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="1 1 []">We caught up with Lily a former learner who studied Media Production and is now working at Aardman Animations!</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"> </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><strong>Who are you and what is your current job role?</strong></p><p><em>My name is Lily, and I current work as an Assistant Animator at </em><a href="https://www.aardman.com/"><em>Aardman Animations.</em></a><em> My job role includes testing and animating sequences, creating and preparing puppets and mouth sets.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>Can you share a bit about your journey from Weston College to where you are today?</strong></p><p><em>I did my </em><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat… in Media Production</em></a><em> in 2011 at Weston college, as one of the modules focused on Stop Motion Animation which I had an interest in. I then stayed at Weston College to do the </em><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… Foundation Course in Art & Design</em></a><em> so I could continue making stop-motion films and developing my skills. After that course finished, I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted to do next as I felt a bit burnt out, so took a 5-year gap out of education. When I felt I was ready and my heart was back in it, I went to University of the West of England to study Animation. In my third year, I got work experience at Aardman Animations and have continued working in the industry following my graduation. Some recent projects include </em><a href="https://www.aardman.com/film-tv-games/wallace-gromit/"><em>Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl</em></a><em> and series 2 & 3 of </em><a href="https://www.aardman.com/film-tv-games/the-very-small-creatures/"><em>The Very Small Creatures</em></a><em>.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>Many young people feel pressured to have their entire career mapped out early on. Looking back, how did your own career path evolve over time?</strong></p><p><em>I definitely felt a lot of pressure in that area, I knew I wanted to work in the creative industry but I started to feel a bit burnt out from education, so decided to take a break and gain real-world experience. I've worked in hospitality, I've worked in an office, I've picked up event jobs, fancy dress costume work on occasion, just a range of things that let me live and have fun without the pressure of having everything mapped out. It wasn't until I applied for another office job that I realised I didn't want to do that type of work anymore; it stopped bringing me joy, and I wanted to pursue working in the creative industry again. It felt like the right time to get back into it and pursue it for my own reasons.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>Were there any pivotal moments or unexpected opportunities that shaped your career in ways you didn’t anticipate?</strong></p><p><em>I think a big moment for my career path was when I realised, I didn't want to work in an office anymore. Although the job was for a creative company, I realised I missed being the one who created and crafted things. When I had that realisation and turned down that job, I knew I'd made the right decision and started looking into universities that did Animation courses. During my 3rd year when I was offered work experience on </em><a href="https://www.aardman.com/film-tv-games/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget/">… Run 2</em></a><em> with Aardman, it was my first time being in a proper working studio, and it completely blew my mind. The scale, the creativity, it suddenly clicked in me that this was somewhere I really wanted to be and a career I wanted to pursue.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>How important has adaptability been in your career? Are there any specific examples you’d like to share?</strong></p><p><em>Adaptability really is important. In my current job role as an assistant animator, I have to adapt to whatever is required of me on each project. That could be sculpting, animating, rigging or prop making, it all varies. My very first paid job in the industry, I had no experience in a studio or workshop environment, and was asked to do a lot of things I'd never done before. I just tried to be calm, listen and ask for advice if I wasn't sure. It took a while to build my confidence but eventually I started to trust my abilities more and wasn't as scared to ask people for help if I was unsure or had messed something up. </em></p><p><em>The industry is also unpredictable. Even though I'm in my dream job, I sometimes have to jump back into office or hospitality roles. Because animation/film jobs are mainly contract or freelance, there have been times where I've not had constant work so I have to pick-up part-time jobs to fill the gaps. People who've been in the industry for 20+ years and are skilled experienced animators still often have to do this too, so always be prepared to adapt when you need to.</em></p><p> </p><p> <strong>What advice would you give to students who feel uncertain about their future career path?</strong></p><p><em>Listen to yourself. If something doesn't feel quite right or you don't feel that you're ready, don't force it. Taking a step back or a little bit of time out isn't a bad thing, it helps give you some breathing space to really look at what it is you want to do, and what's going to make you happy. You'll know when you're ready, so don't force it.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>In a world where industries and job roles are constantly evolving, how can young professionals stay open to new opportunities and remain agile in their careers?</strong></p><p><em>Try not to pigeonhole yourself into one thing. When I applied for Aardman as a trainee assistant animator, they wanted to see evidence that I could animated, but also examples of sculpting and crafting too. I love being creative in a variety of ways so I had plenty to show them and the feedback was very positive. If you stick to just one specific thing, you're missing out on the chance to learn so much more that could actually benefit your area of interest. Talk to people, ask questions, show an interest and people will often respond in kind. It also helps broaden your job opportunities if you've got a varied skillset. It's a tough industry, so give yourself the best chance of standing out.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?</strong></p><p><em>I'd say to my younger self, stop worrying about what you think you 'should' be doing or what other people think you 'should' be doing, and trust your instincts. I'm glad I chose to take that gap in education. I gained a lot of useful life skills, had a lot of fun, made some brilliant friends and learned a lot about myself. I also regained my love for animation so I could pursue it on my own terms when I was ready. I was doing it just for me, no one else.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to add?</strong></p><p><em>I'm grateful to my tutors at Weston College for helping me to pursue my love of stop-motion animation. They let me make an absolute mess of the studios to make my films, gave me advice on workshops and courses to look into and helped me when I was ready to finally apply for university. I never really thought I'd actually end up working in the industry, and although I went the long way about it, I'm so glad that I did it that way.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>A big thank you to Lily for sharing her journey with us!</strong></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study?utm_source=main-menu&utm_… you would like to study at Weston College, you can find out more about our courses, by clicking here.</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:"Hco Gotham", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.6em;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;width:1194.25px;word-spacing:0px;"> </p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:"Hco Gotham", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.6em;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;width:1194.25px;word-spacing:0px;"> </p>
<p>Today, <a href="https://www.somerset-chamber.co.uk/">Somerset Chamber of Commerce</a> hosted a <strong>Business Brunch</strong> at The Grove, located at our Knightstone Campus. The event provided a valuable opportunity for businesses from across Somerset to come together, connect, and network. The brunch included a compelling fireside chat between<strong> Pat Jones,</strong> Principal and CEO of Weston College Group, and <strong>David Crew,</strong> Managing Director of <a href="https://www.somerset-chamber.co.uk/">Somerset Chamber of Commerce</a>. Together, they explored Pat’s<strong> career journey, leadership approaches, </strong>and her <strong>vision for the future of Weston College</strong>. Following the conversation, attendees were invited to engage directly by asking Pat questions, which led to insightful discussions.</p><p>Pat highlighted the important role that businesses play in shaping the futures of students and young people through opportunities such as T Level placements, apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, and supported internships. Drawing on her own journey – as she began her own career through an apprenticeship - Pat shared how transformative such opportunities can be, offering life-changing personal and professional growth for both young people and adults.</p><p>The brunch itself was well prepared and served by our wonderful <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… 1 Hospitality and Catering</a> learners, earning praise from many attendees. Thank you to all of the learners who contributed - your hard work and professionalism helped make the Brunch a thoroughly enjoyable experience for everyone!</p><p> </p><drupal-entity data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8220de09-bcd5-42c2-8f9b-fb99e318406b" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p> </p><drupal-entity data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7f35dd90-76c3-4cdb-8dd0-5fe0433b8d44" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p> </p><p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">A group of Year 2 </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">BTEC Civil Engineering</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> learners recently visited <strong>Beard Construction Ltd</strong>’s site at the <strong>Bristol Zoo Project</strong> in North Bristol. The visit was part of the national <strong>“Open Doors” initiative</strong>, organised by <strong>Build UK</strong>, which offers students and members of the public a chance to explore live construction sites and discover the diverse career opportunities within the industry. The event was arranged by Bev Parfitt, the Social Value Co-Ordinator at <strong>Beard Construction</strong>.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The visit began with a Health and Safety briefing at the site offices, followed by an overview of the £9.2 million project, delivered by Beard’s site management team. The project involves the construction of a new Central African Forest habitat at the Bristol Zoo Project, which will bring together critically endangered Western lowland gorillas and endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys for the first time in a UK zoo.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Learners were then taken on a guided tour of the site, where they observed key stages of the construction process. Highlights included the installation of pre-cast concrete retaining walls, steel frame installation, and roof construction. The group also took note of the foundation construction methods as these closely aligned with topics currently being covered in their coursework.</span></p><drupal-entity alt=""A learner being shown the levelling of concrete walls"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0fe02ed4-334c-4448-a1fd-eab1dc3ae4eb" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Students also witnessed the lifting and placement of a concrete unit, learning how these elements are installed with precision to ensure they meet the required tolerances and remain level. This gave them valuable insight into the practical application of engineering principles.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The students also loved seeing some of the zoo’s animals, including red pandas and giraffes, observing the construction activity.</span></p><drupal-entity alt=""A red panda poking through trees"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8c1cdb4a-d784-4c8b-829f-ababf80c5fa4" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p> </p><drupal-entity alt=""A giraffe poking between 2 trees"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2fb41cfa-045e-49a2-bc53-0aa21d8fffc2" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The project is expected to be completed by late summer 2025 and handed over to the client. Daniel Comerford, </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Construction</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> Professions Lecturer at Weston College, commented, “The learners and staff found the visit very interesting and exciting. It was inspiring to see such a complex construction project being carried out to such a high standard. It was also a great opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real-world construction practice.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">A big thank you to the <strong>Beard Construction</strong> site team for their time and insight. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and provide learners with more hands-on experiences in the construction industry.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">If you’re interested in applying to one of our Construction courses, click here.</span></a></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-top:16px;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><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></span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>. 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></span></p>
