News and events

On Wednesday 21st February, Weston College Foundation Learning Football Academy took part in the Somerset FA’s first Inclusive Futsal tournament with the aim to encourage more players and teams to take part in this exciting format of five-a-side football.

The F.A. is keen to harness the benefits of this game and introduce it to further the technical development of young players.

Futsal is a format of five-a-side football that is played indoors with a smaller, heavier ball. The game is played to pitch lines and hockey sized goals, which helps to encourage improved decision-making and technical skill for young players.

These attributes were displayed by the two Weston College Foundation Learning Football Academy teams in abundance, as they were both unbeaten and conceded only one goal each in their qualifiers.

As a result, they found themselves competing against each other in the final.

At the final whistle it was a 0 – 0 draw so it therefore went to a penalty shoot-out.

Weston College Team 1 was the eventual victors winning the shootout 7 – 6.

Nick Chadwick, Weston College's Assistant Coordinator for 14-16 Link, said: "These exceptional results are a real testament to the team’s commitment, dedication and teamwork they put into their training every Friday. A fantastic result all round."

Weston College's Business Awards is an annual event that recognises our business partners and their apprentices. Here are five things that happen almost every year that we can't wait to experience at this year's awards dinner...

The guest speaker

At the Business Awards we always get an inspirational or motivational guest speaker (like Penny at our 2017 awards). The speakers come from a variety of industries, but usually they are a household name. They'll be present throughout the evening, so you should get to meet them and have a chat if you'd like!

Great food

Food is a pivotal part of the whole evening, and we always aim to please with a delicious three-course meal. This year, the professional catering team at Lasseter's at the Winter Gardens, under the direction of Head Chef David Newman, will be cooking up a storm...

Big prizes

Each year, the winner of the coveted Principal's Award for Overall Apprentice of the Year receives a cheque to reward them for all of their hard work.

A beautifully decorated venue

We pull out all the stops to make sure the night is memorable - and that includes plenty of decorations to create a special atmosphere. In the past we've added special touches like confetti cannons (see above) and smoke machines...

The awards...

Winning businesses and apprentices get to take home a Weston College business award to celebrate all of their achievements!

Make a nomination!

Want to enter Weston College's 2018 Business Awards? Submitting a nomination is free and easy. You could nominate your employer, your apprentice, or even yourself for an award! Need more persuading before you enter? Click here to read why you should think about nominating your apprentice...

Ready to nominate?

Click here to nominate an apprentice.

Click here to nominate a business.

With the harsh weather conditions expected to get worse as the weekend approaches, we'd like to share with you some top tips on driving in snow or ice...

The most important thing to do before you set off is to check that the College is open - on rare occasions we have to close due to adverse weather, so each day we update this page with the situation at the College.

If the College's is open, the roads might still be icy. Here are some handy things that will help make your journey to College or your apprenticeship placement safer...

Wear safe shoes

The shoes you wear to drive should be comfortable - don't try to drive in unfamiliar shoes like wellies or walking boots. Bringing a change of shoes is a good idea as you might have to walk through snow or ice to get to your destination.

Take it slow

Don't rush the journey - set off earlier so that you have more time to make it to your destination. Accelerate gently and try to get into a higher gear as this helps to stop wheel spin. You might even want to try setting off in 2nd gear to help you get off to a smooth start.

Beware of hills

If you encounter hills on your journey, stick to a low gear when going downhill and try to avoid unnecessary breaking. Going uphill, maintain a constant speed. In both cases, keep a safe distance between you and the car in front.

Remain calm

If you skid on ice or snow, don't panic. Don't slam on the breaks - take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down naturally. Don't take your hands off the steering wheel. If the car is sliding, turn the steering wheel to the direction you want to go - don't overcompensate for the skid.

Plan ahead

Think about the roads you'll be driving on - which parts of your route could be dangerous? Is there a flatter route you could take? The roads around Weston, particularly country lanes and areas like Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Combe are potential hazards you might want to avoid.

For more information on driving in adverse weather conditions, click here to read an in depth article by the RAC.