The Schools Minister, David Laws, has praised Weston College's 'high quality' education and provision for pupils with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) during a visit this week (Wednesday).

Mr Laws, the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, met College leaders at the Knightstone Campus before travelling to Weston Bay, the College's bespoke facility for learners on the autism spectrum.

There, he chatted with students and staff and toured the facilities, which include accommodation designed to help students with the transition from home to university.

Dr Paul Phillips, Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, welcomed Mr Laws and introduced him to Jacqui Ford, Assistant Principal (Strategic Partnership and Curriculum Development) who is responsible for LDD provision.

Mr Laws was shown a film giving an introduction to Weston College and its campuses, before heading down the seafront to the Weston Bay facility.

He asked students about accommodation, transport, course provision and how they have been supported by Weston College.

Josie Ewers, who is studying for a BA Honours degree in Art and Professional Studies, told Mr Laws she came to the Weston Bay facility for a trial period of two weeks.

“I ended up staying for three months,” she said. “I found the staff to be very nice and helpful right from day one.”

After the visit Mr Laws praised the College. He said: “I've been really impressed by the fantastic range of provision at Weston College, and it just shows what a College at its very best can achieve.

“It's pleasing to see so many initiatives being pioneered here, particularly those in regard to Special Educational Needs. From what I've seen, it's obviously having a big impact and the support for such students is excellent.

“The Government's educational aim for FE is about creating very high quality provision for 16-18-year-olds. We are also encouraging young people to continue to Higher Education in their home town without compromising on quality. In these two areas, Weston College is definitely ticking the right boxes.”

Dr Paul Phillips OBE, Principal and Chief Executive Weston College said: “The meeting with David Laws MP provided an opportunity to discuss the progress of the whole College but in part to report concerns both locally and regionally with regards to the method for supporting young people and adults who have Learning Difficulties and Disabilities. 

“The response from David Laws was highly analytical and he has promised to look into this matter which is vital for teaching and learning across the South West.  As Principal of the College I was impressed by both the dedication and lines of enquiry put forward by the minister.”

Fluffy, the creature that has helped inspire ambitions of further and higher education among numerous school pupils who have visited Weston College, has been in action at a new location this year.

The furry purple visual aid, complete with a black mortar board, has been at North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College (NSETC) to greet around 400 local Year 5 and Year 6 pupils visiting the specialist Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) school.

Ben Cocks, Progression and IAG Coordinator at Weston College said that this is the ninth year in which the College has used Professor Fluffy to engage with pupils, but the first time the project has been located at NSETC, which is part of the Weston College Group.

“It has been a really successful programme that children enjoy and we now see secondary students and some current Weston College students who remember their Professor Fluffy visit,” he said.

“This is the second year we have run Professor Fluffy in collaboration with EDF Energy and this partnership continues to be a great way to push the STEM agenda to young people in North Somerset.

“This year we decided to facilitate Professor Fluffy at the NSETC, which forms part of the Weston College Group, as it offers the students first-hand experience of a STEM school and the facilities are jaw dropping.”

During their visits to NSETC, pupils explored career opportunities and educational opportunities and were supported by student mentors and current learners.

They also toured the NSETC, interviewed current college students, and built a prototype ‘green’ car for the future using recycled materials in a project designed by EDF Energy.

At their end of their visits, the pupils ‘graduated’ in caps and gowns with certificates – and with Professor Fluffy in attendance.

Ben Cocks added:  “It’s been really great to work again with Weston Excellence on this project, and yet again we have seen the students create some amazing things as part of their visit and they are all a credit to their individual schools. With the support of Weston College’s Student Mentors and Care and Early Years students this year has again been a real success.”

Professor Fluffy was originally created under the Government’s national Aim Higer initiative, but funding was stopped in 2009.

However, Dr Paul Phillips, the principal of Weston College, which was rated ‘outstanding’ at its latest Ofsted inspection, decided it was important to keep Professor Fluffy and has found sponsorship to ensure the engagement work with local schools continues.

A University Centre Weston (UCW) student will graduate this weekend despite having suffered from throat cancer for much of the academic year.

John Byrne kept up with his studies while receiving treatment for the disease and has now earned a BSc (Hons) degree in Counselling.

Along with more than 500 other UCW graduates, he will receive his degree at a ceremony at the Conference Centre in Weston on Saturday (24th September).  

The 51-year-old was diagnosed with cancer in November and immediately underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and complications made him so unwell that he was put on a life support machine for ten days.

Thankfully, John is now well on the road to recovery having been in remission since March.

He said: “I was doing my reading for the course and working on a laptop in hospital because I didn’t want the cancer to take my degree away from me.

“At times it seemed like an impossible task, but I received so much support from my family and friends and everyone at UCW that I was determined to keep going.

“I’m so pleased that I will be able to graduate as planned with everyone else on my course.”

John was unable to attend lectures due to stays in the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Weston General Hospital and Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

So his lecturers on the degree, which is delivered in partnership with Bath Spa University, provided course materials and feedback to help him persevere.

UCW Counselling lecturer Barbara Feldtkeller said: “John has been such an inspiration to the tutor team at UCW and his peers on the course, I hope he has a really enjoyable and memorable day on Saturday.

“His diagnosis a few weeks into the beginning of the programme came as a shock to all of us, but he was determined to carry on, so we just kept supporting him.”

John, who grew up in London, earned further education qualifications from Weston College before enrolling on a two-year higher education Foundation Degree with UCW in 2013.

He now plans to study for a Master’s degree in Counselling after completing the one-year top-up to earn full Honours.

24% of UCW students graduating with full Honours have earned First Class degrees, and the overall pass rate is 94%.

Of the students on the BSc (Hons) Applied Computing course, which is delivered in partnership with UWE Bristol, 47% will graduate with First Class Honours.