<p>We recently welcomed students from <strong>Electrical, Plastering, Carpentry</strong>, and <strong>Creative Arts</strong> to our <strong>Creative Construction Skills Summit </strong>at the Winter Gardens - each subject area bringing energy, creativity, and a real sense of purpose.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity data-align="right" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0eb167e4-04c7-4ec1-9ea1-e5a0955b7c8e" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_285x285&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>The student’s challenge was to design a piece of public art that also generates sustainable energy, which encouraged conversation about the links between the Creative and Construction industries – which many students may not have previously considered! From floating solar designs to kinetic sculptures, their ideas were not only imaginative but genuinely inspiring.</p><p>A huge thank you to <a href="https://www.slx.co.uk/">SLX Events</a> and the brilliant Casey Howells, who shared an impactful message about the value of core skills, kindness, and seeing the world through different lenses - an approach that opens doors across all industries.</p><p>Special thanks to the incredible <strong>Adz Khan</strong>, whose talk on<strong> responsibility</strong>, <strong>action, networking, </strong>and <strong>self-belief</strong> lit up the room. His message was clear: work experience isn’t just a tick-box, it’s a powerful opportunity to grow and shape your future.</p><p>We’re also grateful to our amazing staff, especially the Weston College support teams, School Liaison, and Personal Development teams - your dedication made this event a success.</p><p>Richard Hanney, Head of Construction, said: <em><strong>"We look forward to continuing our work with Adz and others who help inspire our students. If we can share even a bit of that insight and energy, we’re moving in the right direction. Here’s to more spaces where creativity meets community, skills meet opportunity, and kindness drives innovation!"</strong></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>To find out more about our construction courses,</strong><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; click here.&nbsp;</strong></a></p><p><strong>To find out more about our creative courses,</strong><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds-creat…; click here.</strong></a></p>

<p>In a heart warming six-week project that bridged generations through creativity, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… College Level 1 and 2 Art and Design</a> students partnered with residents of Beach Lawns Care Home to explore the world of ceramics.</p><p>This unique collaboration, which took place from the end of March through April, formed part of Weston College’s ongoing social impact work.</p><p>The project began with an idea sparked by the care home, who reached out with an interest in running creative workshops. After coordinating around both the students’ and residents’ schedules, a plan was put in place to run weekly sessions that would grow in complexity and creativity.</p><p>During the initial sessions, students and residents worked side-by-side to create clay coasters—an accessible introduction to working with the material.</p><p>As confidence grew, the group moved on to crafting trinket dishes, with some residents showing remarkable skill and enthusiasm.</p><p>In the final three weeks, the focus shifted from forming to painting, as the co-created pieces were brought to life with colour and personality.</p><p>Feedback from both students and care home residents has been overwhelmingly positive. Students shared how valuable it was to engage in real conversations with the older generation—something they rarely experience in their daily lives.</p><p>For the residents, the impact was equally profound. At a later museum event showcasing the group’s ceramic creations, emotions ran high as they proudly viewed their work on display.</p><p>Chrystal Bliss, Art Lecturer at Weston College, said: “This project stands as a joyful reminder that when we make space for collaboration across generations, we not only craft beautiful objects—we build community, understanding, and lasting memories.</p><p>“Throughout, students developed more than just artistic skills. The project offered a meaningful opportunity to build empathy, improve communication, and gain confidence in unfamiliar social settings. It has been a very rewarding experience.</p><p>“There have been many highlights of this project, but one of the standout moments came when student Harry gave up his seat to support one of the residents, Eddie, and began guiding others through the process. His thoughtful gesture reflected the kindness and maturity that the project inspired among the learners.”</p><p>Eva Jarvis, Art Lecturer at Weston College, added: “We also created Easter decorations with the residents, giving them the opportunity to share their creativity with loved ones during visits. This brought a real sense of comfort and celebration—not just between the residents and their families, but also for our students, whose own families could see the confidence and joy they had helped to nurture through the creative process.</p><p>“This project didn’t just highlight the importance of community and intergenerational connection—it demonstrated the truly transformative power of art.”</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… out more about our Art and Design courses, by clicking here.</a></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:inherit;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><strong style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">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></span><a style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(16, 108, 177);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(55, 121, 123);font-size:inherit;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">here</strong></span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:inherit;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><strong style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">. 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;</span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">On the evening of April 3rd, students from a range of fashion and creative courses at <strong>Weston College</strong> came together to showcase their talent at </span><em><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>Elevate</strong></span></em><span style="font-size:inherit;">, a spectacular fashion show held in the Regency Suite on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Grand Pier</strong>. &nbsp;This event gave learners the chance to present their work on a professional catwalk in front of friends, family, and the public. Also, the £321 raised from ticket sales will be donated to <strong>Weston Hospicecare.</strong>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The show featured collections and designs from </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>A Level Fashion and Textiles</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students, </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>Extended Diploma Fashion, Business and Retail</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students, and </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>Fashion, Theatre, Special Effects and Media Make-Up</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students. Hair and makeup were also provided by learners from the </span><a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/hair-make-up-and-prosthetics-for-producti…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/hair-make-up-and-prosthetics-for-producti…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>HE Hair, Makeup, Prosthetics and Production</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> course. We also had a range of volunteer models from across different subject areas, showcasing the amazing collaboration of the entire college. &nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;male fashion course student in weston-super-mare walking runway&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="172898e6-4f9a-41c6-9c17-18a3b5ab8038" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_650x650&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Each collection was the result of months of creativity, research, and technical skill, developing initial ideas, conducting visual and factual research, experimenting with illustrations and media, and refining their concepts before constructing their final garments in chosen fabrics. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>Extended Diploma in Fashion, Business and Retail</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong> </strong>students explored themes such as </span><em><span style="font-size:inherit;">Contrast</span></em><span style="font-size:inherit;">, </span><em><span style="font-size:inherit;">Refabrication</span></em><span style="font-size:inherit;">, and </span><em><span style="font-size:inherit;">Nostalgia</span></em><span style="font-size:inherit;">, allowing for various interpretations and unique outcomes. Some examples include explorations of the architectural contrast within the <strong>National Trust’s Tyntesfield House</strong>, designs focused on the healing potential of flora, and investigations into the psychology of nostalgia through brain scans and synaptic imagery. Others took a more cultural approach, drawing on rock music from the 1970s to early 2000s. &nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;fashion course student in weston-super-mare walking runway&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bb0ca73d-ce54-4892-a9ba-26adcf387f75" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_650x650&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>A Level Fashion and Textiles</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students brought an equally diverse range of ideas to life, exploring cultural heritage, mental health, and ethical issues in fashion. From intricate Sashiko-inspired patterns to visual critiques of the denim industry’s environmental impact, these students demonstrated powerful, individual visions that reflected deep personal engagement with their themes. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">&nbsp;The creativity didn’t stop at the garments. Students from the </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>Extended Diploma in Fashion, Theatre, Special Effects and Media Make-Up</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> created stunning looks that carried strong environmental messages. Their work responded to themes such as climate change, the ozone layer, California wildfires, and human impact on the planet—resulting in dramatic, thoughtful, and visually compelling headpieces and makeup designs. &nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;One of the models smiling and twisting her blue skirt&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3e1cc0ca-383f-4c80-bee6-e70734ea3176" 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:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Pat Jones, Principal and CEO of <strong>Weston College</strong>, expressed her gratitude to both the students and the community for making this event possible, adding, “The Elevate Fashion Show was a true celebration—not just of the incredible creativity and talent of our fashion learners, but also of the community spirit that made it all possible.  &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">“Thanks must go to Michelle Michael and the team at <strong>the Grand Pier</strong> for so generously providing the Regency Suite free of charge, giving our students the unique opportunity to showcase their work in a truly professional setting. Thanks to this support, every ticket sold will go directly to <strong>Weston Hospicecare</strong>. We’re also grateful to <strong>St John’s Church</strong> for their kind loan of a lighting system that helped the show come to life. This event is a great example of what happens when education and community come together to lift up the next generation of creatives.” &nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;One of our models wearing a leatherplaysuit&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c6b48aa9-5371-49fa-a8e4-bebc875a1e95" 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:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><em><span style="font-size:inherit;">Elevate</span></em><span style="font-size:inherit;"> is a great example of how Weston College’s Career Excellence Hubs give our students the career-preparing opportunities to gain first-hand experience in presenting a collection within a professional setting, developing their confidence, communication skills, and understanding of the production and logistics behind a runway event. The evening also offered invaluable exposure to peers, industry professionals, and potential employers which is essential for anyone pursuing a future in fashion or performance industries. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">For many of the student models, walking the runway was a transformative experience. Stepping out of their comfort zones, they rose to the challenge with bravery and confidence, contributing to the energy and spirit of the event and supporting their peers on a night that celebrated creativity, courage, and collaboration. </span><em><span style="font-size:inherit;">Elevate</span></em><span style="font-size:inherit;"> was an amazing reflection of the talent and dedication of our Weston College students, enhanced by community to bring this event to life for a great cause. &nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;One of our models smiling in a yellow and orange jumpsuit&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8fc4268a-a585-468c-89b8-a3fc1b6d2511" 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:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Well done to all of our students who got involved in designing, creating, and modelling—this night wouldn't have been possible without your efforts! Also, a big thank you to our fantastic Photography students: Harrison, Ethan, Cerys, Annabel, Taylor, Cameron, Ellen, and Toby for capturing the night perfectly!</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><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></span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>. 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;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p>