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 paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{167}" paraid="2069836205">Fantastic news in <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Health and Social Care</a> as Level 3 learner, Leah, finishes off her second-year studies and heads straight into full-time employment as a Paediatrics Nursing Associate with the prestigious John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. </p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{188}" paraid="1085634926">Leah has had immense success throughout her time at college, previously taking part in Lateral Flow and Vaccination training, selected by tutors in recognition of her hard work and dedication to her studies. This led to further opportunities, with Leah working as a qualified vaccinator administering Covid vaccines to patients throughout the pandemic. </p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{188}" paraid="1085634926"> </p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{198}" paraid="2016446386">To celebrate Leah’s success and the beginning of her career in the Healthcare industry, we asked her some questions: </p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{204}" paraid="1088828902"><em><strong>What made you want to go into Paediatrics?</strong></em> </p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{210}" paraid="1433315195">I’ve always preferred working with children. I used to think I might like to go into teaching, but I've always been more interested in the health side of things. </p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{220}" paraid="410168397"><em><strong>Was there anything about the course you have studied that helped you along your way to making that decision? </strong></em></p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{230}" paraid="168043471">Yes definitely. Studying Health and Social Care helped me learn about the different jobs and opportunities in nursing. Working with case studies within my assignments really interested me because it gave me insight into real life situations that happen when working with patients. </p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{238}" paraid="1507454671"><em><strong>What about your course has helped you prepare for this job? </strong></em></p><p paraeid="{d7aae37c-9473-4c0c-af1d-d30ccfb7750c}{244}" paraid="22121840">My placements really helped. I have been doing Covid vaccinations, which has really inspired and motivated me to feel confident talking to new people and deal with difficult situations. Through the course, I have also had the opportunity to work in several care homes and I’ve realised that’s not really what I want to do. So, the course has really helped me work out what I enjoy and what I want to pursue, and also show me what I what I don’t really want to do in the future. </p><p paraeid="{15991ff9-7c7a-4e8d-9652-a5a85afc8553}{15}" paraid="1597066047"><em><strong>What would you say is the best thing about studying here? </strong></em></p><p paraeid="{15991ff9-7c7a-4e8d-9652-a5a85afc8553}{21}" paraid="2134014655">The staff definitely push you, which at first seemed stressful, but now that I’m finishing and looking back I realise that it actually really helped me and allowed me to learn and grow a lot – they just push you to do your best. There’s also always lots of opportunities, becoming a vaccinator was an opportunity that came up through college, my lecturers recognised my hard work and put me forward for the training. It was really nice to be selected. </p><p paraeid="{15991ff9-7c7a-4e8d-9652-a5a85afc8553}{55}" paraid="1703599631"><em><strong>What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of studying Health and Social Care? </strong></em></p><p paraeid="{15991ff9-7c7a-4e8d-9652-a5a85afc8553}{65}" paraid="1141228734">I would say go for it! I wasn’t sure what to choose at first, but it’s a great course to pick because there are so many options afterwards, whether you go down the Health side or the Social Care side. It gives you an overview and experience of both so you get it helps you to choose. </p><p paraeid="{15991ff9-7c7a-4e8d-9652-a5a85afc8553}{87}" paraid="939725994"> </p><p paraeid="{15991ff9-7c7a-4e8d-9652-a5a85afc8553}{87}" paraid="939725994">The Health and Social Care team are exceptionally proud of Leah and her incredible achievements. </p><p paraeid="{15991ff9-7c7a-4e8d-9652-a5a85afc8553}{93}" paraid="157474621">To find out more about the opportunities available in Health and Social Care at Weston College <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">click here</a>. </p>
<p data-key="86">Join us to celebrate the incredible creative minds of Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW)!</p>
<p data-key="88">With the class of 2022 coming to an end, this festival style event will feature a grand display of artwork for all to see from our creative subject areas:</p>
<ul data-key="90">
<li data-key="91">Art and Design</li>
<li data-key="93">Game and Animation</li>
<li data-key="95">Graphic Design</li>
<li data-key="97">Film and Media</li>
<li data-key="99">Fashion</li>
<li data-key="101">Music</li>
<li data-key="103">Performing Arts (Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre)</li>
<li data-key="105">Photography</li>
<li data-key="107">Creative degree programmes (UCW)<br />
</li>
</ul>
<drupal-entity alt=""Art exhibition"" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_900x900","image_link":""}" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16161096-c48f-4d4a-be42-87d86aeabeed" data-langcode="en"></drupal-entity>
<p data-key="109"> </p>
<p data-key="109">This is a phenomenal trip out for the family with live music, performances, artwork, locally sourced food, drink and more - all in celebration of the arts and young people in Weston-super-Mare.</p>
<p data-key="109">To find out more about the day and book your tickets <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/event/creative-arts-summer-festival">click here</a>.</p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{1907f0cd-67e2-4bad-afc9-c4d41beab4a8}{74}" paraid="735399792" xml:lang="EN-GB">Our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">UAL Creative Media Production courses</a> are exceptionally proud to announce they have been awarded a ScreenSkills accreditation for a further four years. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{a9ee66c2-df3d-420f-8350-d0009aa162f3}{86}" paraid="1285079171" xml:lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.screenskills.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ScreenSkills</a> is a prestigious and industry-led body for screen industry, covering an array of media practices including film, television, visual effects, animation, and games. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{d98fca64-a245-4840-a1aa-fdae65c895aa}{2}" paraid="2129732992" xml:lang="EN-GB">ScreenSkills pride themselves on “supporting continued growth and future innovation across the country by investing in the skilled and inclusive workforce who are critical to the UK screen industries' global success.” They do this by working closely with learners and institutions to help provide insight into career development and fantastic opportunities to support people to enter and progress in industry. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{d98fca64-a245-4840-a1aa-fdae65c895aa}{37}" paraid="1338232130" xml:lang="EN-GB">An endorsement from ScreenSkills is incredibly highly sought-after, and the opportunity to be awarded such an accreditation is an astounding privilege for our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">UAL Creative Media Production courses</a> - which already boast an impressive level of professionalism. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{b9bd13f9-cb44-4431-86b5-7518eea660c3}{249}" paraid="380947046" xml:lang="EN-GB">Gina Hele, Subject Area Manager, says “We are incredibly proud that Screenskills have recognised our Level 2 and Level 3 UAL Creative media production courses, and awarded us accreditation for a further four years. We look forward to continuing to work with Screenskills to benefit our students and their future Screen Industry career pathways. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{8abafcc2-eb24-43e7-9967-9941448d3e7b}{237}" paraid="1363459390" xml:lang="EN-GB">We value input from the industry when designing and delivering our curriculum and this allows us to get real time information about changes in the demands of the sector. The report states that the course is achieving standards of excellence, in terms of its industry relevance. The Team and I are delighted with this outcome.” </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{a9ee66c2-df3d-420f-8350-d0009aa162f3}{155}" paraid="437407316" xml:lang="EN-GB">This is fantastic news for our staff and learners, ensuring that the courses available are of the utmost quality and relevance to prepare students for their future careers in industry. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{65dbdc20-5ab2-4867-bfec-cb355ecc275f}{44}" paraid="1953754654" xml:lang="EN-GB">If you are interested in starting your journey in <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Creative Media Production</a>, or would like to find out more about our ScreenSkills accredited courses <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Click Here</a>. </p>
