<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Since leaving Weston College, Charlie Williams has earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Essex and a Master’s in Political Communication at the University of Leeds, appeared on BBC Radio 4, reported for the <em>Weston Mercury</em>, and been elected as the youngest councillor on Weston Town Council. Now working in Bristol and eyeing a future in national journalism — and even a PhD — Charlie’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.</p><p>Charlie studied <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Levels</a> in History, Politics, and Law at Weston College’s Loxton Campus between 2016 and 2018. Charlie chose Weston College over other local options, realising that Weston College offered the best environment for him to study. “I also knew many people who studied there and everybody from my school was also going to the College,” he says. “So, it was a no-brainer really!”</p><p>Despite his successes, Charlie’s path wasn’t without challenges. He describes the step up from GCSEs to A Levels as the toughest academic leap he’s experienced — even harder than the transition to university. “The best skill I learnt was 100% organisational skills and time management,” he says, reflecting on the content-heavy demands of his subjects. With limited access to resources at home, including no personal laptop and unaffordable textbooks, Charlie relied on the support of his teachers to stay on track. “With the help of my amazing teachers, I ended up getting the hang of things.”</p><p>Charlie speaks fondly about his lecturers and looks back upon the positive impact of his second-year History tutor, who brought a fresh perspective, and his Law lecturer, whose unorthodox teaching style made a lasting impression.</p><p>After Weston College, Charlie studied a BA in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Essex, securing placements with the BBC and appearing on Radio 4’s <em>The World at One</em>. He then returned home to join the <em>Weston Mercury</em>, where he investigated public spending around the See Monster exhibition — a piece he proudly calls his “magnum opus.”</p><p>His involvement in the local community continued when he was elected as a councillor for Haywood Village, becoming the youngest member of Weston Town Council. In a full-circle moment, he played a key role in relocating the council offices to the former <em>Mercury</em> building — the very newsroom where he once worked as a journalist. “I must be one of very few people in the world to ever say that I was part of the process to change my old work office and continue to work there under a different organisation!”</p><p>Charlie then went on to complete a master's in political communication at the University of Leeds, graduating with distinction and achieving the highest grades in his programme.</p><p>Today, he works in Bristol and hopes to secure a role at a national newspaper, hoping to pursue a PhD in the future. “Since leaving Weston College, I have achieved: a BA and master’s degree, was a reporter with my local paper and have been elected a councillor,” he says.</p><p>Would he recommend Weston College? “Yes, because of the wide-ranging courses they offer. It's not just A Levels — it's everything, and I think that's a very good thing indeed.”</p><p>Charlie’s journey shows how a strong foundation, hard work, and the right support can open up a wide range of opportunities. From studying A Levels at Weston College to working in journalism and the local council, he’s made the most of each step along the way. We look forward to seeing where his path takes him next.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Last month, </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">A Level</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> Law students from Weston College </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Sixth Form</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> took part in an educational visit to Bristol Crown Court, offering them a unique and immersive experience into the workings of the legal system.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The day began with a Q&amp;A session with a judge, where students were able to ask questions about the judge’s career, their experiences within the legal system, and the responsibilities of their role. This honest discussion gave students valuable professional insight into how decisions are made in court and the realities of working in the legal field.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">After the session, students spent time in the public galleries, observing a range of live cases. This allowed them to see courtroom procedures in action, including various types of legal arguments and interactions between legal professionals. It brought to life the theory they’ve studied in class, offering a deeper understanding of criminal law and the judicial process.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The visit provided students with an opportunity to apply their academic learning to a real-world scenario. Seeing the justice system firsthand gave them a more comprehensive view of courtroom dynamics and helped to solidify their understanding of how a trial unfolds from start to finish. It also highlighted the structure and complexity of Crown Court proceedings that can’t be taught in a classroom.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This experience was not only educational but also extremely insightful, giving students greater clarity about potential future careers in law and the potential pathways available to them.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This curriculum trip etc forms part of the </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Sixth Form</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> 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.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>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&nbsp;</strong></span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>. 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.</strong></span></p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Recently, a group of sixth form students joined thousands of pupils across the UK in taking part in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz programme, marking a huge milestone for the initiative. With this most recent visit, over 20,000 students and teachers have now participated in the Trust’s transformative educational journey to the site of the former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.&nbsp;</p><p>Now in its fourteenth year, <strong>the Lessons from Auschwitz project aims to educate post-16 students and teachers about the Holocaust through a powerful combination of historical context, personal testimony, and direct experience.</strong> The programme is based on the belief that “hearing is not like seeing” and uses immersive, first-hand encounters to bring the reality of the Holocaust to life in ways that classroom learning alone can't.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;auschwitz-birkenau building&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0e7bfefc-0765-48fc-9e0d-fd653f20cd0e" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;content_wisth_1200&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>The four-part course begins with an orientation seminar focusing on Jewish life in Europe before the Second World War. This foundation provides context, helping students understand the lively and diverse communities that were devastated by the Holocaust. The seminar also features the testimony of a Holocaust survivor, offering a deeply personal perspective on events that are too often reduced to statistics.&nbsp;</p><p>Following this, students travel to Poland, where they visit the town of Oświęcim—known today as the site of Auschwitz, but once a thriving community in which 58% of the population was Jewish before the war. The visit to the Auschwitz camp introduces participants to the harrowing conditions faced. There, they witness the preserved barracks and haunting displays of seized belongings, including piles of shoes, suitcases, glasses, and human hair. These serve as a stark reminder of the individuals behind the numbers.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;students listening to a talk at auschwitz-birkenau&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b15e44f9-3f08-4ac9-8cc1-cfaf7cb3440b" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;content_wisth_1200&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>The visit continues at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the main site of the mass killings. Students walk through the infamous railway gates, stand on the ramp where selections were made, and visit the ruins of the gas chambers and crematorium. The day ends with a candle-lighting ceremony and a period of quiet reflection, honouring the memory of the millions who were unjustly killed.&nbsp;</p><p>Our A Level History lecturer, Katie Moran, who accompanied four students on this recent trip described the experience as “emotional and sobering.” She added:&nbsp;</p><p>“Walking through the gates of Auschwitz, standing on the ground where over a million lives were taken, and witnessing the remains of Birkenau was an emotional and sobering experience that words can barely capture. Seeing the piles of shoes, suitcases, and hair made the scale of the Holocaust feel devastatingly real. It was a stark reminder of the human stories behind the statistics we often teach in the classroom.”&nbsp;</p><p>The students showed maturity and empathy. For them, the visit was not only about understanding the past but also about learning the responsibility that comes with remembrance. By confronting the atrocities of the Holocaust, they are now better equipped to challenge antisemitism, racism, and all forms of hatred in today’s world.&nbsp;</p><p>Interested in our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Level History course</u></a>? Explore not only History, but other A Levels we have to offer <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… 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.</strong>&nbsp;</p>