News and events

Weston College catering students were given a masterclass in sausage making from a local expert this week.

Martin Felstead, from Greenway Farm – a venue based near Bridgwater – visited the College’s Grove Training Kitchen to pass on some experience to the students.

Martin has spent most of his life in the hospitality trade, having owned and managed hotels, restaurants and catering businesses. He recently managed a number of projects for Cote Brasserie and Bill’s coffee shops, but is now focusing his attention on building a successful business at Greenway with his wife Sue.

At Greenway they have been keeping pigs for eight years, and specialise in some of the rarer, traditional breeds that modern day farming can sometimes overlook – such as the Gloucester Old Spot, Oxford Sandy and Black, Middle White, Tamworth and Saddleback. They keep them in small numbers in their own field with plenty of space to roam and a warm shelter. The pigs have a diet of organic pignuts and fruit and vegetable scraps. They make several varieties of sausages, including leek and apple, and Cumberland, and use only the finest pork, rusk and flavourings. They sell sausages at the Combwich Market on the second Saturday of each month, and direct from the Farm.

Martin brought in ‘Greenway pork’ for the students to use, and taught a number of sausage-making techniques, including how to tie the sausages and which cuts to use.

You can check out some more photos from the session on The Grove’s Facebook page.

The session was a great success and there are plans to invite Martin back to The Grove Training Kitchen next term.

Further education (FE) colleges are an essential cog in the education ‘machine’ in England.

As Principal of a college, you might say I’m biased.

But I’d argue that’s given me extensive, first-hand experience of how colleges help people of all ages and backgrounds make the most of their talents and ambitions. And these are only the direct benefits. If you consider the role colleges play and the influence they have in the wider communities, it’s clear they are in driving social mobility and boosting local and regional economies.

And these are only the direct benefits. If you take into account the role colleges play and the influence they have in the wider communities, it’s clear they are driving social mobility and boosting local and regional economies.

To put it bluntly, colleges matter – to their students, staff and local communities.

However, it’s no exaggeration to say their futures are in jeopardy due to the extensive and continued funding cuts affecting the sector.

For too long the vital work of colleges has been overlooked and underfunded.

The total college income in England has fallen by £1 billion since the start of the decade, which represents a funding cut of around 30%.

This drop in funding has led to:

• Fewer hours of teaching and support for young people
• Course closures
• A reduction in the number of learning opportunities for adults
• The value of staff pay falling by over 25% since 2009
• Job losses and recruitment problems
• College teachers earning £7,000 less on average than school teachers.

The situation is completely unsustainable and we need action now.

Fortunately that action is materialising in the form of the ‘Love our Colleges’ campaign, led by the Association of Colleges who are uniting the sector in pursuit of one overarching goal – appropriate funding of further education.

This includes:

• Increasing the 16-19 funding rate by 5% a year for the next five years, and extending the pupil premium to cover post-16 students
• Fully funding a National Retraining Scheme to support Level 3 to 5 skills
• Introducing a lifetime learning entitlement to fund skills training for all adults who have not previously achieved a level 3 qualification.

As well as making the case for extra government funding and fair pay in FE, ‘Love our Colleges’ is also highlighting the great work that goes on in colleges, and the brilliant staff that make it all possible.

The campaign is supported by UCU, Unison, Unite, GMB, NEU, NUS, TUC, ASCL and the Association of Colleges, who organise and co-ordinate a string of events and activities throughout the year.

But among the many great aspects of ‘Love our Colleges’ is that individual colleges and students can get involved to keep the issue at the top of the government’s agenda.

For instance, you can support the campaign by tweeting using the #LoveOurColleges hashtag to say why you think the government should invest more in colleges and their staff and students; and write to your local MP asking them to support fair funding in FE and sign Early Day Motion 1686 calling for urgent investment in FE colleges.

To find out more about Love our Colleges and its various events, take a look here. 

Weston College has joined forces with Heart of Worcestershire College to help the fight for more funding in further education (FE).

Due to the current climate in FE, considering the major changes in scrutiny and funding streams, Principals and Governors from both Colleges decided to meet to share and develop innovative and financially robust strategies to ensure long term sustainability. During the initial meeting the group also discussed how they can support the national ‘Love our Colleges’ campaign.

Love Our Colleges is making the case for extra government funding and fair pay in FE. It also highlights the great work that goes on in colleges, and the brilliant staff that make it all possible.

The campaign is supported by the Association of Colleges and a string of trade unions – as well as individual colleges, students and FE staff.

Dr Paul Phillips, CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “Our meeting with Heart of Worcestershire College’s Principal and Governors was extremely productive.

“The current funding situation is not sustainable, which is why this campaign is so important. It has gained wide-spread support and national attention through numerous events – but we mustn’t let the momentum slow. Colleges must continue working together and keep ‘knocking on the government’s door’.”

From 2009 to 2019, college funding has been cut by around 30%. This drop in funding has led to:

• Fewer hours of teaching and support for young people
• A reduction in the number of learning opportunities for adults
• The value of staff pay falling by over 25% since 2009
• College teachers earning £7,000 less on average than school teachers.

Stuart Laverick, Principal and Chief Executive of Heart of Worcestershire College, said: “Weston and Heart of Worcestershire have worked hard to invest in buildings and equipment to ensure students and staff have the modern resources needed to support high-quality learning.

“This has come at significant cost with the majority of the funding coming from college reserves that have now been significantly depleted. To maintain and develop the colleges’ estates in the next decade – and realise national productivity ambitions – there will have to more dedicated capital funding from government.”

Colleges are an essential part of England’s education system, educating and training 2.2 million people every year. They transform lives, enable people make the most of their talents and ambitions, and drive social mobility. Furthermore, colleges work closely with local and national businesses, helping them improve productivity and drive economic growth.

Collaboration between colleges is essential for recognising the importance and relevance of FE. The Love Our Colleges campaign helps to raise awareness of the current demands and struggles within the sector, as well as focusing on what needs to be done to allow colleges to continue to grow and provide countless benefits to their communities.

Dr Paul Phillips, CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group with Stuart Laverick, Principal and Chief Executive of Heart of Worcestershire College.

Governors from Weston College and Heart of Worcestershire College working together.