Weston College was honoured to welcome Professor Debbie Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and her team, for an insightful visit this week. As a recent appointee to the role, Professor Prentice brings a wealth of experience from the USA and was keen to deepen her understanding of the UK education system, particularly about regional challenges, barriers to progression, and student aspirations.

During her visit, Professor Prentice and her team engaged with college staff to discuss the socio-economic barriers faced by students in the local area and explored the extensive work already being done to raise aspirations, support attainment, and encourage progression. A guided tour of the College showcased key facilities, including those within Creative Arts, Sport, and Health, as well as the Sixth Form, providing a comprehensive view of the educational environment and resources available to students.

Weston College Principal and CEO, Pat Jones led the visit with the Vice-Chancellor, offering insights into the unique challenges and opportunities for students in the region.

A highlight of the visit was a student discussion session over lunch, where a group of Year 12 Sixth Form students, alongside those who had secured Oxbridge offers this year, shared their perspectives. This provided the Cambridge University team with a first-hand account of the aspirations, experiences, and challenges faced by students considering applications to prestigious universities like Cambridge.

This visit signified a commitment from the University of Cambridge to better understand and support students from diverse backgrounds. It also highlighted the dedication of Weston College to fostering academic excellence and ensuring that every student can achieve their full potential, regardless of background or circumstance.

Our Principal Pat said: “We were delighted to host Professor Prentice and her team; we look forward to working collaboratively to enhance opportunities for students in our community.”

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.

Hi, I’m Lola, and I am a Senior Maternity Support Worker Apprentice (the senior healthcare support worker apprenticeship on the maternity pathway). This is my first professional role in the NHS, as I previously completed Innovate and UHBW Traineeship courses at Weston College which helped me develop soft skills to start in this role.

Some of my roles and responsibilities within my apprenticeship include: 

• maternal and neonatal observations 
• catheter and cannula removal/care
• heel pick blood sample on neonates 
• breastfeeding/feeding support 
• escorting patients to various hospitals and appointments 

The list could go on and on!

I’d say my favourite part of the job is the relationships you build with the patients. When you can just give somebody that listening ear and offer that emotional support, especially postnatally at 3am when it’s needed most. It’s those little moments where you can make someone’s experience just that bit better.

Some of the main skills I have learned during my apprenticeship so far are interpersonal skills and communication skills when speaking to colleagues and patients. I have also learned technical skills within the role such as observations, taking out cannulas and catheters (very satisfying to take out), and showing empathy when working with exhausted mothers.

The traineeship I completed helped me by giving me exposure to the world of the NHS through the 6-week placement in St Michael’s Hospital, which helped me to see what was needed to be successful in this industry. I also underwent dedicated sessions to develop employability skills which helped me get the apprenticeship, as well as sessions ran by industry experts regarding health care and UHBW specifically. At the 2024 Business Awards, I won the Health, Sport & Community Partnership Award - watch my video from this below!

My tutor (Laura Trace) provided support every step of the way, with every concern I had, and helped me believe I was able to do it. My assessor (Jenny Gamlin) provided me with experience backed advice and guidance due to her own work history in the field and her knowledge of the apprenticeship itself in preparation for my transition into the apprenticeship.

I have 16 months left of my L3 SHCSW apprenticeship. Once completed, I want to move onto a degree midwifery apprenticeship programme with the view of becoming a fully qualified midwife.

To anyone who is interested in pursuing this career, I would say there will be rough patches that are exhausting and emotionally draining (a big struggle within healthcare), so just make sure you speak up and ask for support, and you’ll come out of the other side. I would also like to give a special thanks to Gareth Brock (who I started at Weston with in innovate) who I was too scared to talk to in the beginning, but has been extremely supportive, as well as Laura Trace (TRA tutor) for listening to all of my anxiety induced ramblings, and Jenny Gamlin (my assessor) who now listens to my healthcare/NHS struggles. In other words, I wouldn’t and couldn’t have done it without them!

We are excited to announce our new Future Talent Business Partnership with RHL Activities Ltd!

RHL Activities are excited to support our students at Weston College with work experience at events, covering writing, photography and media work. They will also be providing us with guest lectures from their Company Director (Gareth Hockey) and possible work experience opportunities at RHL Activities covering departments that are involved in their events.

Gareth Hockey, Director of RHL Activities said, “Our goal is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the events industry - showcasing the diverse roles that contribute to successful events and equipping them with the knowledge and experience needed to launch their careers in this dynamic field.”

RHL Activities Ltd, a multi-award-winning leader in off-road motorsport, is focusing on making the Weston Beach Race bigger than ever in recent year. The Weston Beach Race hit new heights in 2024, reaching over 2 million people across race weekend. The event has earned multiple accolades, including Sporting Event of the Year at the NOEA Awards and recognition for its impact on tourism from 2018 – 2024.

With a team of industry experts, RHL remains committed to pushing off-road motorsport forward, attending key events like in the industry and providing experiences for Students wanting to work in the events industry.

We are looking forward to working with RHL Activities and providing our learners with further new opportunities!

To find out about becoming a Future Talent Business Partner of Weston College, click here.