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!
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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>As part of <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/t-lev… Level</a> Celebration week, we caught up with some learners in their second year of the Construction T Level course.</p><p>When asked about the process behind choosing a T Level, one learner told us “I’d heard a lot about T Levels while I was doing my A Levels and once I finished, I was fairly directionless as I knew I didn’t want to go to university. I thought I may as well give them a go and find out, and I’m so glad I did – the mix between the theory and practice works so well for me! Putting what you’ve learnt into context in the wider world is so rewarding, and something you don’t get on your average construction course.”</p><p>One of the key elements that learners study on the T Level course, is sustainability in construction; adapting to the new environmentally-friendly ideas and building techniques that are being introduced. However, they know that with time and practice, these new ideas will become second nature. The learners pointed out that one of the many benefits of completing a construction qualification, is that these new techniques are taught to the new generation of tradesmen and become the norm.</p><p>The learners emphasised how lucky each of them were with the placements they were able to secure: “All the people I work with are great, and have taught me so much about the day-to-day realities of working on site – things you wouldn’t necessarily learn in a classroom. I also think it’s so important to feel part of the team and valued for the work that you’re contributing.”</p><p>Having high quality construction learners is so important and furthermore, having learners with a focus on being environmentally friendly is ideal.</p><p>We can’t wait to see the successes our T Level learners have, we know they’re going to have very bright futures!</p>
<p>Here at Weston College, we want to ensure that our students are completely ready to progress onto higher levels – both in terms of having the knowledge and skills, but also having the confidence and self-belief that they can succeed when progressing. Therefore, the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… programmes</a> we offer are the ideal way to give a little extra support, in a variety of modules.</p>
<p>As well as providing extra support, the Progression programme is also designed to allow learners to have a preview of the course before dedicating themselves to the full T Level course. Maria said:<em> “after doing my GCSEs, I had 2 options: either I wanted to go into a job involving computers or become a beautician. I know they are completely different industries, but I couldn’t decide which one to choose”</em>. After applying for both and having interviews, Maria decided to start on the Digital T Level progression journey.</p>
<p>Since starting the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… T Level course</a>, Maria has had the opportunity to work with a local company as part of the industry placement on the T Level course. With this involving learning new skills such as PHP programming and website design. Within the course, Maria was able to learn areas such as<em> “programming, web development, cyber security and emerging technology and also take part in an employer set project. In my programming lessons I’m learning python library’s NumPy, Pandas, Tkinter.”</em></p>
<p>Megan, another learner who has transitioned onto the Digital T Level from the Computing Transition Programme, said that she was <em>“incredibly excited to be progressing to study a T Level course."</em> She continued, <em>"I have thoroughly enjoyed the last year of my T level program course, and the opportunities and skills which I have developed in the programme. The course has really reinforced my passion for working in data analysis. Before this course I was not sure what sector I wanted to work in. I'm looking forward to my next steps where I will be studying a T Level in Digital, Production, Design and Development where I can improve my knowledge within computing subjects.”</em></p>
<p>We are so proud that Weston College has been one of the first providers in the country to offer both the T Level and Transition programmes, and that they’ve both already seen such success in the learner’s journey towards their respective industries, particularly the computing industry in Maria and Megan’s case.</p>
<p>If you are interested in learning more about <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/t-lev… Levels</a>, click here!</p>
<p>Jack, a former <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport… </a>student at Weston College, has recently made his debut in this year’s <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/royal-london-one-day-cup-2022-12976… London Cup</a> at the Oval. At just 18 years old, Jack impressed in the match against Surrey, claiming two for 33.</p><p>There was a great<strong> </strong>crowd out to support Jack, and despite the downpour, Jack was still able to enjoy himself, claiming this as the “high point of his career so far, hopefully with more to come.”</p><p>Starting his Cricket career at Congresbury Cricket Club at just 6 or 7 years old, he moved to Clevedon Cricket Club at the age of 13 where he has played ever since.</p><p>Jack told the <a href="https://www.somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/club-news/jack-pleased-to-have-… County Cricket Club</a> about how he felt when he was told he was in the squad for this year’s Royal London Cup: “I’ve played a lot of Second XI cricket for Somerset, so when I was told that I was in the squad for the Royal London Cup I was overjoyed. I really couldn’t explain it to be honest. It was amazing and to get my chance was even better.</p><p>“The Pathway at Somerset has helped me massively. I have been involved since a young age and all of the coaches have helped me along my way and given me different ideas to help me to get to where I am now.”</p><p>Jack was a sports student at Weston College, completing his course last year, and now on a gap year to figure out what his next steps are for his future. His aim, however, is to have a Somerset contract, commenting: “Somerset Cricket is in my heart, and I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else.”</p><p>Huge congratulations to Jack, we can’t wait to see what you achieve in the future!</p>
