News and events

Last month, we had four Weston College students competing in the national WorldSkills competition. Maddie and Ellie competed in the Beauty Therapy Practitioner Skill category, Oscar competed in the Foundation Skills Digital category, and Jodi competed in the Foundation Skills Horticulture competition. 

WorldSkills is a fantastic competition that aims to improve the skills and development of young people across the world. It encourages our students to step outside their comfort zone and go against a range of different people to improve their confidence and ability and be a part of something they may have not previously considered.  

Our students competed in a range of tasks and did a fantastic job, with Maddie placing 3rd nationally in the Beauty Therapy Practitioner Skill category and Oscar getting a Highly Commended award in the Foundation Skills Digital category. This is a fantastic achievement that they should be extremely proud of. It will also improve their skills and their confidence for future careers and personal development.  

Ellie and Jodie also did exceptionally well, becoming finalists in the regional competitions before progressing to the national competition. This is a huge achievement and is an excellent way to improve the students’ resilience, adaptability, and confidence. It also improves their transferrable skills such as their time-management and their problem-solving skills. They also got to meet like-minded individuals and network with professionals in the industry. 

We recently received an email from Ellie’s parents, thanking the Hair and Beauty team for supporting Ellie throughout the competition and her studies, saying:  

“Ellie’s dad and I would like to thank you all so much for all the training, coaching, and time you have given Ellie in preparation for the WorldSkills 2025 finals.” 

“Your dedication and belief in her abilities have made an incredible impact on her journey. We are truly proud of her achievement, and her dedication to the competition was second to none. She did it for herself, but she also worked extremely hard for you.” 

“Thank you for being such inspiring mentors and we wish you every success in your candidates going forward.” 

As a college, we would like to say a massive well done to the students who competed, but also a huge well done and thank you to the lecturers behind-the-scenes who worked tirelessly with the students, training and supporting them to ensure they went in feeling confident and prepared. 

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 is celebrating an exceptional set of GCSE resit results after students collected their November examination outcomes today (8 January) at the College’s Knightstone Campus. 

A total of 176 students took their English and/or Maths GCSE resits in November, achieving a 100% pass rate across both subjects. Notably, 36.7% of English students and 37.1% of Maths students achieved high grades (grade 4 or above/previously graded as a C or above), significantly exceeding national benchmarks. 

When compared with summer 2025 national averages for students achieving a standard pass (grade 4 or above), Weston College students’ outcomes show a remarkable improvement: 

• English Language: National summer average 20.9% with Weston College November resit 36.7% (+15.8%)
• Mathematics: National summer average 17.1% with Weston College November resit 37.1% (+20%) 

These figures reflect the dedication, resilience, and hard work of both our learners and staff, far exceeding typical national outcomes and underlining the College’s commitment to student achievement. 

The November GCSE resit series provides post-16 students who did not achieve a grade 4 or above in English or Maths during the summer with an early opportunity to improve their results, supporting progression into further study, apprenticeships, or employment. 

Students collected their results online or in person from Weston College’s Knightstone Campus, where the English and Maths teams were on hand to offer advice, guidance, and support for next steps. 

Weston College is proud of its students’ achievements and of the dedication of staff who helped learners exceed national benchmarks in both subjects. 

At Weston College, we believe that great education starts with a supported and valued workforce. That’s why, on 5 January 2026, we hosted our first-ever Staff Wellbeing Day, welcoming more than 600 staff members to a day dedicated entirely to wellbeing, connection, and personal growth.

The event was designed to create a positive start to the new term, offering colleagues time and space to recharge after the festive period while reconnecting with one another. Staff took part in a diverse programme of short, engaging wellbeing activities, including mindfulness sessions, creative workshops, nature-inspired experiences, and interactive talks led by wellbeing professionals.

Guest Speakers Kick Off the Morning

The day began with inspiring talks from two expert guest speakers:

• Dr Claire Plumbly – Clinical Psychologist, Amazon bestseller author of Burnout: How to Manage Your Nervous System Before It Manages You, and founder of Plum Psychology, a boutique service supporting individuals to overcome trauma, burnout, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Claire shared insights and practical advice on managing the nervous system, helping staff better understand how to care for their mental wellbeing. 

   

• Dr Mandy Gardner – Representing VANS, she highlighted how staff can use the College’s allowance for voluntary days to make a positive impact in their local communities, emphasising the power of collective action to improve economic, health, and wellbeing outcomes. By offering flexible, bite-sized sessions, the day encouraged staff to explore new ideas and wellbeing practices in a relaxed and inclusive environment.

A Workplace That Cares

Wellbeing days like this are part of our wider commitment to creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace. They help to:

• Foster collaboration and strong relationships across teams
• Support mental health and work–life balance
• Create a welcoming and energising return to work
• Build a culture where wellbeing is a shared priority.

Feedback from staff highlighted how valued and supported they felt, with many describing the day as uplifting and motivating.

We are proud to work with a range of local partners and wellbeing specialists who helped make the event such a success, and we are excited to build on this with further wellbeing initiatives throughout the year.

If you’re looking to join a college that genuinely invests in its people, Weston College is a place where wellbeing, connection, and professional fulfilment matter.