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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 is delighted to receive a special tree from The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) “Tree of Trees” which stood tall as a message of hope, regeneration and optimism to the nation and the world as part of the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations.
Weston College joins over 300 organisations from across the UK who were recently announced by the QGC as recipients of these special trees in The Queen’s name, which are gifted in a pot embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher.
In honour and loving memory of Her Majesty, the College held a ceremonial planting for the gifted tree at their South West Skills Campus, on Wednesday 12th October where it was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Mrs Annie Maw.
The tree becomes part of the living legacy in honour of Her Majesty, joining over a million trees already planted across the UK as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy.
Led by its Principal and Chief Executive Sir Paul Phillips CBE, the College has been a large supporter of the QGC encouraging its students, staff and employer partners to plant trees across the region and continuing to promote the importance of sustainability. The College also worked with the Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Annie Maw to support the third leg of a 70-mile trek, the ‘Jubilee Jaunt’ from Clevedon to Exmoor, which was split into seven, ten-mile sections to celebrate the region as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, in partnership with Duke of Edinburgh leaders and students.
Sir Phillips commented: “We are thrilled to be chosen for our contribution to the North Somerset community, this tree, in The Queen’s name, will serve as inspiration for tree planting within our communities and encourage care for the trees which already exist as part of our nation’s stunning landscape. It is an absolute privilege to support the Queen’s Green Canopy, helping to create a legacy to honour Her Majesty’s extraordinary service to her country and to her people.”
As part of T Level Celebration week, we caught up with some learners in their second year of the Construction T Level course.
When asked about the process behind choosing a T Level, one learner told us “I’d heard a lot about T Levels while I was doing my A Levels and once I finished, I was fairly directionless as I knew I didn’t want to go to university. I thought I may as well give them a go and find out, and I’m so glad I did – the mix between the theory and practice works so well for me! Putting what you’ve learnt into context in the wider world is so rewarding, and something you don’t get on your average construction course.”
One of the key elements that learners study on the T Level course, is sustainability in construction; adapting to the new environmentally-friendly ideas and building techniques that are being introduced. However, they know that with time and practice, these new ideas will become second nature. The learners pointed out that one of the many benefits of completing a construction qualification, is that these new techniques are taught to the new generation of tradesmen and become the norm.
The learners emphasised how lucky each of them were with the placements they were able to secure: “All the people I work with are great, and have taught me so much about the day-to-day realities of working on site – things you wouldn’t necessarily learn in a classroom. I also think it’s so important to feel part of the team and valued for the work that you’re contributing.”
Having high quality construction learners is so important and furthermore, having learners with a focus on being environmentally friendly is ideal.
We can’t wait to see the successes our T Level learners have, we know they’re going to have very bright futures!
You may have seen news that a proposal was tabled to stop a small number of local bus services from October 2022 – the X2 Yatton to Bristol, the X5 Weston-super-Mare to Bristol serving Clevedon and Portishead and the 126 from Weston-super-Mare to Wells, serving Locking, Banwell, Sandford and Winscombe.
We are pleased to announce that First Bus and North Somerset Council have now agreed to re-introduce the last part of the X5 service so that it now travels all the way into Weston town centre, with the final stop being Marine Parade. The changes were going to see the service terminate at Worle Sainsbury’s from October (see below post on 18th August). At the same time, they have agreed to add in additional stops in Portishead to provide more accessible pick up points for our learners travelling from that town. Please see below a copy of the timetable of the X5 which begins on 10/10/2022.
|
Service No |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
|
Weston-s-Mare, Marine Parade |
05:50 |
07:00 |
08:00 |
09:00 |
10:00 |
11:00 |
12:00 |
13:00 |
14:00 |
15:00 |
16:00 |
17:00 |
18:00 |
|
Weston, Regent Street |
05:52 |
07:02 |
08:02 |
09:02 |
10:02 |
11:02 |
12:02 |
13:02 |
14:02 |
15:02 |
16:02 |
17:02 |
18:02 |
|
Worle, Sainsburys |
06:08 |
07:20 |
08:20 |
09:18 |
10:18 |
11:18 |
12:18 |
13:18 |
14:18 |
15:18 |
16:18 |
17:18 |
18:18 |
|
Clevedon, Old Street |
06:33 |
07:45 |
08:45 |
09:43 |
10:43 |
11:43 |
12:43 |
13:43 |
14:43 |
15:43 |
16:43 |
17:43 |
18:43 |
|
Weston-in-Gordano, White Hart |
06:41 |
07:54 |
08:54 |
09:51 |
10:51 |
11:51 |
12:51 |
13:51 |
14:51 |
15:52 |
16:52 |
17:52 |
18:52 |
|
Portishead, White Lion |
06:49 |
08:02 |
09:02 |
09:59 |
10:59 |
11:59 |
12:59 |
13:59 |
14:59 |
16:00 |
17:00 |
18:00 |
19:00 |
|
Service No |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
X5 |
|
|
Portishead, White Lion |
06:50 |
08:03 |
09:03 |
10:00 |
11:00 |
12:00 |
13:00 |
14:00 |
15:00 |
16:00 |
||
|
Portishead, The Precinct D |
07:00 |
08:13 |
09:13 |
10:10 |
11:10 |
12:10 |
13:10 |
14:10 |
15:10 |
16:10 |
||
|
Portishead, The Precinct D |
07:05 |
08:18 |
09:18 |
10:15 |
11:15 |
12:15 |
13:15 |
14:15 |
15:15 |
16:15 |
||
|
Avon Way |
07:09 |
08:22 |
09:22 |
10:19 |
11:19 |
12:19 |
13:19 |
14:19 |
15:19 |
16:19 |
||
|
Weston-in-Gordano, White Hart |
07:20 |
08:33 |
09:33 |
10:30 |
11:30 |
12:30 |
13:30 |
14:30 |
15:30 |
16:30 |
||
|
Clevedon, Triangle |
07:25 |
07:30 |
08:43 |
09:43 |
10:40 |
11:40 |
12:40 |
13:40 |
14:40 |
15:40 |
16:40 |
|
|
Worle, Sainsburys |
07:49 |
07:54 |
09:07 |
10:07 |
11:04 |
12:04 |
13:04 |
14:04 |
15:04 |
16:04 |
17:04 |
|
|
Weston-s-Mare, Marine Parade |
08:14 |
08:19 |
09:32 |
10:27 |
11:24 |
12:24 |
13:24 |
14:24 |
15:27 |
16:27 |
17:27 |
Other updates include:
Unfortunately, the 126 service that runs to/from Weston-super-Mare is no longer running. We have over the last couple of months posted various updates on this and just want to reiterate that learners travelling from Cheddar and on the 126 route still have travel options available to them.
Students can easily purchase a Bakers Dolphin travel pass for £90 that allows them great value for money travel to college on our bespoke service with Bakers. The Cheddar route supplies Axbridge, Banwell, Locking and all college campuses. Simply visit here to find out timetable information and how to purchase the Bakers Dolphin travel pass.
We will continue to negotiate with First Bus and North Somerset Council about the 126 being reinstated to/from WsM and will provide updates via our socials and MyWeston app.
A reminder that all information on our bus services can be found here TRAVELLING TO COLLEGE | Weston College and both bus passes are now available for purchase:
-
First Bus mTicket should be purchased via the online college shop
-
Bakers Dolphin services via their passenger app or website
Unfortunately, there will no longer be a X2 and 126 service from October 9th 2022. Even though this will impact some learners, we do have our own bespoke Bakers Dolphin services that can provide direct routes to our campuses. Our Bakers Dolphin services run from:
- Bridgwater
- Blagdon (covering Sandford, Banwell in terms of the 126)
- Cheddar
- Clevedon (in case the new X5 does not meet needs)
- Nailsea (that has been adjusted to cover the X2 route inc. Claverham and Yatton)
- Portishead (in case the new X5 does not meet needs)
All information on our bus services can be found here and both bus passes are now available for purchase:
- First Bus mTicket should be purchased via the online college shop
- Bakers Dolphin services via their passenger app or website
We are committed to ensure that learners and staff are able to access our campuses in a convenient and sustainable manner and will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly. If you have any concerns please contact us at enquiries@weston.ac.uk or 01934 411 411.
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