Brandon studies Pathways to Supported Adulthood at the college and has been with us since 2024. As part of our celebration of Supporting the Power of Specialist Further Education (1st–5th December), we asked Brandon to reflect on his time at college so far.

Brandon has developed a strong sense of enjoyment and belonging at college. He particularly values spending time with his friends and is enthusiastic about subjects such as Maths, shopping and cooking. He has also developed a love of music through learning to play the keyboard.

Educational trips are a highlight for Brandon, with Wake the Tiger standing out as his favourite experience. Brandon also shared how much he values his teachers, describing them as “great and always supportive.”

Over his time at college, Brandon has learnt to use sensory massage techniques to help him focus, an important skill that supports both his learning and wellbeing. He is particularly proud of the progress he has made in his community skills, explaining that he can now keep himself safe in the community far more independently.

Coming to college makes Brandon feel happy. He enjoys being part of the college community, seeing his friends, and taking part in daily routines. One of the things he loves most is buying his lunch and eating in the bistro, where he feels welcomed and supported by the staff.

Congratulations to Brandon - his journey so far reflects his enthusiasm, growing independence, and the positive impact of specialist further education.

In honour of Movember, one of our Sixth Form Social Action pathway groups recently organised a Movember-themed professional photobooth to raise money for Prostate Cancer.  

Within our Sixth Form, our learners can choose a career-enhancing pathway alongside their core A Level subjects which will not only bolster their CV’s and UCAS applications, but will also provide them with more transferrable skills and preparation for the future. These can range from the Social Action pathway and Young Enterprise Challenge, to the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the Bio-Medical pathway.  

The Social Action pathway gives students the chance to organise community events to raise money and awareness for charities of their choosing. This is an excellent opportunity for students to get involved with fundraising initiatives and have a positive impact on the community. 

Movember is a global initiative which raises money and awareness for a range of men’s health issues, whether this is men’s mental health or prostate cancer. Movember is often promoted by men growing a moustache for the duration of November or taking part in fitness challenges in order to raise awareness and break the stigma. 

In order to get as many people involved as possible, the group of students set up a stand within the Sixth Form common room with tables of moustaches for people to use as props in the photos. The idea was that participants would donate at least £2 towards the Prostate Cancer charity, and they would get a moustache to keep and a photo by one of our Photography A Level students.  

Groups of students and teachers all got involved, donating money to get photos with friends and moustaches that they could take home. In total, they raised over £100 for Prostate Cancer! 

Nicola Stent, the Social Action Pathway lecturer, said, “I’m so proud of our students for working hard to come up with a relevant idea that they knew would appeal to the younger demographic. It is initiatives like this that teach the students valuable lessons by giving back to the community and encourages them to continue to do so in the future.” 

Well done to the students for working together to raise money for a fantastic charity, and a big thank you to Nicola Stent for assisting our students in making this event possible and promoting it to other students around the college. 

This initiative 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.  

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. 

Weston College is proud to take part in The Power of Specialist FE Awareness Week, running from 1st to 5th December 2025. This national campaign, led by Natspec, celebrates the vital work that specialist further education (FE) providers deliver for young people and adults with the most complex needs.

While over 1.7 million children and young people across England are identified as having special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), discussions about support often focus on schools. Yet it is specialist FE and inclusive further education settings like Weston College that help 16 to 25-year-olds with SEND transition into adulthood, build independence, gain employability, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

At Weston College, we support learners with a broad range of support needs. Our Foundation Learning programmes and pathways are highly individualised and include specialist teaching, ensure students have a wide range of experiences in preparation for adulthood. Sessions include functional skills, communication and personal development, independent living skills, accessing the community, and vocational modules such as catering, horticulture, performing arts, and more. Leaners are involved in the student union and represent themselves as part of the student ambassadors giving their voice as part of the whole college learner voice capture.

This week, in line with the Power of Specialist FE campaign, we will be celebrating our learners’ achievements and sharing powerful stories of their journeys. Among them, we are proud to showcase:

• Morgan – now employed as a permanent Teaching Assistant, having progressed from Foundation Learning through Level 1 Early Years, an apprenticeship, and a Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification. Morgan is now a SEND advocate in her workplace, caring for six key children and using her own experience to support others.
• Caitlin – joined Weston College’s Pathways to Supported Adulthood from Briarwood Special School and has worked hard to build her communication through signing and an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device. She has grown in independence, gradually moving from 2:1 support to more group and community settings, forming meaningful relationships and developing social confidence.
• Lucy – studied on our Preparation for Life course, achieving Level 2 English, progressing in maths, and learning to travel independently. Through our "Autism and Me" curriculum, she developed self-regulation strategies, resilience, and independence. She now takes part in animal care enrichment and has completed a placement at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, planning next to do a Level 1 in Animal Care.

In addition to our 16–24 provision, our Faculty of Inclusive Practice provides a range of professional development programmes for Inclusion and SEND, allowing staff and community members to upskill through training from Level 2 onwards.

On the higher education front, University Centre Weston (UCW) offers a BA (Hons) in SEND and Inclusive Practice, designed to prepare graduates to work with and support children and young people with SEND and their families. This degree enables students to develop a deep understanding of SEND needs, inclusive approaches, systems thinking, and organisational context. We also provide short courses (Levels 4–5) for those seeking to develop or refresh their expertise in areas such as autism support.

Clare Howard, Chief Executive at Natspec, said:

“Specialist FE is about unlocking potential and creating positive futures. Our colleges give young people, many with very complex needs, the skills, confidence and independence they need to succeed in their adult lives. They are critical to the government’s mission to create an inclusive education system, where no learner is left behind. Yet despite this, the sector is too often overlooked by policy makers. Through The Power of Specialist FE awareness week, we are shining a light on this vital provision to ensure that it is recognised, valued and fully included in future policy making.”