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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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="{61dc16b6-23d5-47c9-8f21-892856527f92}{161}" paraid="1953558757">Last month our amazing <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/why-choose-us/campuses-and-facilities/the-sixt… Form</a> learners took part in a Winter Market in Bristol as part of <a href="https://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/">Young Enterprise</a>. </p><p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{c5f074bd-0925-40dd-b292-37d7334db94c}{91}" paraid="1186357573" xml:lang="EN-GB">Young Enterprise is a leading UK charity centred around empowering young people to discover, develop and celebrate their skills and potential. Their mission is to motivate young people to succeed in the changing world of work by equipping them with the work skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed. </p><p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{d566bf93-d658-426f-b24b-5a104830dfb5}{247}" paraid="105853749" xml:lang="EN-GB">As part of the Young Enterprise programme, our learners have had incredible talks from industry professionals at companies like <a href="https://abatec.co.uk/">Abatec </a>and Brent Engineering to inspire and motivate them. </p><p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{ceda7b29-a3ff-4e16-89b5-7bd1dcbbd1e4}{106}" paraid="164842808" xml:lang="EN-GB">The Winter Market, held on 26th November near St. Nicholas Markets in Bristol, was an opportunity for learners to demonstrate everything they have learnt. Within teams, they selected and produced their own goods, which they then had to expertly pitch and sell to the public. </p><p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{264d2663-453e-435d-919b-7a9561c8ef9d}{122}" paraid="113401925" xml:lang="EN-GB">We caught up with Jack, whose team received a judge’s honourable mention at the Market. They did exceptionally well, successfully profiting on their unique, hand-crafted, metal Christmas ornaments. </p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2825%29.png" data-align="center" data-entity-uuid="a054c5f7-ea1f-4bc5-b274-4f6ee0fee12f" data-entity-type="file" alt="Jack at Winter Market" width="128" height="228"><p paraeid="{61dc16b6-23d5-47c9-8f21-892856527f92}{181}" paraid="1184420456"> </p><p paraeid="{61dc16b6-23d5-47c9-8f21-892856527f92}{181}" paraid="1184420456"><strong>Jack, who is a first year Economics, Politics and Business learner, told us: </strong></p><p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3ade4a52-f929-4c58-9530-ee443a19ce47}{52}" paraid="1108987381" xml:lang="EN-GB">“Young enterprise is an opportunity for young people to start a business that they run by themselves or with assistance from lecturers, creating and selling a product to the public. I got involved because my economics lecturer, who also teaches business, said it would be a great way to use my economic and business skills together.” </p><p paraeid="{d158e255-fa69-4c98-8696-f6d18daf01bd}{14}" paraid="521349854"><strong>How did you find the experience? </strong></p><p paraeid="{d158e255-fa69-4c98-8696-f6d18daf01bd}{32}" paraid="715409113">“It was our first time doing this, so we didn’t know what to expect but thankfully it was a success and the judges liked us and we even got an honourable mention as a result. It turned out well and we were pleased with our results. We achieved what we wanted to do which was sell all the products through our use of an appealing stand and our high-quality marketing skills. </p><p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{53e5d8e6-a5c0-414d-a457-603759e21409}{19}" paraid="1097180206" xml:lang="EN-GB">Next time we aim to improve our products and innovate. We’d like to go to more markets and become more successful than last time.” </p><p paraeid="{d158e255-fa69-4c98-8696-f6d18daf01bd}{68}" paraid="2130681155">Jack, who tells us he would like to go on to work in the banking industry after college, finished off by saying “I really recommend doing the Young Enterprise as it gives you an insight into making business decisions and the responsibilities of businesses.” </p><p paraeid="{d158e255-fa69-4c98-8696-f6d18daf01bd}{68}" paraid="2130681155">Amazing work from everyone who took part!</p><p paraeid="{d158e255-fa69-4c98-8696-f6d18daf01bd}{68}" paraid="2130681155">To find out more about A Levels at Weston College and the opportunities available, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… here</a>.</p>
<p>The wonderful Level 1 Hairdressing learners were welcomed by Emma, the salon owner of <a href="https://www.uniquewsm.com/">Unique Hair</a>, for work experience in an industry standard salon. Unique Hair is an independently run hair salon, local to the college, currently underway to becoming a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Career Excellence Hub</a> ambassador. This results in the college and the salon working very closely together to ensure the content in the course is of upmost importance to the learners, and even results in work experience opportunities which otherwise would not be offered to L1 learners!</p><p>Emma had six Level 1 learners in total spread over three Mondays, where she opened the salon especially for work experience days. Emma sourced her own clients for the learners to work on, undergoing treatments such as meeting and greeting clients, shampooing, conditioning and applying treatments, as well as blow-drying, curling and setting clients’ hair. This gave the students the chance to use industry-standard equipment, and experience first-hand, what a day working in the salon would be like.</p><p>While Level 1 learners would not usually gain the opportunity to have work experience, Emma was so keen to help out and allow the students to develop employability skills to increase success in their futures in the industry. The students commented, “It was such a great opportunity, and really helpful experience for what working day to day in a salon would be like. Emma was great at explaining everything, and really kind when explaining everything, including the new techniques. We’d absolutely love to go back!”</p><p>The learners’ tutor, Kelly, told us, “It has been amazing to see the development of their skills since this experience!”</p><p>Rachel Harrison, the Workplace Coordinator for Hair, Beauty and Hospitality commented: “The learners absolutely loved their time at the salon, and having the chance to try out new products; the opportunity was invaluable for the learners. Here at Weston College, we focus on finding the learner’s career aspirations first, then assist in how they can reach this. Having a whole day in an industry-standard salon is one of the most beneficial ways to help in reaching their dream jobs; I am so grateful to Emma for her kindness and hospitality towards the learners, and being their mentor for the whole day! I hope we are able to provide this work experience to Level 1 learners in the future!”</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/beaut… out more about our Hair and Beauty courses, here!</a></p>
<p>Last week, three of our wonderful <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… </a>learners competed in the National <a href="https://www.worldskillsuk.org/">WorldSkills </a>Finals in computing, hosted in Middlesborough.</p>
<p>We were able to sit down with two of the competitors, Fin and Skylar, who told us all about their journey, training and success in WorldSkills; Skylar achieved Silver in the competition!</p>
<p>Both learners expressed an interest in WorldSkills after seeing the success of the previous cohort of Weston College learners who competed, including <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news/top-country-ucw-student-represent-uk-inte… Kimmins who won gold</a>! They also each explained that it was a great way to work on their own skills to apply to their degree courses.</p>
<p>The whole competition spanned over a long period of time, with the qualifiers being in July. The qualifying round was a day with an issued web development task, with a time limit to complete it. Once the learners had confirmation they had passed this round, they began to revise until the finals, which took place this month (November).</p>
<p>Skylar explained the competition days: “The competition was very challenging. It was a set of five modules spread over three days, based up at Middlesbrough College in their new MC Digital building. The five modules included everything website development, from design work to client side scripting to server side scripting. As well as a speed round where time was of the essence. I felt very prepared due to the wealth of knowledge of previous competitors as well as the practise resource is we were given to help train us for the real briefs.”</p>
<p>While Skylar said that the JavaScript and PHP aspects were the best part of her day, Finley highlighted the speed module on the final day as his best part: “The smaller tasks within the short timeframe was quite fun and was a challenge to think of solutions without spending too much time on a single section given the time restraints.”</p>
<p>However, the competition days were not without their difficulties. Both learners touched on the aspect they found the most challenging; for Finley it was PHP module where he felt he could have benefit from more revision in that area, and Skylar found the design round the trickiest.</p>
<p>Despite the difficulties, all the participants did incredibly well, with Skylar achieving Silver overall! This is such a wonderful achievement, and she was absolutely thrilled, saying “It felt absolutely amazing to achieve silver in the website development competition. Knowing that I am the second-best student website developer in the UK feels absolutely amazing.</p>
<p>I found out the results through a virtual medal ceremony, live streamed by Steph McGovern from her studio where they announced all the winners of the competitions. I just couldn’t believe it when my name was called out!”</p>
<p>Both Skylar and Finley were very enthusiastic about the prospect of competing again next year, Finley commenting, “I am already looking forwards to the sign-ups. I entered this year, unsure if it was the correct choice, but after attending and reaching the finals, its been an amazing experience. I am excited to attend again!”</p>
<p>If you are considering following in their footsteps and entering WorldSkills, here is the first-hand advice from those who just competed: “Just go for it – you won’t know how far you can go or the extent of your knowledge unless you try, and it’s such a great learning experience. Even if you don’t get through to the finals, it’ll still look great on your CV!”</p>
<p>Both learners expressed huge gratitude to their teachers and tutors at University Centre Weston, Jason Hill, Jack Kimmins and Jack Cole, who have been so supportive throughout the whole process, including numerous training sessions.</p>
<p>Many congratulations to everyone involved!</p>
