POLITICIANS from Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset visited Weston College to help students to understand how immigration affects modern politics.

Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare, John Penrose, and UKIP politician Ian Kealey, who stood as UKIP’s parliamentary candidate for North Somerset in the 2015 General Election, visited the College on Friday 6th May.

The two politicians visited students on the social science diploma of the Access to Higher Education course, a course which provides adults with the qualifications and academic skills to progress to university.

The visit tied in with the students’ last assignment, contemporary political issues, where they are required to take part in a debate on immigration.

The two-hour debate covered a range of topics relating to immigration, including the economy, healthcare, cultural values, refugees, freedom of movement, border controls and more.

Mr Penrose said: “I was impressed by the depth of understanding on an extremely difficult and emotionally-charged issue and by the good natured style of the debate – perhaps a few MPs in Westminster could learn a bit if they were with me today.”

Sarah Rees, a qualified lawyer who lectures in Law and Social Policy at the College, said: “This was a great opportunity for students studying politics to hear first-hand from active members of parliament about a subject close to many people’s hearts.

“We are grateful to Mr Penrose and Mr Kealey for their contribution.”

Mr Kealey said: “I thought the students seemed well-informed about the topic and the issue of immigration, its economic impacts and how it affects services.”

TWO performing arts students from Weston College have been commissioned by a theatre in Taunton to perform their solo shows.

Charlie French and Katrina Titcombe, who are both on the College’s BA (Hons) Performing Arts course, will be performing at The Brewhouse, in Coal Orchard, on Saturday 4th June.

Charlie’s show, Scratch, is a piece exploring who we really are through the words of others. It asks whether words convey identity or just paraphrase the thoughts people hear from those around them.

He said: “'I'm thrilled to have my work commissioned by the Brewhouse Theatre.

“Not only is it fantastic experience for an aspiring actor to see what it's really like to work within the industry, it is also a great encouragement.

“It is because of my training at the Wessex Academy of Performing Arts that I feel I have grown in overall confidence since starting the course and have ultimately matured as a performer, both in terms of my knowledge of performance and the skills that I have learned.”

Katrina’s show, You Are Invited, revolves around a few items of clothing which combine to perform a wedding in 40 minutes.

She said: “I am really excited for my first commissioned show. I think it will be a really good experience and a start to the outside world of performing.

“I think it will be a really good experience and a start to the outside world of performing!

The course has helped me develop my confidence within performing. It's made me explore more of what theatre really is and different ways it can be explored.”

The College’s Higher Education Section Leader in Performing Arts, Ged Stephenson, said: “Performing arts students held a festival of contemporary performance in which each student performed their own 40-minute solo piece.

“The Brewhouse was impressed with the festival and chose two of the performances to be put on at their venue as a double-header.”

The performance will begin at 7.30pm and tickets, priced £5, are available via www.thebrewhouse.net or 01823 283 244.

A Weston College student has beaten over 3,000 competitors to represent the South West at the National Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition to be held in Stafford in June.

Ben Vanstone, who is currently studying a Level 3 Electrical Installation course, competed against students and apprentices from across the region and came first in the regional competition, overcoming three previous rounds of competition prior to the regional final, winning an iPad in the process.

Ben will now go head-to-head against seven other students/apprentices from across the UK for a chance to be named National Electrical Apprentice of the Year 2016 and win a £2,000 prize.

The results will be announced at an awards ceremony for the finalists and their friends and families in June.

Ben said: “The College has been fantastic, supporting me and helping me every step of the way. I can’t thank the lecturers enough.

“I have learnt so much and have a great, well paid career ahead of me “.

Chris Simpson, Weston College’s Building Engineering Services and Environmental Technology Manager, said: “It is excellent to see the hard work, effort and commitment Ben has shown to his studies is reflected in this national achievement, both ourselves and his employer are really proud as it is such a prestigious accolade within the electrical industry “ 

The Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition is an annual contest organised by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting and the electrical self-assessment organisation, ELECSA.

The competition’s aim is to recognise the talents of the brightest electrical students in the UK.