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>Construction students from Weston College have been helping years 1 and 2 from Mead Vale School get to grips with brickwork.</p>
<p>As part of a partnership project, the young learners aged 4-6 have been learning about materials, and in order to gain a greater insight into the materials that help to build a house, each class attended a session led by Weston College learners looking at how to build a brick wall.</p>
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<p>The young builders had great fun creating different types of walls, and understanding the reasons behind each design.</p>
<p>Over the four sessions over 100 pupils had a go at laying bricks, under the watchful eye and guidance of the full time bricklayers.</p>
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<p>Dave LeFeuvre, the subject area manager for Construction at Weston College, said: “This was a really successful project. Our students got to demonstrate their skills and abilities through teaching and inspiring younger learners, and I hope that some of them will consider a future in construction based on the skill I saw displayed.</p>
<p>"I am really proud of how our learners and staff embraced these sessions, were great ambassadors for the trade and for the College.”</p>
<p>Weston College's hospitality and catering students recently had the opportunity to serve front of house and make a variety of impressive canapés with Istvan Ulmann, Head Chef at Hattusa Restaurant at Berwick Lodge.</p>
<p>Istvan performed a cookery demonstration of Venison loin with shallots, salsify and red cabbage before working with our students to produce an impressive spread of canapés including: Medjool dates wrapped in pancetta, Sausage rolls with raz el hanout, Pancetta and emmental toasties, and Filo tart with pear, stilton and pine nuts.</p>
<p>The students also baked brioche buns to cater for a BBQ event later in the day, and worked to produce a delicious afternoon tea with passion fruit marshmallows, chocolate brownies, and baked vanilla cheesecake.</p>
<p>Louise Underhay, who studies Professional Cookery at Level 2, said: “We do these trips a lot to get some work experience and learn from the professionals, and I really enjoy them. </p>
<p>“I really love baking and am really enjoying my course – It has given me a new lease of life, it has given me an edge! Istvan was great and gave us lots of little tips and pep talks to increase our confidence. I found it really helpful and loved it.”</p>
<p>This opportunity was part of a chefs' forum partnership aimed at introducing Weston College students to top chefs.</p>
<p>If you’ve visited our South West Skills Campus over the last few months, you may have seen the display engine, which now proudly sits in our reception, and wondered why it is there?</p>
<p>Well, it is all down to the hard work of our apprentices at GKN. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.gknaerospace.com/">GKN Aerospace</a> is one of the world’s leading aircraft and aero-engine manufacturers. 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. Read more about GKN's initiatives surrounding sustainability and their environmental protection practices <a href="https://www.gknaerospace.com/en/sustainability/">here</a><img alt="GKN Engine, Engineering Learners, South West Skills Campus" data-align="right" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d13db4e-ec9a-4059-bc7c-30c3bb884daf" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2810%29.jpeg" /></p>
<p>Earlier this year, five of our Year 2 Aerospace Engineering Degree apprentices, Taylor, Jansen, Ethan, Harry and Chloe, decided to organise, manage and install the engine, as part of their Project Management module (work-based learning).</p>
<p>This is one of four modules they need to complete, on the second year of their degree apprenticeship. The module helps learners to develop new skills, as well as strengthening ones that they learnt in their first year.</p>
<p>The engine itself was donated by GKN, who we work very closely with to create exciting opportunities for our learners.</p>
<p>The learners showcased their communication and collaboration, as well as demonstrating their application of the knowledge, skills and behaviours in order to get this project running – one which was completed to industry standard!</p>
<p>Every day I walk past the engine with immense pride, not just at the achievements of these learners, but also of the power of partnerships. I think about the skills and knowledge that these incredible young people possess, thanks to their hard work and dedication, as well as the opportunities presented to them, through the college.</p>
<p>We’re excited to be launching T Levels in Engineering next September too, which will give us further opportunity to work closely with employers and watch learners develop into skilled professionals. The T Level will support learners who are taking their first steps in engineering, and will prepare them both academically and practically through their 45-day placements, in industry.</p>
<p>If you’re an employer reading this, then I highly recommend getting in touch with the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/work-experience?utm_source=main-menu&utm_m… placement team</a> at Weston College. Not only will this give you an opportunity to meet the learner and find out whether or not they will be a fit for your organisation, but they also possess skills which can fill skills gaps and support your business.</p>
<p><em>Andreas Papadopoulos, HE Curriculum Co-ordinator Engineering</em></p>
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