Over 30 Awards for Inspiring Talent in Visual Art, Design, Writing & Music

The Koestler Awards for arts in criminal justice started in 1962. Each year over 3,500 people in custody and in the community share their creative work by taking part. The Koestler Awards provide feedback and encouragement to entrants of all abilities in visual art, design, writing and music. This year we are proud to have achieved across the South West, …

What we do best!

In between sunbathing and ice creams our staff members have been having a real impact in our prisons this summer!

HMP the verne

HMP The Verne Host Festive Open Mic

Finishing the year on a high, learners from HMP The Verne starred in a fantastic “Festive Open Mic” event organised by Weston College Prison Education. The superb acts included poetry reading, original acoustic songs, cover bands, and a full choir. Members of the education team were appointed as impartial judges and were asked to pick their top 3 acts. Prizes …

Portland Poetry Slam Success

The SLAM Poetry night at HMP Portland was held after a day of immersive and informative events centred around the celebration of Black History Month. Learners from across the prison were invited to perform poetry, spoken word, rap, lyrics or songs that they had created during their time at Portland. Our cookery class mentors made an amazing Afro-Caribbean themed meal …

Western Counties Roofing Taster at HMP Channings Wood Leads to Potential Employment

What an Amazing day at HMP Channings Wood. A taster day delivered by the team from Western Counties Roofing Ltd spanning two roofing workshops. Twenty Learners attended , lots of engagement and 5 learners now have interviews lined up for potential jobs with Western Counties  upon release. Also supported today by Tatiana Fernandez of Countryside Partnerships. We are looking forward …

HMP Leyhill Recognise The Dedication of Weston College Staff Member

This week Hayley Robinson, our Assistant Curriculum Coordinator, at HMP Leyhill has been recognised by the prison for her hard work and dedication. Hayley’s achievement, entitled the ‘Changing Lives Award’ is awarded annually to a member of staff from across the prison who has gone above and beyond to support the learners at HMP Leyhill. What makes the award even …

Weston College Adopts the Halo Code!

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 …

Learner of the Month Award at HMP Exeter – Driving Learner Success

Today Mr M was awarded the ‘Learner of the Month’ award here at HMP Exeter, here is a photo of Mr M receiving his certificate and goody bag from Mark Stoyle Curriculum Manager at HMP Exeter and Mr Andy Tanner Deputy Governor. “Mr M demonstrated a mature and disciplined approach to his learning and has been a great role model …

Construction Careers Fair HMP Portland

Last Thursday Weston College Prison Education staff hosted a Construction themed Careers Fair at HMP Portland, a category C working and rehabilitation prison. The Day saw 100 men who attend vocational training and education delivered by Weston College Group Prison Education we also opened up sessions for men engaged in prison industries. “Days like today bring our learners hope” Dan Skelton HMP Portland …

The Outsiders are back Inside!

The Outsiders Project have begun their southwest wide tour of our prisons, this year their performance is entitled ‘Dad’ and is already making an impact upon our learners. They have already bought the house down at HMP Portland and HMP Guys Marsh, with performances at HMP Dartmoor and HMP Channings Wood taking place next week. Their drama performance takes place …

Best Selling Author Paul Zanon Inspires Learners at HMP Leyhill

HMP Leyhill invited author Paul Zanon to talk to their leaners. Paul is a best-selling author and journalist, his specialist subject is boxing, and so it turned out, it was our learners too. Thirty learners listened to Paul speak for an hour and a half, a furious debate ensued about who is the greatest boxer of all time, and if …

Excitement Builds Ahead of Careers Fair

A week from today on the 13th of July HMP Portland are hosting a ‘Construction Careers Fair’. With lots of brilliant employers attending, it promises to be a valuable day for our learners.

Resettlement Event Changes Perspectives at HMP Channings Wood

On Friday 30th June, Weston Education at HMP Channings Wood held a Resettlement event. In attendance were the following providers: •              Eat That Frog •              Learn Devon •              Transplant Mastertrain •              Whistl •              Gilpins Demolition •              Amey Briggs •              SWISCO •              Graham engineering & construction •              Western Counties Roofing •              Landworks •              DWP – Job centre 72 learners attended the …

‘Finding Your Voice From The Inside’

What better way to mark ‘Men’s Health Week’ than HMP Guys Marsh hosting Nick Elston for a number of talks to our learners. Nick is a mental health motivational speaker, using public speaking as his tool for change. The day at Guys Marsh saw two very engaged groups, with lots of great questions from our learners who were genuinely keen …

‘A Day in the Life’ Art Exhibition

Last week HMP Portland hosted their ‘A Day In The Life’ Art Exhibition. Our learners, Officers and Weston College staff all submitted some amazing pieces. From poems to soap sculptures, there was some real talent on display. This is a fantastic annual event, this year saw our music teacher running a guitar masterclass for anyone who attended. Roll on next …

Adaptive Teaching Awards

Today we welcomed the winners of our ‘Adaptive Teaching Awards’ to Knightstone Campus in Weston-Super-Mare! Over the past few months one of our amazing quality managers Natalie Betts, has been running an adaptive teaching competition for our staff. Winners came from prisons all over the southwest, taking a day out from their usual duties to be recognised for their achievement and …

HMP Channings Wood go all out for the 2023 Koestler Awards!

The Koestler Arts award submissions for HMP Channings Wood are off to London! With 91 visual art, 29 creative writing and 26 music recordings being submitted. A brilliant effort from our staff and learners! Below are examples of the visual art that has been entered!#art#music #creativewriting #prisoned

A Snapshot from the Festival

Just a snapshot of from the session Wallis Eates ran for our learners at HMP Exeter. Fantastic feedback from those who attended!

Festival of Books, Ideas and Debate

It’s day one of the festival of ‘Books, Ideas and Debate’ at HMP Exeter! An exciting programme for learners across the next 3 weeks!

Hope from the Yards Art Exhibition

Friday 26th March – 21st May HMP Bristol is pleased to announce its forthcoming art exhibition, Hope from the Yards, which takes place in the exercise yards of HMP Bristol from Friday 26th March, inspired by the theme of HOPE. HMP Bristol, is a Category B men’s prison, located in the Horfield area of Bristol. Weston College delivers a wide …

Weston College Prison Education Celebrates Black History Month

As Black History Month draws to a close we can now reflect on the month of celebrations that have taken place throughout our prisons and what it has meant to our staff, colleagues and learners. HMP Channings Wood put together a special edition of their monthly newsletter dedicated to Black History which included tributes, poems, activities and artwork – the …

Face-to-face teaching welcomed back into the regime at HMP Bristol

Monday 21st September saw HMP Bristol move to a stage which would allow for face-to-face teaching to begin again alongside the in cell learning packs that have been developed and delivered to maintain education during COVID lockdown. This required an immense amount of planning and preparation from all staff, on site and behind the scenes and it is a credit …