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>Weston College is set to build brand new student facilities for their Accounting and Business Management and Leadership learners, thanks to grant from the Government’s T Level Capital Fund.</p>
<p>The first cohort of the Business Management and Leadership T Level learners, and also the Accounting T Level learners, will be starting in September, and will have access to these exciting new facilities.</p>
<p>Weston College will be creating an industry standard boardroom, which is going to be equipped with some of the latest technology. The real-life business environment will prepare students for life in the boardroom – something which can be daunting at first. Classrooms are also going to be refurbished, which will improve the learning environment for students.</p>
<p>Learners will use the boardroom to hold classes, revision sessions, and use it for presentations among other things.</p>
<p>The learning spaces are also getting an upgrade, which will provide first class study opportunities for learners studying a T Level. Weston College is investing in study pods, which allow students to work together on group projects, or utilise technology to work on individual study.</p>
<p>Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “It is a really exciting time to be a T Level student. Not only is it the new Gold standard of training, featuring an industry placement with local employers wanting to give young people an opportunity, but our Accounting and Business Management and Leadership T Level learners will learn in state-of-the-art facilities.</p>
<p>“The potential facilities look fantastic – in fact, I am already thinking of using the boardroom myself! We are so pleased to be able to create an environment which allows our learners to gain a greater understanding of the behaviours, facilities and knowledge needed for the business world.”</p>
<p>Find out more about the Accounting and Business Management and Leadership T Level, at the T Level Information Evening – <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/event/business-management-and-leadership-and-a… your interest, here.</a></p>
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/ROCKWOOL%201_1.jpg" data-align="right" data-entity-uuid="b023701c-2912-4154-8820-d6d21e061a4d" data-entity-type="file" alt="ROCKWOOL experience insulation" width="408" height="306">Bridgend based insulation experts, ROCKWOOL visited South West Skills Campus yesterday (15th February), to showcase the ROCKWOOL experience to our construction students.</p><p>The interactive van allowed the learners to see and feel how ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation products perform, through a hands-on demonstration.</p><p>Learners developed their knowledge further in areas such as improving thermal, acoustic, and fire performance through expert training and guidance.</p><p>As part of our Construction Career Excellence Hub, Weston College learners experience a curriculum which gives a greater focus on preparing them for industry, and this experience was a part of that. </p><p>The event was arranged by Business Partnership Manager, Lynsey McKinstry, who said: “At Weston College we believe it is vital to connect industry with education, because it benefits everyone, from employers to learners.</p><p>“Bringing ROCKWOOL in today has not only inspired the learners, but has also taught them new techniques, which is vital in their skills development.”</p><p>Subject Area Manager for Construction, Richard Hanney, added: “It was great to welcome ROCKWOOL today. The learners really enjoyed this valuable experience, which has given them a greater insight into insulation.”</p><p>Find out more about our Construction courses, by <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… here</a>.</p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{683a36da-fbd9-4949-b5a8-c304aa257765}{88}" paraid="685575166" xml:lang="EN-GB">Students from the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Level 2 Professional Chef T Level Transition Programme</a> had the amazing opportunity of hosting a guest lecture from Chefs in The Army! </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{d9afcc5c-ed41-4171-8a29-211fc3b03e77}{170}" paraid="964837088" xml:lang="EN-GB">During the lecture students were shown what it is like to be a Chef within The Army and how they can get involved. After being split into teams, learners were then poised with the challenge of making a 3-course meal for 2 people out of ration packs! They were given 10 minutes to menu plan and a further 1 hour 30 minutes to prepare and cook. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{18c6f1e0-c5c8-4d65-914c-9bb99c834f99}{180}" paraid="457058746" xml:lang="EN-GB">The learners produced innovative and amazing meals such as broccoli and onion soup, mince beef and onion pie with mash potato, cookie bread and butter pudding and homemade garlic gnocchi! </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{0d1f46e9-9581-4abe-b765-2aa2d79def4a}{88}" paraid="850378722" xml:lang="EN-GB">Teams were then judged by the Seargent's and were scored on Best Starter, Best Main Meal, Best Dessert, and an Overall Winner. </p>
<p paraeid="{cbe6a9d7-dca1-473d-bafc-7ef73fbaa81e}{89}" paraid="1119410355">Team 3 won Best Starter with their broccoli mac and cheese with garlic bread, Team 2 won Best Main Course with the homemade pasta and meatballs and Team 1 won Best Dessert with their cookie bread and butter pudding. But the overall winner of the challenge for their performance, communication skills, teamwork and presentation were Team 2! </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{cbe6a9d7-dca1-473d-bafc-7ef73fbaa81e}{81}" paraid="1135104852" xml:lang="EN-GB">Learner Crystal, comments “It was really fun, but at the same time hard because you only had 1 hour and 30 mins for a three-course meal! I found it very challenging, but I really enjoyed the whole event!” </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{647c0d12-7f4a-41d6-9b95-0b6940cbb357}{199}" paraid="287158346" xml:lang="EN-GB">Hospitality and Catering lecturer Debbie says, “I am so proud of the group here today they did extremely well and were amazing. They did the me and the college proud today even the Army Sergeants said we should be proud of all the students today." </p>
<p paraeid="{0564b604-642a-4b9f-a761-bb658276b83c}{207}" paraid="509478004">As a part of the Hospitality and Catering <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Career Excellence Hub,</a> learners are given the opportunity to gain employability skills from employers and gain real life skills that they can take on into their careers. Within the new T Level course, students can learn about the catering and hospitality industry, food, and safety hygiene in the kitchen, menu planning and costing and preparing all different foods. Alongside the course students will gain a full understanding of the industry by completing a Level 2 food and beverage service during their Individual Development (ID) time. </p>
<p paraeid="{0564b604-642a-4b9f-a761-bb658276b83c}{210}" paraid="1048890358">Sandra Bull, Divisional Lead of Hospitality and Catering, says “Ensuring our learners have an opportunity to seek out a variety of career pathways is important as they developed both skills and confidence in their programme of study. This session was a challenge which demonstrated how they would need to adapt quickly for a career in the Army but resilience in a working environment. The group have discovered you can eat well even out of ration pack ingredients!” </p>
<p paraeid="{be9c8cb5-4bb3-4b1f-9899-72496bb9585f}{89}" paraid="165690936"> </p>
<ul>
<li paraeid="{be9c8cb5-4bb3-4b1f-9899-72496bb9585f}{93}" paraid="1488067747"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… ">Find out more and apply </a><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… ">now for the Chef T Level Transition Programme</a>.</li>
<li paraeid="{be9c8cb5-4bb3-4b1f-9899-72496bb9585f}{93}" paraid="1488067747"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-01/84501_Weston%20Col… out the Hospitality and Catering Career Excellence Hub</a>.</li>
<li paraeid="{be9c8cb5-4bb3-4b1f-9899-72496bb9585f}{93}" paraid="1488067747"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… out more about other Hospitality and Catering Courses.</a></li>
<li paraeid="{be9c8cb5-4bb3-4b1f-9899-72496bb9585f}{93}" paraid="1488067747"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/t-lev… T Levels</a>.</li>
</ul>
