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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 has smashed through its target of creating 600 work-related learning opportunities in six months.
The ambitious ‘600 in 6’ campaign aimed to persuade businesses to ‘pledge’ a range of opportunities to help learners gain the knowledge and they skills they need in workplace. These include apprenticeship, traineeship and work experience places.
It expanded on last year’s successful drive to create 200 apprenticeship vacancies in 100 days by including the College’s full range of work-based training services.
The campaign far exceeded expectations, securing 697 pledges in five months from business such as Wookey Hole Caves, Sedgemoor Council, Smurfit Kappa, Wessex Water and Carbase.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “It is highly impressive that we have managed to create opportunities for over 600 learners to gain experience with some of the best companies in the region.
“This year we wanted to showcase our full employer offer – to see businesses get behind this has been particularly exciting.
“Many organisations feel that they are suffering from a skills gap, and this campaign shows that we are actively supporting the community and matching enthusiastic learners with forward-thinking employers.
“Throughout this campaign we have built new relationships with employers, and I look forward to these progressing further in the future. Thank you to all of our employers and regional partners for supporting such a valuable initiative.”
If you’d still like to pledge an opportunity to the ‘600 in 6’ campaign, there’s still time. Find out more by speaking to our award-winning Training Solutions team on 01934 411 594.
Three Weston College lecturers have been chosen to join Microsoft’s global network of educator experts. This means a wealth of benefits and possibilities for learners.
Louise Pratten, lecturer in English, Shaun LaTouche, lecturer in Foundation Learning and Lynne Richards, lecturer in ICT, have been awarded Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert status.
As MIE experts, the trio will get to use a huge range of the technology giant’s resources and programmes and be able to test new products before they’re released. They’ll also have the opportunity to share innovative and exciting teaching methods with thousands of fellow experts around the world.
And this will all be channelled into developing innovative teaching methods and engaging learning environments – with the ultimate aim of improving the learner experience.
The MIE experts will have the expertise and knowledge to:
- Enable learners to get the best out of Microsoft’s resources
- Use technology to spark learners’ creativity and uncover hidden talents
- Help learners overcome barriers to learning and support learners with special educational needs or disabilities
- Create more inclusive learner-centred classrooms and environments
- Communicate more effectively with classes and encourage learners to collaborate with a range of resources
- Create learning resources in a variety of formats to suit a range of needs and learning styles.
Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft, perfectly sums up the role MIE experts play: “Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts are inspiring examples of educators, applying new ways of teaching and learning in their classrooms that motivate learners and empower them to achieve more.
“We celebrate and support the work they do every day.”
This news follows hot on the heels of the announcement that we are one of 14 providers in the UK to be awarded ‘Microsoft Showcase College’ status.
As a Showcase College, we’ll benefit from billions of pounds of research and knowledge, as well as Microsoft’s support in the personalising student education. This includes the use of one-to-one devices, Office 365 Education, Office Mix, OneNote, Skype, Minecraft and more.
Interested in joining us, browse our courses:
Weston College has spent more than £1 million improving and extending facilities in time for the new term.
The work has been carried out over the summer at the Knightstone, South West Skills (SWS) and Loxton Campuses and has been welcomed by students and staff as the new term gets underway.
There have been major changes to the Higher Education (HE) floor at Knightstone Campus, plus improvements to facilities for Hospitality and Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) students. The SWS Campus on Locking Road has benefited from a major extension into an existing building that now houses the College's bespoke Motor Vehicle Workshop, related classrooms and superb IT facilities (including vehicle diagnostics).
Also new for the College are new Painting and Decorating and Multi-Trade areas and new bays for the popular Plumbing course, all based at the College's Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence (CECE).
On the sixth floor of the Knightstone Campus a new HE Centre has been created. This architecturally designed area features the use of natural materials including oak doors and matching walkways. The new facility accommodates a new lecture theatre, an open study area, welfare / support rooms and new science labs.
The teaching kitchen for students with LDD, including wheelchair-friendly facilities, has been refurbished on the third floor of the building and the second-floor Grove training restaurant has seen the creation of improved kitchen facilities and changing areas.
A new photographic studio and an extended staff room has also been created at the College's Loxton Campus in Loxton Road.
Weston College Assistant Principal (Systems and Resources) Linda Burlison said: “The extensive work completed over the summer will benefit both learners and staff, underlining the fact that as a College we are prepared to make significant investment for the future.”
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