Last month, our A Level Art and A Level Fashion students took a trip to London to enrich themselves in famous exhibitions, with Fashion students visiting Arches London Bridge exhibition space to see the Gianni Versace Retrospective exhibition, and the Art students visiting the Tate Modern Museum.  

During the visit, the Fashion students browsed the Versace exhibition which blended history, culture, and iconic designs, showcasing over 450 rare and original vintage pieces, many never-before displayed in the UK. Featuring elegant ensembles worn by Princess Diana and bold statements modelled by Kate Moss, to stage outfits styled for Elton John, this exhibition combines fashion with pop culture.  

Gianni Versace redefined fashion, creating bold designs that celebrated culture, individuality, and personal expression, challenging norms and building relationships between people and their clothes. This exhibition allowed our students to engage with his designs and immerse themselves in his choices, inspiring them to think creatively and create fashion with meaning and purpose.  

Not only this, the Art students also browsed the Tate Modern where they got the chance to explore modern and contemporary art from across the world, from paintings and photography, to sculptures and large-scale installations. This was a great opportunity for students to explore displays from world-renowned artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, and experience a wide variety of styles, expressions, and interpretations of art. This inspired our students to express their creativity in a range of ways, trialling mediums and different expressions to further their skills and development.

This enriching trip was an excellent opportunity for our students to explore new techniques and approaches to art and fashion, broadening their interpretations and creativity to design not just attractive designs, but also creations with depth, meaning, and symbolism.   

Nicola Stent, Lecturer in Textiles at Weston College, said, “I was so impressed with the attitudes of the students for embracing and making the most out of each piece of work on display. They took the time to read the background for each exhibit in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning and decisions behind the designer’s work.  Students were excited and inspired after experiencing the wide range of designs and I’m excited to see how this trip will reflect in their upcoming work!”  

A huge well done to the students for engaging and interacting with the exhibitions so professionally.  

This curriculum trip forms part of the Sixth Form Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

Progress to the next level in Art and Design! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here! 

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.

We caught up with Nigel almost 2 years after our previous catch up (UCW Award Winner Nigel’s Remarkable Growth – University Centre Weston), to find out how he has been getting on with his Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship after completing a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree!

Nigel’s Blog –

Progressing from my Nursing Associate foundation degree into the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) felt like a natural next step in my career. The foundation degree gave me a strong clinical base, so moving into the RNDA has allowed me to build on that knowledge while taking on more responsibility. My understanding of the nurse’s role has grown significantly, and I now feel I am developing into a more confident and capable practitioner.

One of the biggest surprises for me has been how closely academic learning connects with day-to-day practice. Topics discussed in university sessions often appear in real clinical situations, which really helps to reinforce my learning and make it more meaningful. Being able to see theory applied in practice has strengthened my confidence and helped me understand the “why” behind what we do.

My previous experience as a Nursing Associate has helped me settle into the RNDA programme. I already felt confident within my clinical setting and in communicating with patients and multidisciplinary teams. This has meant I can focus more on developing my leadership and decision-making skills, as well as becoming more inquisitive about why care is delivered in certain ways, rather than simply carrying out tasks.

What I am finding most rewarding about the RNDA is developing deeper clinical knowledge and becoming more involved in-patient assessment and care planning. Being able to contribute more meaningfully to patient care and see the direct impact on patient outcomes is incredibly motivating.

I have also developed stronger assessment and critical thinking skills, which are already influencing my clinical practice. These skills help me make more informed clinical decisions and contribute more confidently during handovers and multidisciplinary discussions. They also support my colleagues, as I am able to provide more comprehensive background information and assessments when handing over patients, saving valuable time for others such as GPs.

Learning at UCW continues to support my confidence and clinical decision-making. The teaching encourages reflective practice and evidence-based decision-making, which has really helped me grow. I feel more confident with patient assessments and now have a deeper understanding of my own limitations. UCW are also very proactive in ensuring we are aware of the support available, which has been reassuring throughout my studies.

Since starting the degree apprenticeship, my long-term career goals have become clearer. I have developed a strong interest in specialising in long-term condition management and taking on expanded clinical responsibilities. I am increasingly focused on the impact of what we do and why we do it, rather than seeing my role as purely task-based.

To work towards these ambitions, I am actively seeking learning opportunities in practice that focus on long-term condition management and specialist care. I am also planning future study that will enable me to progress onto a prescribing course once I qualify as a registered nurse and meet the required enrolment criteria. More recently, I have also developed an interest in becoming a contraceptive implant fitter once qualified. Spending time alongside implant fitters introduced me to a role I had not previously considered and showed me how valuable clinical exposure can be in shaping future career interests.

For anyone considering the RNDA route or a degree apprenticeship at UCW, I would strongly encourage you to pursue it. While balancing work and study can be challenging at times, the support available and the practical experience gained make the journey highly rewarding. The apprenticeship route offers the best of both worlds: real-world clinical experience alongside academic learning.

The RNDA pathway has given me an excellent opportunity to grow professionally while continuing to deliver patient care. I’m excited to see where this journey leads and what new skills I can learn along the way. Thank you, UCW, for the opportunity.

Earlier this month, our Media and Communications students presented their Community Charity Projects that they have been developing throughout this term. Working in partnership with local charities and organisations, they created promotional content to help promote vital services within the community. This project provided students with invaluable experience in building professional client relationships and producing purposeful, industry-ready content for a range of platforms. 

Students were given a detailed brief, requiring them to create content tailored to a specific target audience. Each project highlighted the organisation’s unique selling points and clearly communicated its services. As part of the brief, students produced both long-form and short-form video content for social media, alongside graphics and promotional materials such as posters, business cards, and branded merchandise. They also reflected on the creative and strategic decisions behind their work. 

Each group was partnered with a local charity or organisation, including In Charley’s Memory, Wrington Vale Rotary Club, North Somerset LGBT Forum, Race Equality North Somerset (RENS), Wessex Learning Trust, Weston Bay, Weston Hospicecare, and Bristol Menopause & Well Women Clinic. These organisations support a diverse range of individuals and play an essential role within the community. While the project enabled students to gain first-hand experience working with real clients, it also provided the charities with high-quality promotional resources free of charge. 

Students worked independently to capture footage on location, gathering B-roll and conducting interviews to create engaging and informative videos tailored to their target audiences. They demonstrated professionalism and initiative when liaising with participants, ensuring all consent forms were completed and ethical guidelines followed.

These presentations were delivered to lecturers, peers, and members of Weston College’s Executive Team. Students confidently showcased their creative processes, explained the rationale behind their decisions, and reflected on the professional relationships they developed with their assigned organisations. They demonstrated how their chosen direction aligned with the organisation’s goals and intended outcomes.  

The quality of work produced was exceptional, with many organisations planning to use the content in future marketing campaigns. Throughout the process, students developed a deeper understanding of time management and project planning, with some experiencing the realistic challenge of communicating with clients while balancing tight deadlines. 

This project offered a fantastic opportunity for students to strengthen their portfolios while enhancing key employability skills, including adaptability, communication, teamwork, leadership, and accountability. It provided meaningful insight into the challenges and rewards of working with external clients, preparing them for careers in the dynamic and fast-paced media industry. 

Gina Hele, Head of Media, Game & Animation and Photography at Weston College, said, “It was fantastic to see the innovative and impactful work our students created for the local community. Projects like this not only give students real-world experience and professional confidence, but they also make a genuine difference to local organisations by providing them with high-quality promotional content they can continue to use and benefit from.” 

A huge well done to all the students. The work produced was fantastic and an excellent demonstration of the relationships fostered with local organisations. 

This project forms part of the Media and Communications Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

Progress to the next level in Film and Media Production! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

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.