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Programmes for School Leavers

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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.

 

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 Logo

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.

Why Choose us?
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LATEST NEWS

Student’s work to be turned into playable Fortnite skin

<p paraeid="{146ba0e2-5145-4695-bf57-4dfaed7eaabd}{170}" paraid="772252399">A character design done by our very own <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat… and Animation</a> learner Jack Griffiths, has been selected to be turned into an official character skin in Fortnite!&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<a href="https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/home">Fortnite</a&gt; is a free-to-play video game the&nbsp;sees&nbsp;up to 100 players competing individually or in teams to be the last one/ones standing as the boundaries of their battle ground shrinks over-time.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The multi-billion pound&nbsp;Battle Royale currently has over 350 million active monthly users across the world, making it biggest games on the planet.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
In June, Fortnite developer <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/">Epic Games</a> published that they are "looking for two exceptional community-created concepts" to be turned into in-game outfits for&nbsp;their&nbsp;to-be-announced Winter 2021 event.&nbsp;<br />
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The brief was simple: festive, frosty, and fun designs to bundle up in this holiday season.&nbsp;<br />
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As a player and aspiring 3D animator Weston College student, Jack, saw this as a perfect opportunity to showcase his talents in character design that he had been developing in and out of class.... And&nbsp;so&nbsp;the character concept was created: <a href="https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lxg5la">Frigid Forgoer</a>.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_S2F64kVyRs&quot; title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;<br />
Jack, with the online artist&nbsp;alias <a href="https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lxg5la">"Alta Calls"</a>, added: "I decided to apply for the competition because I had been working on concept skins for around a year at that point, it's one of my biggest passions and seeing Epic go out of their way to support the concept community by hosting a competition was amazing I figured this was my best chance of getting a skin in game so I jumped right into it and started designing!&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{146ba0e2-5145-4695-bf57-4dfaed7eaabd}{202}" paraid="153908598">“Frigid Forgoer is a twist of the frozen theme, with something a bit more unique and visually&nbsp;interesting; A frozen sheriff with a vengeance.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
"This win means practically everything to me, I worked so hard over the last year getting better at Blender and getting better at general character design and to finally see one get in game is incredible. I have received great support from the college, using the knowledge from my course to&nbsp;actually pull&nbsp;through and create the skin trailer which I was so close on giving up on. Without the teaching in class, it would not&nbsp;of&nbsp;been possible."<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Jack studies The <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-a… 3 diploma in Game and Animation</a>. On this course our learners learn and develop their skills in storyboarding, character design, 2D design and 3D animation; becoming equipped to step into the ever-growing gaming industry.</p>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset="utf-8"></script>

<p paraeid="{146ba0e2-5145-4695-bf57-4dfaed7eaabd}{228}" paraid="250093782">The&nbsp;King Alfred School&nbsp;alumni continued:&nbsp;“I chose the game and animation course because it's my biggest passion in life. I've played games my whole life and when I grew&nbsp;older&nbsp;I started to love how games&nbsp;are able to&nbsp;tell such emotional and compelling stories and be such amazing pieces of art that I just had to make it my career.”<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Game and Animation tutor, Sam Stokes, commented: "It’s amazing to see Jack’s hard work pay&nbsp;of,&nbsp;the constant drive and motivation to keep pushing his skills to the next level is remarkable.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
"It fills me with pride that our Game and Animation Production course has given him the platform to challenge his skills and achieve recognition on a globally renowned game like Fortnite."<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The two winners of the "Concept Royale" competition were announced via&nbsp;Fortnite's&nbsp;social media pages, their tweet can be found below:&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{146ba0e2-5145-4695-bf57-4dfaed7eaabd}{228}" paraid="250093782">&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/lbdart_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lbdart_</a&gt; and <a href="https://twitter.com/AltaCalls?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AltaCalls</a&gt;, our Concept Royale winners ?<br />
<br />
We can’t wait to see their concepts turned into in-game Outfits this Winter.<br />
<br />
And a big thank you to everyone who shared their chilly creations with us. We are always in awe of your creativity ? <a href="https://t.co/QVTCh2WvRw">pic.twitter.com/QVTCh2WvRw</a></p&gt;
— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) <a href="https://twitter.com/FortniteGame/status/1428356145354211328?ref_src=tws… 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset="utf-8"></script>

<p paraeid="{146ba0e2-5145-4695-bf57-4dfaed7eaabd}{228}" paraid="250093782"><br />
&nbsp;<br />
As well as both outfits making their official debut to the game this December, the two winners each won a £1,000 cash prize.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{52978fd6-6756-4802-9035-1d5671eb114a}{7}" paraid="1582794661">Jack is aiming to&nbsp;be a 3D marketing artist or character&nbsp;designer&nbsp;and this is in incredible&nbsp;accolade&nbsp;that will no doubt open many doors in the future.&nbsp;A HUGE congratulations goes to Jack. A very brighter future awaits!&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{52978fd6-6756-4802-9035-1d5671eb114a}{7}" paraid="1582794661">&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{52978fd6-6756-4802-9035-1d5671eb114a}{7}" paraid="1582794661"><strong><a href="https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lxg5la">Click here to see more on Frigid Forgoer and more of Jack's amazing work</a></strong></p>

<p paraeid="{52978fd6-6756-4802-9035-1d5671eb114a}{7}" paraid="1582794661"><strong><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/media… here to learn more about our courses in Game and Animation</a></strong></p>

<p paraeid="{52978fd6-6756-4802-9035-1d5671eb114a}{7}" paraid="1582794661"><strong><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/openevening">Click here to sign up for our next open evening</a></strong></p>

<p paraeid="{52978fd6-6756-4802-9035-1d5671eb114a}{7}" paraid="1582794661">&nbsp;</p>

Student’s work to be turned into playable Fortnite skin
Education and Childcare T Level Students Create Forest School Area

<p>In September we launched the Education and Early Years <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Career Excellence Hub</a>, which focuses on future employability and developing the skills needed to have a successful career.</p>

<p>In Education and Early Years there has been an increasing emphasis of Forest Schools within the curriculum. It offers a unique educational experience using the outdoor environment as a classroom, which can increase a child's confidence and self-esteem through exploration, problem solving, and being encouraged to learn how to assess and take appropriate risks depending on their environment ... This motivation can have a positive impact on their attitude to future learning.</p>

<p>As we aim to develop the skills our learners need to be successful in the industry, we are creating a Forest School area at the South West Skills Campus.</p>

<p>Projects such as help to immerse our learners in the local community and grow their understanding of the local landscape and the impact of social action. We love seeing our learners developing their understanding on how to teach younger generations about the great outdoors and how to protect it. With each campus committed to becoming Net Zero by 2030, Weston College is creating brighter and greener future for our community.</p>

<p>This week our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/t-lev… Level</a> students have been helping, whilst developing their knowledge around risk assessments; outdoor learning; activities with children and how the outdoor learning environment can promote positive attitudes and learning dispositions. It has been a great way of putting theory into practice and building teamwork.</p>

<p><strong>Millicent said:</strong> <em>"Working outdoors has really helped everyone work as a team"</em>,<strong> Bethany added:</strong> <em>"It's interesting to see how some people are the planners whilst others are more hands on. It's nice how we all have our strengths, get along and work together."</em></p>

<p>As part of the #LoveOurColleges Week, we are pleased to share some photos for you to see what is going on.</p>

<p>Find out more:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds">Cour… for school leavers</a></li>
<li>What is a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/t-lev… Level</a>?</li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news-and-events/events">Next open event</a></li>
</ul>

Education and Childcare T Level Students Create Forest School Area
Cassidy Estcourt - Sport Career Excellence Hubs

<p>Our sport learners have had the amazing opportunity to be a part of Weston College’s new Sport Career Excellence Hub. This is a new Weston College initiative to enable learners real-life industry experience. With the nationwide skills shortage, getting industry experience for the next generation of workers is vital!</p>

<p>From the Sport Career Excellence Hubs learners can gain all of the skills needed to thrive in the industry. These can include soft skills such as being reliable, enthusiastic, and working as part of a team. These skills are transferable to any industry.</p>

<p>Learners will also gain specific skills for the Sport and Fitness industries. This will include coaching skills, technical expertise with gym equipment and what steps need to be taken to become an athlete. These skills will be needed for future employment and can also be transferred to a university course or an apprenticeship.</p>

<p>Our partners for the Sport Career Excellence Hub are some of the best sport and fitness providers in the area including Anytime Fitness, AOC Sport, Bristol Bears, Weston AFC and Future Stars Coaching.</p>

<p>On top of being a part of our amazing Sport Career Excellence Hub, learners will get to study at our incredible new Health and Active Living Centre at our Loxton Campus. Opened in 2019, this building features a full-sized 3G sports pitch, airy classrooms and a massive indoor sports hall with hoops for basketball, nets for badminton and a netball court. The Health and Active Living Centre was specifically designed with sport courses in mind to help learners reach their full potential.</p>

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

Sport Learners Gain Competitive Advantage

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Important Notice

Please be aware that due to a recent announcement by the Department for Education, the list of available courses for the academic year starting in September 2025 may not be finalised until December 2024. This follows the launch of a government review of qualifications, including BTECs and other applied general qualifications. The purpose of this review is to assess how best to improve the quality of the overall qualifications landscape and ensure that all young people and adults have high-quality options that meet their needs and may mean that some qualifications under review may not be available from September 2025.

We encourage you to still apply for the courses you are interested in now, and we will provide further updates as soon as the review is complete and the course offerings for 2025 and beyond are confirmed. We will communicate this to all students who have applied by this stage, and also provide updates on our website and social media channels. We understand this uncertainty may be disruptive and appreciate your patience and understanding during this period of Government review, please be reassured that we are planning for all outcomes and are in no doubt that whatever the results of the review, we will be able to provide you with the right qualification and pathway to support you with your career goals and next steps.