COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS
Your Future Starts Here
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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
With the looming UCAS deadline (15th January) many students are confused and wondering what is best to do…
If you’re still undecided on where to go or what to study, check out this short guide to picking the best university and course for you.
What courses are you passionate about?
If you find a course that you’re interested in then it will make your time at university fly by. If you love the course then those all-nighters in the library will not feel quite so bad and your grades will be represented by the extra work you put in.
Read the course details
It would be a bit of a pain if you turn up at university and one of your modules isn’t right for you. Make sure you check (and double check) the course details to find the course best suited to you and your future aspirations.
Employment routes
The job market is very competitive, searching for a university with a good reputation when it comes to getting graduates into work should certainly be a strong consideration. Some universities include work experience as part of their course and you can even get a year’s internship in industry which will help you stand out from the crowd when applying for your first graduate position.
Do you want to stay at home?
If you like your home comforts then you certainly would not be alone in not wanting to move to halls. Many students live at home and commute to university, so if you think you’re not ready to leave just yet - look at your options close to home. After your first year you might then feel ready to flee the nest, and you can choose exactly who you’re going to live with. We have a fantastic university centre on our doorstep, which delivers a range of high-quality degrees in partnership with Bath Spa and the University of the West of England in Bristol.
Do you want to leave home?
If you’re the opposite and can’t wait to leave then it is worth considering the distance. You might surprise yourself when you move away and want to visit home more regularly than you originally planned so it’s worth considering transport options. After all a four hour train journey is a bit far to get your washing done.
Money
Becoming a student is not cheap, you will receive a student loan but it is worth researching the cost of living in the area your top choice universities are based. Some areas of the country are very expensive and being able to afford to live has to be a top consideration as you will be there for at least three years.
Go with your gut
Finally, it is definitely worth going with your gut. You are most likely getting told to go different places by different people and these might not be universities that you would normally consider. It is best to go with what you feel personally is best and suits you, and this should make settling in a lot easier.
Don’t stress too much about this deadline, there is always the opportunity to go through clearing if necessary once you have received your grades. If you need any guidance on your application then contact UCAS lead Hamish Gilpin on hamish.gilpin@weston.ac.uk, or call on 01934 422742.
Weston College has revealed the winners of its National Careers Week CV Competition.
Students from across the College were encouraged to put their CV writing skills to use during the College's 'How employable are you?' competitions, which saw prizes worth £50 up for grabs.
The CVs were judged by a panel which included members of the College's human resources department and recruiters at Bristol Airport.
The triumphant winners were Scott Aldridge and Esme Taylor, and prizes were also awarded to runners up Alexandra Elliott, Samuel Folland, Amy Evans and Jordan Marsh.
Finalists received individual feedback from our recruitment specialists, and every student who entered the competition was given advice to improve their CV from the College's progression team.
Click here to see our CV writing advice.
Weston College has been awarded a prestigious accreditation after a comprehensive evaluation of staff satisfaction.
‘Best Companies’, who compile ‘The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For’ lists gave the College a two-star accreditation after carrying out an exhaustive survey of staff.
The survey is a set of 70 academically designed questions based on eight ‘factors of workplace engagement’. The questions are confidential, so respondents are free to be completely honest.
When the survey’s complete, organisations receive a Best Companies Index (BCI) score – which is Best Companies’ unique measure of workplace engagement.
To earn its rating, the College had to show evidence of ‘outstanding’ commitment to workplace engagement. The accreditation tells clients, partners, investors and employees that the organisation understands the importance of workplace engagement and genuinely values its people.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Weston College’s Principal and CEO, said: “Best Companies are the experts in gauging the multitude of factors that separate good employers from the rest.
“To achieve the two-star accreditation is a significant achievement and speaks volumes of what our staff think about working for the College. We are one of the top-performing colleges in the UK and my staff are key to that success.
“It’s no secret that FE providers across the country are feeling the pinch from repeated and prolonged budget cuts. But, nonetheless, we're continually investing in our staff.
"We understand the importance of remunerating staff who perform well, and making them feel valued – or you run the risk of losing them, to the detriment of your learners.”
Alongside this accolade the College has also been awarded the Investors in People (IIP) Gold Standard, which is held by less than 2% of UK businesses and demonstrates commitment to invest in staff to improve performance. The College is also an Investors in People ‘Champion’ – a prestigious award given to IIP role models.
WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR ME?
