Programmes for School Leavers

Courses for 16 to 18-year-olds

COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS

With hundreds of unique, exciting and inspiring programmes to choose from, everything you need to create your brighter future is waiting for you at Weston College.

From the minute you walk through the door, the experience and the environment that we create is all about maximising your potential. It’s about preparing and motivating you for a fresh and focused career pathway.

Every Weston College student becomes part of one of our exciting new Career Excellence Hubs. This means you will take part in a study programme with lots of career boosting benefits, all with the aim of help you to go further, giving you the opportunity to become career ready with the skills, knowledge and expertise you need to be successful in your next step and reach your ultimate goal - whatever that may be!

Whether you are looking for the next step after school or the next step in your career, we're bound to have a programme for you. Take a look below at the different types of qualifications available for school leavers and young people between 16 and 18 years old.

Did you know we also run English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)?

Start your brighter future by selecting a subject you're interested in below, and don't forget - you can apply online and it only takes 5 minutes!

Discover our range of courses for school leavers aged 16-18 using the search options below...

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Qualification Explained
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Courses
Qualifications Explained
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A Levels

Animal Management

Automotive

Beauty Therapy

Business and Management

Computing and Digital Technologies

Construction

Construction Professions

Creative Arts

Education and Early Years

Engineering and Green Skills

Hair and Barbering

Health and Social Care

Hospitality and Catering

Law

Performing and Production Arts

Protective Services

SEND

Sport and Fitness

Travel and Tourism

You can progress onto degrees and higher apprenticeships with UCW...

Qualifications Explained

At Weston College we know that everyone learns differently. That’s why we deliver a variety of different qualification types - to give you the chance to learn in the way that suits you the most.

A Levels

A Levels develop the knowledge, skills and study habits to excel at university, as well as the attributes recognised by employers. Your academic studies will be complemented with enrichment opportunities such as trips, mentoring and work experience, providing the perfect springboard for your future career. A Levels are assessed through exams at the end of two years of study. Most learners study three subjects - some choose four.

Check out A-Levels Here

Apprenticeships

With an apprenticeship you’ll go straight into the workplace and be shown clear routes to progress straight into employment within a specific occupation. You can achieve nationally recognised qualifications, earn a wage, and gain skills that will see you get ahead. On average you will spend 20% of your learning time in the college and 80% within the workplace..

Check out Apprenticeships Here

Professional and Technical Qualifications

Professional and technical qualifications are designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to gain employment within specific industries or occupations. They provide a balance between theory and practical skills development. They are suited to those who want to get hands-on experience within a particular vocational area. These programmes include work placements. Assessment is more varied and will include exams, coursework and practical work.

Traineeships

Traineeships are a great way for 16 to 24-year-olds who haven’t yet gained the skills and experiences necessary to apply for jobs and apprenticeships. They are taught mostly in the workplace and include a mixture of personal and social development, and employability skills. The aim of a traineeship is to train you within a company so that you are more likely to be offered an apprenticeship or a job.

Check out Traineeships Here

T Levels give you the chance to learn what a real career is like while you continue your studies. T Levels have been designed with leading businesses and employers to give you the knowledge and skills you need, including a minimum of 45 days on an industry placement – this means you will spend 80% of your learning time in College and 20% within the workplace.

Check out T-Levels Here

CHOOSING WHAT TO STUDY

We are all about CAREERS NOT COURSES and pride ourselves on being able to offer a huge range of programmes to ensure you develop the skills and knowledge employers and universities are looking for. As the only education provider in North Somerset that enables you to work your way up from an entrylevel programme to a degree, we’re here to help you choose the right programme for you.

We can help you choose your study programme or apprenticeship by accessing the following support:

School Liaison Team

Working with local schools we help you find out about college life and programmes of study, and we provide you with advice and guidance about what programmes will best suit you. We will either visit your school, attend careers fairs and parents’ evenings or coordinate campus and virtual events such as our taster days, holiday workshops and tours.

Events

We put on a number of events over the year, which will be a mixture of face-to-face and virtual events. These provide you and your family with the opportunity to explore our facilities, speak to our lecturers, find out about the support on offer and choose the right programme for you. Our events also give you the opportunity to engage with a number of employers to find out about careers in their industry and why they value the calibre of candidates that come from Weston College.

CAREERS ADVICE

On our website you can access a wealth of career guidance, such as:
All the programmes you can study.
What our alumni have gone on to achieve.
Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) that will help explain what relevant careers and jobs are available, including salaries.
NEW – Subject careers roadmaps, so you can map your journey with us and ensure it will get you into your chosen career. Also, check out Career Coach - this provides you with the opportunity to:
Take an assessment that matches you with careers.
Explore broad career pathways that match your strengths and interests.
Compare careers within a pathway - including salaries, required education and more.
Explore our programmes that will set you on the path to your desired career.
Take a career assessment - and receive an in-depth report that can help you identify the best programme and career path for you!

We’re here and happy to help – if you would like more advice and guidance, contact our school liaison team by emailing schoolteam@weston.ac.uk. - they you can arrange a one-to-one careers appointment with our specialist staff.

LATEST NEWS

14 Nov 2024

Student cutting up fish during Thatcher's Takeover

Our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; target="_blank">Hospitality and Catering</a> learners are excelling with their talents, creating many dishes per week for our staff and students, and developing their skills more and more each time. To upscale their abilities even further, chefs from the Railway at Thatchers came in and hosted a seafood masterclass, providing them with professional, hands-on experience that they can use throughout their course. During this masterclass, James, the head chef, and Callum, the sous chef, taught the students how to prepare fish from whole but also how to steam mussels and create delicious dishes that they likely had not previously attempted. To prepare the fish, the learners had to remove the skeleton very carefully which takes skill and precision. The two types of fish the learners used were seabass and plaice in order to master both flat and round fish. Once the fish were ready, the learners moved on to prepping the remaining ingredients to make their final dishes: plaice en papilotte with fennel and orange, and a seabass dish with romesco sauce and crispy garlic. <drupal-entity alt=""A student preparing a fish"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3d909d0c-66fe-4a5e-b51d-81259372e8c9" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> These dishes turned out incredible, especially for their first try, and was an excellent portrayal of the students’ hard work and determination. Not only did they learn more about how to prepare and cook seafood, they also impressed the Head Chef at the Railway not only with their cooking, but also their enthusiasm.  <drupal-entity alt=""Learners final seabass dish with romesco sauce and crispy garlic"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="09b9d7d0-ddb0-406f-bfb6-7b2572f527cd" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> The chefs then delivered a session on how to produce steamed mussels (in cider of course!), prepare prawns, and create an Asian broth from a stock. This broth was then served with the fresh oysters to make another delicious seafood dish. The learners were then able to try traditional oysters with lemon and tabasco as well. <drupal-entity alt=""Final mussel dish prepared in the masterclass"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c6ce8d29-16ed-4e60-a3a7-283f5457ef67" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> James, the Head Chef at the Railway, oversees all of the food, from the daily changing menus, to the special event menus and corporate buffets. James said, “the students all seemed very interested in the masterclass and gave it their all. All the final dishes were great, and it was good fun seeing some of them try oysters for the first time!” At Thatchers, they take on many apprentices in order to build the next generation of staff in a hands-on but supportive environment, and the Railway do just that. “It’s great having apprentices working with us who are keen to cook great food and I’m happy to have the opportunity to give a little back to the future of our industry.” Not only did the students learn invaluable skills from this professional masterclass, but they also enjoyed the day and left with more confidence in preparing and cooking seafood. They also built upon their taste pallets by trying a variety of dishes that they may not normally get the opportunity to try. Jenna Ratcliffe, Head of Service Sectors at Weston College, says, “our Careers Excellence Hub (CEH) partnership with Thatchers highlights our commitment to meaningful employer connections. We are grateful that these relationships are directly benefitting our students’ readiness for a career and are positively impacting their experience here at Weston College.” We’d like to give a big thank you to James and Callum from the Railway at Thatchers for running this fantastic masterclass for our students, it was an extremely successful day! <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; target="_blank">If you’re interested in applying to a Hospitality and Catering course in September, click here.</a>

Thatchers Takeover: The Seafood Masterclass From The Railway Chefs

13 Nov 2024

Protective Services learners group photo with the poppies they made

Remembrance Day is a day we should never forget. It is a day to remember the members of the Armed Forces who fought hard for us but sadly lost their lives during the war. The 11th November marked the end of the First World War and has been honoured ever since. Here at Weston College, our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">Uniformed Protective Services</a> (UPS) students went above and beyond the normal traditions by creating their own poppy display on the 7th floor of Knightstone campus. The students made their poppies out of paper, or if they were feeling really adventurous, some even sewed them. Whilst the learners carefully crafted their poppies, they discussed the family members who fought and sadly lost their lives. They then arranged their poppies into a lovely display that other members of the college could go and pay their respects to.  <drupal-entity alt=""Protective Services Poppy Display"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e2a0f560-ff0b-45b3-9aeb-e2f07e468e64" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> The poppy is a symbol of both remembrance and hope and has been worn as such since the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in 1915. The fields that were fought on in the war were turned to nothing but mud and destruction, but through it all, a field of poppies flourished.  Lily, one of our UPS learners, said, “poppies are a huge part of Remembrance Day to show our respects for those who fought for our freedom, and due to our public service course, this is a special occasion as we would all like to be a part of the serving forces.” <drupal-entity alt=""Some of the poppies that the Protective Services students made"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="be7c9b7c-0b55-4807-a65a-07b191750324" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">Uniformed Protective Services</a> course provides our learners with a solid foundation and a pathway to success in a career in protective services. Through a combination of practical training, theoretical study, and real-world experiences, our students are developing the expertise and confidence necessary to make a meaningful difference in the community. Nicky Stent, a Protective Services lecturer, said, “I was so proud of the attitudes and respect demonstrated by the UPS learners for the Remembrance reflection lesson. We discussed family members, great-grandparents who had lost their lives, and we reflected on how we would feel being in their position.  Many learners found sewing quite challenging and yet continued to make an effort in order to pay their respects and ensure that we could create an installation worthy of 11th November. The whole cohort collaborated, and I could not be prouder of the mature discussions that took place.” <drupal-entity alt=""Protective Services learners making the poppies"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="37b548cc-afd4-4c8c-be2f-2604386e6d1c" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> The UPS students also attended the Memorial ceremony in Grove Park on Remembrance Day. David Beresford, Head of Protective Services, said “the students provided an excellent presence at the Memorial Day ceremony.  Their behaviour epitomised the brevity and importance of the occasion, displaying respect, reflection and pride in their Nation's historic endeavours.” We are so proud of our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">Uniformed Protective Services</a> students for how they presented themselves and honoured Remembrance Day at Weston College. <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">If you’re interested in applying to one of our Protective Services courses, click here.</a>

Poppies for Remembrance: Students Commemorate Remembrance Day

12 Nov 2024

WorldSkills is a fantastic competition that aims to improve the skills and development of young people across the world.  It encourages our students to step outside their comfort zone and go against a range of different people to improve their confidence and ability and be a part of something they may have not previously considered. At Weston College, we encourage all our learners to apply for WorldSkills in order to compete in something they are passionate about, and this year, three of our students have passed the application process and made it to the National Finals of WorldSkills in November 2024 – Aidan, Amber and Jack.  Aidan will be competing in the Welding category where he will show off his skills against the other finalists. He is currently completing a Level 3 Plate Welding Apprenticeship where he spends 16 hours a week preparing for WorldSkills. This preparation ties in well with his course but the welds he has been practising are more complex than those he needs to complete his course.  <drupal-entity alt=""Aidan, a WorldSkills finalist in welding"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5498c9ad-65b5-4ff6-82fe-dc25cda5dfbb" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Aidan says, “the facilities at Weston College are excellent! They supply me with everything I need to succeed and the welders they use are the same as the ones I’ll be using at WorldSkills. The staff are always there to keep me motivated for WorldSkills and my lecturer is very supportive and will always try his best to help me when I’m stuck. I hope I’m able to do well in the WorldSkills final so I can represent the college and my workplace.” Amber will be competing in the Foundation Skills Health and Social Care category, an area which was the closest to childcare and allows her to widen her knowledge base and learn more about different life skills.<drupal-entity alt=""Amber, a WorldSkills finalist in Foundation Health and Social Care""" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5b3ce919-1785-4975-8de2-42978382c9c1" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> She is currently on her 2nd year of the ‘Into Work’ course which allows her to prepare for work in a supported environment. Amber balances her studies with her WorldSkills preparations by having one call a week to practice for WorldSkills, discussing what the assessments will entail, and how she can prepare for it herself. After Weston College, Amber wants to work in Childcare with SEND students. WorldSkills has already helped Amber gain a better understanding of Health and Safety, quality of care, and preparing her for work. The competition will be testing her on risk assessments, how to deal with certain scenarios, and her main exam will be role playing a phone call as a care worker to ensure that she can communicate effectively and ask the appropriate questions. Amber is excited to be competing in WorldSkills and said, “the staff have been really supportive, whatever I need they’re on hand to help me.” Jack will be competing in the Foundation Skills Horticulture category, allowing him to deepen his love for gardening and prove his skills against others.  <drupal-entity alt=""Jack, a WorldSkills finalist in Foundation Horticulture"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd18ae65-7957-4df1-9df7-fc30cf8fbf20" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Similarly to Amber, Jack completed the ‘Into Work’ course at Weston College and found his passion for gardening when he worked at both The Garden on South West Skills Campus, and at Butcombe Farm.  He completed his work experience at Red Chilli Kitchen where he made chilli sauces and sold them to raise money for charity. Jack worked so hard that he secured a job at the end and now works at Uncle Paul’s Chilli Farm charity doing gardening. Jack balances his work with WorldSkills, ensuring he practices at least one day a week to prepare himself. He has found the staff at Weston College to be helpful in readying him and making sure he is fully aware of what to expect going into WorldSkills. Jack says, “I am feeling a bit nervous because I don’t want to mess anything up, but I know that I will give it my all no matter what the result is”. Good luck to all three of you in WorldSkills!  Photo: courtesy of WorldSkills International

WorldSkills 2024 Finalists

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Programmes for School Leavers

Courses for 16 to 18-year-olds

COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS

Discover our range of courses for school leavers aged 16-18 using the search options below...

Select a Course Subject:

Search courses by keyword:

Search by Keyword:

Select a Career:

A Levels

Animal Management

Automotive

Beauty Therapy

Business and Management

Computing and Digital Technologies

Construction

Construction Professions

Creative Arts

Education and Early Years

Engineering and Green Skills

Hair and Barbering

Health and Social Care

Hospitality and Catering

Law

Performing and Production Arts

Protective Services

SEND

Sport and Fitness

Travel and Tourism

Qualifications Explained

A Levels

Apprenticeships

Professional and Technical Qualifications

Traineeships

CHOOSING WHAT TO STUDY

School Liaison Team

Events

CAREERS ADVICE

Apply or find out more

Important Notice