hans price history weston college

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Our history

Weston College of Further and Higher Education's roots can be traced back over 150 years, with the first documented educational building constructed on the Knightstone Campus site by Archdeacon Henry Law in 1845.

This building, originally known as the National School (later St John's Church School), underwent several changes before closing in 1964 and being demolished in 1966. 

Nearby, the Hans Price-designed School of Science and Art opened in 1893 as part of a national effort, driven by government reforms led by Sir Henry Cole, to promote qualifications that would create skilled technicians and designers to support Great Britain's industrial dominance. 

A century later, the building was granted Grade 2 listed status and was restored and redeveloped from a derelict state by Weston College in 2012. It now serves as the College's conference centre. The current Knightstone Campus, costing approximately £550,000 at the time (equivalent to nearly £6 million today), opened in September 1970. 

The original architectural design included a first-floor main entrance accessed via an external staircase. The campus has undergone significant changes, including a major extension in 1998 that shifted the main entrance from Knightstone Road to Lower Church Road, creating a modern multi-storey reception area. 

In the years that followed, Weston College experienced extensive growth and development. The Loxton Campus was established in 2008 as a £15 million project, followed by the opening of the South West Skills Campus in 2013, which introduced innovative spaces such as the Lord Baker Innovation Centre and the Future Technology Centre. 

In 2015, the £18 million redevelopment of the iconic Winter Gardens was completed, transforming the pavilion for community use and establishing University Centre Weston in partnership with the University of the West of England and Bath Spa University. 

In 2020, the Health and Active Living Skills Centre was opened at the Loxton Campus — a flagship, multi-million-pound facility designed to prepare future professionals in the health and active living sectors. 

The College has been recognised with numerous accolades over the years, including 'College of the Year' and 'Overall Further Education Provider of the Year' at the Times Educational Supplement Further Education Awards in 2015. 

Additional honours include the AoC Beacon Awards for Effective Use of Digital Technology and Innovation in Careers and Enterprise in 2022. Today, Weston College provides education and training to over 30,000 learners across the South West. 

This includes a wide range of higher education courses through University Centre Weston, over 50 apprenticeships ranging from intermediate to degree level, and the provision of education in prisons across the region.

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One Message, Different Voices

Take a look at this powerful film made by the staff of Weston College to show how important it is for everyone from different backgrounds to be included. The film shares heartfelt stories and interviews with a diverse group of staff, showing how accepting different identities and backgrounds can make a big difference. Its purpose is to encourage viewers to think about their own biases and work towards making our community more welcoming to all. We invite everyone, regardless of their background, to join us and be a part of our journey toward a more inclusive future.

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Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee's ability to succeed.