Last month, our Photography students organised a pet photoshoot for members of the public to bring in their dogs, giving our students hands-on experience working with clients and building their confidence and skills. 

This photoshoot is always an extremely popular event due to the professionalism and high-quality photographs produced by the students. Not only do these create fantastic keepsakes for owners, but students also learn the challenges of working with clients in a candid and fast-paced environment.  

During this shoot, students got to work with a variety of dogs breeds, getting to know their individual differences which taught them to alter their techniques depending on the dogs’ mannerisms, personality, and needs. This increased the students’ adaptability, resilience, and communication skills which is required for a career in Photography. 

This event is often a highlight for both the students, and the community. It encourages interaction and engagement, and provides students with invaluable insight into the industry, experiencing both the challenges and the rewards of working with clients. 

The photographs captured by the students were amazing, with one client sharing their feedback, saying: "My dogs are quite hyper and rarely like to do what they're told, however, the students were great at making them feel calm and helping me handle them to get some really amazing photos. They were very polite and professional and knew how to chat to me and my dogs to make us feel comfortable which is half the battle. This event seems like a fantastic opportunity for students to work with external clients, build on their skills, and get some really amazing photographs to add to their portfolio and I'm so happy with mine!" 

A huge well done to all the students involved, you acted professionally and politely throughout the experience and produced some fantastic work! 

This event forms part of the Photography 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 recently welcomed colleagues from the Department for Education (DfE) to showcase its inclusive approach to supporting learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), those experiencing disadvantage, and learners requiring mental health support. 

The visit gave the DfE the opportunity to see how inclusion is embedded across the College, from specialist SEND provision and supported employment pathways to mental health support and strong partnerships with local communities and external organisations. 

DfE visitors Paddy Breeze, Post-16 SEND Policy Adviser, and Mike Lewis, Mental Health Policy Adviser, both from the Social Justice and Disadvantage Division, met with staff and learners to hear more about how Weston College is translating national priorities into practical, day-to-day support for young people. 

During the visit, the College highlighted several key initiatives designed to improve outcomes, wellbeing and progression for learners. These included the Five Cs for a Compassionate College, the Equity in Education Framework, and the impact of its specialist SEND curriculum and Supported Employment Excellence Hub. Together, these initiatives reflect a whole-college commitment to equity, inclusion and opportunity. 

The visit was particularly timely, coming soon after the launch of Weston College’s Inclusion Strategy and Inclusion Promise in January, as well as the introduction of the new Ofsted inspection framework with its increased focus on inclusion. It also aligns with national discussions ahead of the expected publication of the new SEND White Paper. 

Ben Knocks, Deputy Principal at Weston College, said: 

“We were really pleased to welcome colleagues from the Department for Education and to share the work we are doing across the College to support SEND learners and those facing disadvantage. Inclusion is not a bolt-on for us – it sits at the heart of everything we do. Our Inclusion Strategy and Inclusion Promise are about making sure every learner and member of staff feels supported, understood and able to succeed, whatever their starting point.” 

The visit provided a valuable opportunity for discussion and shared learning around inclusion, SEND and mental health support in further education, and how national priorities are being reflected in practice at college level. 

Last night, we were proud to host our annual Apprenticeship Open Evening, welcoming prospective students, parents and carers to explore the exciting career pathways available through apprenticeships.

With 500 people registered to attend, the event once again demonstrated the growing demand for high-quality apprenticeship opportunities. Visitors had the opportunity to speak directly with employers and our dedicated Apprenticeships Team, gaining valuable insight into live vacancies, industry expectations and progression routes.

Attendees explored opportunities across a wide range of sectors including Engineering, Construction, Business, Health, Early Years, Digital and Public Services.

We would like to thank the following employers for supporting the event:

• Gilbert Ash
• Cardo Group
• RED Construction Ltd
• Howards Group
• Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology
• National Composites Centre
• Airbus
• Baker Hughes
• Ministry of Defence
• The Bristol Port Company
• Babcock International Group
• GKN Aerospace
• YMCA Dulverton Group
• Rydal Day Nursery
• Thatchers Cider
• University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
• Avon and Somerset Police
• IPECO
• Taylor Woodrow
• Shared Apprenticeships

Their continued partnership plays a vital role in connecting learners with real employment opportunities and helping to develop the future workforce across our region.

If you would like to find out more about apprenticeships and view our current vacancies, click here.