We recently caught up with a successful T Level graduate, Grace, who completed her Early Years Educator T Level with a Distinction, gaining her valuable hands-on experience and a great final result. 

Over the 2 years, Grace worked 750 hours in her placement and explained that the T Level was a ‘great balance of placement and college hours’, providing her with a unique blend of classroom learning and real-world experience to put her skills into practice. 

Grace completed many tasks during her placement such as ‘supporting children with daily tasks’ and assisting them with their learning, and as her confidence and knowledge progressed, she was given more responsibilities due to her capability and determination in the role. 

The Early Years Educator T Level is a two year course based at Knightstone campus. The T Level allows students to collaborate with employers, providing a mixture of classroom learning and work-based experience to help build technical skills and kick start a career in the education sector. Studying this course sets a student apart from others as they develop a deeper understanding of child development in practice as well as in a classroom. 

Throughout Grace’s T Level, she ‘learnt so much from doing an industry placement’ and had the opportunity to shadow and work alongside experienced professionals. This opportunity helped her develop the necessary skills as well as open her eyes to potential career paths in the future. 

As a result of her hard work and dedication, Grace was offered a summer job opportunity with her placement, Stationhouse Nursery in Portishead, which she stated was the highlight of her T Level as it proved that her hard work and efforts had paid off.  

During her time at Weston College, Grace found that the support from the staff and the team were a key factor of her success. With their fun lesson deliveries, readiness to answer any queries, and catering to the needs of each learner, Grace said that she ‘couldn’t have done it without them’. She also found that the newly renovated facilities available to her at Weston College had a positive impact on her learning experience. 

When asked if Grace would recommend a T Level course, she said it was the ‘best of both worlds’, and for anyone considering a T Level, she encourages that all students ‘100% go for it’. With both the practical experience to take her straight into a career, or enough UCAS points to continue studying at university, there is no limit to opportunities.  

After completing her course with a Distinction, Grace is proud that the hard work paid off and she is now progressing on to Norland College in September.

We wish you the best of luck Grace!

Learners from Weston College received their Level 2 Diploma and Certificate results this morning, including GCSE and Functional Skills in Maths and English. The College has seen pass rates improve on last year, with exceptional outcomes particularly in GCSE Maths with pass rates at 30%, 13% above the national pass rate. It is similar story with English resits, with pass rates well above the national levels. At the same time, we are thrilled to see a number of learners achieve high grades including grades 8 and 9s in both English and maths.

With Level 2 courses offered across the various Career Excellence Hubs, learners from a range of disciplines, from Construction to Hospitality, collected their results today, with many celebrating their achievements.

Jackson, who studied Motor Vehicle and completed his Functional Skills in Maths, shared his experience:

"My time at Weston College was truly transformative. I not only mastered the intricacies of motor vehicle systems but also overcame my struggles with maths, thanks to the support of phenomenal lecturers. This journey has given me the skills and confidence to pursue my dream of joining the REME Regiment as a Vehicle Mechanic, and I’m excited for what lies ahead."

In addition to Level 2 courses, both new and returning learners received their GCSE maths and English results this morning, striving to achieve the grade C/4 required to advance in their education.

The College learners have displayed exceptional dedication and perseverance, proving that it’s never too late to secure qualifications and unlock new opportunities. These results are a significant cause for celebration and underscore how Weston College supports its learners in achieving their goals.

One of the tremendous success stories from the day is Oli who picked up his English GCSE result. He said:

“I feel very relieved, and so happy as I can now progress onto my apprenticeship.

“I have felt so supported during my time at Weston College, everyone has gone above and beyond to help push me beyond my boundaries to pass and achieve this grade.”

Maria picked up her Maths GCSE result, saying:

“I don’t think my results have sunk in yet – I’m overjoyed!

“I have put in a lot of hard work, and had great support from the team at Weston College, which has allowed me to pass my GCSE.”

Weston College’s Principal and Chief Executive, Pat Jones, added:

“We are immensely proud of our learners and the determination they have shown in reaching this important milestone.

“Their success is a testament not only to their hard work but also to the supportive and inclusive environment we strive to provide at Weston College.

“Whether they’ve excelled in vocational courses or overcome challenges in core subjects like maths and English, today’s results highlight how education truly transforms lives and opens doors to new opportunities.

“We look forward to seeing what our learners achieve next as they take the next steps in their journeys.”

If you would like to find out more about our maths and English courses, you can do so by clicking 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.

Weston College was delighted to welcome renowned Sudanese diaspora writer, broadcaster, and award-winning social advocate, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, as the keynote speaker at this year’s Academic Conference, themed ‘New Beginnings’.

The Conference is an annual event that kicks off the academic year for all college staff, ahead of the start of term for students in September. The ‘New Beginnings’ conference marks a significant moment in the College’s journey, as it embraces a new era of leadership and renewed commitment to fostering a diverse, ambitious, and inclusive educational environment.
 

Yassmin Abdel-Magied, a former mechanical engineer turned influential voice in global discourse, has made significant contributions across multiple fields. She has authored four critically acclaimed books, written two plays, and is currently developing several projects for screen. 

Her work, which spans both fiction and non-fiction, delves into the complexities of human and power dynamics in politics, culture, and technology. Through her insightful analysis of systemic challenges, Yassmin has become a powerful advocate for transformative justice and a fairer, safer world for all. 

The ‘New Beginnings’ Academic Conference aligns with a pivotal time for Weston College, as the institution welcomes its new Principal and CEO, Pat Jones alongside a new Deputy Principal Alex Warner and Chief Finance Officer Janet Stephens. 

The Conference explored how these new beginnings will influence staff behaviours, ambitions, and expectations—particularly in how they inspire and shape the ambitions of our learners. Additionally, Weston College is proud to be on a journey towards achieving Investors in Diversity status, reinforcing our commitment to cultivating an inclusive culture that values and celebrates diversity at every level. 

Yassmin’s participation emphasised this commitment, offering staff an opportunity to engage with her unique perspectives on creating equitable and inclusive environments. 

Pat Jones, reflecting on the significance of the event, stated: “We were honoured to have Yassmin Abdel-Magied join us as our keynote speaker. Her insights on systemic change, justice, and the power of narrative were incredibly relevant as we embark on this new chapter for Weston College. Her work exemplifies the values we strive to instil in our community, and we look forward to continuing to support our staff and learners to create their brighter futures this academic year and beyond.”

Our HGV Bootcamp has had a profoundly inspiring impact on Andy, who has successfully transitioned into his dream career, showcasing the effectiveness of our training program.

Andy secured a position with Towens, a company he had strategically targeted during the career planning segment of our employability course.

Andy has shared his enthusiasm for his new career, crediting the HGV Bootcamp for his success:

“I excelled throughout the entire bootcamp and can't thank Weston College enough for the hard work you put in for all the students. The HGV Bootcamp provided a calm and clear learning environment. The day after I passed my test, I went straight to Towens. The following day, I spoke with the managers, and I started my training the day after that. I’m now fully employed as a Class 2 tipper driver for Towens, just as I set out to be. I absolutely love my new career. Many thanks again to the team at Weston College - you've helped change my life."

If you’re ready to kickstart your own career, 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.

Students studying A Levels, Vocational Subjects and T Levels at Weston College celebrated their outstanding grades on Results Day 2024! The results were once again excellent for learners across the various campuses of the College Group.

This year, the T Levels included disciplines such as Health, Engineering, Education & Early Years. Impressively, the Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction and Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing & Control courses achieved a 100% pass rate, with 60% of students earning the highest grades.

T Levels are qualifications for 16- to 19-year-olds, undertaken after GCSEs. Equivalent in size to three A Levels, they emphasise technical and vocational skills, providing pathways into skilled employment, higher education, or apprenticeships.

Similarly, for A Levels, Weston College students outperformed last year’s students with 100% pass rates realised in Art, Computer Science, Economics, French, Further Maths, Media, Photography, Textiles, BTEC IT and BTEC Sport.

The College also saw hundreds of students successfully earning their vocational qualifications in a variety of fields, including Animal Management, Business, Construction, Creative Arts, Education, Hair and Beauty, Health and Social Care, Hospitality and Catering, Motor Vehicle, Public Services, and Sport. Our learners on creative courses excelled yet again, with 100% achievement and the majority with higher grades.

A Level student Megan Ford, who picked up their results today commented:

"I'm very happy with my results! I got an A*, B, B! It's been really rewarding seeing all the hard work payoff and getting the grades to get into University. I have a place at Cardiff University but I'm deciding between Bio-Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Science! My advice to anyone studying A Levels next year would be always persist and the hard work will pay off!"

T Level student in Business Management, Thomas Hibbard picked up their results today and said:

“I got a Distinction today, which is better than I was expecting. This grade allows me to go on to a Degree Apprenticeship with Airbus in supply chain management – something I’m really excited about. My overall highlight of the course was taking part in the Enterprise Challenge, where I created a business and raised money for Weston Hospicecare.”

T Levels are backed by employers and contain 315 hours of an Industry Placement; this year students had placement opportunities with employers such as Mercedes-Benz, Suez, Bristol Port Company, Sirona and Lloyds Banking Group; the Banking Group provided the opportunity for 17 Weston College T Level learners, studying Digital and Business-related T Levels, to join them to carry out their placements. Fred Thomas, Senior Manager at Lloyds Banking Group* said:

"We view T Levels and their associated student placements as an excellent pathway to apprenticeships. In the long term, they will have an even greater impact by allowing us to identify talent at an early stage. During his placement, T Level student, Tom (one of the T Level learners who worked with Fred) worked on several projects and added value to our team. His performance was highly praised by all, leading us to offer him a degree apprenticeship."

The College’s Vocational qualifications were also outstanding this year. Health student, Chloe Johnson received triple distinction today and commented:

"I’m feeling fantastic after receiving my results. I have felt fully supported throughout my time at Weston College, which enabled me to apply for an apprenticeship. I’m thrilled to have been offered a place with the NHS on the RNDA programme, where I hope to qualify as a Registered Nurse within the next four years. I’m excited to start my university course and begin my new role as a nursing apprentice in September."

Weston College’s Principal and Chief Executive Pat Jones said:

"These results highlight the dedication and hard work of our students, demonstrating once again the excellent progress our students make toward Higher Education or employment.

At Weston College, our focus extends beyond helping students pass exams—we are committed to equipping them for their future careers. Our study programmes are designed to inspire and collaborate with industry partners, ensuring students are fully prepared for their next steps, whether that be a degree, a higher apprenticeship, or entering the workforce.

I would also like to commend our curriculum and support staff for their pivotal role in supporting these students to achieve such fantastic results.

A huge congratulations to the Class of 2024. I wish every learner great success in their future endeavours."

Overall, college results were exceptional with an improvement over last year's results by over 2%.

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.

At this year’s Creative Arts Summer Show, we saw impressive work from our students! Our learners on the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design - Pre-Degree showed strong talent!  

We’re putting a spotlight on some of the work produced and taking you behind the scenes into the inspiration behind the pieces.  

Jack: 

Jack’s work revolves around the idea of perfection and imperfection. He achieved this by having one side of his piece being ‘perfect and clean’ and the other being more chaotic. As Jack eventually aims to be an illustrator, he chose a geometric layout. The linework in the chaotic side of the piece corresponds to letters in a paragraph based on the word perfection, showing an impressive blending of ideas.  

Izzy: 

Izzy’s work is about her connection with her coastline. Living in a coastal area, she has a strong focus on the impact that climate change is having on these areas. A key inspiration behind this theme was finding out that a walking route that Izzy regularly takes with her dog would be underwater by 2050 due to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. To achieve this, her work has the colours of nature, using flowers and florals from this coastline.  

Edith: 

Edith’s work centres on the theme of identity, especially regarding being a twin. The work was inspired by her journey to be independent and discovering her own personality. The course has helped Edith to discover new working processes and has prepared her for university, which she will be going to after a gap year.  

Mercedesz: 

Mercedesz’ work has many elements including a section inspired by a spider's web. This represents an area where a spider can hunt but is also the home for the spider. The work focuses on a theme of home, which can be lost but also found. The focus point of the piece represents a starting point for Mercedesz to create her new home from, with many elements branching off. 

Sydney: 

Sydney’s work was about rebirth and the healing process from a traumatic event. She was inspired by self-grief, creating work based on looking after yourself and healing independently. Sydney used crochet to achieve this effect. She describes the course as a completely different experience to A Levels and secondary school. Her words to anyone thinking about the Foundation Arts course are clear: “It's the best thing ever! Just do it!”.  

Feeling inspired? Find out more about the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design - Pre-Degree by clicking here! 

As results day approaches, the mix of excitement and anxiety can be overwhelming. Whether you’re awaiting results for A Levels, T Levels, GCSE’s or vocational courses, it is crucial to approach the day with a calm and open mindset. Here are some valuable tips to help you manage stress, stay positive, and plan your next steps effectively.

Reducing Stress Before Results Day

• Talk About Your Feelings - Share your thoughts and worries with friends, family, or a mentor. Talking about your feelings can alleviate stress and provide emotional support.
• Stay Active - Engage in regular physical activities such as walking, running, or yoga. Exercise releases endorphins, which help improve mood and reduce anxiety.
• Eat Well - Maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and protein. Avoid excessive caffeine and sugary snacks, which can increase anxiety.
• Get Enough Sleep - Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Adequate rest is essential for maintaining a positive outlook and managing stress.

Keeping an Open Mind on Results Day

• Prepare for All Outcomes - Consider different scenarios and have a plan for each. This proactive approach can help you feel more in control and less anxious about the unknown.
• Stay Positive - Focus on your achievements and the effort you’ve put in, regardless of the results. Remember, one set of results does not define your entire future.
• Breathe and Stay Present - Practice deep breathing or mindfulness techniques to stay calm. If you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to step outside and reset.

Next Steps After Receiving Your Results

• Applying to University - If your results meet expectations, start researching universities and courses. Look into application deadlines and entry requirements. If your results are lower than expected, explore alternative routes such as foundation courses or universities with different entry criteria. University Centre Weston (UCW) offer over 45 courses with small class sizes for increased attention and interaction!
• Exploring Employment Options - Update your CV and start looking for job opportunities that match your skills and interests. Websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor are great starting points. Consider internships, apprenticeships, or volunteer work to gain experience and build your professional network – Weston College offer a range of apprenticeships and work opportunities.
• Considering a Gap Year - A gap year can offer opportunities to travel, learn new skills, or gain work experience. Research gap year programs and plan activities that will enrich your personal and professional growth. Volunteering or part-time work during a gap year can also help you save money and gain valuable experiences.

Final Thoughts... Results day is just one step in your journey. Whatever the outcome, there are numerous paths to achieving your goals. Stay positive, seek support, and keep an open mind. Your future is full of possibilities, and this is just the beginning. Good luck!

If you would like any support from the team at Weston College, or UCW, please contact us on 01934 411 411.

WE STAND TOGETHER. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

Weston College is appalled by the recent race riots and violence occurring across the UK including Bristol, that are fuelled by racism, Islamophobia and demonisation of migrants. As a college community, our stance is unwavering: Weston College firmly condemns racism, Islamophobia, and violence in all forms.

While Weston and the surrounding areas have not experienced violence as seen elsewhere, we are actively engaged with the police and local authorities to monitor the situation closely.

However, we understand that these events have impacted our community, both directly and indirectly. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners, staff, and visitors feel safe and welcome at Weston College and University Centre Weston.

If as a current student, you are affected by what has happened and need support, please see the following:

• Wellbeing@Weston and further support services can be accessed via the MyWeston app, which includes general and specialist support from the College plus links to local and national providers.

For new students joining us in September

• Visit WELFARE | Weston College which holds lots of information for support 

If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact:

safeguarding@weston.ac.uk, or call 01934 411 464 

We were encouraged to see the anti-racism movement take a stand across the country last night, and we hope this positive action will make a change. We will continue to monitor the situation and we will update our website if there are any changes.