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 lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{87082b23-6d78-45cb-b96e-d865a195843e}{177}" paraid="582795363" xml:lang="EN-GB">Our Fashion students' next project: Accessorize! </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{87082b23-6d78-45cb-b96e-d865a195843e}{184}" paraid="739122445" xml:lang="EN-GB">The Level 3 Fashion and Textiles learners have been building on their skills, making dresses, and working with porcelain in our professional ceramics studio to create some beautiful jewellery including brooches, earrings, and necklaces! </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{baba7e2c-2b14-4861-9c4a-e1fd23998600}{246}" paraid="1889631007" xml:lang="EN-GB">All our Creative Arts courses are taught at our Loxton Campus, the home, heart, and hub of creative arts in Weston. Learners are taught by industry professionals, and are encouraged to find their voice, express their personality in a multitude of art forms and blossom beyond their expectations. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3cb4c277-1824-4184-9c4a-dc18cec53253}{173}" paraid="532961054" xml:lang="EN-GB">As a student on our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-a…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Level 3 UAL Extended Diploma in Fashion and Textiles</a> course learners are given the chance to explore fashion and develop their understanding of fashion by experiencing varied disciplines across fashion design, production, digital media, communication, and fashion business. </p>
<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{79a51737-18a1-4024-b623-bf9877b19695}{183}" paraid="1333581464" xml:lang="EN-GB">This course is part of the Creative Arts Career Excellence Hub. These innovative subject specific hubs allow for students at Weston College to have access to exclusive opportunities. Endorsed by employers from within the industry, this enables for better integration with the sector to make sure class content is relative and opens doors for learners, so they leave college with more than just a qualification. </p>
<p paraeid="{f3a0116b-e82b-4200-bc28-6152e0bfbc05}{161}" paraid="272565932"> </p>
<p>Click here to:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… more about the Fashion and Textiles A Level course</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-a… out more about the Level 3 UAL Fashion and Textiles course</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-a… the Art & Design courses on offer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Read more about Career Excellence Hubs</a> </li>
</ul>
<p>As a business and from a personal perspective, I believe it’s vitally important to support education, training and the development of all students at Weston College.</p>
<p>This opinion is twofold for me, first of all I was indeed a student at Weston College myself, before embarking on my career. Secondly my eighteen-year-old son has just graduated from Loxton Campus with three A-Levels. These qualifications earned him a well-deserved place in a Business School at a Cambridge University campus, to say I am proud of him is an understatement.</p>
<p>There is so much talent within Further Education, and I strongly believe that as employers we should be investing in young people who will become the leaders of our businesses in the future.</p>
<p>Interaction between industry and education is very important. Students need to be able to navigate their way through from classrooms and coursework to a career and the workplace – with practical experience and industry knowledge playing a critical part in development.</p>
<p>Through Weston College’s Hair and Beauty Career Excellence Hub, we are able to get involved and support students, whether that be through delivering masterclass sessions, playing a part in the development of curriculum or offering work experience.</p>
<p>As a business, we also want to grow our team, and see Weston College students as the perfect candidates to be valued members of our team.</p>
<p>The Beauty Spot Weston is a proud supporter of Weston College and have been for a number of years now. This support will continue for many years to come.</p>
<p><em>Hannah Hoskin-Love, The Beauty Spot</em></p>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{165}" paraid="260710328"> </p>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{165}" paraid="260710328">A PE teacher will work in schools and colleges teaching a range of sports and fitness to young people of all ages from primary school to college. </p>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{165}" paraid="260710328"> </p>
<h4 aria-level="2" paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{177}" paraid="1633077110" role="heading">Could you be a PE Teacher? </h4>
<p aria-level="2" paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{177}" paraid="1633077110" role="heading">To be a PE teacher some of the skills and knowledge you will need to have the ability to motivate and inspire pupils of all abilities, can use your knowledge to design courses and lessons, you must be able to work well with others and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. You will need to pass enhanced background checks to become a teacher. Some of the daily tasks you may do as a PE teacher could be teaching and coaching a range of sports and activities to pupils of different abilities and ages, organising events like sports days and matches against other schools/colleges, prepare pupils for their exams and set assignments, meet with parents/carers to discuss their children's progress. </p>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{189}" paraid="51555514">The working environment could be within a college, or a school and you will be required to work in environments which could be indoors or outside in all weathers. </p>
<h4 aria-level="2" paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{195}" paraid="1315770158" role="heading">Check the entry criteria: </h4>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{201}" paraid="1073962428">Depending on the school and level you apply for the entry criteria will be different. you will need to decide who you want to teach, this could be primary, secondary, or further education. All teaching jobs will require you to have at least 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and if you wish to teach primary you will need at least a 4 (C) in science, or the equivalent qualifications. You will need a university degree or an equivalent qualification to gain your QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). To get into university you will need to have at least 2 or 3 A levels or a level 3 qualification. To become a teacher, you will need either a degree with QTS or if you were to do a degree without QTS a completed PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education), which can be either at university or on a school-based training programme. To specialise as a PE teacher, you will need to have a degree in sports science or the equivalent. </p>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{207}" paraid="1584668372">To get into PE teaching you could apply for the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport… Coaching & Physical Education, BTEC Extended Diploma</a> at Weston College which would give you the relevant information to go onto a sports science course at university. </p>
<h4 aria-level="2" paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{218}" paraid="944997711" role="heading">Get the relevant training/ How to become:</h4>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{224}" paraid="1738704150">To get into the PE Teacher role you can go the university route, go through an apprenticeship or work towards the role. Through university you will gain a degree with a QTS which would allow you to go straight into teaching. If you get a degree that is not a QTS you can then take the apprenticeship route and complete a PGCE with a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship. If you were to become a graduate in a sport related course without at QTS then you may be able to get into teaching by working as a sports coach in schools and then moving into a teacher training programme. </p>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{230}" paraid="849912389">To improve your application, you could attend teacher training events before you apply to get advice about the profession, the different training routes you could take, and the funding. You can attend these events in person and online and attending these could be incredibly useful for teachers in training. A useful skill to have on your application would be being able to drive as you may be expected to drive a minibus to take teams of pupils to sporting events. </p>
<h4 aria-level="2" paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{236}" paraid="1006666293" role="heading">Further development… </h4>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{242}" paraid="2015722449">As a qualified PE teacher, you could further progress into becoming a specialist leader of education where you would be supporting teachers in other schools. Other roles you could pursue would be a curriculum leader, head of department or even head teacher or deputy head. </p>
<p paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{242}" paraid="2015722449"> </p>
<ul>
<li paraeid="{5a5c5bc9-58f1-443b-a44e-42e72f4d3cdb}{255}" paraid="1582794661"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport… out all our Sports Courses here</a></li>
</ul>
