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
Last week, school students from across the South West spent the day with us at Weston College for a taster of what it’s like to study Performing Arts, here at our very own Knightstone Campus.
The students spent the day learning dance routines and how to warm up your vocals just like the pros. They even got to watch our own students rehearse and practice for one of their upcoming shows – giving them the perfect opportunity to experience a typical rehearsal day.
The students from Priory and Clevedon, learnt multitudes of professional dance, breathing and vocal exercises and finished their workshop with a group performance of Billy Elliot’s, Electricity.
Ashleigh Garfield from Priory School said “I am 100% sure that I will do this course now. I can’t wait to come”.
If you’re still unsure of what courses you’d like to study at college, sign up to one of our taster days to get a first-hand experience of what they’re really like. Our next workshops are due to run on Tuesday and Wednesday of the February half-term, and are available in most subject areas.
Take a look at what we have to offer and sign up to our FREE workshops here: www.weston.ac.uk/tasters
When Weston College bought the Winter Gardens for £1 in 2015, nobody could have guessed they'd do this to it...
We didn't turn the pond into a carpark
We cleaned out the pond on day one, and while the fish were on holiday we repaired the lining and installed new fountains and colour changing lights. We released the fish back in September 2017 and plan to plant the area up in 2018.
We didn't turn the ballroom into a lecture theatre
The ballroom has been refurbished, the floor fixed, and repairs have been carried out to the dome. New technology has been installed to bring the building into the 21st century while retaining its 1920s character. The ballroom is available for public booking, and we are already putting on a range of events for the public.
No more Prince Consort Hall
We have transformed the little-used Prince Consort Hall into a series of classrooms and independent study spaces.
There's a new entrance (but it isn't four stories tall...)
To keep the education and public side separate, we moved the public entrance back to the front of the building and turned an ugly 1980s concrete block into the new entrance to the education section of the building.
We've restored the iconic seafront facade
We've completely removed some of the 1980s additions to the facade of the building as well as intrusive signage that spoiled the building's aesthetics. We've installed more-subtle outdoor lighting and replaced all of the windows to make sure they match.
The cafe's more cosy
Leather sofas, booths, quality tables and chairs... The Florentine bistro (opened in October 2017) serves a selection of cakes, hot meals, sandwiches and baguettes.
The decor has had a much-needed update
It's more than just a lick of paint too - new lights, a new colour scheme, and new fixtures and fittings were all part of our plan to restore the iconic ballroom.
The restaurant's been moved
Located in the former Tourist Information Centre, Lasseter's Restaurant and Bar interprets the Winter Gardens' 1920s character with a modern twist. Serving a selection of locally-sourced dishes created by Head Chef Dave Newman, Lasseter's at the Winter Gardens brings together top-quality food and service in Weston-super-Mare's most iconic building.
It's got a new identity
On top of all of the upgrades, enhancements and refurbishment, we've updated the Winter Gardens' logo, designed by a former Weston College and University Centre Weston graphic design student.
The 2016/17 academic year was an exciting and ambitious year for the Weston College Group, which saw record success rates and the creation of sector-leading facilities. These successes were appraised at the College's annual Business Breakfast, which broght together hundreds of businesspeople from across the South West. Here is a summary of what the College did between September 2016 and August 2017...
We’ve received national recognition for our teaching
The Association of Colleges was so impressed with our teaching that they awarded us two out of the 11 Beacon Awards presented this year. Judges recognised our work towards creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment for our students with special educational needs and disabilities and our offender learners.
We’ve invested £25 million in our facilities
The money has gone towards refurbishing classrooms, installing the latest technology, and creating some of the most high-tech learning environments in the country. Most impressively, the successful refurbishment of the Winter Gardens has secured the building’s future as a community asset. We plan to invest a further £20 million in the current academic year to create specialist facilities for health, sport and construction.
Our success rates are at an all-time high
Our 16-18 achievement rates grew by 4% to 86.5%, and 90.7% of our adult learners successfully completed their courses. The overwhelming majority of our apprentices were taken on by their employers at the end of their course. Our 90% student satisfaction rate places us 18th on the FE Choices survey of colleges across the country.
We’ve been working with businesses to create apprenticeships
We work with over 1,400 businesses to deliver apprenticeships, and our new relationships with employers such as the Bristol Port Company, the Ministry of Defence and Rolls Royce means that we are bringing more and more apprenticeship opportunities to young people and adults across the South West.
We’ve put on free courses for the community
2017 saw us announce our first free adult leisure courses to great success. The courses helped hundreds of adults reengage with education, as well as teaching them some useful skills such as car mechanics, cooking, dancing and bricklaying.
For more information, contact the Marketing Department
WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR ME?
