Weston College is working with Ashcombe Children's Centre to create a Stay and Play for the community, where everything is completely FREE!

This exciting event will take place on Wednesday 18th June at Ashcombe Children's Centre with two sessions available: 

Morning session: 9am – 10:30am 

Afternoon session: 1pm – 2:30pm 

Our stay and play allows for parents and carers to stay and play alongside their children in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Enjoy a morning of hands-on activities, creative play, and community interaction, all designed to support early development and learning.

Our Early Years and Education students will be there too - leading activities, playing with children, and helping set up a fun-filled space for you and your little ones.

There will be a wide range of fun and stimulating activities designed to support children’s learning and development. These include: 

• Messy play with sand, water, and mud 
• A painting station where children can explore colours and their senses 
• A quiet sensory area for those who prefer a calmer space 
• A circle time mat where an adult will read stories and use counting blocks to help prepare children for school  

All activities have been designed to support your child’s fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and overall early development, while encouraging creativity, confidence, and social interaction. 

To keep everyone refreshed, free drinks and biscuits will be available during both sessions.

A select group of Weston College’s Early Years and Education students have planned this event themselves as part of their course, using their knowledge and creativity to design a fun and inclusive experience for local families. 

Spaces are limited, so if you’re interested in attending, please make sure to secure your slot in advance.  

To book a place, click here. 

Everyone is welcome – we can’t wait to see you there! 

If you have any questions prior to the event, don't hesitate to contact Lucy on lucy.drew@weston.ac.uk

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. 

Weston College invites the local community to come together for the Summer Spectacular 2025, this Saturday (7th June from 10 am to 6 pm), a vibrant and family-friendly event packed with live performances, interactive experiences, and a celebration of student success. 

Taking place across the Italian Gardens and the newly reopened Winter Gardens, this free event on Saturday promises something for everyone—from dazzling musical showcases to alpacas, virtual reality, and more. 

Visitors will enjoy a day full of performances, including: 

• Live music and vocals on the Italian Gardens stage. 
• A performance by the Mental Health Choir and a dance piece by English Speaker Other Language (ESOL) learners in the Winter Gardens Ballroom (11:30 am). 
• A high-energy Performing Arts Showcase from 1:00 pm–3:00 pm, featuring highlights from Les Misérables, Sister Act, Rocky Horror, Fame, and Back to the Future. 

But the Summer Spectacular is much more than a show—it’s an open invitation for the community to get involved and try something new. 

Activities include: 

• Meet the alpacas from Weston College’s Animal Management Centre at Puxton Park. 
• Make a bee flower bomb and support local conservation. 
• Create your nature-inspired sun catcher with the Education and Early Years team. 
• Explore virtual reality and learn how to build your own PC. 
• Enjoy a pamper session with hair tinsels and hand massages from the Hair & Beauty learners. 
• Discover the future of automotive engineering, including hydrogen-powered vehicles and onboard diagnostics. 
• Join the ESOL team for a cultural experience—try traditional dance, and learn greetings from around the world. 

In addition, the University Centre Weston Open Day will be running alongside the event inside the Winter Gardens. It’s a perfect chance to explore degrees and degree apprenticeships available locally, ideal for college and sixth form leavers, adult learners, or anyone considering their next step. 

This year’s Spectacular also marks the grand reopening of the iconic Winter Gardens Ballroom, a beloved Weston landmark once again filled with life, learning, and celebration. 

The event will be opened on the Italian Gardens stage by the Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, who will help kick off a day of festivities, thanking students, staff, and the wider community for their energy, creativity, and contributions. 

Weston College Summer Spectacular 2025 is open to all, free to attend, and a fantastic way to celebrate the town’s young talent, explore new opportunities, and enjoy a brilliant day out. 

Having a workforce composed of strong, effective leaders is essential for driving business efficiency and enhancing employee satisfaction. To explore the true value of leadership in today’s workplace, we spoke with Rebecca Freeman, Director of Field Operations at Countrywide Surveying Services. She shares valuable insights into what businesses are looking for in their leaders - and why developing leadership skills is more important than ever!

Rebecca Freeman, Director of Field Operations at Countrywide Surveying Services

What would you say are required attributes of a leader?

There are many different ‘types’ of leader and this in turn comes with differing attributes. However for me the key areas I consider crucial when it comes to leadership are honesty, accountability, ethical behaviour and confidence. Alongside all of these key skills it’s paramount to be able to have a clear vision and strategic mindset and be a natural communicator.

Would you say someone is born a leader, or is being a leader something you learn over time?

Personally, I don’t think someone is born a leader. What shape’s us during childhood has a massive influence on who we become as adults and ultimately leaders. We are all of course leaders of ourselves but during our early years we will be influenced, and we will become shaped by our experiences. I find the best leaders often had our found great role models to look up too.

What can you tell me about the leadership and management course with Weston College?

The leadership and management course with the college is great. Firstly because it can be done over a virtual platform which is so much more flexible and allows us to reach so many more individuals than we would have previously been able to do. Secondly the content of the course is very modern, visionary and insightful.

We wanted to work with Weston College on the Leadership and Management course because of the ease of the programme allowing us to reach a wider audience and the course content which provides a great grounding for our future aspiring leaders.

What does this course teach, and how can it help businesses to thrive?

The core skills are often hard to take time to ‘teach’ when working within a ‘role’ within an organisation. Being able to do the day job and alongside this participate in the course allows opportunity to delve into core attributes such as the ones I mentioned previously and gives the candidates time to really focus on themselves as individuals.

Why is good leadership so important in the residential surveying industry?

In the residential industry, surveyors are now most commonly remote workers which means they spend very little time being able to interact with colleagues. As such it can feel more of a challenge to perhaps take those progressionary steps into leadership. However leadership is crucially important within surveying as we steer our way very much into a digital age what we need more than ever are leaders able to align technology and people very much together whilst still ensuring the mortgage market continues to move forward. Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you can make which makes our role very significant.

To find out more about our leadership and management courses, click here.