COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS
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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 will launch their new adult course guide at the Festival of Learning on Saturday (15th June). The course guide is packed full of courses to help you add to your CV, change career or gain the qualifications you need to apply for university.
The courses are flexible (class-based, distance or online), allowing you to study around other commitments and get ahead of the competition. If you’re looking for advice, College staff will be on hand to tell you what’s on offer, help you enrol, offer career advice and help with your CV.
You could even learn an exciting new hobby. The 2019/20 adult course guide includes courses on 3D printing, blacksmithing, milling and turning, VR and game creation, computer coding, tackling garden projects, carpentry, car maintenance, 3D drawing, cake decorating and forestry skills … the opportunities are endless!
Pick up your copy at the Festival of Learning on Saturday 15th June at the Winter and Italian Gardens between 11am and 3pm. Find out more about the Festival of Leaning.
Can’t make it to the Festival of Learning?
On Saturday 15th June our website will be updated with all the latest part-time courses. Here, you can find the course that is right for you by searching for keywords or browsing the new categories:
- Change career
- Advance career
- Employers
- Get a degree
- Get into work
- Health & wellbeing
- Online Learning
- New hobby.
At Weston College, we feel it is important for students to meet industry professionals and get a taste for industry life. We invite businesses in, to talk to our learners and inspire the next generation.
One business that visited last year, is Bristol and Cardiff based marketing agency, Cre8ion. We asked their CEO Darrell Irwin, a few questions about his business, and the importance of engaging with tomorrow’s workforce.
Who are Cre8ion and what do you offer?
At Cre8ion we have developed a brand automation product called Genesis Brands. This cutting edge approach to branding is helping start-ups get a head start. Removing the cost of time and talent using a branding agency would entail the user answers questions and the system generates brands, both in a cloud for you to download and useable assets to get your message out there!
Why did you decide to inspire students through a guest lecture?
We believe tomorrow’s generation will help us innovate for the needs of tomorrow. Apple have been doing this for years and businesses that ‘get it’ secure legacy.
You can teach theory but by using this product we could help them build a brand using that theory and have the ability to execute their brand in minutes not days.
We are committed to helping students and entrepreneurs punch above their weight without spending thousands.
Were there any specific highlights you had whilst working with Weston College learners?
That 60 students built 60 great brands in minutes and were amazed that they could bring an idea to life so quickly.
How has your automation system helped develop Weston College learners?
A practical understanding with brand and practical application made for a great workshop with applied knowledge.
Essentially, they students had access to 25 years of knowledge online!
They made design choices quickly while getting a clear idea of what mission, vision and values actually are.
What advice would you give to a business considering running sessions with Weston College learners?
We’d advise other employers to make use of this great opportunity – we got to expose our business to the future generation. My tips would be make sure that students have a clear outcome and gain knowledge that can be applied to their own personal career journey.
You can check out Cre8ion’s Genesis brand here.
If you are interested in delivering a guest lecture, or joining our business network, please fill in the form below.
Two graduates from the BA (Hons) Graphic Design, run in partnership with Bath Spa University, have taken up graduate designer roles with Dyson.
Amelia Hurrell and Laura Hughes both graduated with First Class Honours in 2013 and had been working as freelance designers as well as taking up intern positions - Amelia at Sky Creative, having won the New Designers Sky Award 2013, and Laura at Proctor and Stevenson, a prestigious web design company.
Thanks to the strong reputation of the College’s degree provision in Graphic Design, Victoria Norcross, Programme Co-ordinator for FdA and BA (Hons) Graphic Design, was contacted by Ben Tappenden, Creative Head of Graphics and Packaging at Dyson and asked to recommend some graduates for the role of Junior Designer. Amelia and Laura were both successful at interview.
Ben said: “The candidates from Weston College were strong in interview and had encouraging portfolios. Laura and Amelia are competent and exciting graduate designers with a good sense of fun, enthusiasm, confidence, professionalism and ambition in abundance.”
Victoria said: "The achievements of these students are testament to the excellent work-based opportunities they had whilst studying at Weston College. It's great to see them being so highly regarded and working in high-profile companies so soon after graduating."
Amelia said: “The BA (Hons) in Graphic Design degree at Weston College was the perfect springboard for me. It provided the necessary skills and experience - through work placements and communication with local design agencies - to be successful at interview and secure a graduate job with Dyson. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Dyson so far, having been involved in a wide range of projects that have allowed me to exercise the skills I learnt at the College, and I can’t wait to see what challenges await me in the future.”
Laura said: “Studying at Weston College equipped me with skills and real world experience to give me the best possible start to my career. If I hadn’t been to Weston I doubt I could have gained my position at Dyson. Since starting in my role I have been involved in a wide range of really interesting projects and been through a great graduate induction programme. It’s amazing to work for such a big company that is so well respected and always at the cutting edge of design."
WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR ME?
