Take a look at this powerful film made by the staff of Weston College to show how important it is for everyone from different backgrounds to be included. The film shares heartfelt stories and interviews with a diverse group of staff, showing how accepting different identities and backgrounds can make a big difference. Its purpose is to encourage viewers to think about their own biases and work towards making our community more welcoming to all. We invite everyone, regardless of their background, to join us and be a part of our journey toward a more inclusive future.
Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee's ability to succeed.
Weston Bay learners have been renovating the 1st North Worle Scout Hut over the last three weeks, painting, decorating and clearing the gardens.
To fund this they have been fundraising through a summer fete and a bag packing session at Asda. The learners then went and bought all the paints and gardening tools needed.
Weston Bay learners will be hosting the grand opening this Thursday (27th June) from 4-5.30pm at the North Worle Scout Hut. There will be some food, drink and speeches from the learners. Please come along and show your support.
The treatment of further education (FE) is nothing short of shocking and the recent Augar report is a condemnation of what has happened to the ‘poor relation’ in the educational sector.
As a practitioner who has had the opportunity to work in the school/academy, FE and HE sectors, I am amazed at the lack of investment by Government for what I passionately regard as the key driver of skills and aspirations for our economy. The question now is whether this is the light at the end of the tunnel, or if the glimmer is about to be extinguished as a result of the political malaise our country now finds itself in.
As I write this article, I have literally hundreds of learners taking GCSEs or Functional Skills examinations in mathematics and English. An inordinate number of dedicated staff have coached and developed these 17-year-olds to give them the best possible chance of success, while the level of pastoral support that has gone into supporting learners has been extensive. Our College cannot afford to produce this level of support, but we do because these young people need these skills to progress. And our finances are pushed to the wire as a result.
Of course, there is another issue here. Why are so many learners arriving at the College with such poor achievement in these core subjects? The answer is clear – they have not had the necessary teaching at their previous schools and academies. A specialist in lean management principles would have a field day here, but the problem is tackled too late. The Government must target this robustly. After all, how can a school or academy that cannot get the majority of their learners through such exams be deemed ‘outstanding’? Words fail me.
So, is the Augar report correct? Does it go far enough and can it change our sector? The first issue for me is the sheer breadth of the report which, whilst highly critical of the lack of funding for FE, is contained within a detailed evaluation of all post-18 delivery. The messages within it, however, are very clear and, although most of the observations are common sense to the FE practitioner, I wonder how well they will be both received and understood. Only this week, one MP commented that they had already resolved the issues in FE. Deluded? Most definitely. Ready for change? Not on the basis of that comment! Yet, colleges continue to suffer and one has to wonder what it will take to galvanise action.
The recommendations within the report are, as I’ve said previously, not new to those of us in the sector. They include reducing the inflexible and costly rules to allow for strategic focus and planning; the rationalisation of colleges, where necessary; reversing reductions in core funding; introducing an appropriate adult budget; investing in workforce so there is comparability of salaries with schools, academies and HEIs; and proper recognition for college identity. This would provide a major start to correcting years of starvation of resources, including capital investment.
The next stage? Watch, wait and maintain impetus I guess. We are in a time of change and influence, but imagine if the findings of Augar were even more concise and stated that Government had in effect:
Failed to strategically plan
Allowed a growing deficit to spiral out of control
Complicated processes and done little to enable progression
Ensured an inequality in pay and working conditions
Failed to invest appropriately.
Do you not think this is starting to look like a report from the FE Commissioner? It’s time for intervention I think. Will it happen? Who knows? The danger that if it doesn’t happen the reality is now actually even more dangerous for skills in general than our sector!
Weston College toasted the outstanding success of learners and employer partners at its annual Business Awards on Thursday (June 20).
Winners from a range of categories were presented with awards at the Oscars-style event at the Winter Gardens.
Guests – including students, employers and local dignitaries – enjoyed a three-course dinner and heard an inspirational keynote talk from Nick Elston, one of the country’s most renowned speakers on the subjects of anxiety, mental health and well-being.
Principal and CEO of Weston College Group, Dr Paul Phillips, who hosted the awards, said: “This year we received a record number of nominations and, while this made judging an unenviable task, it highlights the wealth of talent among our learners and the level of dedication and expertise within our employer network.
“It was fantastic to celebrate the many successes of our work-based learners, who show outstanding commitment to their programmes. They are truly a credit to the College and their employers.
“This year’s event is also notable as it fell between the opening of two significant new training facilities – the Construction Training Centre and Health and Active Living Centre. These state-of-the-art resources will provide huge benefits for learners, businesses and the community as a whole.”
It was an evening to remember for Thatchers Cider apprentice Molly O’Flaherty, 17 who was named Overall Learner of the Year and Professional Services Apprentice of the Year. Molly, who is completing a Customer Services Apprenticeship, was singled out for her maturity, work-ethic and passion to learn.
Molly said: “I am delighted to have won this award, as it shows how far I have come over such a short period of time with Thatchers.
“The support I have received from Weston College and Thatchers has been excellent, and I can’t wait to continue my development with such a great employer.”
Thatchers Cider made it a ‘quadruple’ celebration by picking up the Overall Employer and New Apprentice Employer of the Year awards.
Emma Cox, Training and Development Manager at Thatchers Cider, said: “At Thatchers we are committed to supporting young people and providing them with an opportunity to develop their skills.
“Being recognised for this award is testament to the hard work that we have put in, the dedication of the learners and the support we have received from Weston College in creating a bespoke programme to suit our business needs.”
The National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain (NCO) was recognised as Industry Placement Employer of the year. Sophie Lewis, Managing Director at NCO, commented: “The Industry Placement programme has had a really positive impact on NCO. As a charity we have benefitted from additional capacity and fresh perspectives through our placement who immediately became a fantastic addition to our team.
“We are thrilled to win this award and look forward to engaging with the programme further in the future.”
Business Award winners list:
Employer awards
Small Employer of the Year – Ridgeway House
Medium Employer of the Year – YMCA Barley Wood Day Nursery
Large Employer of the Year – SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK
New Apprentice Employer of the Year – Thatchers Cider
Industry Placement Employer of the Year – National Children's Orchestras of Great Britain
Work Experience Employer of the Year – Visit Somerset
Traineeship Employer of the Year – University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Pre-employment Employer of the Year – OCS Group
Disability Confident Employer of the Year – Weston Museum
Inspiring Future Talent Employer of the Year – OnPoint Barbers
Commercial Training Employer of the Year – Kings Heavy Haulage of Bristol)
Overall Employer of the Year – Thatchers Cider
Learners awards
Construction Apprentice of the Year – Patrick Hollritt, of John Mansfield Electrical
Digital Apprentice of the Year – Sean Haberfield, of Osborne Clarke
Early Years and Education Apprentice of the Year – Charlotte Redstone, of King Alfred School
Engineering and Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year – Matthew Vicarage, of Ipeco Composites
Hair and Beauty Apprentice of the Year – George Sheppard, of OnPoint Barbers
Hospitality and Food Industry Apprentice of the Year – Chris Barry, of St Monica Trust
Industry Placement Learner of the Year – Olivia Farley of Green Pastures Veterinary Centre
Leadership Apprentice of the Year – Mark Cordy, of Bradbury House
Professional Services Apprentice of the Year – Molly O'Flaherty, of Thatchers Cider
SEND Learner into Employment Student of the Year – Jack Tiley, of Lasseter's restaurant
Sport, Health, Lab Tech and Social Care Apprentice of the Year – Rebecca Twinney of Royal United Hospital, Bath
Traineeship Learner of the Year – Holly Griffiths, of Ready Steady Go Nursery
Transport and Logistics Learner of the Year – Harrison King, of Kings Heavy Haulage
Overall Learner of the Year – Molly O'Flaherty, of Thatchers Cider
