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:

Qualification Explained
Not sure what to study?
Ask a question

Scroll down to view our courses
or select a section to jump to:

Courses
Qualifications Explained
Not Sure What to Study?
ask a question

Select a Subject

A Levels

Animal Management

Automotive

Beauty Therapy

Business and Management

Computing and Digital Technologies

Construction

Construction Professions

Creative Arts

Education and Early Years

Engineering and Green Skills

Hair and Barbering

Health and Social Care

Hospitality and Catering

Law

Protective Services

SEND

Sport and Fitness

T Levels

Travel and Tourism

You can progress onto degrees and higher apprenticeships with UCW...

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.

Check out A-Levels Here

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..

Check out Apprenticeships Here

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.

Check out Traineeships Here

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.

Check out T-Levels Here

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

26 Jan 2022

From September, we will welcome our first cohort of engineering T Level learners, into our Engineering Career Excellence Hub.T Levels offer learners an alternative to A Levels and apprenticeships, with a real focus on work experience, as learners must complete a 45-day industry placement with a local employer.The engineering T Level, offers both a practical and academic focus, providing learners with skills, knowledge and understanding of subjects such as design, project, maths, materials and manufacturing principles.Employers across the country are recognising how important T Levels are going to be, especially in their plans for developing their future work force.Leading engineering company, Belcan, has pledged their support to Weston College and T Levels, by committing to offering an industry placement to T Level learners.Steve Beasley, Head of Repair Engineering at Belcan, said: “Our philosophy is to build an inclusive work environment to attract and retain talented people, encourage innovation, and inspire top performance from employees to achieve superior business results by putting people first.“We’re excited to be supporting Weston College through their new engineering T Level, and provide opportunities to young people wanting to enter the exciting engineering industry.”Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Belcan, they are a forward-thinking company that are very keen on providing opportunities that are vital in developing the engineers of tomorrow.“The new engineering T Level is going to be highly desirable for school leavers as the programme is built to be beneficial for both our learners and employer network, meaning we are all working together to get learners job-ready.”You can find out more about the Engineering T Level, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…;

Belcan Advocate Engineering T Levels

18 Jan 2022

sustainable burger vegan in weston super mare how to become a chef

With dining out being an important part of our culture, how can the catering sector join the debate and put sustainability on the menu?

Endorsed by employers, the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Hospitality and Catering Careers Excellence Hub</a> encourages collaboration between the college and companies. This ensures that classroom content is relevant and students will be "job ready" when they go into the industry. A growing part of the industry at the moment is sustainability and where we get our food from. We caught up with Sandra Bull, Dean of Faculty for <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… Beauty and Barbering</a>, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</a>, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… Years Education</a> and Counselling, to talk all about sustainability in the catering sector...

Food is wasted at each step of the supply chain. It remains unpicked if it is ‘ugly’, it perishes over long distances, it is ‘trimmed’ for aesthetics and it is left on the plate of not-so-hungry customers.

Chefs have the ability to intercept at each of these junctures. They can champion crooked carrots, source local food in season, use peelings for stocks and offer different portion sizes. Additionally, when waste remains, they can donate surplus to food waste charities. So here at Weston College and in the Grove training kitchen and restaurant we are embracing this concept...

Let me introduce our sustainable menu for takeaway next Thursday. All produce is locally produced (meaning less mileage), ingredients are in season now   and we  waste less. The Hospitality learners are learning about plastic waste and the food journey from Farm to fork.

Takeaway  Thursday 27th January . Please call 411422 to book yours ! ?

We hope you enjoy

Fish and chips

£2.50 main £3.50 main & a dessert £4.00 meal deal drink main & dessert

Please inform us of any food allergies or special dietary requirements upon ordering and we will be happy to advise you.

Do you ever wonder why some supermarket food is just so cheap? You may not pay for it at the cash register, but the cost to your health, the soil, and the environment are there.

Sustainable eating is not easy.

We are finding out more about where our suppliers get the food they deliver. What is its journey, is it in season and can we convince the supplier to cut down on single use plastic?

This time of year, root vegetables and hearty greens are great for adding to curries and stews. Salads, Tomatoes, and fruit in the summer make colourful additions to your plate. Of course, milk and dairy produced are here all year around.

Freezing, dehydrating, and preserving in pickles can help to add favour and use in season stock. But we are going to have a go at Growing our own window boxes this term so we can provide all the herbs for our café and restaurant. Watch this space!

Initiatives like this are Weston College is committed to creating brighter and greener futures

When you don’t know your farmer because you’re buying from a supermarket then look for the words “Fair-Trade” or the RED tractor on your packaging.

This may be the hardest part of changing the way you eat. On the other hand, it forces you to simplify your food in a way that promotes health and flavour. The simple truth is sustainable food does not outsource its preparation.

Without basic cooking knowledge, none of this is possible so look out for our short basic cooking courses to give you confidence in the kitchen. Learning to cook your favourite foods using local ingredients can really make all the difference.

Eating mindfully may take a bit more effort but the rewards, for your family and their future, are too big to pass up.

Click to find out more about:

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-01/84501_Weston%20Col… and Catering Career Excellence Hub</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering courses</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Career Excellence Hubs</a></li>
</ul>

Students Serve Sustainability on the Menu

13 Jan 2022

Starting this year our A Level learners have had the chance to be a part of our Sixth Form Career Excellence Hub. The hub aims to get learners closer to the world of work by providing useful and high-quality work experience. This work experience will give our students vital skills for the world of work such as punctuality, reliability, and working as part of a team.

Our learners will gain significant industry experience from the Sixth Form Career Excellence Hubs. From studying A Levels there is a huge range of industries for learners to go into, including science labs, fashion and art – among many others! This means that Weston College works with a wide range of employers who are able to provide a diverse range of opportunities that students can be a part of. Learners will be able to transfer the skills they have learned to not only a workplace, but also to their university courses as many of these skills can be applied to both.

The Sixth Form has its own dedicated building at our state-of-the-art Loxton Campus with classrooms, communal areas and access to a great library. Our staff often have experience within industry allowing them to pass on this knowledge to students.

The employers who we work with on our Sixth Form Career Excellence Hubs love them! Emma Cox from Thatchers Cider, said: “Partnering with Weston College ensures that together we can bridge the gap between education and employment to provide the best outcomes and opportunities for students.

For us this is about bringing future talent into the business, working with the college allows us to work with students so that they have both the knowledge and the skills to make informed decisions about their future and choices.”

Neil Criddle from Neil’s Data Consultancy Ltd, said: “It's really important to understand the different paths a student can now take from education into employment.”

For more information on how to apply to Weston College and join our amazing Sixth Form Career Excellence Hub, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… here</a>.

Added Career Benefits at our Sixth Form

Got a question?

Whatever you'd like to know, we're here to help...

Call 01934 411 411
Click to message us

Programmes for School Leavers

Courses for 16 to 18-year-olds

COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS

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:

A Levels

Animal Management

Automotive

Beauty Therapy

Business and Management

Computing and Digital Technologies

Construction

Construction Professions

Creative Arts

Education and Early Years

Engineering and Green Skills

Hair and Barbering

Health and Social Care

Hospitality and Catering

Law

Protective Services

SEND

Sport and Fitness

T Levels

Travel and Tourism

Qualifications Explained

A Levels

Apprenticeships

Professional and Technical Qualifications

Traineeships

CHOOSING WHAT TO STUDY

School Liaison Team

Events

CAREERS ADVICE

Apply or find out more

Important Notice