News and events

Max and Kieran, two Brickwork Construction students from Weston College, recently demonstrated their skill and professionalism at the South West Skills (SWS) Challenge Construction event held at Yeovil College. Competing against learners from other local colleges, the pair were set the demanding task of building a stretcher bond wall featuring a 90-degree herringbone pattern with recessed joints—an intricate challenge that tested precision, speed, and skills.

Although only first and second place were awarded prizes, Max and Kieran narrowly missed out, with judges remarking on how close the competition was. Remarkably, they completed the task in just four hours which was an hour ahead of the allotted five-hour limit. This showcased their excellent time management and efficiency under pressure.

The SWS Challenge series, newly introduced this academic year, covers a range of subject areas and aims to enhance technical abilities and build students’ confidence for future employment and competitions. Events like these are crucial in helping students apply their classroom learning to real-world application. They provide a platform for learners to develop key transferable skills such as problem-solving, organisation, and communication in a high-pressure, hands-on environment.

Max and Kieran’s performance was applauded not only for the quality of their work but also for their professionalism and attitude. Christie Ross and Duncan Edwards, two of our Brickwork Construction lecturers and their personal tutors, accompanied them to the event and expressed how proud they were of how Max and Kieran held themselves throughout the day.

Christie shared, “I was told by the brickwork staff there they were an absolute credit to Weston College—and they were! They went in, had fun with it, and represented Weston College perfectly. Hopefully next year, when we host the competition, we will get some points for the home team!"

Beyond the technical experience, the competition offered the students valuable opportunities to network with industry professionals serving as judges, who provided constructive feedback to assist in their continued development. It also gave them the chance to connect with peers who share similar interests and aspirations in construction.

After college, both Max and Kieran are set to begin apprenticeships in September with Dan Findlay Construction Ltd., working on Persimmon sites. Their experience at the SWS Challenge has made them more prepared for the next step in their careers. They walked away not only with new skills and insights, but with a few souvenirs and a memorable experience that will shape their personal and professional journey.

Well done to Max and Kieran for their hard work and their professionalism, you did Weston College proud!

If you’re interested in applying to one of our Construction courses, click here.

Once again, our Music and Media departments have joined forces to highlight the remarkable talent and cross-disciplinary collaboration of our students!

Yesterday, we welcomed BARSTAFF - the winners of the Amped Band Competition - for an exclusive live recording session at our Loxton Campus. This high-energy external band partnered with our learners to produce a live album and a series of professional promotional videos, offering a rare opportunity for our students to gain real-world experience in a professional production environment.

Our Music students took full control of the sound production process - from live sound engineering to multitrack recording, all the way through to mixing and mastering the final album. Simultaneously, our Media students managed all aspects of video production, capturing the performance with multiple cameras and creating high-quality, synchronised video content for each track.

Adding to the excitement, industry professional Iain Robertson, whose impressive experience involves working with Oasis, Gary Moore, Spandau Ballet, and Duran Duran as a tour manager, attended the live recording – adding to the professionalism of the experience for the learners.

This weekend BARSTAFF will be performing at the Elmers Arms in Bristol, where they will be featuring one of our learner bands, ‘Covered in Bottles’, as the opening act, offering even more exposure and learning opportunities for our students.

This unique event will be professionally filmed, edited, and utilised not only for student portfolios, but also as promotional content for the band and the college, strengthening our ties to the creative industry and highlighting the exceptional work being done within our creative courses!

We're super proud of the effort our students continue to apply at these industry experiences, and their professionalism is fantastic.

To find out more about our creative arts courses, 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.

Weston College was excited to welcome back professional chef Andy Chan for a special evening takeover where he led a hands-on masterclass with our Hospitality and Catering students.

Andy, who appeared on MasterChef, is now a Development Chef at Compass Foodbuy Culinary Solutions and was previously Head Chef at Thornbury Castle. With years of industry experience, he gave students a valuable opportunity to learn directly from a top-level chef in a real restaurant setting.

Students helped prepare and serve a seasonal fine dining menu that included dishes such as Butternut Squash Hummus with Roasted Balsamic Shallots, and a choice of Grilled Mackerel Fillet or King Oyster Mushroom Scallops for starters.

For the main course, guests could enjoy either Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Pomme Dauphine or a vegan-friendly Marinated Cauliflower dish with cumin spiced vegetables and vegan cheese. The evening ended with a Dark Chocolate Fondant served with Raspberry Sorbet and Chocolate Crumb.

Our students have been lucky enough to receive multiple masterclasses from Andy, allowing him to see the progression of skills and technique throughout the year. Andy said:

“I was looking forward to cooking with Pete and the students, it’s brilliant to see what they have achieved so far and challenge them on some current techniques that are used in the industry today.

The menu was designed to show the students what they can do with certain ingredients and how to get as much out of the ingredients, whilst still looking at the seasonality and availability of local produce.”

The event was a great experience for everyone involved and highlighted Weston College’s ongoing commitment to giving students the chance to learn from industry professionals and prepare for successful careers in hospitality. 

If you are interested in applying to one of our Hospitality and Catering courses, 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.