CollegeFind out what’s going on at Weston Collegelife Investment Investing in fantastic facilities Page 8 Outstanding results A levels celebrated Page 16 A real alternative to staying on at school Page 22 Golden girl UK National Apprentice of the Year, Emma Rogers tells us how Weston College helped her follow her dreams. Page 6 WIN a Kindle Plus lots more inside... See page 26 Weston College’s strapline is ‘creating brighter futures’, and this is what we aim to achieve Hello for all of our students. from Weston College Our exam results and pass rates are consistently above national averages, reinforcing our position as the top-performing college in the West of England. In 2012, we achieved an outstanding 99.8% A level pass rate, with 80% gaining A*-C grades, and 50% A*-B. Every Weston College degree student passed their course, with 20% achieving First Class Honours – well above the national average of 8%. And the success story doesn’t end there – we also achieved a 98% pass rate in vocational courses and 1,200 of our apprentices achieved their full apprenticeship. Whether you’re joining us from school, progressing to a degree, looking to gain new skills or progress in your job, Weston College has the course and programme of study for you. Investing in We are the only education 8 fantastic facilities provider in North Somerset that enables its students to progress A real alternative to from entry level to a degree. staying on at school We offer over 100 vocational 22 courses, 27 A levels, more than 50 increasingly-popular apprenticeships and also provide the opportunity to study 22 Foundation Degree and 11 BA/BSc Honours top-ups with our partner universities. At Weston College, we refuse to stand still and are continually looking to develop and grow. An £11 million project to redevelop our South West Skills Campus is close to completion and we have recently opened Weston Bay centre – a unique 12 facility for people with autism. College Fitness Suite equipped to Whatever you choose to study, Olympic standard your time at Weston College will increase your skills, boost confidence and help you create a brighter future. It’s an exciting time to be joining us and I look forward to welcoming you. Dr Paul Phillips, 16 Principal and Chief Executive A level OBE results day Fancy learning a new skill? Take a look at our latest selection of full and part-time courses: page 24. 2 Pages 4-5 Best in the West Pages 6-7 Contents Golden girl Golden girl: Pages 8-9 6 Emma Rodgers Developments Pages 10-13 News round up Pages 14-15 Snapshot of success Pages 16-17 Further Education Pages 18-19 Best in the West 4 Higher Education Pages 20-23 Employment and business Pages 24-25 100’s of courses Page 26 Free prize draw Don’t miss out on the chance to win Long-serving Gill receives a Kindle in our 19 prestigious award free prize draw WIN competition. Weston’s a Kindle 20 got talent! Apprentice wins two 17 major awards Fancy learning a new skill? Take a look at our latest selection of full and part-time courses: page 24. 3 Snapshot of success Degree students soar above national average Best in the West – again! Once again Weston College Weston College is best in the West for the second year running according Higher Education students to the results of a new poll funded by the Skills Funding Agency. excel in results on Honours Degree programmes: An he Framework for Excellence survey rated The Skills Funding Agency is a partner organisation outstanding 20% of students Weston College ahead of Bath, Bristol, Strode, of the Department for Business, Innovation and achieved First Class Honours in Bridgwater, Wiltshire and Exeter colleges, Skills, which invests over £3 billion annually in 2012 compared to the national T in terms of ‘learner satisfaction’. colleges and training organisations, to fund training average of 14%, while the for adults in England. overall pass rate was 100%. Claire Bushell, the College’s Executive Lead for Quality and Learning, said: “This is a fantastic Furthermore, 65% of leavers achievement for Weston College for the second year progressed to graduate level running with nearly 3,000 students participating. related employment after Our overall score for learner satisfaction at Weston completing their degree and was 85% and our highest accolade was 83% for honours programmes – 20% the respect students received from staff. above the national average. “This is an excellent result and shows just how highly Most degree courses at Weston our students think of their College.” College include a work placement element; crucial in equipping Principal Dr Paul Phillips, OBE, added: “I am very students with the experience proud of our team at Weston College and the fact and skills required to find that their tremendous hard work has been employment. appreciated by so many learners and now recognised by the Government.” Four of the students who achieved First Class Honours came from the BA (Hons) Creative Industries: Graphic Design course. Abigail Davies, David Higgs, Jodie Smith and Leah College wins prestigious Beecham who are all now working successfully in the design field. national Beacon Award Jodie, 22, said: “I’m so pleased I went to Weston College because A Weston College degree course has been recognised for its there was a nice balance between the academic and social side. The excellence at a national education conference. lecturers were extremely helpful he Foundation Degree in Inclusive Practice intake of 21 and a waiting list already for next and there wasn’t competition – aimed at people working in the Learning year. This is a testament to the commitment between people on my course, TDifficulties and Disabilities (LDD) field – was of staff teaching on the course and the desire which meant we all helped each honoured with a Beacon Award at the Association of people working in this field to strive for other at different times. That of Colleges (AoC) annual conference. excellence in their professional practice.” made it more enjoyable for me.” Presented by City & Guilds, the UK’s leading provider Dr Paul Phillips said: “We have long understood Jodie is now working as a of vocational qualifications, the award recognises the importance of meeting the needs of learners designer for The Real Adventure, outstanding practice in staff development at FE level, with LDD and this award shows how seriously we a marketing agency in Bristol. rewarding innovative best practice that delivers take staff development in this field.” identifiable results and benefits. The College’s FdA Inclusive Practice was launched in 2007 to meet the needs of staff working in the LDD area. It was the first qualification of its kind in the country, and is a beacon of learning for other colleges and organisations working in the same field. Almost 50 Weston College staff members have taken the qualification, with an outstanding 100% pass rate. College staff, including Principal and Chief Executive Dr Paul Phillips, travelled to Westminster Skills Minister Matthew Hancock presents the to receive the Beacon Award for staff development. Beacon Award to Weston College Principal and Programme Co-ordinator Barbara Titmuss said: Chief Executive, Paul Phillips OBE, with (from left) Jude Ferguson, Jacqui Ford and Peggy Tovey also “It’s great to see the success of the course, from pictured. Jodie Smith a pilot of eight students in 2007 to this year’s Interested in a course? Want to find out more? 4 Transformational learning in prisons Exceptional results Weston College is bringing its unique brand of education into prisons across the South 99.8% West after successfully of 16-18 year olds passed their A levels in 2012 bidding for the Government’s Offender Learning contract for the region. The College is delivering education 98% packages to thousands of pass rate for vocational qualifications prisoners across the South West. The focus of the successful bid, worth £10 million per year, was Largest provider of 65% based around ‘transformational learning’ and raising aspirations apprenticeships in of Weston College graduates secured a graduate the region – ensuring that an education level job within 6 months of finishing their degree package is provided that meets Weston College is the biggest the needs of prisoners when they facilitator of apprenticeship complete their sentence. programmes in the region and 20% Peggy Tovey, Weston College’s has seen a 77% growth in of degree-level students gained First Class apprenticeship applications, Deputy Principal, is responsible with more than 20 new Honours compared to the national average of 14% for the implementation of this apprenticeship job vacancies contract. She said: “This contract available each month. is very challenging but it is also very rewarding, and our aim is to Bobby Turner, 22, from Weston, 1,200 see a new generation of prisoners undertook a Business apprentices achieved their full apprenticeship turn their lives around after taking Administration apprenticeship up the courses we will be offering.” at Weston College and has recently begun a new role with the procurement team at Lloyds Engaging employers Banking Group. As well as providing educational He said: “I would recommend an facilities to thousands of offenders apprenticeship to anyone as there under the Weston College brand, are some great job opportunities a key aim is to engage employers available. They are tailored to your large and small to find work for particular role and the experience ex-offenders and those out on teaches you what’s involved in licence. working in a business environment.” Peggy Tovey explained: Apprenticeship An exceptional year in adverse times was “Social Enterprises are key pop-up shop to driving forward success, celebrated at Weston College as staff, enabling offenders to participate Hundreds of potential apprentices businesses and council leaders gathered and experience real work.