<p>Once again, our Music and Media departments have joined forces to highlight the remarkable talent and cross-disciplinary collaboration of our students!</p><p>Yesterday, we welcomed <a href="https://www.barstaffband.com/"><strong>BARSTAFF</strong></a&gt; - the winners of the <strong>Amped Band Competition</strong> - 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.</p><p>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.</p><drupal-entity data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bbf51dd2-e857-47e9-9090-e880df7e50ba" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_400x400&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Adding to the excitement, industry professional<strong> Iain Robertson,</strong> whose impressive experience involves working with<strong> Oasis, Gary Moore, Spandau Ballet,</strong> and <strong>Duran Duran</strong> as a tour manager, attended the live recording – adding to the professionalism of the experience for the learners.</p><p>This weekend BARSTAFF will be performing at the Elmers Arms in Bristol, where they will be featuring one of our learner bands, <strong>‘Covered in Bottles’</strong>, as the opening act, offering even more exposure and learning opportunities for our students.</p><p>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!</p><p>We're super proud of the effort our students continue to apply at these industry experiences, and their professionalism is fantastic.</p><p>To find out more about our creative arts courses, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds-creat… here.</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong 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:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;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;">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 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-… 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></a><strong 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:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;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;">. 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></p>

<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>