<p style="margin-left:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;" data-teams="true">We are proud to share the inspiring journey of Gemma, a 2022 Sixth Form graduate and Weston College's A Level Student of the Year 2023 who has gone on to pursue her passion for French at the prestigious University of London Institute in Paris!&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;" data-teams="true">Gemma chose to study at Weston College after attending an Open Day and being impressed by the engaging teachers and tailored courses, “my sister had attended the College before me and had a positive experience, so it seemed like a no-brainer”.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;" data-teams="true">During her time at Weston College, Gemma honed essential skills like time management, organisation, and persuasive writing, which have proven to be invaluable in her academic journey. “My French teacher really prepared me well not only for the A-level exams, but for further education too. My Law teacher was incredible; she boosted my self-confidence and taught us all how to write very convincing arguments with evidence and support to back them up, something that I’ve carried with me through University.”&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;" data-teams="true">Gemma’s journey didn’t go without challenges, balancing A-level studies with university applications, she had the generous support of her tutors. From writing personal statements to balancing revision, she felt comfortable to gain help from her tutors, learning that she could attend revision sessions while maintaining a healthy life-work balance.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;" data-teams="true">One of Gemma’s standout memories from Weston College was the build-up to exams and her continued success in French class. "We had finished learning the content for our French exams, and so every week we would use the time to complete a past paper and this one particular week I managed to get 98% correct! It was just a little confidence boost leading up to exams and confirmed for myself that I had made the right decision to choose to study French at University.” She dedicates her success to her lecturer, Emilie, who had been an integral part of her experience at Sixth Form. Gemma recalls “it was so nice that both of our hard work was paying off!” She also fondly recalls a mock trial in her Law class, organised by Octavia (her Law lecturer) that combined fun with practical learning.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;" data-teams="true">Gemma credits her passion for French to an early secondary school teacher whose enthusiasm left a lasting impression. Her love for the language blossomed at Weston College thanks to equally passionate and supportive teachers. "They kept my motivation high and inspired me to continue studying French and look into Further Education."&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;" data-teams="true">Now in her final year of a French Studies degree, Gemma is thriving in Paris, and deep into her dissertation writing. She describes the city as the perfect place to study, work, and live, filled with free museums, libraries, vibrant cafes, and an exciting nightlife. Her next goal is to complete a master’s in teaching English and begin her teaching career in France. “I’m definitely not ready to leave Paris after my Undergraduate degree and I’ve always wanted to teach over in France, so I’m really looking forward to this next chapter and hoping it all goes smoothly!”.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;" data-teams="true">Reflecting on her experience, Gemma has had an exciting journey from walking through the Sixth Form doors, to jetting off to the beautiful city of Paris.&nbsp;"I had a great experience at the College; it made me more independent, confident and prepared me well for everything I wanted to accomplish after college. The teachers I had were fun, engaging and supportive and ultimately, I wouldn’t be where I am now, if I hadn’t had had their support" She also sends her thanks to the College’s careers officer, who encouraged her to apply to Oxford. Although being offered a place at both the University of London Institute in Paris and Oxford University,&nbsp;Gemma ultimately chose Paris; and was deeply appreciative of the officer’s continued support.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Our Year 1 </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; target="_blank">Level 3 Sports Coaching &amp; Physical Education</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students have kickstarted the New Year by coaching the future generation of local primary schools. They held fun and engaging activities to keep the young learners active, including games like Curling and Boccia.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Our learners took control in planning the activities of the day, making sure they were executed flawlessly and explained clearly for younger children to understand. They began by giving the children a demonstration as to how the sports are played, how to gain points, and the best techniques to use.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Sports coaching learners demonstrating curling in the sports hall&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9cf872a7-78ef-42fc-a787-1d1906fa78be" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">During the demonstrations, the students explained the points system and acted out what they should do, while also purposefully losing a turn to reinforce to the younger learners that winning isn't everything, but rather it is the taking part that counts.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The students then split off into groups and coached individual schools, helping them with their techniques and keeping score to identify a winner out of the red and blue teams. The students had 30 minutes for each activity in order to give them plenty of time to get used to the game and give each young person a fair go.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This exercise was an excellent way for our learners to improve their coaching skills and confidence as they had to explain in a clear and concise way that was easy to understand, but also gave them the chance to be both patient and encouraging as they worked with the children.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Well done to our learners for coaching the primary school children with the professionalism and confidence required to succeed in their future careers.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; target="_blank">If you’re interested in applying to one of our Sport and Fitness courses, click here.</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">T Levels offer a dynamic combination of practical work experience and classroom study, providing students with a well-rounded education that equips them for the workplace. These qualifications are designed to offer a holistic understanding of a subject while allowing students to develop real-world skills.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">To give prospective students a clearer picture of what to expect from a T Level, we spoke with Greta, a second-year student currently studying a </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; target="_blank">Business, Management, and Leadership T Level</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">. She outlined her views on T Levels, her industry placement, her favourite aspects of the course so far, the challenges she has faced, and a few words for students considering a T Level.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Greta is completing her industry placement at Occuteach, an occupational training provider, where she has gained hands-on experience in marketing and social media, and has developed a deeper understanding of the company’s values and services. Greta’s role also involves fostering strong relationships with clients, and she recently took on administrative tasks such as managing emails and client communications.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">When asked how Greta found her T Level so far, she explained, “The course has been very informative and engaging, providing me with valuable insights into the business world.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Her favourite aspect of the program has been learning how to apply practical business strategies and theories to real-world situations and building networks and industry connections with employers. This practical exposure has improved her confidence and communication skills while giving her a better understanding of the available pathways.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Greta chose the T Level because of its unique blend of academic learning and workplace experience, saying “I believe this is the best way to prepare for a successful career”. The T Level offers a direct pathway to both employment and further education which provides learners with alternative options for the future if they are unsure what they want to pursue after college.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">While Greta’s T Level experience has been very positive, she has faced some challenges, particularly in finding universities that accept T Levels because they are so newly established. However, she remains optimistic and proactive in overcoming these obstacles and has no doubts that T Levels will continue to grow in popularity.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">For students considering a T Level, Greta wholeheartedly recommends them, emphasising the valuable skills and experiences gained through the program. “It is the perfect mixture of classroom learning and workplace experience and is a fantastic way to gain skills that are directly applicable to the workplace while earning a qualification.”&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Looking back on her experience, Greta concluded, “Overall, my T Level experience has been very rewarding. It has prepared me well for the future.” Her story is a great reflection of the value of T Levels, providing students with the knowledge and skills required to excel in their chosen fields.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Thank you to Greta for sharing her story, we wish you all the best with the remainder of your T Level.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; target="_blank">If you’re interested in applying to the Business, Management, and Leadership T Level, click here.</a></p>