A group of Year 2 BTEC Civil Engineering learners recently visited Beard Construction Ltd’s site at the Bristol Zoo Project in North Bristol. The visit was part of the national “Open Doors” initiative, organised by Build UK, which offers students and members of the public a chance to explore live construction sites and discover the diverse career opportunities within the industry. The event was arranged by Bev Parfitt, the Social Value Co-Ordinator at Beard Construction.

The visit began with a Health and Safety briefing at the site offices, followed by an overview of the £9.2 million project, delivered by Beard’s site management team. The project involves the construction of a new Central African Forest habitat at the Bristol Zoo Project, which will bring together critically endangered Western lowland gorillas and endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys for the first time in a UK zoo.

Learners were then taken on a guided tour of the site, where they observed key stages of the construction process. Highlights included the installation of pre-cast concrete retaining walls, steel frame installation, and roof construction. The group also took note of the foundation construction methods as these closely aligned with topics currently being covered in their coursework.

Students also witnessed the lifting and placement of a concrete unit, learning how these elements are installed with precision to ensure they meet the required tolerances and remain level. This gave them valuable insight into the practical application of engineering principles.

The students also loved seeing some of the zoo’s animals, including red pandas and giraffes, observing the construction activity.

The project is expected to be completed by late summer 2025 and handed over to the client. Daniel Comerford, Construction Professions Lecturer at Weston College, commented, “The learners and staff found the visit very interesting and exciting. It was inspiring to see such a complex construction project being carried out to such a high standard. It was also a great opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real-world construction practice.”

A big thank you to the Beard Construction site team for their time and insight. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and provide learners with more hands-on experiences in the construction industry.

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

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.

Last month, A Level Law students from Weston College Sixth Form took part in an educational visit to Bristol Crown Court, offering them a unique and immersive experience into the workings of the legal system.

The day began with a Q&A session with a judge, where students were able to ask questions about the judge’s career, their experiences within the legal system, and the responsibilities of their role. This honest discussion gave students valuable professional insight into how decisions are made in court and the realities of working in the legal field.

After the session, students spent time in the public galleries, observing a range of live cases. This allowed them to see courtroom procedures in action, including various types of legal arguments and interactions between legal professionals. It brought to life the theory they’ve studied in class, offering a deeper understanding of criminal law and the judicial process.

The visit provided students with an opportunity to apply their academic learning to a real-world scenario. Seeing the justice system firsthand gave them a more comprehensive view of courtroom dynamics and helped to solidify their understanding of how a trial unfolds from start to finish. It also highlighted the structure and complexity of Crown Court proceedings that can’t be taught in a classroom.

This experience was not only educational but also extremely insightful, giving students greater clarity about potential future careers in law and the potential pathways available to them.

This curriculum trip etc forms part of the Sixth Form 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.

Recently, a group of sixth form students joined thousands of pupils across the UK in taking part in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz programme, marking a huge milestone for the initiative. With this most recent visit, over 20,000 students and teachers have now participated in the Trust’s transformative educational journey to the site of the former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. 

Now in its fourteenth year, the Lessons from Auschwitz project aims to educate post-16 students and teachers about the Holocaust through a powerful combination of historical context, personal testimony, and direct experience. The programme is based on the belief that “hearing is not like seeing” and uses immersive, first-hand encounters to bring the reality of the Holocaust to life in ways that classroom learning alone can't. 

The four-part course begins with an orientation seminar focusing on Jewish life in Europe before the Second World War. This foundation provides context, helping students understand the lively and diverse communities that were devastated by the Holocaust. The seminar also features the testimony of a Holocaust survivor, offering a deeply personal perspective on events that are too often reduced to statistics. 

Following this, students travel to Poland, where they visit the town of Oświęcim—known today as the site of Auschwitz, but once a thriving community in which 58% of the population was Jewish before the war. The visit to the Auschwitz camp introduces participants to the harrowing conditions faced. There, they witness the preserved barracks and haunting displays of seized belongings, including piles of shoes, suitcases, glasses, and human hair. These serve as a stark reminder of the individuals behind the numbers. 

The visit continues at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the main site of the mass killings. Students walk through the infamous railway gates, stand on the ramp where selections were made, and visit the ruins of the gas chambers and crematorium. The day ends with a candle-lighting ceremony and a period of quiet reflection, honouring the memory of the millions who were unjustly killed. 

Our A Level History lecturer, Katie Moran, who accompanied four students on this recent trip described the experience as “emotional and sobering.” She added: 

“Walking through the gates of Auschwitz, standing on the ground where over a million lives were taken, and witnessing the remains of Birkenau was an emotional and sobering experience that words can barely capture. Seeing the piles of shoes, suitcases, and hair made the scale of the Holocaust feel devastatingly real. It was a stark reminder of the human stories behind the statistics we often teach in the classroom.” 

The students showed maturity and empathy. For them, the visit was not only about understanding the past but also about learning the responsibility that comes with remembrance. By confronting the atrocities of the Holocaust, they are now better equipped to challenge antisemitism, racism, and all forms of hatred in today’s world. 

Interested in our A Level History course? Explore not only History, but other A Levels we have to offer here. 

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.