Weston College is a further education college located in the Somerset coastal town of Weston-super-Mare and currently has over 7,500 students enrolled at its two campuses. As well as further education, the college runs some university-level courses.

Background and history

Weston College has its roots in private drawing and painting classes ran by Henry Stacy that began in 1859. This led to the School of Art being opened in 1865 where it existed with just one teacher and eighty pupils.Since 1993 the institution has been an autonomous public body.

In addition to a place of further educational learning, Weston College has provided a successful referral unit for Year 11 pupils unable to attend their own schools.

Location and accessibility

The main Knightstone Campus is located only a few minutes walk from the town centre. As well as being easily reachable by foot, it is served by public transport and can be accessed by road. The Skills Southwest Campus is located along the B3440 on Locking Road, a short drive from the city centre. It is also served by the West Milton train station. The University Campus can be found off the Bridgwater Road, past the Weston-super-Mare cricket ground and before the general hospital. All three campuses are well-served by local bus transport and discounted passes for students are available.

What's on offer?

The college offers courses covering A-levels, apprenticeships, BTECs, NVQs, as well as Foundation Degrees and BA/BSc honours degrees, across both full-time and part-time studies. The University Campus houses a specialised sixth form centre, a partnership with Bath Spa University, and dedicated Arts, Media and and Music centres. The Southwest Skills campus is home to the Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence and the Business Enterprise Centre. The most recent Ofsted report ranked the college as 'Outstanding.'

Weston College offers the following qualifications, arranged from Level 1-6:

• 1.Level 1 Diploma, NVQ Level 1 and Foundation Diploma.
• 2.GCSEs grade A*-C, Apprenticeships, BTEC Diploma Level 2, NVQ 2 and Higher Diploma.
• 3.Advanced Apprenticeship, BTEC Extended Diploma, NVQ 3, AS/A Levels.
• 4.Foundation Degree.
• 5.BA/BSc Degree.
• 6.Postgraduate Degree.

Details highlighting the entry requirements for each level are listed on the college website. They have a vast array of subject areas (100+ A-level, 28 university degree), a sample of which includes: Accounting, Business Administration, Care Early Years, Creative Writing, English, Environmental Health, Equine Studies, Languages, Maths, Media, Music, Sciences, Sport, Teaching Education, and many, many more.

Finance and funding

The college has a dedicated and attentive finance department that deals with any queries students have. It also provides information concerning bursaries, EMA, learning support funds and adult learning grants.

Library Plus is a vibrant learning space that encourage students to think, be creative and relax. There are state-of-the-art digital tables and whiteboards, over 150 PC and AppleMac computers, iPads and tablets and 24/7 student support through the Moodle platform. The library also boasts 40,000+ titles and access to specialist online e-journals and material.

Blakehay Theatre Art Gallery showcases the best creative work the student body has to offer. The performing arts students run shows from the theatre, while the art gallery showcases student and local talent. There are also annual end-of-year shows by the foundation and higher students.

The Grove Restaurant serves as a training ground for the college's hospitality students, while serving food and drink to fellow students and the public. There is a choice of menu as well as a bar located on site. Further amenities include a high-quality sports academy, state-of-the-art gym and exercise facilities, a hair and beauty salon and a daycare centre.