Weston College is running a free event to help school leavers make decisions about their future.

‘What Next?’ will provide pupils in school years 10 and 11 – and their parents – with advice and information about qualifications, courses and career pathways.

They will get to speak to expert College staff and employers, and have a go at a range of work-related activities.

The event takes place from 5.30-7.30pm on Wednesday 2nd October at the Winter Gardens in Weston.

Ben Cocks, Assistant Director and the College’s Careers Leader, said: “Leaving school is a daunting time for young people and their parents. They are bombarded with a range of confusing terms and asked to make choices that will affect the rest of their lives.

“’What Next’? is designed to take the headache out of those decisions, and explain the confusing educational jargon and how it relates to them. With new qualifications such as T Levels being introduced, alongside exceedingly dynamic UK industry sectors, it’s important that young people know what skills, knowledge and behaviours will be needed to be successful in tomorrow’s job market’

“We wanted this to be different to your usual careers convention and really focus on giving people access to employers and industry experts. It’s a fantastic opportunity for young people who are leaving school in 2020 or 2021 as they’ll get to talk to knowledgeable staff and employers from all over the UK in a fun, friendly environment.”

The College’s expert careers team will be on hand to offer guidance on a range of work-related topics, including:

• Exploring career opportunities
• Weighing up options and making decisions
• Job hunting and applications
• CV writing
• Applying to university and student finance

School leavers will be able to meet a range of employers and experience the world of work, by having a go at some exciting industry demonstrations.

Those baffled by the range of subjects, qualifications and levels available at College, will have the opportunity to talk to lecturers about courses, levels and the grades they might need.

Click here for more information and to register your attendance

If you would like advice on qualifications or careers, call 01934 411 415 or email aspect@weston.ac.uk

The College’s library service beat off tough UK competition to scoop a Best National Practice Award for its unique level of technical support.

The Council for Learning Services in College (ColRiC) judges chose Weston College’s LibraryPlus-based and cost-free ‘TechGenius’ service for its service interaction.

Technology and Library Team Leader Jon Hofgartner said: “This is brilliant news. TechGenius was set up by Learning Technologist Louise Hutson with Foundation Degree Computing students gaining work experience by helping others with computer, tablet, laptop, PC and phone glitches.

“Around eight TechGeniuses rotate campuses offering general technical advice – from help setting up new phones to support with any computing device.”

Foundation Degree Computing student and TechGenius support Ryan Prescott, 20, of Ashcombe Road, Weston, said: “Weston College provided us with a great opportunity to work on a real help desk. We hope winning this award will bring more recognition to the TechGenius program and look forward to helping more people.”

Chair of CoLRiC, Margaret Phillips, said: “CoLRiC launched these awards as we are convinced there are many unsung heroes in Libraries making a truly magnificent difference to learners. We have been overwhelmed by the number and quality of the entries and the commitment given by staff to the service and their institutions.”

In the last three years the College’s Library Service has invested over £1 million and now has 22 staff.

Service Head of Executive Lead Quality and Learning, Claire Bushell, explained: “ Three years ago the college started from scratch to create state-of-the-art learning facilities on all campuses which are vibrant, office-free spaces where students study, discuss, think and create in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

“We have nearly 200 computers, laptops, tablets, cameras and Kindles and technologically-confident accessible staff who support students. There are also quiet spaces and times.

“It’s wonderful our students are integral to winning this national award. The feedback we get from library users is incredibly positive and it’s now a very valued resource.”

On April 28^th Jisc is set to hold a Learning Technology Forum at LibraryPlus on Knightstone’s campus.

It will be an opportunity for education professionals across the region to tap into the latest teaching and learning technology resources.

The College is also organising its first ever Technology Enhanced Learning Conference at Knightstone’s campus on July 9^th which is open to anyone in Secondary, Further and Higher Education.

Claire added: “The conference is an exciting first for us with a range of sessions from developing technology enhanced learning with social media and of course TechGenius.”

Former Weston College student Bradley Ash has become a professional footballer after signing with SkyBet League One club Barnsley.

The 19-year-old, who studied BTEC Level 3 Sport at Weston College from 2012 to 2014, signed for an undisclosed fee on the opening day of the transfer window.

He had been watched by scouts from a number of Football League clubs after scoring 14 goals from 13 starts for Vanarama National League South side Weston-super-Mare.

Paul Taylor, Sports Development and Performance Manager at Weston College said: “We are very proud of Brad, particularly of his latest achievement of signing professionally for Barnsley Football Club.

“His determination, technical ability and incredible work ethic will I’m sure enable him to realise his dream.”

Barnsley Football Club, managed by former Bristol City midfielder Lee Johnson, snapped up Bradley without first taking him on trial.

During his time at Weston College, Bradley represented Weston College Football Academy throughout and was awarded ‘Sports Performer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Male Academy of Sport Athlete’ in 2014.

While in his second year, Bradley was nominated by Weston College to attend trials for the England Colleges National Team.

After three trials he was selected to represent England Colleges, making his debut against Australia, and going on to play a further eight times including matches against Wales, Scotland, Italy and San Marino during the season. In addition, Bradley represented England in an International Tournament in Italy.

SafeGuard Clothing has donated a bulletproof vest to Weston College’s Uniformed and Public Services students.

The international body armour company’s donation fits in with its mission of educating students about the necessity for safety equipment for front line service operatives.

SafeGuard Clothing has partnered with several regional and national education institutions to assist with materials and information that enrich the students’ learning experience.

Thomas Bowman, speaking on behalf of SafeGuard Armour and Clothing, said: “Under our corporate initiative for social responsibility and involvement, we assist local colleges in developing their Public Services courses.

“We offer our support, expertise and guidance to improve student preparedness for the line of work they have chosen.”

Rebecca Ranson, Curriculum Manager for Sport and Public Services at Weston College, expressed gratitude to SafeGuard for the donation, saying: “It offers our students great advantage in acquiring the knowledge and skills they need in their chosen field.

“Such level of corporate and social responsibility creates vital opportunities and enhances the quality of our educational program.

“We are happy that Weston College is among those that have been selected to receive a donation as we believe it creates a unique advantage for our students to understand the type of body armour they will be using later on in their careers.”

SafeGuard Armour and Clothing is a worldwide manufacturer and distributer of body armour and is involved in research and development for new materials to enhance the wearability of protective body armour for front line services.

The way GCSEs are graded is changing. The alphabetised G to A* system is being phased out and replaced with a numerical grade that ranges from one to nine, with nine being higher than an A*.

This system means that there is greater differentiation between the highest achieving students. You can find the full table below…

If you’re struggling to park in the designated student car park at your campus, please remember to park respectfully and legally - we know the last thing you want is to get a parking ticket, get clamped or even have your car towed. 

Here’s some simple advice for parking offsite… 

Look out for road markings and signs 

Let’s start with the obvious – don’t park on double yellows! This is the most common reason for parking fines around Weston, and you could get a pretty hefty fine.  

If there is a single yellow line on the road, this means that restrictions apply. Look for a nearby signpost that will tell you when you can park or who can park on the lines. 

Don’t park on crossings or the zigzag lines that are near crossings, as this makes it dangerous for people crossing the road and could lead to points on your licence. 

If there are parking bays, make sure that you’ve read the appropriate restrictions – they could be reserved for residents, disabled people, or charges could apply. 

Remember: even if the lines are worn, parking restrictions still apply.  

Check your parking position 

Even if there are no road markings, you can still get a fine for parking badly.

Parking with your wheels on the pavement could lead to a fine, and often restricts access for people in wheelchairs or with mobility problems, and could also lead to your car being damaged as pedestrians brush past it. 

Similarly, parking too far away from the curb (over 48cm or 19”) could lead to a fine. Parking too close to road junctions or on bends could lead to your car being driven into, so it is best to avoid these places. 

Remember that if any part of your car overhangs a restricted zone (e.g. a double yellow line) you can technically be given a ticket. 

Respect dropped curbs 

Dropped curbs often appear at the ends of driveways or at road junctions to allow people to cross the road. Even if you can’t think of an obvious reason for the curb to drop, you can still be fined for parking on one, or even have your car clamped or towed. 

If in doubt… 

If you’re not sure that you’ve parked correctly find somewhere else to park! It’s not worth risking a parking fine (which can be as much as £70) just to avoid paying a couple of pounds to park in a registered car park… 

Alternatively, you could always travel into College with an alternative method of transport – each campus has plenty of cycle racks and we offer a great value bus pass. 

Coming to College can be a daunting experience. There will be lots of new faces and this could be the first time you’ve been split up from your friends since primary school. This short guide will hopefully make everything seem a little bit easier...

Talk!

On your first day you will find that lots of people will be in the same boat as you, so you will not be the only nervous one. Although most of our students have friends from school that come to the College, they might all be in different classes - or even different campuses! When you start your course don’t be afraid to talk to people. Your class mates will appreciate you making the first move and this can be a quicker way of getting to know the people that you’ll be spending the next two years with.

Set a goal

Challenge yourself to talk to a new person every day, whether this be at the bus stop, in your class, or in the library. The more people you chat to the more likely it is that you’ll find someone with similar interests, and make friends. By talking and hanging out with different people, you’ll get to meet their friends as well and this will be a great way to expand your social group.

Get to know people outside of class

When your class finishes see if anyone wants to hang out in the canteen, or go to one of the College's cafes for a Starbucks or Costa. This can be a great way of getting to know each other in a more relaxed environment, and also means you won’t be hanging around on your own while you wait for your next class. If you take the initiative by asking your class mates then you can build connections and you’ll soon make friends.

Join a club

There are lots of sports teams and clubs which you can join when you come to Weston College, and this can be an effective way of meeting like-minded people. You will already have something in common and if you don’t bond with the people on your course, then this can be another great way of meeting new people.

Be yourself

You'll be studying alongside people with the same interests and ambitions of you, so just be yourself and you'll naturally bond with the people on your course. Don't forget - if you ever want to talk to someone at the College or need help settling in - our expert welfare and pastoral support teams are on hand to help!

Following an assessment, the College was awarded the Matrix standard, which recognises the quality of information, advice and guidance. This re-accreditation – the College first achieved the standard in 2012 – lasts until 2021.

The College was awarded the standard by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. It recognises the work done by the College’s ASPECT; Welfare Support, Additional Learning Support; Apprenticeship Sales and Recruitment; and College Information Services (CIS) teams.

During the visit assessor Bob Moffat spoke to students, staff and several external partners. The assessor commented that over the last few years, the College has developed a progressive, learner-focused and dynamic organisation where staff have risen to the challenges of change and continue to achieve high levels of success in what is a team-based and collaborative culture.

He recognised that the College has a clear and purposeful direction, which is achieved through a measureable strategic plan and associated service standards, underpinned by a meaningful mission statement.

It was highlighted that information, advice and guidance (IAG) provided by the College is consistently impartial, objective and people-centric. The assessor was also impressed with how the College has embraced the use of technology to continuously improve their service.

Marie Beaver, the College’s Strategic Lead School Partnerships and Student Progression, said: “We are delighted that the dedicated work of staff in these areas has been recognised. As a result of monitoring and evaluating learner outcomes, the College has continued to develop and enhance its service, including IAG”.

The new Matrix accreditation is the latest in the list of awards received by the College for the quality of its support to students.

Weston College has been named among the first 21 colleges to establish a maths centre of excellence.

The new centres were announced last year in response to Sir Adrian Smith’s review of post-16 maths education, which recommended improving basic maths for people over 16.

The chosen colleges, which will share £40 million of funding over five years, are spread across the country. Weston College is one of only two centres in the South West.

As well as improving the quality of basic maths provision for low-attaining young people over 16, the new centres will design new teaching approaches, develop high-quality resources, build teachers’ skills and spread best practice.

Weston College Principal and CEO, Dr Paul Phillips, said: "This is fantastic news – not just for Weston College and our learners, but also the wider community in North Somerset and beyond.

“Becoming a maths centre of excellence will allow us to revitalize our maths provision, and develop new resources for our learners.

“Being one of only 21 providers awarded the funding is a great honour and reinforces our national reputation for high-quality education.”