<p>Weston College is proud to announce that Ellis Rogers, a Year 13 <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Level</a> student, has been named a finalist for the <strong>Community Hero Award</strong> at the <strong>Bristol Young Heroes Awards 2025</strong>.</p><p>Ellis, who studies <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Level</a> History, Politics, and English Literature, was nominated by Eve Mason, Head of <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Form</a> for Humanities, in recognition of his exceptional community involvement and inspiring character, saying “I nominated Ellis because of his deep commitment to social enterprise initiatives here at the college, Ellis oozes positivity and truly inspires everyone around him.”</p><p>Ellis played a huge role in the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Form</a> initiative to support residents of <strong>Clarence Park Nursing Home</strong>. He hand-delivered Christmas cards made by the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Form</a> students and spent time engaging with staff and residents, leaving a lasting impression through his kindness and empathy.</p><p>Not only this, Ellis was also a key part of the <strong>Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons</strong> from the <strong>Auschwitz project</strong>, where he volunteered to deliver a moving poem at the event and got the chance to speak with Holocaust survivor, Mala Tribich.</p><p>Reflecting on his nomination, Ellis shared, “I was shocked and incredibly grateful. To know that my actions had such an impact, and to be recognised by the college for that, was truly rewarding. I hope my efforts help restore faith in younger generations and show that we care about giving back to the community.”</p><p>As a finalist, Ellis will attend a black-tie awards evening hosted by <strong>Community of Purpose</strong>, the organisation behind the <strong>Bristol Young Heroes Awards</strong>. He is excited about the opportunities the programme offers, including ongoing support, mentorships, and engagement with local businesses.</p><p>“The work that Community of Purpose does is honestly inspiring! From giving disadvantaged children new life experiences, to uniting young people from all backgrounds through sport,” Ellis said. “Even beyond the awards, the long-term support they provide to finalists is amazing.”</p><p>Ellis plans to pursue a Solicitor Apprenticeship in Weston-super-Mare after college.</p><p>A huge congratulations to Ellis for his well-deserved recognition and his commitment to making a difference in both the college and the wider community.</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… you’re interested in applying to join our Sixth Form, click here.</a></p>

<p>We were delighted to welcome Kate Still, Head of Farming at the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.soilassociation.org/"><u>Soil Association</u></a>, who delivered an insightful guest lecture to our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Level</u></a> <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Science</u></a> students.&nbsp;</p><p>Kate introduced the concept of regenerative farming systems, emphasising the importance of soil health as the foundation of sustainable agriculture. She explained how soil is at the heart of organic systems, supporting not only crop growth but also biodiversity and environmental resilience.&nbsp;</p><p>The session explored how regenerative practices, such as building long retentive phases through thoughtful crop rotations, help to restore and maintain soil structure, fertility, and carbon retention. She also discussed the impacts of soil nutrients and biodiversity on healthy plant development, whilst highlighting the Soil Association’s strong emphasis on high animal welfare; ensuring livestock are raised to high living standards as part of a healthy farm ecosystem.&nbsp;</p><p>As the leader of the Soil Association's farming team, Kate shared her involvement in a European project focused on innovation in organic farming. Her team works actively on knowledge exchange, supporting farmers through case studies, training, events, and the development of technical resources. This collaborative approach is helping farmers to grow in confidence and adopt more sustainable, future-facing farming methods.&nbsp;</p><p>The lecture also touched on the importance of government support in providing payment incentives to encourage environmentally friendly farming practices.&nbsp;</p><p>To close the session, Kate gave an inspiring, career-focused talk, outlining the variety of roles within the Soil Association; from research and policy to education and farm support, encouraging students to consider pathways into the growing sector of sustainable agriculture. &nbsp;</p><p>Charlie Colenso, the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Science</u></a> lecturer at Weston College, expressed her gratitude to the Soil Association for taking the time to visit our students, saying, “Guest speakers bring real-world insight to A-level learners, allowing them to apply their classroom knowledge to practical scenarios, as well as opening their eyes to a range of career paths and further study opportunities they may not have considered.&nbsp;</p><p>“This workshop provided students with useful information regarding soil and the impacts it has on agriculture. Although they haven’t yet covered the Soil chapter in their course, this workshop gave them an excellent preview into the benefits of nutrient-rich soil in a hands-on activity. They said they particularly enjoyed learning about the potential career pathways in the growing sector of sustainable agriculture.”&nbsp;</p><p>This was a fantastic opportunity for students to not only expand their knowledge on certain areas of their course, but also network with industry professionals to discuss possible opportunities with the Soil Association.&nbsp;</p><p>A big thank you to the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.soilassociation.org/"><u>Soil Association</u></a> for visiting our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Level</u></a> <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Science</u></a> students!&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… you are interested in joining our Sixth Form in September, click here.</u></a>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>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 </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…;. 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.</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Recently, students from the Inclusive Practice Football Academy returned from two national tournaments with medals, trophies and unforgettable memories and life lessons in teamwork, resilience, and inclusive excellence. Led by George Fake, Mitch Spencer, and supported by staff including Nick Chadwick, Helen Mann, and Pete Lane, the squad competed in two high-level national disability football competitions within a month: the AoC National League Finals in Nottingham and the National Pan Ability Football Cup at St George’s Park.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;football academy students being given a pep talk on the pitch&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a40ed16-3f9f-42ae-8aea-d4661b05fbc5" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_750x750&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>In April, the team travelled to Nottingham to face the top regional qualifiers in the AoC National League Finals. Facing fierce competition, they secured two wins and a draw, finishing 5th out of 8 teams in the league. But it was their attitude that stole the spotlight—they were awarded the Fair Play Award, recognising their outstanding sportsmanship and positive spirit.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;Fast forward to St George’s Park (the home of England’s national teams) the squad was ready for redemption. After a mixed start, the team bounced back with determination. They got impressive wins against teams that had beaten them before, including a perfect performance against Birmingham Met College, who hadn’t lost a game in either tournament. With four dominant wins and a 1-0 victory to close the day, the squad finished top of the league on goal difference. Despite this, the title went to Lincoln College based on head-to-head results - a narrow technicality that didn’t dampen the team's pride.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Mitch, lecturer in foundation learning and coach, standing on football pitch&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5e8d8086-6389-407f-82dd-5f4b27562598" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_750x750&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>Luca Tarman-Cooke from Re-engage was named Player of the Tournament, and every player left the field with a well-earned runners-up medal and a sense of pride that can’t be measured on a scoreboard.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Reflecting on the experience, George shared:&nbsp;</p><p>“Across the two trips, myself, Nick Chadwick, Helen Mann, Mitch Spencer and Pete Lane could not have been more proud of the efforts of all the players, especially how they rose to the occasion at St George’s and battled adversity and showed excellent resilience and sportsmanship throughout.”&nbsp;</p><p>Interested in exploring our SEND courses? <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/cours… here</a></p><p><strong>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 </strong><a href="https://wescoli.webitrent.com/wescoli_webrecruitment/wrd/run/etrec179gf…;. 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.</strong>&nbsp;</p>