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
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<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">On 11th and 12th of November 2021, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… 3 Computing</a> learner Mircea Ionescu will be competing in the grand finals of the prestigious WorldSkills national competition!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.worldskillsuk.org/">WorldSkills UK</a> is a biannual ‘skills olympics’ that supports young people by testing their ability to achieve world-class standards. This national event normally takes place in the Birmingham NEC, however this year the 64 different competition areas are being hosted separately at across the country.</p>
<p>Mircea is one of nine students across the country to have made it to the finals in Web Design, which will be hosted by Weston College at <a href="https://www.westonwintergardens.co.uk/">The Winter Gardens Pavilion in Weston-super-Mare.</a></p>
<p>We caught up with the Nailsea School alumni who added:</p>
<h3><em>"I first heard about World Skills from my Website Development Lecturer in my first year, who encouraged me to take part in it.</em></h3>
<h3><em>"In order to get selected for the World Skills finals, I had to design a professional looking website during the qualification stage of the competition. Then during the semi-finals I had to complete the full front-end development of a website testing my skills in HTML and CSS production.</em></h3>
<h3><em>"I am very excited to have been chosen to compete in the World Skills finals, I also feel a great deal of pride in the recognition of the hard work of both my lecturers and I. </em></h3>
<h3><em>"Weston College has played a very important role in my journey to the World Skills finals, all the skills I have learnt during my time here are being tested during this competition. My tutor, Jason Hill, has helped me to get ready for this with great coaching and competition preparation.</em></h3>
<h3><em>"I have learnt so much already during my time with the World Skills contest. I understand how to work under the pressure of time constraints better than ever and I have vastly expanded my knowledge of development languages such as PHP and Javascript."</em></h3>
<p>This exciting news is just one of the fantastic career enhancing opportunities available at the college, through the newly launched <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwesto… Excellence Hubs.</a> </p>
<p>At the College each subject area forms its own specific Career Excellence Hub, endorsed by relevant sector employers which help to create a study programme with lots of career boosting benefits, WorldSkills competing opportunities is one of these.</p>
<p>Mircea will also be joined in the finals by <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk">University Centre Weston (UCW)</a> student <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news/computing-star-jack-heading-worldskills-f… Kimmins.</a></p>
<p>After finishing his Level 3 course, Mircea plans on staying with the team at Weston to study the <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/applied-computing-bsc-hons/">BSc Applied Computing degree course at UCW</a>.</p>
<p>The winners of all WorkdSkills competitions will be crowned at a ceremony hosted by TV presenter Steph McGovern from her Packed Lunch studio on Friday 26 November.</p>
<p>We'd like to wish Mircea the very best of luck! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… here to learn more about our Computing courses and Career Excellence hubs</a></p>
<p>In September 2021, our first cohort of Construction Career Excellence Hub learners started their journey into the construction industry.</p>
<p>Although Weston College has always connected closely with industry to deliver career enhancing experiences for our learners, the new Construction Career Excellence Hub heightens this – and offers an array of career boosting benefits.</p>
<p>Some of these benefits include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Training programmes co-designed by employers</li>
<li>Skills training required by industry</li>
<li>Industry placements</li>
<li>Networking opportunities</li>
<li>Soft and hard skills development.</li>
</ul>
<p>With over 53,000 construction companies in the South West, there are many opportunities for people looking to enter the industry, and through the Career Excellence Hub, learners will be equipped with the 21st Century employability skills required by industry.</p>
<p>David Bowdley, Operations Director at Galliford Try, one of the endorsing companies, said: “The Construction Career Excellence Hub presents an exciting opportunity for us to invest in local talent, and develop learners who could become the future leaders in our business.</p>
<p>“Weston College is the perfect location for people to develop their construction skills, and we are thrilled to play a role in your development and offer further assistance on your journey into our industry.”</p>
<p>Importantly it is having a really positive impact on our learners as well.</p>
<p>Level 1 Carpentry learner, Josh, said: “The course is very enjoyable! I think the best thing is that I have had the opportunity to put my skills into practice, by building a bike shed for Nailsea School.”</p>
<p>You can find out more about our Construction Career Excellence Hub, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-01/84501_Weston%20Col…;
<p>Animal Management is a hugely important industry, which is worth over £2 billion to the UK economy. We have launched our Animal Management Career Excellence Hub to meet the need of careers within the sector, with over 59% of households having pets, the need for vets and animal specialists is rapidly increasing.</p>
<p>The Career Excellence Hubs have been created to get our learners to reach their ultimate career goals by focussing on future employability and developing the skills that they will need to have a successful career!</p>
<p>Our Animal Management Career Excellence Hub is focused on providing our learners with the right learning environment to help them to reach their potential. Lecturers provide concepts and ideas through their own industry experience which is valuable to the students as it provides them with 21st Century employability skills and ‘real world learning’ through employer briefs and real-life case studies and scenarios. The course is co-designed with local endorsers which include Noah's Ark Zoo, North Somerset Agricultural Society and Puxton Park. Through our endorsers we offer enhanced work experience and provide unrivalled exposure.</p>
<p>They will get to study in state-of-the-art learning spaces at Puxton Park which enables them to develop industry-specific skills working within the park’s extensive farmland, facilities and wide range of farm and domestic animals. This gives our learners the opportunity to gain a valuable hands-on experience and prepares them with all the tools they will need to succeed in their educational journey to their chosen careers.</p>
<p>With the Animal Management campus being in the heart of Puxton Park, it gives the learners the opportunity to gain a valuable hands-on experience and preparing them with all the tools they will need to succeed in their educational journey to their chosen careers. Animal Management is an exciting and varied industry with many career paths our learners can take, these include zoologist, veterinary nurse, and animal physiotherapist.</p>
<p>For more information on how to apply to Weston College and join our amazing Career Excellence Hub for Animal Management, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/anima… here</a>.</p>
