<p>Here at Weston College, we want to ensure that our students are completely ready to progress onto higher levels – both in terms of having the knowledge and skills, but also having the confidence and self-belief that they can succeed when progressing. Therefore, the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… programmes</a> we offer are the ideal way to give a little extra support, in a variety of modules.</p>

<p>As well as providing extra support, the Progression programme is also designed to allow learners to have a preview of the course before dedicating themselves to the full T Level course. Maria said:<em> “after doing my GCSEs, I had 2 options: either I wanted to go into a job involving computers or become a beautician. I know they are completely different industries, but I couldn’t decide which one to choose”</em>. After applying for both and having interviews, Maria decided to start on the Digital T Level progression journey.</p>

<p>Since starting the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… T Level course</a>, Maria has had the opportunity to work with a local company as part of the industry placement on the T Level course. With this involving learning new skills such as PHP programming and website design. Within the course, Maria was able to learn areas such as<em> “programming, web development, cyber security and emerging technology and also take part in an employer set project. In my programming lessons I’m learning python library’s NumPy, Pandas, Tkinter.”</em></p>

<p>Megan, another learner who has transitioned onto the Digital T Level from the Computing Transition Programme, said that she was <em>“incredibly excited to be progressing to study a T Level course."</em> She continued, <em>"I have thoroughly enjoyed the last year of my T level program course, and the opportunities and skills which I have developed in the programme. The course has really reinforced my passion for working in data analysis. Before this course I was not sure what sector I wanted to work in. I'm looking forward to my next steps where I will be studying a T Level in Digital, Production, Design and Development where I can improve my knowledge within computing subjects.”</em></p>

<p>We are so proud that Weston College has been one of the first providers in the country to offer both the T Level and Transition programmes, and that they’ve both already seen such success in the learner’s journey towards their respective industries, particularly the computing industry in Maria and Megan’s case.</p>

<p>If you are interested in learning more about <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/t-lev… Levels</a>, click here!</p>

<p>This past week we had over 30 different students engage with the Esports Academy with trials that we ran in 3 different games to determine which students would be involved with the <a href="https://champs.britishesports.org/">British Esports Student Championships</a> (BESC). Every student showed excellent professionalism and “good manners” to each other whilst competing for places with each student commenting on how much they enjoyed themselves and wanting to do it again!</p>

<p>On Tuesday we did our first set of try outs on Overwatch and had 12 students join in for 3 hours! Every single person played their very best and impressed with excellent displays of skill and high levels of communication. It was so difficult to make a final decision on the final team of 5 starters and 2 substitute players. In the end we decided to shortlist some candidates that we wanted to have another look at and give the other 4 players, who were unable to show up for the day, a fair chance to show off their skills. Roll on Thursday 29th for round 2!!</p>

<p>On Wednesday we had Valorant and an incredible 17 students showed up to try out! We split the students up into 3 teams as they all had two rounds against each other. Over the course of the 3 hours+ try out, the students gave us the opportunity to assess their skills, communication and teamwork. All of the students were impressive, and the games were highly entertaining, with our final game where we mixed the teams up for a second time being an extremely close match!</p>

<p>We had the difficult task again of choosing 5 starters and 3 substitutes and on Friday we announced our decisions after some considered assessments and consultation with each other. It wasn’t easy letting 9 students know that they hadn’t made it, but we anticipate that they will be back after the Winter split ends. The Valorant team has already spent 2 evenings training with each other and getting to know each other better, their passion and determination to improve and perform well in the BESC is inspiring to see.</p>

<p>Thursday was Rocket League day! We had another 7 students show up and try out for the team. The games were very exciting to watch with each player showing why they should be on the team. We spent a little over an hour and a half putting the students through their paces and eventually we managed to have a decision on the 5 students who would be representing us for the Winter split.</p>

<p>We are excited to see our Valorant and Rocket League teams in action this Wednesday within the BESC first round of the Swiss stage and we’re looking forward to the second round of trials for Overwatch on Thursday to determine the team that will be competing for us in our pursuit to get to Nationals in the spring, and hopefully the in person (LAN) Grand Finals at the British Esports Performance Center in June!</p>

<p paraeid="{9f539a15-e306-4532-b02d-2b9ab5f7ec30}{154}" paraid="2129286135"><a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/">University&nbsp;Centre Weston&nbsp;(UCW)</a> computing learner, Jack&nbsp;Kimmins,&nbsp;will be representing the UK&nbsp;after&nbsp;recently&nbsp;being&nbsp;announced as the gold medal winner at the national WorldSkills&nbsp;Web Design&nbsp;finals.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{9f539a15-e306-4532-b02d-2b9ab5f7ec30}{208}" paraid="744553904"><a href="https://www.worldskillsuk.org/">WorldSkills UK</a> is an independent charity that works with employers, education and governments, supporting young people across the world via competitions-based training, testing their ability to achieve world-class standards in the biennial ‘skills Olympics’.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{9f539a15-e306-4532-b02d-2b9ab5f7ec30}{214}" paraid="1350750527">Over 3,000&nbsp;learners&nbsp;registered to take part in the UK-wide competitions in&nbsp;March 2021&nbsp;and Jack&nbsp;was&nbsp;just&nbsp;one of four hundred&nbsp;who made it into the finals, which&nbsp;was&nbsp;split into 64 disciplines.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{9f539a15-e306-4532-b02d-2b9ab5f7ec30}{244}" paraid="631212351">The Web Design&nbsp;category&nbsp;finals,&nbsp;hosted by&nbsp;the&nbsp;Weston College&nbsp;Group&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.westonwintergardens.co.uk/">The Winter Gardens in&nbsp;Weston-super-Mare</a>,&nbsp;was between nine competitors&nbsp;from across the country&nbsp;and&nbsp;took&nbsp;place over two days. The finalists were tasked with&nbsp;building&nbsp;a website, employing their skills of html, JavaScript&nbsp;and front/back-end coding to bring the detailed brief to fruition.&nbsp;The final products were then anonymously judged by a panel of digital experts from renown organisation Jisc, Airbus and the UK Hydrographic Office.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{51}" paraid="1354010774">After the challenging finals&nbsp;were completed, the winners were announced at a <a href="https://www.worldskillsuk.org/news/congratulations-to-all-our-finalists… ceremony</a> hosted by TV presenter Steph McGovern from her&nbsp;Channel 4&nbsp;“Packed Lunch”&nbsp;studio on Friday 26 November.&nbsp;It was here that Jack was announced as the national gold&nbsp;medallist.&nbsp;Also&nbsp;Level 3 Apprentice Luke Merchant&nbsp;a Weston College student&nbsp;was&nbsp;named&nbsp;as the Silver&nbsp;medallist&nbsp;in the Automotive Technology finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{101}" paraid="151229628">Congratulations also goes to Weston College students Mircea&nbsp;Ionescu&nbsp;and Amelia Lee who also competed in the Web Design and Beauty Practitioner finals respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{101}" paraid="151229628">Currently in his third year, Jack is studying <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/applied-computing-bsc-hons/">Applied Computing BSc (Hons)</a>&nbsp;at UCW. This degree level course is part of the <a href="https://www.weiot.ac.uk/">West of England Institute of Technology</a>, a collaborative partnership between education providers and businesses from across the West of England,<strong>&nbsp;</strong>collaborating to design and deliver flexible, higher-level technical learning.</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{111}" paraid="318809884">Jack commented:&nbsp;“I feel very proud,&nbsp;I was really shocked when my name was read out! My web development&nbsp;knowledge&nbsp;has&nbsp;grown&nbsp;throughout&nbsp;doing this project&nbsp;as well as my time management skills.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{147}" paraid="1398143447">“The finals were a really memorable occasion and I’m looking forward to training for the next stage.”&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{153}" paraid="1020292732">Learners that achieve the gold medals at the national finals then get invited to join the UK WorldSkills Squad.&nbsp;Not&nbsp;dissimilar&nbsp;to Team GB for the Olympics, the gold&nbsp;medallists&nbsp;will be then go on to&nbsp;compete&nbsp;in the international finals which will&nbsp;take place in France in 2022.</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{187}" paraid="1981815977">Jack&nbsp;continues:&nbsp;“I will be now representing the country in the field of Web Design. I feel very proud doing so and I’m going to try my absolute hardest.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{201}" paraid="1058763096">“The staff at UCW have helped me&nbsp;immeasurably.&nbsp;I’d like to thank my tutor Jason Hill for&nbsp;all&nbsp;his hard work and help.&nbsp;I’d recommend everyone gives it a go and tries to push themselves with this opportunity.”&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{7b9ec851-d063-49c6-a1b5-32de6bd364dd}{229}" paraid="1041645576">Weston College’s involvement with WorldSkills&nbsp;is just one&nbsp;of the&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;opportunities available&nbsp;to learners&nbsp;through their&nbsp;newly launched&nbsp;<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwesto…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Career Excellence Hubs.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{152bad5e-d2e9-45f0-acdf-a7b299f62f53}{13}" paraid="329265915">At the College each subject area forms its own specific Career Excellence Hub, endorsed by relevant sector employers which help to create a study programme with lots of career boosting benefits,&nbsp;including&nbsp;WorldSkills competing opportunities.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{152bad5e-d2e9-45f0-acdf-a7b299f62f53}{23}" paraid="1500131203">Weston College Group Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips CBE added:&nbsp;“Many congratulations to all of our WorldSkills winners. I am so proud&nbsp;of all of you, representing our college and&nbsp;confirming your amazing talents. We wish Jack the very best of luck with the international stages, it truly is a fantastic achievement.”&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{152bad5e-d2e9-45f0-acdf-a7b299f62f53}{43}" paraid="1955587570">Deputy CEO of WorldSkills UK, Ben Blackledge, says that success in UK-wide finals is a litmus test for the future of the economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{152bad5e-d2e9-45f0-acdf-a7b299f62f53}{49}" paraid="1460574395">“These young people are a real inspiration. They are an example to us all and are to be congratulated. To have excelled after such a difficult year shows their dedication and drive is second to none.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{152bad5e-d2e9-45f0-acdf-a7b299f62f53}{55}" paraid="1289988791">“Skills are the lifeblood of every economy, creating high quality jobs, rewarding careers, inward investment and growth.”&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{152bad5e-d2e9-45f0-acdf-a7b299f62f53}{61}" paraid="1890023431">A huge congratulations to all of our WorldSkills finalists and medal winners. We are so excited to follow Jack’s journey to&nbsp;represent the UK in&nbsp;France for the WorldSkills finals!</p>