Since leaving Weston College, Charlie Williams has earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Essex and a Master’s in Political Communication at the University of Leeds, appeared on BBC Radio 4, reported for the Weston Mercury, and been elected as the youngest councillor on Weston Town Council. Now working in Bristol and eyeing a future in national journalism — and even a PhD — Charlie’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Charlie studied A Levels in History, Politics, and Law at Weston College’s Loxton Campus between 2016 and 2018. Charlie chose Weston College over other local options, realising that Weston College offered the best environment for him to study. “I also knew many people who studied there and everybody from my school was also going to the College,” he says. “So, it was a no-brainer really!”

Despite his successes, Charlie’s path wasn’t without challenges. He describes the step up from GCSEs to A Levels as the toughest academic leap he’s experienced — even harder than the transition to university. “The best skill I learnt was 100% organisational skills and time management,” he says, reflecting on the content-heavy demands of his subjects. With limited access to resources at home, including no personal laptop and unaffordable textbooks, Charlie relied on the support of his teachers to stay on track. “With the help of my amazing teachers, I ended up getting the hang of things.”

Charlie speaks fondly about his lecturers and looks back upon the positive impact of his second-year History tutor, who brought a fresh perspective, and his Law lecturer, whose unorthodox teaching style made a lasting impression.

After Weston College, Charlie studied a BA in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Essex, securing placements with the BBC and appearing on Radio 4’s The World at One. He then returned home to join the Weston Mercury, where he investigated public spending around the See Monster exhibition — a piece he proudly calls his “magnum opus.”

His involvement in the local community continued when he was elected as a councillor for Haywood Village, becoming the youngest member of Weston Town Council. In a full-circle moment, he played a key role in relocating the council offices to the former Mercury building — the very newsroom where he once worked as a journalist. “I must be one of very few people in the world to ever say that I was part of the process to change my old work office and continue to work there under a different organisation!”

Charlie then went on to complete a master's in political communication at the University of Leeds, graduating with distinction and achieving the highest grades in his programme.

Today, he works in Bristol and hopes to secure a role at a national newspaper, hoping to pursue a PhD in the future. “Since leaving Weston College, I have achieved: a BA and master’s degree, was a reporter with my local paper and have been elected a councillor,” he says.

Would he recommend Weston College? “Yes, because of the wide-ranging courses they offer. It's not just A Levels — it's everything, and I think that's a very good thing indeed.”

Charlie’s journey shows how a strong foundation, hard work, and the right support can open up a wide range of opportunities. From studying A Levels at Weston College to working in journalism and the local council, he’s made the most of each step along the way. We look forward to seeing where his path takes him next.

Last week, our Media and Photography students visited the Bristol Hippodrome to gain work experience photographing the performing arts venue. They photographed both the interior and exterior as well as the staff at work.

This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to gain valuable, hands-on experience, learning more about Press photography, portraiture, and working within creative arts in a popular and well-known venue.

During the visit, students received a tour of the building, got a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals for the performance, War Horse, where they were warming up vocals and fitness, and met members of the Bristol Hippodrome staff.

The day began with the students capturing some interior photography of the bar, lounge, auditorium and foyer areas to take promotional photos of the venue using the correct lighting, angles and camera modes.

Following lunch in the Grand Bar, the students then shot more photos from the exterior of the building which was a great way for students to learn to adapt between natural and artificial lighting.

Not only did they learn about the different settings required for public venues, but they also got to consider how to be more discrete when taking photos in such a high-profile environments, making sure to capture up-close and detailed photos without causing disruption or distractions.

During the day they improved their compositional techniques when framing their photographs which allowed them to achieve a variety of shots and develop their portfolios. 

Sam Brooks, one of our Photography lecturers at Weston College, expressed the impact that this experience had on the students’ personal and professional development, saying, “This opportunity introduced our students to high-profile client work with a leading Performing Arts venue. It provided them with invaluable practical experience and the chance to network within a dynamic industry that has a high demand for talented photographers — one we hope to collaborate with again in the future.”

Thank you to the Bristol Hippodrome for accommodating our students and giving them this fantastic opportunity. 

If you’re interested in applying to one of our Photography or Media courses, click here.

This curriculum trip forms part of the Photography and Media Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

As the academic year draws to a close, students from Sport and Health & Social Care came together for an in-house Sports Day, organised by the Year 2 Level 3 Sport Coaching cohort. 

The event brought plenty of energy, teamwork, and laughter as students competed in a variety of traditional sports day activities, including the egg-and-spoon race, sack race, wheelbarrow race, three-legged race, sprints, baton relays, and an intense game of tug-of-war to round off the day. 

Participation was enthusiastic across both departments, with students and staff getting fully involved to earn points for their teams. While some approached the competition with fierce determination and others embraced the fun more casually, the atmosphere remained light-hearted and supportive throughout and provided a much-needed break from the pressures of exam season. 

Health & Social Care students added extra spirit by turning up in colour-coordinated outfits, complete with handmade signs and pom poms to cheer on their teams. Their enthusiasm created a sense of community and excitement that kept energy levels high all day. 

Level 3 Coaching students took on the role of organisers and judges, carefully tracking results and awarding medals to the top three competitors in each event. The day finished with an awards ceremony where the overall winning team was presented with a trophy, celebrating not just athletic success but also teamwork and enthusiasm. 

Flynn, one of the Year 2 Level 3 Coaching students who helped with the organisation of the event, shared the impact of this day on his education, saying, “As a Weston College student, I felt that this event was a really good way for students to take part in an enjoyable, well planned out, first Weston College sports day. Not only was it good for those who participated, but it was also a great way for our Sports Coaching team to practice and learn how to organise a successful event. 

We did have to change the day due to unfortunate weather, redirecting it to the Sports Hall, which was a great lesson of adaptability for our future coaching journey. However, overall, it was a massive success and will become an annual event from now on for the college as it was a great practical lesson for us which helped with our assessments.” 

Dan Lomax, Curriculum Co-ordinator for Sport at Weston College, praised the efforts of the organising students, saying, “The Level 3 Coaching students did an excellent job planning and delivering such a fantastic event. Despite the challenge of moving indoors due to poor weather, they adapted seamlessly and kept morale high. It was brilliant to see both Health and Sport learners enjoying the day together, celebrating the end of a hard-working year. They’ve all been a pleasure to teach, and it was great to see them support each other and fully embrace the day’s challenges.” 

Congratulations to the Year 2 Coaching students for delivering a memorable event that displayed great examples of teamwork, encouragement, and celebration. 

This event forms part of the Sport and Health & Social Care Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.