You’ll probably find that college is different to school in many ways. Here’s a few things you might want to know about life at college...

Tutors

Teachers are known as tutors and you call them by their first name. You’ll meet your personal tutor during your induction, they will be your first point of contact for everything at college. They’ll also meet with you in 1-1 sessions to check your progress.  During your first week there will be lots of activities to help you settle in and make friends.

Responsibility

Your personal tutor will give you your timetable. You’ll be responsible for getting to College and your classes on time and for managing your own assignments.  You might find you have free time during the day, or have some days when you don’t need to come to college. But don’t forget the library is always open! At College you are given more freedom and also more responsibility. There are no buzzers to signal the start and end of lessons.

Student Services

If you’re not sure about your course, or you want some advice on careers or university the student services team is available for 1-1 support. The college also has Welfare and Learning Support teams at each of the main campuses to help you settle in and provide you with a wide range of support and guidance throughout your time at college.  If you need support for your studies or welfare support your tutor can arrange this or you can go to them directly. Click here to find out more.

More than just study

Don’t forget, College isn’t just about study, we also have the brilliant Students' Union. Become a member or get involved in the fantastic range of Sports, events and enrichment activities to make your time at college even more enjoyable.

A former Weston College student has successfully completed his police training and is now serving as a police officer. We caught up with the former ‘Certificate in Knowledge of Policing’ student to find out what it’s like to become a police officer and also get his top tips!

How did the ‘Certificate in Knowledge of Policing’ course prepare you to become a police officer?

“The course at Weston College provides students with an understanding of the main pieces of legislation that a lot of police work revolves around (Police and criminal evidence act, Theft act etc.).

“The course gave me a head start on the industry, as when I started training I wasn’t having to learn everything from scratch and could instead focus more in solidifying my understanding.

“I was also very fortunate to have two ex-officers teach the course in the form of a retired Detective Inspector and a retired Chief Inspector. The knowledge they were able to pass on to me was invaluable. They were also both kind enough to help me with my application as well so credit has to go to them in helping me get where I am now.”

What did the training entail?

“The training lasted for 17 weeks and was Monday to Friday 9-5. It was predominantly classroom based, however there were practical role play days and officer safety days. These consisted of learning vital skills such as handcuffing, restraints and how to use our safety kit such as PAVA spray.”

What advice would you give to any students that are thinking of following a similar route?

“The advice I would give is to jump in and do it! The training can be tough and it seems to last for a really long time, but it is ever so worth it as the job is stressful but very rewarding.

“One of the most important things to do before applying is do your research. Doing the CKP (Certificate in Knowledge of Policing) is a good way of getting a flavour of what you’re applying for and demonstrates your commitment when it comes to applying for roles.

“Also consider going on ride-alongs or applying for the Special Constabulary first. The main thing though is to not get disheartened if you don’t get accepted first time of applying. If it’s a career you are serious about following then you are going to need perseverance and commitment in order to get in.”

What is your favourite thing about being a police officer?

“The unpredictability of the job is something that I find particularly exciting. The best thing though, as cheesy as it sounds, is being able to make a difference to people’s lives and having the ability to help people when they need it most.”

Why do you think students should study the CKP course at Weston College?

“I studied at Knightstone Campus and the facilities really are great. I don’t live local to the College and had to travel in, but it is really accessible from the M5 motorway.

“Weston College are really lucky to have ex-officers teach this course, and I think this is a real advantage that helps prepare you for what is to come. The staff are extremely helpful and always willing to sort out any issues that may arise.”

The ‘Certificate in Knowledge of Policing’ course lasts 14 weeks and will help to prepare you for recruitment as a Police Constable in England or Wales. It is also relevant to roles within the Criminal Justice Sector.

If you would like to follow in this police officers footsteps, you can find out more information on the course here.

Weston College has finished joint-second in a table of every further education college in the UK.

The FE Week NICDEX rankings gives each college a mark out of ten in four categories – learner satisfaction, employer satisfaction, 16-to-18 positive progression and adults into employment. These are then added together to give an overall score.

Weston College was awarded 34 out of 40 – level with Newcastle and Stafford, and two behind PETROC.

The rankings were devised in 2016 by Nick Linford FE Week’s editor and a former director of performance at Lewisham College. They are based on satisfaction and progression criteria published by the Department for Education.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Weston College’s Principal and Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted with this fantastic achievement, we always put our learners first.

“We work extremely hard to make sure our learners enjoy their time with us, developing themselves holistically and progressing to further/higher education or employment. We are continually building strong relationships with all of our employer partners and stakeholders to ensure we are creating relevant training and qualifications that lead to meaningful employment for our learners.

“To be ranked second in the country show we’re definitely doing something right!”