The chance to be part of a Taster Day celebrating all things Higher Education is being offered next month (October) at Weston College.

The College’s University Centre and Loxton Campus will open their doors on October 27 to anyone interested in studying for a Degree and looking to start in Autumn 2015.

As well as receiving all the information needed to consider an application, prospective students will be able to take part in a series of ‘hands-on’ workshops in a variety of subject fields, giving them a vital taste of Degree level study.

On offer are workshops in Musical Theatre, Sports Studies, Performing Arts, Computing and Photography, among many other subjects. Those taking part will also be treated to lunch, and can attend a number of information sessions about applying via UCAS, managing finances and accommodation, and what to expect in the first few weeks.

Anthony Murray, Weston College’s Director of Higher Education, said: “We are very pleased to be offering this Higher Education Taster Day, which is aimed at giving aspiring students a clearer understanding of the step-up from Level 3 to University-level study in a wide variety of subject areas. Taking part in this kind of preparatory activity will give students an advantage throughout the university application process and once they start their degrees, wherever they choose to study.

“Weston College offers degree-level study in partnership with Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England, and our range of courses is expanding every year. As a recently designated College of Further and Higher Education, we are committed to providing effective information, advice and guidance to boost the aspirations and prospects of young people thinking about progressing to Higher Education. We look forward to welcoming students from near and far to this exciting day.”

Parents of prospective students are welcome to attend the Taster Day, as are adults returning to HE, or entering it for the first time.

Demonstrating experience of HE through taster sessions and other events is very useful when applying to UCAS, and all visitors to the College’s Taster Day will come away with something tangible to use in their portfolio.

Weston College is one of the top performing Colleges in the South West and is now officially a College of Further and Higher Education. Almost 100 per cent of graduates to on to employment within six months of graduating, and of those graduating in 2014, more than 20 per cent came away with First Class Honours degrees, compared with a national average of 16 per cent.

Anyone interested in coming to the HE Taster Day needs to book before Friday October 3. For more details please contact Weston College’s Higher Education Team on 01934 411 409 or by emailing  he.unit@weston.ac.uk

Weston College of Further and Higher Education are taking a major step to enhance their already highly successful delivery of Higher Education. 

The College has submitted two key bids to the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which, if successful, will bring in bespoke centres for high technologies and professional services to the region.  Both these centres will be built in Weston-super-Mare and will provide a major catalyst for business regeneration.

If the bids are successful there is an opportunity for state-of-the-art facilities in both disciplines and a growth in students studying and living in North Somerset.  The Professional Studies Academy is a response to employers for an existing demand for specific training in a wide range of disciplines.  This includes law, accountancy, business, management, justice services and many more.  Simultaneously the High Technology Centre will include bespoke facilities for composite engineering, digital media, computer-aided design and games design.

The College bids have been supported by North Somerset Council and a range of other agencies.  There is a joint ambition to have 1,000 undergraduates in Weston-super-Mare within the next twenty four months, with a longer term ambition to grow this provision significantly in conjunction with other key partners. 

Both the College, Council and others are aware of the potential for the future which will build upon the significant success already achieved.  In January this year the College received the highest accolade from Ofsted when it gained Outstanding status for its provision.  This made the College the very first in the South West under the new Ofsted framework to gain such recognition.  In addition, almost 100 per cent of graduates from the degree courses progressed to employment within months of graduating.  The 2014 statistics indicated that more than 20 per cent achieved first class honours, significantly above the national average for the UK. 

Dr Paul Phillips, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “The West of England LEP has set a dynamic standard for skills, development and economic regeneration.  Our bid is massively important for both the town and the region.  If successful, the LEP will in reality provide the leverage to bring state of the art facilities to the area.  In an ideal world I would hope that such facilities would not only effect major change but could provide community resources for use by everyone.”

Cllr Nigel Ashton, Leader of North Somerset Council, said: “Higher Education provision is vital to the growing employment needs of Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset and the wider West of England area.

“We are working closely with Weston College to ensure they can deliver their ambitions for a greater emphasis on learning in the town centre which will in turn provide a catalyst for further regeneration opportunities.”

Talented Weston College student Ben Debreceni left Hungary for the UK aged 15 three years ago. Now he is a finalist in South West Student Chef of the Year competition. 

Ben, 18, of Clevedon, already beat scores of competitors who fought for a semi-finalist place in front of judges including top chef Michael Caines MBE, and  will battle it out at Exeter College on October 27^th.

Ben’s culinary expertise in the semi-finals saw him create two delicious set dishes for examiners in just 90 minutes.

The first was butter poached whiting with razor clams, beurre blanc, garlic-infused spring onions, radishes and baby beetroot and the second was pan-roasted pork fillet with potato tubes, texture of cauliflower, heritage carrots and red wine jus.

For the final he will have to create two new dishes with cod and lamb neck fillets as the main ingredients.

Ben said: “The experience of competing was amazing, and I never thought about getting into the final. Credit has to go to all my College lecturers for their teaching, support and faith in me.”   

Senior Weston College Chef Lecturer and mentor to Ben, Jos Wellman said: “Ben is an outstanding student with a genuine passion for food. He produces consistently wonderful food that tempts the eye and the palate.

“His level of professionalism shines through and he is a credit to himself and   to the College, especially as he only started learning English three years ago.”          

While Ben is training at Weston College, he has also been accepted into the Casamia Academy in Bristol. The Michelin Star chefs there have teamed up with the College to launch a specialist hands-on teaching facility.

Lecturer Jos, who has cooked for Royalty, Presidents and celebrities including her Majesty the Queen, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Frank Sinatra, Bond actors and Bon Jovi as well as US Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton and George Bush’s Senior and Junior, added: “If Ben carries on like this the world is his oyster. Cooking is an amazing career if you love creating wonderful food.”

The College is now taking bookings for its on-site refurbished Grove Restaurant offering  three-course lunches on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and dinners Tuesday and Wednesday from as little as £8.

The second-floor accessible restaurant can also be booked out privately for groups of 20-plus.

To book please call 01934 411 422 or email groverestaurant@weston.ac.uk