<p>A group of talented learners have achieved a national qualification for the prestigious <a href="https://www.worldskillsuk.org/">WorldSkills Competition</a> in the digital category. This remarkable accomplishment showcases the College's dedication to nurturing exceptional talent and preparing students for the dynamic and competitive digital landscape.</p><p>WorldSkills is the largest international skills competition, bringing together young professionals from around the world to showcase their expertise in various vocational fields. The digital category encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including web development, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and software engineering. Competitors are judged based on their technical skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and their capacity to deliver high-quality results under pressure.</p><p>Weston College's learners have demonstrated their exceptional aptitude and proficiency in the digital field. Their outstanding performance in rigorous competitions and assessments has qualified them to represent both the College and their country at the esteemed WorldSkills Competition, where they will compete against the best young talents from across the globe.</p><p>Jason Hill, the Subject Area Manager for <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…;, expressed his immense pride in the learners' achievements, stating, "The qualification of our learners for the WorldSkills Competition in the digital category is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the exceptional guidance provided by our talented faculty. Weston College is committed to equipping our learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their chosen careers, and this achievement is a validation of our educational approach."</p><p>Participation in the WorldSkills Competition presents learners with a unique opportunity to showcase their abilities on an international stage, gain valuable experience, and network with industry professionals and experts. It offers a platform for learners to enhance their skills, broaden their horizons, and raise awareness of the excellence fostered at Weston College.</p><p>The learners' success also reflects the College's commitment to staying at the forefront of digital education, ensuring that its curriculum aligns with industry demands and evolving technologies. By providing learners with access to state-of-the-art facilities, industry-standard tools, and expert guidance, Weston College empowers its students to thrive in the digital age and make meaningful contributions to the global workforce.</p>

<p>Learners from the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… Level Digital and BTEC Computing courses</a> recently took part in the Bebras Challenge. Bebras is a computational thinking challenge that is organised over 50 countries, in partnership with Oxford University and The Raspberry Pi Foundation. Learners answer questions that look at challenging their logical thinking and problem-solving abilities, both of which are vital skills required in computer science. This takes place in the 2nd week of November, with all that compete earning either a certificate of participation, merit, distinction or best in school.</p><p>Tom, one of the learners who had placed in the top 10% of achievers, told us about his experience.</p><p>“Our whole class entered the challenge together. Ben Hobbs, our teacher, put in the application for us all. It was great that we all entered as it meant we were able to revise together; we were given practice papers for the lead-up to make sure we were prepared for the challenge.</p><p>“I’d only found out about being in the top 10% of competitors when I was given the certificate the following week; it was definitely the highlight of the challenge!”</p><p>Those that achieve within the top 10% nationally, are eligible to take part within the Oxford University Computing Challenge (OUCC) in January, which looks to challenge them on their programming abilities within their choice of coding language, including C#, Java or Python.</p><p>Tom commented: “I intend on taking part in the OUCC; I think it will be much more difficult as it is focused on problem solving with coding, but I’m excited to face the challenge.”</p><p>Tom’s advice to anyone thinking of entering the Bebras challenge was to “try and manage your time and answer as many questions as you can – practice questions were the best and most effective way to improve on this.”</p><p>Ben Hobbs, the computing teacher who entered the learners into the challenge, said: “I am so proud of everyone who competed in the Bebras Challenge, particularly those who were in the top 10%; what an incredible achievement! Opportunities like these are the perfect way for the learners to put what they learn into practise, and the development in their confidence afterwards is astounding! Congratulations to everybody involved!”</p>