In a heart warming six-week project that bridged generations through creativity, Weston College Level 1 and 2 Art and Design students partnered with residents of Beach Lawns Care Home to explore the world of ceramics.

This unique collaboration, which took place from the end of March through April, formed part of Weston College’s ongoing social impact work.

The project began with an idea sparked by the care home, who reached out with an interest in running creative workshops. After coordinating around both the students’ and residents’ schedules, a plan was put in place to run weekly sessions that would grow in complexity and creativity.

During the initial sessions, students and residents worked side-by-side to create clay coasters—an accessible introduction to working with the material.

As confidence grew, the group moved on to crafting trinket dishes, with some residents showing remarkable skill and enthusiasm.

In the final three weeks, the focus shifted from forming to painting, as the co-created pieces were brought to life with colour and personality.

Feedback from both students and care home residents has been overwhelmingly positive. Students shared how valuable it was to engage in real conversations with the older generation—something they rarely experience in their daily lives.

For the residents, the impact was equally profound. At a later museum event showcasing the group’s ceramic creations, emotions ran high as they proudly viewed their work on display.

Chrystal Bliss, Art Lecturer at Weston College, said: “This project stands as a joyful reminder that when we make space for collaboration across generations, we not only craft beautiful objects—we build community, understanding, and lasting memories.

“Throughout, students developed more than just artistic skills. The project offered a meaningful opportunity to build empathy, improve communication, and gain confidence in unfamiliar social settings. It has been a very rewarding experience.

“There have been many highlights of this project, but one of the standout moments came when student Harry gave up his seat to support one of the residents, Eddie, and began guiding others through the process. His thoughtful gesture reflected the kindness and maturity that the project inspired among the learners.”

Eva Jarvis, Art Lecturer at Weston College, added: “We also created Easter decorations with the residents, giving them the opportunity to share their creativity with loved ones during visits. This brought a real sense of comfort and celebration—not just between the residents and their families, but also for our students, whose own families could see the confidence and joy they had helped to nurture through the creative process.

“This project didn’t just highlight the importance of community and intergenerational connection—it demonstrated the truly transformative power of art.”

Find out more about our Art and Design courses, by clicking 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 are thrilled to announce that Weston College learner Callum Kavanagh has been named the South West Regional Winner for T Level Student of the Year in the prestigious Lloyds Banking Group Awards 2025.

Callum, who is studying the Digital Production, Design and Development T Level at Weston College, was selected from a highly competitive field of learners across the region. His achievement recognises not only academic excellence but also the remarkable impact of his industry placement at Lloyds Banking Group.

During his placement, Callum contributed to a strategic project within the company’s data team, where he developed a software solution that has since become part of the team’s standard toolkit. His initiative, professionalism, and technical ability left a lasting impression on his colleagues—and led directly to an apprenticeship offer with Lloyds Banking Group.

Callum’s journey has been one of determination and growth. Starting with a Level 2 qualification to build foundational skills, he progressed to the T Level programme and thrived with the support of both Weston College and his employer. Callum also worked closely with the College’s ADHD support team, which helped him manage challenges and perform at his best.

Callum will now represent the South West in the Lloyds Banking Group National Final on Tuesday 3rd June 2025 in London, where one of four regional winners will be crowned the national T Level Student of the Year.

We are incredibly proud of Callum’s achievement and the inspiring example he sets for other learners. His story is a shining endorsement of the power of T Levels, industry placements, and the transformative support offered by Weston College.

Congratulations, Callum – and good luck in the finals!

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 learner, Gracie Donaghy, recently won the SPARKS Female Skills Competition 2025! This intense competition challenges participants to complete a live electrical installation from start to finish, testing their knowledge, accuracy, and time management under pressure.

Gracie is currently in her third year of an EAL Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation Apprenticeship with Wessex Water. This apprenticeship has allowed her to develop skills in installing and testing cabling systems, containment, and a range of electrical components.

Gracie secured her place in the final of the competition after impressing the judges during the South Regional Heats and achieving first-place. Her precision and skill were demonstrated throughout both competitions, gaining recognition from her peers and competitors as well as the judges for her excellent accuracy, time-management and attention to detail.

Having taken part in the competition last year, Gracie came into this year’s event with a clear goal to beat her previous performance. She dedicated time to practicing installations that she felt less confident with, including lighting circuits and unfamiliar wiring setups.

After winning the South Regional Heats and securing her place in the final, Gracie added, “During the competition, I felt very nervous as I wanted to do well and demonstrate my best work. After the competition, I felt very proud of the work I had completed. I performed better than I did last year and that was my main aim.”

Not only did Gracie show massive improvements from last year’s competition, but she also did herself and Weston College extremely proud. Gracie was stunned when she not only received the amazing title of SPARKS Female Skills Winner 2025, but she also got a range of tools and goodies and a fantastic cash prize to put towards her future.

The SPARKS Female Skills Competition is a great way for young females from all over the country to show their skills and compete with likeminded individuals. Competitions like these encourage future generations to take up trades courses and break down stereotypes in largely male-dominated subject areas.

Gracie also highlighted the fantastic benefits to the competition, saying, “it gives you a chance to meet others going through the same journey, and to push yourself to see what you can achieve under time constraints.”

Andy Fisher, one of our Electrotechnical Lecturers, has worked closely with Gracie throughout her time at Weston College, saying "Gracie is an exceptional student who works extremely hard in every task she completes. Her place in the final reflects the quality of work she produces. She is always millimetre perfect and very tidy with her installations and has always been such a pleasure to teach.

"As a lecturer, it’s an amazing competition to get the chance to attend with them and you can tell it means a lot to them too. Not only this, it’s also a phenomenal thing to put on their CV and Gracie has gone above and beyond with her achievement!"

Well done to all of the students who took part, and a massive well done to Gracie for this fantastic achievement and for representing the college with an amazing display of professionalism and maturity throughout both competitions!

If you would like to find out more about our Electrical Installation courses, click here.

If you are interested in apprenticeship opportunities, click here.