Courses for 16 to 18-year-olds (old)
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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Find Your Future Path
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 data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last month, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… and Early Years</u></a> students packed up six shoeboxes filled with toys and activities for children less fortunate this Christmas with the Samaritan's Shoebox Appeal. </p><p>The <strong>Samaritan's Christmas Shoebox Appeal</strong>, also known as Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, is a fantastic initiative where the public is encouraged to pack up shoeboxes with gifts for children across the world whose families cannot generally afford Christmas presents. This year, the shoeboxes are being delivered to countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Malawi, Ghana, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, West Africa, and the Middle East. These shoeboxes will bring joy to children and let them know they are cared for. </p><p>This initiative was introduced to the students after one of our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… Years Educator T Level</u></a> learners, Sophie, announced that she had been taking part in the Christmas Shoebox Appeal for the last seven years. During this time, she has sent off a total of 9 shoeboxes to help bring joy to children at Christmas time, and an extra six if you include the shoeboxes sent by her peers. </p><p>Sophie said, “Seeing how fortunate I am on Christmas to have a few presents compared to other children, I wanted to go out and make it so other children can feel special too. Seeing the smiles on the children's faces will be priceless for their parents and I just know that the parents will be grateful to the person who gave their child a gift. I also just believe that each child deserves a present on Christmas as it keeps their magic alive.” </p><p>“I think it’s important to get involved because it gives back to the community and helps others when in need. I often imagine how I would feel in that situation, and I would want to be helped during the festive time of year. Even donating to the charity, it allows children to get a gift at Christmas which means so much to them.” </p><p>In these boxes, the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… Years</u></a> students packed up a range of items for both boys and girls, as well as babies. They had a brief to follow to ensure a wide range of gifts were bought to fit into each category and ensure every child had an appropriate present, including pens, colouring books, fluffy socks, toys, hairbrushes, and teddies, as well as more practical gifts such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary products, dummies, shower gel, and much more. </p><p>Students got stuck in, bringing in shoeboxes and wrapping them up as well as organising the presents to ensure each box contained suitable gifts for the recipient with a fair amount in each box. Students even included a group picture so the receiver could see who gifted them the shoebox as well as a signed note from the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… and Early Years</u></a> students at Weston College. </p><p>By getting the students involved, it teaches them valuable lessons of generosity and the importance of donating to charity. They experienced the positive impact they could have on someone’s life, and for students who aim to work with children in the future, it gives them an idea of the different circumstances and backgrounds children can come from. </p><p>A big well done to all the students involved for making this possible, in particular Sophie who has been independently taking part in this tradition for years and for encouraging the other students to get involved, it is an amazing initiative to get involved with! </p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@westoncollege/video/7578829316994239766" data-video-id="7578829316994239766"><section><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@westoncollege?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@westoncollege">@westoncollege</a></p><p>Early Years students packed up a range of toys and necessities for the Samaritan's Shoebox Appeal! 🎄🎁</p><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-WestonCollege-7578829336062…; target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - WestonCollege">♬ original sound - WestonCollege</a></p></section></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>This initiative forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… and Early Years</u></a> Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. </p><p>Progress to the next level in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses-by-subject/education-and-early-years/"><u… and Early Years</u></a>! At <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>University Centre Weston (UCW)</u></a> our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>Click here!</u></a> </p><p><strong>If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…;. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.</strong> </p>
<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Earlier this month, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve…, Surveying and Planning for Construction T Level</u></strong></a> students were visited by <strong>Octavius Infrastructure</strong> to outline their current project on <strong>Winterstoke Road Railway Bridge </strong>starting this December. </p><p>Ben Krawiec, Project Manager at Octavius, and Julie Jones, Stakeholder & Social Value Manager at Octavius, visited our students to share their industry insight, discuss their journey into their roles, and outline the large local project that the Civil Engineering team are executing this year. </p><p>Octavius Infrastructure is a civil engineering and transport company that ensures efficient transport networks by keeping trains running smoothly and traffic moving on the roads, often working with major clients such as <strong>Network Rail </strong>and <strong>National Highways</strong>. </p><p>Ben is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Construction Project Manager at Octavius who has worked on many bridge projects throughout his career. He explained to the students what Octavius do for the community, his role within the company, and how they are improving railway lines. He also discussed their current project to rebuild the Winterstoke Road Railway Bridge in Weston-super-Mare. </p><p>Winterstoke Road Railway Bridge runs over the mainline railway connecting Bristol and the South West of England. It was built by the Ministry of Defence during the Second World War to provide easy access to the RAF’s aeroplane factory in Weston-super-Mare and remains an integral transport route for members of the public today. Due to the age of the bridge, it must now be replaced with a new structure that can withstand many more years of use in the future to ensure the bridge is not permanently closed. </p><p>This project is being funded by the <strong>Ministry of Defence</strong>, with <strong>Octavius Infrastructure</strong> acting as the Design and Build Project Contractors. To minimise the disruption, they have placed a temporary footbridge across the railway to allow for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the bridge whilst the work takes place. The bridge is due to be demolished over Christmas and work beginning in the New Year 2026. </p><p>However, this project has not been without its technical challenges, the main problem having to build the bridge on soft ground conditions, making it difficult to create a structure that will withstand heavy vehicles and pressure over time. They have also faced challenges with the statutory undertakers and the available time frames due to working closely with rail interface to work around their timetables to minimise disruptions to rail travel. Additionally, they are under a high-pressure timeline to complete the project and have many spatial restrictions due to the surrounding companies and residential areas. </p><p>Ben added that this project has been a learning curve for his own professional development due to the residential closeness of the construction site. In previous projects, he is used to working in more secluded areas, therefore noise has not been an issue. However, due to Winterstoke Road Railway Bridge being surrounded by residential areas, they have had to consider a new approach to avoid disruption as much as possible. </p><p>Ben and Julie handed out blueprints to students to show them the project plans, explaining the processes and reasonings behind certain decisions and give them a better understanding of the thorough details and drafts behind a project. </p><p>This guest lecture provides our students with excellent insight into a career as a Civil Engineer, hearing about the projects they could complete, the challenges they will likely face, and the factors that must be considered throughout large projects like this. </p><p>A big thank you to Ben and Julie from Octavius Infrastructure for taking the time to visit our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve… Level Construction</u></a> students and explain the work you are doing within the community. </p><p>This guest lecture forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. </p><p>Progress to the next level in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses-by-subject/engineering-and-construction/"…;! At <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>University Centre Weston (UCW)</u></a> our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>Click here!</u></a> </p><p><strong>If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…;. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.</strong> </p>
<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last month, a group of our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve… Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction</u></a> students visited the UK Construction Week Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham. This event is the UK's largest built environment event which showcases a range of international exhibitors. </p><p>This tradeshow exhibits 1000s of innovative products, services and materials for other like-minded individuals to experience and explore. it also gathers the top speakers within the sector to hold seminars and hands-on workshops where they discuss and debate the issues that affect the construction industry. </p><p>The trip provided an excellent opportunity for students to explore the latest innovations and technologies shaping the future of the construction industry. The show had a heavy focus on sustainability from Hybrid and Electric vehicles to Solar powered welfare units. </p><p>On top of this, the students’ experienced live demonstrations from different products and gained hands on insights from industry professionals. They even discovered a 3D concrete printing machine that could build the next generation of homes which gave the students a better understanding of the future of construction. </p><p>Students also got the chance to connect with smaller feeder companies that contribute to the overall UK construction market. This gave them a better understanding of the different opportunities available to them outside of larger corporations that help lay the foundations and create key elements in the construction industry. They received a variety of freebies and merchandise from different stands they engaged with. </p><p>Overall, the visit proved to be educational and beneficial with a range of fantastic networking opportunities. Students got the chance to experience new materials and innovative projects that exhibitors and professionals have created across the UK. Following this event, we hope to welcome some of the exhibitors as guest speakers to the College over the coming months. </p><p>Thank you to all the exhibitors and employers who engaged and interacted with our students. </p><p>This curriculum trip forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. </p><p>Progress to the next level in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses-by-subject/engineering-and-construction/"…;! At <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>University Centre Weston (UCW)</u></a> our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>Click here!</u></a> </p><p><strong>If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…;. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.</strong> </p><p> </p>
