COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS
Your Future Starts Here
With hundreds of exciting courses, this is where your journey begins. From day one, you'll be supported, inspired, and on track to a rewarding career.
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Whether you're finishing school, changing direction, or learning English with our ESOL courses – we’ve got you covered.
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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
Last year we met Lillie, a learner who lacked confidence, but had huge potential.
Lillie’s dream was to work as Healthcare Support Worker, and she started her journey with us, on a traineeship.
Traineeships give learners the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in a sector they are interested in, while also improving employability skills, English and Maths.
It wasn’t an easy start, as at first Lillie felt that she wasn’t ready to progress, but that simply wasn’t the case.
She impressed everyone on a daily basis, and her confidence started to grow. This resulted in Lillie gaining her first placement at St Michaels Hospital (UHBW), in the Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) Outpatients Department.
Lillie started by shadowing members of the team, before moving on to independent tasks. She soon became a proactive member of staff, making a great impact, resulting in her being asked to stay within the team when she was due to move onto another department.
On completion of her traineeship, Lillie was asked to apply for an apprenticeship, and she was offered a Level 2 Health Care Support Worker apprenticeship. Following Lillie’s amazing impact on her traineeship, the ENT department then requested Lillie to complete her apprenticeship with them – proof of the hard work and commitment shown throughout her traineeship.
The good news didn’t stop there. Earlier this year Lillie was nominated for Traineeship Learner of the Year, at the Weston College Business Awards, which she won!
She is now progressing very well on her apprenticeship, and we can’t wait to see her continued development.
On Wednesday we welcomed Ben, from the Royal Navy to talk to students in their first and second year from the Public Services Career Excellence Hub.
It was a fascinating insight into what a career in the Royal Navy is like, with Ben delivering a session on his experiences, covering aspects such as training and traveling. He also shared the wide variety of career paths with the Royal Navy.
Learners were fully engaged, and were then given the opportunity to ask questions to Ben, who gave an honest assessment on life within the Royal Navy, which inspired learners. Key themes brought up included how special it is to be part of the Royal Navy, how teamwork is a critical part of the career and also how it is an honour to protect the nation.
Learners from our Public Services courses go into a range of careers, from the emergency services to the military, and we feel it is important to provide learners with the opportunity to engage with industry and get a deeper understanding into what each career is like.
A big thank you to Ben for visiting us.
Find out more about our Public Services courses, by clicking here.
On Wednesday we welcomed Ben, from the Royal Navy to talk to students in their first and second year from the Public Services Career Excellence Hub.
It was a fascinating insight into what a career in the Royal Navy is like, with Ben delivering a session on his experiences, covering aspects such as training and traveling. He also shared the wide variety of career paths with the Royal Navy.
Scaffolding apprentices training at the Construction Training Centre, are going from strength to strength.
Before the Construction Training Centre opened, learners from the South West had long distances to travel in order to gain scaffolding accreditation, but now that is not the case.
Delivered in partnership with SIMIAN, the Scaffolding Apprenticeship is accredited to the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS). On the apprenticeship, learners develop their knowledge and work-based skills focusing on health and safety; handling, stacking, servicing and inspecting scaffolding materials.
Last year we started working Apex Scaffolding, and four of their apprentices are thriving as a result.
Curtis is currently at Stage 1a of his apprenticeship. He is particularly enjoying the hands-on aspect of the course and being part of a team that allows him to gain the valuable skills necessary for supporting colleagues as and when needed.
Kieran and Sam are currently at Stage 1b of their course, and both enjoy the wide variety of sites and project that a scaffolding career allows them to work on.
Charlie is in the very initial stages of his apprenticeship but is eager to learn more throughout the course at the Weston centre.
Matthew Cousins, Commercial Director at Apex Scaffolding, has said: “For anyone who is considering the apprenticeship route to becoming a scaffolder, the team have shown they’re able to provide excellent tuition, especially when candidates require the extra functional skills course of English and Maths.”
WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR ME?
