legal career via A Levels and university is being challenged by apprentices wanting to earn while they learn.”

The Government recently announced funding for three million new Apprenticeships, and the number of UK apprentices has soared by 73 per cent from 491,300 in 2009 to 851,500 (in 2014?).

Ninety per cent of Weston College apprentices were offered permanent jobs – a 46 per cent increase in filled jobs compared to last year.

The College currently supports 1,200 apprentices and works with 1,400 employers and is the biggest facilitator of Apprenticeship programmes in the region.

With five offices across the South West Foot Anstey is among the UK’s leading law firms with 50 partners and 500 staff and advises regional, national and international clients.

Susie Halliday, Head of Learning and Development at Foot Anstey: “We are delighted to be at the heart of this exciting new initiative which gives young people the opportunity to grow and have long-term careers with our business.  For Foot Anstey it is a great opportunity to develop valuable lawyers of the future.”

The College’s new Training Solutions, based at the South West Skills Campus, Locking Road provides businesses with relevant and flexible training programmes.

The College offers a wide programme of Apprenticeships to people aged 16 and over looking for a new career via training or alternative to A-Levels.

Its Apprenticeship programme can be studied at Levels 2, 3 and 4 and learners progress while continuing to work alongside experienced and skilled staff.

The 50-strong team of work-based learning Assessors work with more than 1400 organisations in the South West.

The College was the first in the South West to launch the Higher Apprenticeship Scheme enabling employees to gain university-level qualifications in accountancy, care and business.

While apprentices receive workplace training they enjoy College benefits including bus passes, gym sessions, discounted driving lessons, hair and beauty treatments.

Weston College students had a chance to meet Michael Gove, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, and local MP John Penrose, last week at an event hosted by Weston-super-Mare Conservative Association.

The students, who are currently studying A Level Government and Politics at Weston College’s Sixth Form Centre, were invited to the Royal Hotel for a three course meal followed by a speech from Mr Gove, who last week was voted out of the Conservative Party leadership election.

Kori, 17, said: “I found the evening thoroughly interesting. It’s cool to see politicians in the flesh because it shows us that the things we learnt in class are more than just theory or history.

“Meeting the politicians brings the concept of politics back to reality.”

Mardi McLay, Lecturer in Government and Politics at Weston College, said: “This was a unique experience providing the students with an opportunity to see first-hand, politics in action.”

Eve Mason, Weston College’s Curriculum Lead in Humanities, Legal and Social Studies, said: “Mr Gove was an interesting and entertaining speaker, who spoke on a range of contemporary matters.

“The students gained a valuable insight into the political process, talking at length to one of Mr Gove’s advisors to find out how he got into politics and what it’s like working for an MP.”

During his speech, Mr Gove paid special tribute to the students, saying: “It’s good to see the amazing young people from Weston College here this evening.

“Everyone in the town should feel proud of the College, and it deserves congratulations for everything it has achieved.”

Mr Gove has previously commended the College for its work in the offender learning sector, where it delivers education in nine prisons across the South West of England.

Art, fashion and textiles, and photography students at Weston College held a successful art show at the College's Sixth Form Centre on Loxton Road.

The show displayed work from second year A Level students, all of which contributes to their final projects, and gave visitors from outside the college a chance to see what they have been working on and discuss this with the students.

Several awards were also given out on the evening, including Head of Faculty’s award, won by Caitlin Hartman, and awards for art, photography and textiles won by Caitlin Dawkes, Matt Szymankiewicz and Neve Lynch respectively.

Ryan Aves, Team Leader for Creative and Maths, said: “We are extremely proud of the work presented by our students in the 2017 Sixth Form Art, Fashion and Photography show. They have all been very imaginative with their ideas and the results of this professional approach will yield excellent A level outcomes in the summer.

“The opening night was attended by many family and friends of the students, and since then local artists as well as teachers and pupils from local schools have been to look at the varied nature of the work.

“The excellent work will surely ensure visitors consider Weston Sixth Form as a great place to study art, photography and textiles.”

A selection of first year art work was also included in the show, which stretched across the entirety of the first floor of the Sixth Form.