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>On 21st October, World Esports Day, our incredible Esports team took part in a Twitch livestream Charity event for the <a href="https://www.winstonswish.org/">Winston’s Wish</a>; a charity supporting children and families coping with the loss of a parent or sibling. The event was in partnership with <a href="https://www.coventrycollege.ac.uk/">Coventry College’</a>s <a href="https://www.coventrycrosshairs.com/">Coventry Crosshairs</a>, and the teams competed in games of Overwatch, Valorant and Rocket League.</p>
<p>When the goal of £250 was smashed before the first games had even finished, it was increased to an ambitious £500 in the break. Everyone was thrilled when that goal was also reached, reaching £506 in the end!</p>
<p>The results of the games are as follows:</p>
<p>Our Rocket League team lost 3-2, going the entire distance in the best of 5, and only losing after 4 minutes of Overtime. They showed incredible effort, however, and provided amazing entertainment for the audience!</p>
<p>The Coventry Crosshairs Valorant team were very strong, and won 13-5 against the Weston Waveriders.</p>
<p>Finally, our Overwatch team got a 3-1 win against Coventry, though the Crosshairs showed incredible resilience and sportsmanship.</p>
<p>When the stream ended, the average viewership was 55 concurrent views across 4 hours of stream time – the team were so grateful for the continued support throughout gameplay.</p>
<p>The lecturers want to give a huge shout-out to the learners who got involved and allowed this to all take place. It was an incredible event, and we’re so proud of everyone who took part, and a huge thank you to everyone who donated and watched the stream!</p>
<p paraeid="{b43c9672-4667-4773-8146-9b962a8f540e}{176}" paraid="1680333316">Some of our wonderful <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Creative and Digital Media</a> students will be creating amazing content as they help out at this year's <a href="https://rhlactivities.com/events/wbr-2022#home" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Weston Beach Race</a>! </p><p paraeid="{b43c9672-4667-4773-8146-9b962a8f540e}{215}" paraid="749502125">Located on Weston-super-Mare's seafront, the annual Beach Race is the UK’s biggest Offroad Motorsport event. Spanning over 6 miles, the race brings in competitors and supporters from all over Europe, with over 100,000 people attending across the three-day weekend. </p><p paraeid="{b43c9672-4667-4773-8146-9b962a8f540e}{249}" paraid="620505354">Our learners will be filming content of the race, crowds, and riders, alongside presenting their student-run radio station, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news/live-air-weston-waves-student-radio-stati…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Weston Waves</a>, at the event. </p><p paraeid="{5ca5e548-40ee-49bb-8048-7881ecd95fc6}{20}" paraid="2073858398">Weston Waves was launched earlier this year and has been a triumphant success and excellent learning experience for our media students. </p><p paraeid="{5ca5e548-40ee-49bb-8048-7881ecd95fc6}{32}" paraid="515857719">Between hosting shows and mixing music, the radio station has given our learners the opportunity to develop a vast range of skills, progress their understanding of industry-relevant practices and take ownership of their hard work. The Beach Race is a perfect place to evolve the Weston Waves station even further, interviewing sportspeople and covering a live event! </p><p paraeid="{5ca5e548-40ee-49bb-8048-7881ecd95fc6}{84}" paraid="1374176605">This is just one of many amazing opportunities learners on our Creative and Digital Media course get to work and interact with live projects, within a real industry setting. </p><p paraeid="{5ca5e548-40ee-49bb-8048-7881ecd95fc6}{84}" paraid="1374176605">The event will begin Friday 21st October 2022 and will run until Sunday 23rd October 2022. To find out more about the Beach Race, <a href="https://rhlactivities.com/events/wbr-2022#home">click here</a>.</p><p paraeid="{5ca5e548-40ee-49bb-8048-7881ecd95fc6}{94}" paraid="1913509857">To find out more about the Creative and Digital Media course, <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>
<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>
