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...
Select a Course Subject:
Search courses by keyword:
Search by Keyword:
Select a Career:
Scroll down to view our courses
or select a section to jump to:
Scroll down to view our courses
or select a section to jump to:
Select a Subject
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.
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..
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.
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.
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
<p>I was already a massive fan of the work that <a href="https://wildwelfare.org/">Wild Welfare</a> does years before I started working for them. I’d never come across another charity doing anything like what they were doing, and particularly in the way they were doing it. The problem of poor animal welfare within captive animal facilities such as zoos, aquariums and sanctuaries is widespread and incredibly challenging. Instead of condemnation, Wild Welfare collaborates, working together to drive forward welfare improvements for animals in facilities across the globe. Providing training to animal care staff ensures they have the tools they need to better understand animal welfare and positively impact it through their care practices. The training we provide has proven very effective at achieving this outcome over the 11 years we have been active and being a part of the journey has been phenomenal.</p>
<p>A typical day for me involves a lot of desk work which was a significant change from the years I spent working as a zookeeper, but the impact I know I can have, and the animal welfare issues I am hugely aware of are my driving force. Typical days in the field, however, look very different. We might have meetings with project partners in Vietnam, give presentations at a conference in Indonesia, or conduct welfare audits and make recommendations on where improvements might be made in a facility in Japan. Of course, taking a moment to say hello to the animals is an essential part of the process. The animals make everything worth it but, surprisingly for me, they didn’t turn out to be the best part of my role. Instead it’s the people, and the changes we create within them. Meeting people who are so passionate about the animals under their care, and giving them opportunities to learn more about how to improve animal welfare is intensely gratifying. You can make friends for life, despite the language barriers.</p>
<p>In this line of work it’s not all about the qualifications. Particular personality traits also hold significance. Patience and level-headedness are two critically important attributes because the changes we are creating take time and the sights we sometimes see aren’t pleasant. Reacting in anger or impatience is a sure-fire way to destroy a collaborative relationship which might have taken years to build.</p>
<p>I recently journeyed to Weston College to give a lecture to the students about the differences between animal care and animal welfare, something I had struggled to comprehend myself when I was a keeper. It was fantastic to connect with the students and I hope what we discussed will help with their animal management practices in the future. It was also very encouraging to witness the fundraising efforts which Weston College had initiated. We are a charity after all and cannot create positive changes for animals without financial support so we were hugely grateful to everyone who chooses to get involved with our work via donations to its continuation.</p>
<p><em>Sarah Bonser-Blake, Animal Welfare Field Manager, Wild Welfare</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/anima… you would like to follow Sarah's footsteps, and work with animals, you can discover our animal management courses, by clicking here. </a></p>
<p paraeid="{56aab9ee-9380-459a-a1f1-36cc8d93a50d}{191}" paraid="728221350">For many students ready to embark on their futures, making the crucial decision of what to study post-16, Sport is forced to shift from a passion to a hobby, in the search for a more 'sensible’ or ‘stable’ prospective career. </p><p paraeid="{56aab9ee-9380-459a-a1f1-36cc8d93a50d}{219}" paraid="125315468">The reality is that Sport is an excellent career pathway. In 2023, there are so many more opportunities and prospects than simply playing or competing professionally. In the UK alone, the Sport industry contributes over £39 million to economy – a figure that would be far lower without all the supporting roles within the field. </p><p paraeid="{56aab9ee-9380-459a-a1f1-36cc8d93a50d}{255}" paraid="1145331481">Football, Rugby, Netball. Sport is no longer all about the players. </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{16}" paraid="1137870278">To make the game safe we need physios, to make a match fair, we need referees and to enhance the skill of the game, we need coaches and Performance Analysts. </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{36}" paraid="1854525819">This brings us to one of our outstanding alumni, Harrison. </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{48}" paraid="163645984">After studying Sport at Weston College from 2003—2005, Harrison has gone on to have the most vibrant and successful career in football. </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{58}" paraid="879416194">From the Bluebirds (Cardiff City) to Liverpool FC, all the way to his current role as Director of Performance Analysis for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and contributing to the team’s recent success in the World Cup in Qatar, Harrison boasts an incredibly impressive portfolio of clientele and experience. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/64353402" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Read the BBC Sport article about Harrison as the Englishman who helped to plot Morrocco's success here</a>. </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{103}" paraid="328250279">We recently caught up with Harrison, who told us all about his journey into the Performance Analysis industry. He says: </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{111}" paraid="966971859">My career started whilst I was still a student at University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) now known as Cardiff Metropolitan University. My first step and knowledge of the Analysis industry came from a course module and task we were given. This led to an internship with Cardiff City's Youth & Reserve teams, and I combined this role with my undergraduate studies, taking specialist modules in Performance Analysis (now a course in its own right). </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{121}" paraid="71502039">Beyond this I continued gaining as much experience as possible and continued my studies by starting a Masters in Performance Analysis (also at UWIC). In this time, I worked with various teams in different sports (Welsh Football Association, Welsh Rugby, University of Glamorgan) and in a variety of roles. </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{138}" paraid="808407009">My next step was into full time employment with Tottenham Hotspur U18 as the Youth Team Analyst. From here I made the move into the 1st team football environment with Burnley FC (Head of Analysis/1st Team Analyst) and then onto Liverpool FC (Head of Post Match Analysis). I was really able to take something and learn from each experience. </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{192}" paraid="640136190">My current role is Director of Performance Analysis for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, it is a wide-ranging role covering many aspects including creating and managing an Analysis Department to provide analysis support for all our national teams (across all age groups/categories). </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{192}" paraid="640136190">I enjoy all aspects of the role as I get to do a mixture of everything. Of course, a huge highlight was working with the National team for the recent World Cup in Qatar, privileged and proud to play my small part of an incredible story. </p><p paraeid="{88d88f36-76fb-4303-bb92-de160737527d}{216}" paraid="682628734">In layman's terms I get to watch football for a living and, whilst it is a bit more intricate and complex than that, it is still a joy to combine a passion of mine (and many others I'm sure) and call it work. As well as this, the job has definitely offered me some of the best seats in world football at some of the best games in recent history. </p><p paraeid="{1f7e817a-3a3f-46a9-8685-cb6ea960c726}{10}" paraid="1664078305">Sport is a fantastic topic to study, often it is a passion and one that therefore needs little motivation to learn and improve your understanding of. It's a fantastic tool for development and of course the competitive drive often associated with it is something that really pushes people on. </p><p paraeid="{1f7e817a-3a3f-46a9-8685-cb6ea960c726}{23}" paraid="1900061864">My advice for new students starting out on this path is to get as much experience outside of your studies as possible. You probably don't realise how much 'free' time you have at this stage of your life, so get out there, test and challenge yourself to apply the theory you are learning, and don't always look immediately to the big names and clubs (in time it will come, if you want to arrive there). You often get a fuller, more rounded experience of the role and jobs it entails at a lower level, plus the pressure here is less so it's a good place to experiment, make mistakes, and learn. </p><p paraeid="{1f7e817a-3a3f-46a9-8685-cb6ea960c726}{70}" paraid="1111428694">My time at Weston college was the perfect steppingstone for further education, providing and adding to the foundation knowledge I had in sport and particularly in the Sports Science discipline. It was the ideal place for me to continue my studies and combine this with a continued education in football. I learned and developed many key skills from my time at Weston College, gaining coaching qualifications also. </p><p paraeid="{1f7e817a-3a3f-46a9-8685-cb6ea960c726}{80}" paraid="168167538">Huge thanks to Harrison for such incredible insight into exciting pathways and opportunities within the wider Sports industry. </p><p paraeid="{1f7e817a-3a3f-46a9-8685-cb6ea960c726}{88}" paraid="1295935300">To read more about our Sport programmes, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport… here</a>. </p>
<p>Just before the Easter holidays, our Travel and Tourism learners were treated to a guest lecture from the Economic Development Officer at North Somerset Council, Charlie Orr.</p>
<p>Learners found out all about the visitor economy of Weston-super-Mare, which attracts around 750,000 visitors each year.</p>
<p>Charlie covered the strategic objectives for the Council, Explore North Somerset, as well the importance of partnerships, and how they work with key tourism organisations such as Visit West, Visit Somerset and Visit Weston-super-Mare.</p>
<p>As well as an exciting current job, Charlie previously worked for Insight Japan which allowed him to travel and gain a variety of experiences, which he shared with learners, who were particularly interested. Learners also found out about the career opportunities within the industry, which was highly inspiring, as well top tips and advice on how to gain employment within travel and tourism.</p>
<p>A big thank you to Charlie for coming in, and we look forward to working closely together over the coming months with some of Explore North Somerset’s events.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… you would like to find out more about our Travel and Tourism courses, you can do so by clicking here.</a></p>
