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QUALIFICATIONS EXPLAINED
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.
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 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.
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.
LATEST NEWS
Weston College’s drive to create 600 work-related learning opportunities in six months has smashed through the halfway point well ahead of schedule.
The ‘600 in 6’ campaign has persuaded businesses from a range of industries to pledge more than 300 opportunities in just eight weeks. These include apprenticeships, traineeships, work placements and project briefs.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “One of the greatest challenges faced by the education sector, and society as a whole, is equipping people with the skills they need in an increasingly competitive and ever-changing world.
“The ‘600 in 6’ campaign takes up that challenge by seeking to inspire the future workforce, and supplementing learning programmes with relevant workplace skills and experience.”
Among the businesses to have pledged are: University Hospitals of Bristol, Weston-super-Mare AFC, Wookey Hole Caves and Little Angels Nursery.
YMCA Dulverton Group, which has pledged to train existing staff through Flexible Learning, are also offering four apprenticeship places to Weston College learners.
Jonica Walkinshaw, Director of Training and Education at YMCA Dulverton Group, said: “We are delighted to back the 600 in 6 campaign, and to develop local talent.
“We have decided to upskill 32 existing employees through 600 in 6, and also hire four new apprentices. We cannot wait to help them on their journey, and watch them develop within our organisation.
“Weston College has been very supportive. It has allowed us to build a bespoke package, which suits the needs of the YMCA Dulverton Group.”
You can keep an eye on the campaign’s progress across social media, and through the #600in6 hashtag on Twitter.
For more information and to pledge, click here.
You can also email the Training Solutions team at apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk or call on 01934 411 594.
The talented soap makers at HMP Eastwood enjoyed a bumper day at the Gloucestershire WI’s AGM last week.
They sold their entire stock of 100 bars of Eastwood Soap before lunch-time at the event held at Cheltenham Town Hall.
Eastwood Soaps produces a range of luxury and novelty glycerine soaps, handmade by the women at HMP Eastwood Park Prison. The women enrol on a four-week craft and retail course, and once they are trained in soap-making they get the chance to make some of the luxury soap, which then goes out for retail sale.
The soaps are sold by three retailers:
- Berkeley Castle (GL13 9PJ)
- Leyhill Grounds Coffee Shop (GL12 8BT)
- Jail House Café, The Verne (DT5 1EQ).
To find out more about Eastwood Soaps, click here
Students and staff at Weston College have been busy raising money for chosen charities as part of their annual Raising and Giving (RAG) week.
Compared to 2018’s total of £3,600, the combined effort managed to raise an incredible £5,900 for mental health charity Young Minds and local organisation Weston Hospicecare.
Across the week, money was raised through a number of different ways including talent shows, cake sales and an entire day of fancy dress. From sponsored silences to Gecko inspired haircuts, each department also arranged a fundraising event for students and staff to get involved with.
Uniformed Public Services students rowed the equivalent distance of the 24 highest mountains in the world and Inclusive practice students managed to travel 475km (the distance from London to Paris) by walking, running and rowing throughout the week. The Computing department managed exciting events such as Beat Sabre on the VR, a Golf chip challenge and a Nerf gun firing range, raising a total of £1,400 as a department.
Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips CBE commented: “The atmosphere across campus is always vibrant and full of positivity during RAG Week. This annual fundraising event is a fantastic opportunity for our learners to contribute to our community and raise aspirations by helping others. Yet again our staff and learners went above and beyond and, as ever, bucked the trend.”
After receiving a cheque from Dr Paul, Simon Angear from Weston Hospicecare added:
“Weston Hospicecare is once again enormously grateful to all staff and students at Weston College for their fabulous efforts on our behalf during RAG Week.
“We love hearing about all the different activities held to raise money, and were bowled over by some of the creativity displayed in some of this year’s events.
“Community support is vital to the hospice, and this wonderful donation from Weston College will play a big part in helping us continue to care for our patients across Weston-super-Mare and beyond.”
A massive thank-you goes to all of the staff and students for their generosity and dedication to raise such an amazing amount for some brilliant causes.
Please see below the list of winners for the RAG week awards 2019.
Most Innovative Fundraising Idea
Dungeon and Dragons Escape Room Challenge - Will Price and Jon Barnett (Engineering and Computing)
Best Use of Digital
Sponsored Silence Communication Through Assistive Technology – Zoe Benton, Paul Kelly, Lorna Whitford (Extension Studies)
Most Money Raised by a Staff Member
'£891.16 - Cameron Lyes (Engineering and Computing)
Most Money Raised by a Student
Super Smash Bros Tournament £126 – Tom Jory (AEC Faculty)
Most Money Raised by a Faculty
£1,400 - Faculty of Engineering and Computing
Outstanding Commitment to RAG
Gecko Inspired hair cut - Rob Heaton (Sixth Form)
Best Dressed Faculty
101 Dalmatians – Management Information Systems
Best Challenge
Mountain Rowing Challenge - Uniformed Public Services
Best Event
Extension Studies Talent Show – Faculty of Inclusive Practice
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