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>Hair and Beauty is an exciting, fun and fulfilling industry to work in, it is responsible for over 250,000 jobs in the UK and is rapidly increasing! With the UK aiming for high career growth as it emerges from the pandemic, employers are wanting to recruit the best talent to succeed in a post Brexit economy. We aim to provide our learners with the perfect learning environment for them to reach their full potential in their chosen career path!</p>
<p>Career Excellence Hubs have been launched to allow learners to develop skills for life, it allows students to take part in their chosen study programme filled with lots of career boosting benefits, preparing them to be career ready when their programme has been completed.</p>
<p>Through the Hair and Beauty Career Excellence Hub our learners have the opportunity to work within state-of-the-art industry-standard facilities which include a total of five purpose-built commercial salons, a nail salon and a specialist media make-up facility. With these facilities our learners can develop their soft and hard skills catered to their chosen career path and equip them with employability skills that they can use to succeed in their future careers. Career Excellence Hub is endorsed by local businesses such as The Hair Bar, Beauty Spot, Weston Beauty Clinic and M Beauty. These endorsers have helped develop the courses to provide our learners with enhanced work experience and ‘real world learning’.</p>
<p>Hannah Hoskin-Love from The Beauty Spot has said “Interaction between business 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. Clear communication from and targeted support from employers and colleges through this transition is much needed. 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>For more information on our amazing Career Excellence Hub for Hair and Beauty, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… here</a>.</p>
<p>Our employer endorsed <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-10/84501_Weston%20Col… Arts Career Excellence Hub</a> unlocks so many exciting opportunities for learners.</p>
<p>From guest speakers to industry placements, connecting with the industry helps to make our courses as fresh and relevant as possible so that you leave college with more than just a qualification.</p>
<p>Here's Tash from <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… 3 Performing Arts</a> to tell us about her journey so far! ?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… here to learn more about our courses in Performing Arts</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Click here to learn more about our Career Excellence Hubs</a></p>
<p>By 2026, it has been predicted that 20% of the UK’s engineers will retire – meaning that there are lots of opportunities to enter this exciting industry.</p>
<p>In order to give our engineering learners a head start, we have launched the Engineering Career Excellence Hub.</p>
<p>Whether it’s liaising with businesses in the industry to make sure we’re teaching our learners relevant and up-to-date skills, creating the best facilities and digital platforms in the region for them to study in, or selecting the top teachers with current industry experience – our Engineering Career Excellence Hub is focused on providing the right learning environment to help learners reach their potential.</p>
<p>Our engineering study programmes boast lots of career boosting benefits, all with the aim of giving learners the opportunity to become career ready.</p>
<p>Global engineering firms are also backing our Career Excellence Hubs. Airbus, Rolls Royce and National Composites Centre, are heavily involved with our curriculum. From co-designing courses to offering visits, their involvement supports learners with preparation for the modern workplace. Each of these global partners are have individual initiatives surrounding sustainability and business practices to protect the environment. With each campus committed to reaching Net Zero by 2030, Weston College partners with high standard organisations that help to create brighter and greener futures.</p>
<p>Jo Philpott, Vice Principal at Weston College, said: “Our close links with employers play a critical part in our Career Excellence Hub model.</p>
<p>“We want to ensure that our learners are prepared for industry, and this is the perfect way of making that happen. We often welcome our endorsing employers to deliver masterclasses on key themes in engineering, which are well received by learners who receive significant industry insight.</p>
<p>“We also prioritise both soft and hard skill development, as the modern workplace requires this from their employees, and this can also help them stand out from the crowd on job applications or in interview.”</p>
<p>Find out more about the Engineering Career Excellence Hub, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-11/84501_Weston%20Col…;
