<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Level 3 Uniformed Protective Service students braved the wintery conditions of the Bristol Estuary this December for an unforgettable day of coasteering. This adrenaline-fueled activity saw students swimming to cliffs, scaling rugged rock faces, and leaping into the icy waters below—all in the name of teamwork, resilience, and personal growth.&nbsp;</p><p>The activity, which challenges participants both physically and mentally, is a key part of the Protective Service curriculum. It calls for determination and collaboration—qualities essential for success in uniformed service careers. Despite the cold, the students demonstrated exceptional courage and camaraderie, making the most of this thrilling experience.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;protective services students in Bristol Channel&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="926aff45-ec7f-4d08-b2d9-0f688f23b305" 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>David Usher, Protective Service Lecturer, reflected on the day: “It was a fantastic day, topped off with a McDonald’s stop on the way back!”&nbsp;</p><p>Weston College’s Protective Service provision equips students with the skills, confidence, and experiences they need to thrive in careers such as the police, fire service, armed forces, and more. Through dynamic activities like coasteering, students learn to overcome challenges and push their limits.&nbsp;</p><p>This trip forms part of the Protective Services Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Want to join the adventure? <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote… Weston College’s Protective Service courses</u></a> and take the first step towards an exciting future.&nbsp;</p><p><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><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…;. 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;</p>

<p>Last Thursday, our Protective Services lecturers, Nicola Stent and David Usher, hosted a highly impactful and collaborative event involving students from Protective Services, Performing Arts, and UCW Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics. With expert guidance from Tara O'Hare, a lecturer in Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics, this exciting simulation provided learners with real-world, practical experience in emergency response scenarios.</p><p>The event tested students' skills in handling crises, working under pressure, and collaborating across disciplines, making it a truly enriching learning opportunity.</p><p>The event featured two simultaneous intense and immersive simulations. The first involved a gas explosion in the Production Arts classroom, while the second took place in the Sports Hall, where students responded to mystery attack and attack/bike collision scenarios.&nbsp; The mystery attack scenario was designed to test the crisis management and communication skills of the students. It involved four Performing Arts students, with one portraying a woman who had just broken up with her partner. Along with her three friends, she was stabbed by the ex-partner, who had followed them. A passing biker stopped to help and was also injured in the attack. The woman, knowing the attacker as her former partner, called Nicola, who was acting as 999 emergency services, via Teams to report the incident. The Protective Services students (who were unbeknownst to this planned simulation) sprang into action, immediately taking charge of the scene when the distress call was received. They engaged in a rapid and detailed assessment of the situation, asking critical questions about the number of casualties and the identity of the attacker.&nbsp;</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@westoncollege/video/7449726207526063393&quot; data-video-id="7449726207526063393"><section><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@westoncollege?refer=embed&quot; target="_blank" title="@westoncollege">@westoncollege</a></p><p>Our Protective Services, Performing Arts, and UCW Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics learners collaborated to create a close-to-real-life simulation of a critical incident to test how our Protective Services learners would react. 💥💥 Here's how it went...</p><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-WestonCollege-7449726285607…; target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - WestonCollege">♬ original sound - WestonCollege</a></p></section></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>&nbsp;The Protective Services students secured the scene, performed first aid, and ensured proper protocol was followed, simulating the role of police officers and emergency responders.&nbsp;</p><p>The second simulation focused on a gas explosion scenario in the Production Arts classroom. The Protective Services students had been waiting outside for their lesson, only to find the room had been hit by an explosion. Inside, Drama students acted as victims, injured and in pain, with their wounds carefully painted on by the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics students. The Protective Services team had to act swiftly, treating the victims’ injuries and preparing for the unexpected. They also had to manage the threat of a fake bomb, ensuring a swift evacuation of the casualties to a safe triage area, securing the crime scene, and following emergency procedures.&nbsp;</p><p>The event allowed students to explore the more practical side of their courses, helping them understand the importance of teamwork, communication, and quick decision-making in emergency scenarios. They also gained invaluable insights into the process of responding to 999 calls, securing crime scenes, and providing immediate care in high-stress situations.&nbsp;</p><p>Without the support of the other student departments within the College, the event wouldn’t have been such a success. Our Performing Arts students excellently stayed in character throughout the simulation, acting as victims in distress, and convincingly portraying their injuries; the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics students, expertly crafted lifelike injuries, from stab wounds to burns and abrasions, bringing the scenarios to life; and the Protective Services students, who demonstrated professionalism and composure under pressure, responding to the emergencies with precision and care.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>And a huge thank you to Nicola Stent for making what the students thought would be a normal lesson into a fast-paced simulation that we’re sure they’ll never forget!&nbsp;</p><p>This partnership forms part of the Protective Services, Performance and Production arts and Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>To learn more about our Protective Services courses, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote… here.</u></a>&nbsp;</p><p>To find out about what courses we have to offer for Performance and Production Arts, please <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… here.</u></a>&nbsp;</p><p>To see more about our Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics courses, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/hair-make-up-and-prosthetics-for-producti… here.</u></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><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 here. 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;</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Remembrance Day is a day we should never forget. It is a day to remember the members of the Armed Forces who fought hard for us but sadly lost their lives during the war. The 11th November marked the end of the First World War and has been honoured ever since.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Here at Weston College, our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">Uniformed Protective Services</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> (UPS) students went above and beyond the normal traditions by creating their own poppy display on the 7th floor of Knightstone campus. The students made their poppies out of paper, or if they were feeling really adventurous, some even sewed them.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Whilst the learners carefully crafted their poppies, they discussed the family members who fought and sadly lost their lives. They then arranged their poppies into a lovely display that other members of the college could go and pay their respects to.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Protective Services Poppy Display&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e2a0f560-ff0b-45b3-9aeb-e2f07e468e64" 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:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The poppy is a symbol of both remembrance and hope and has been worn as such since the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in 1915. The fields that were fought on in the war were turned to nothing but mud and destruction, but through it all, a field of poppies flourished.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Lily, one of our UPS learners, said, “poppies are a huge part of Remembrance Day to show our respects for those who fought for our freedom, and due to our public service course, this is a special occasion as we would all like to be a part of the serving forces.”&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Some of the poppies that the Protective Services students made&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="be7c9b7c-0b55-4807-a65a-07b191750324" 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:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">Uniformed Protective Services</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> course provides our learners with a solid foundation and a pathway to success in a career in protective services. Through a combination of practical training, theoretical study, and real-world experiences, our students are developing the expertise and confidence necessary to make a meaningful difference in the community.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Nicky Stent, a Protective Services lecturer, said, “I was so proud of the attitudes and respect demonstrated by the UPS learners for the Remembrance reflection lesson. We discussed family members, great-grandparents who had lost their lives, and we reflected on how we would feel being in their position.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Many learners found sewing quite challenging and yet continued to make an effort in order to pay their respects and ensure that we could create an installation worthy of 11th November. The whole cohort collaborated, and I could not be prouder of the mature discussions that took place.”&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Protective Services learners making the poppies&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="37b548cc-afd4-4c8c-be2f-2604386e6d1c" 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:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The UPS students also attended the Memorial ceremony in Grove Park on Remembrance Day. David Beresford, Head of Protective Services, said “the students provided an excellent presence at the Memorial Day ceremony.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Their behaviour epitomised the brevity and importance of the occasion, displaying respect, reflection and pride in their Nation's historic endeavours.”&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">We are so proud of our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">Uniformed Protective Services</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students for how they presented themselves and honoured Remembrance Day at Weston College.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">If you’re interested in applying to one of our Protective Services courses, click here.</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">&nbsp;</span></p>