<p>Beauty Therapy student, Maddie, proudly secured a bronze medal at this year’s WorldSkills UK national finals.</p><p>Competing against over 400 entrants from across the country, Maddie impressed judges with her professionalism, technical skill and ability to perform under pressure - ultimately earning a remarkable third-place finish.</p><p>Maddie currently works at Cadbury House Spa, one of Weston College’s valued Career Excellence Hub employers, where she continues to develop her industry experience alongside her studies.</p><p>This year, WorldSkills UK raised the bar by keeping competitors on their toes. Participants were given no prior knowledge of the tasks they would be assessed on, and even found that their models were changed on the day.&nbsp;</p><p>The aim was to test higher-order professional competencies such as resilience, adaptability and confidence when handling the unexpected - qualities essential within the industry. Despite these challenges, Maddie excelled across all three mystery tasks.</p><p>Head of Service Sectors, Jenna Ratcliffe, said: “We are so proud of Maddie. Her calm approach and impressive technical ability shone through each challenge, earning her a place on the national podium and highlighting the high standards of training delivered at Weston College. Maddie has been a pleasure to train, and her commitment, professionalism and determination have been evident throughout her journey.</p><p>“As we look ahead to the next competition cycle, we are now beginning to form our new competition squad. Any learners who are interested in getting involved should speak to their tutors about taking part.”</p><p>Find out more about our Beauty Therapy courses, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/beaut…;

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last week, Weston College opened its doors to new and returning students as they embarked on the start of the new academic year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Over three days, each CEH area welcomed first-year students with a wide variety of activities designed to help them settle in, build friendships, and get familiar with both their learning environment and the tools they’ll be using throughout their studies.&nbsp;</p><p>The college executive team ran Welcome Talks across Knightstone, Loxton and South West Skills campus in order to introduce themselves to the students and outline the expectations for the upcoming year.&nbsp;Students were also shown the key college policies and procedures to ensure they are fully prepared for the year ahead.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Deputy Principals, Gary and Ben, outlining the expectations and policies at Weston College&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d7e8770a-f4a7-4a9a-8671-b4668ac51faf" 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>Across all campuses, faculties organised engaging activities that blended fun with learning. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/anima… Management</u></strong></a> students, for example, took a tour of Puxton Park facilities where they met the animals before participating in a game of crazy golf, water rafting, and a tractor ride across the park.&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; students took part in themed activities such as filling out passports and a mini-Sports Day, encouraging teamwork and collaboration. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… Years</u></strong></a> students explored their creativity through crafts, while <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… &amp; Design</u></strong></a> students designed and produced album covers and playing cards.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Some departments jumped straight into hands-on learning, with <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… &amp; Catering</u></strong></a> and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; </strong>&amp;<strong> </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/beaut…; students getting involved with styling techniques and Ready Steady Cook, showcasing their practical skills and gaining a clearer picture of their courses.&nbsp;</p><p>In <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…;, students took on a range of exciting challenges including peer interviews, creating time-capsule messages for their future selves, tackling a TV sitcom project, and reimagining classic fairytales. These activities highlighted both the practical nature of the subject and the creative freedom it offers.&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Form</u></strong></a> students took part in a scavenger hunt to explore their campus, while Photography students sharpened their technical skills by taking headshots of classmates. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt… &amp; Social Care</u></strong></a> students worked with interactive simulation dummies and conducted lab-based solution testing, whilst <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; students jumped straight into energetic team-building activities, from basketball to a lively game of human battleships.&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat… Arts</u></strong></a> created a welcoming atmosphere with fun icebreaker games such as team shuffle races, human rock-paper-scissors, and human snap—ensuring plenty of laughter and bonding.&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, departments including <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/motor…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat… &amp; Animation</u></strong></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… Design</u></strong></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote… Services</u></strong></a> all ran engaging icebreaker and problem-solving activities that encouraged teamwork and introduced students to course-related challenges.&nbsp;</p><p>These Welcome Days not only ease the transition into college life but also build confidence and friendships from day one. At Weston College, we understand that starting college can feel daunting, which is why we’re committed to making the experience as engaging and enjoyable as possible for every learner.&nbsp;</p><p>After such a positive start, we can’t wait to see what our students go on to achieve throughout this academic year!&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds"><u>If you would like to join us, it’s not too late to apply for this academic year. Click here to see our courses.</u></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Weston College is proud to celebrate the outstanding success of four learners, who have all qualified for the WorldSkills UK national competitions.</p><p>The four learners, who will be competing in November, are:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Maddison Hulbert – Beauty Therapy Practitioner&nbsp;</li><li>Ellie Grimshaw – Beauty Therapy Practitioner&nbsp;</li><li>Oscar Adams – Foundation Skills: Digital&nbsp;</li><li>Jodi Massebo-Bass – Foundation Skills: Horticulture</li></ul><p>Jenna Ratcliffe, Head of Service Sectors at Weston College, worked closely with Maddison and Ellie throughout their WorldSkills journey so far, and said:</p><p>“Maddie and Ellie have had an exceptional year, recently completing their Level 3 Beauty Therapy qualifications with Distinction * grades.</p><p>“Their commitment has gone far beyond the classroom, with both students undertaking extra weekly training outside of their regular timetable to hone their techniques and elevate their performance.</p><p>“Building on their experiences from last year’s WorldSkills UK Beauty Therapist qualifiers, Maddie and Ellie have embraced every opportunity to grow. This year, they competed in the inaugural South West Skills Challenge, where Maddie won 1st place in the Beauty Practitioner heat, and Ellie earned an impressive 2nd place in the Beauty Therapist heat. Ellie continued her winning streak by taking 1st place at the AHT Finals in Blackpool this May, outperforming a strong field of competitors.</p><p>“Their momentum carried through to this year’s WorldSkills competition, where their entry videos earned them spots in the regional heats at Cardiff and Vale College. Now, both learners have successfully qualified for the national finals in the Beauty Therapy Practitioner category—placing them among the top eight young beauty therapists in the UK.</p><p>“This achievement not only reflects their personal excellence but also the high-quality training provided by Weston College’s Beauty Therapy team. With expert guidance from Heather and Becky, and strategic support from the Head of Service Sectors, Maddie and Ellie have been empowered to reach their full potential.”</p><p>In recognition of their talent, both students have already secured employment offers from Cadbury Spa, one of the college’s valued CEH employer partners—demonstrating the powerful collaboration between Weston College and local industry.</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/worldskills">Find out more about WorldSkills at Weston College, by clicking here.</a></p>