COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS
Your Future Starts Here
With hundreds of exciting courses, this is where your journey begins. From day one, you'll be supported, inspired, and on track to a rewarding career.
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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
There are so many cooking and hospitality programmes dominating television – from Bake Off and Come Dine With Me to MasterChef and Hell’s Kitchen. But have you ever wondered what it would really be like to work in the industry?
You can travel the world
Being a chef is the ideal career for anyone with a bit of wanderlust, because you can be a chef anywhere in the world, and sometimes you will end up travelling to discover new flavours and techniques!
You never stop learning
As a chef, you are constantly learning new things, experimenting and perfecting your technique. You’ll never reach a point where you know it all, because it’s such a diverse career that there is always more to learn.
It’s not like the TV programmes
Some TV chefs paint a certain (sometimes very solo!) image of being a chef, and while the job doesn’t come without pressure it’s very different to the occasionally glamorous TV portrayal. Be prepared to work, but also remember you’ll have a team of people supporting you.
You’ll probably work long hours
Everyone looking to embark on a career as a chef needs to be prepared for long, unsociable hours – that’s just one of the realities of the job. But you can be sure that, while this seems daunting, it’s one of the most rewarding and varied professions for the right person.
There’s always progression routes in your career
Because hospitality is such a diverse industry, there’s plenty of progression routes whatever your goals are. Whether you’re looking to be a fantastic all-round chef or specialise in a particular cuisine, there are always jobs and ways to move up in your career.
Interested?
If being a chef sounds like the career for you, an apprenticeship with the Food and Drink Academy at Weston College is an ideal place to start. You can learn all the skills you need to be a chef, while earning a wage. For more information, visit the hospitality and catering page.
Our chef apprenticeship scheme is helping to inspire the next generation of chefs, but everyone has to start somewhere! Here are our favourite simple kitchen hacks to help you cook up a storm...
Use dental floss to cut cakes
This might sound crazy, but dental floss is ideal for getting perfectly straight cuts in cake. Make sure you use unflavoured floss, pull it taut (make sure you use a piece wider than your cake) and then use it to cut straight down the cake. Voila!
Pre-make your favourite herb mix
If you have a go-to herb mix you like to use in your cooking a lot, save time by making ahead! Just combine your choice of herbs with oil in ice cube trays, then freeze. When you’re ready to use them, just pop out a cube and defrost it in the pan.
Know how to store your food
Some fruit and veg can make other produce in your fridge ripen – and then rot – much faster. Bananas, avocados, apricots, apples and other foods release gases that cause other foods to rot, so be sure to keep them away from other fresh fruit and veg.
Always make sure your oil is hot enough
A lot of dishes require heating up your oil before you can cook. A simple way of checking is, rather than looking for hidden signals, throw in a small cube of bread. If it fries up, the oil is ready and you can take it out without affecting the other flavours in your dish.
You don’t necessarily need a garlic crusher
Recipe asking for crushed garlic but you don’t have a crusher? Not a problem. If you crush the clove with the flat side of your knife, it’ll make it easier to dice up into smaller pieces. Crushing the clove can also help if you’re finding it difficult to peel.
Find out more!
If you're interested in cooking, why not enrol onto our chef apprenticeship scheme? You can find out more information by visiting our hospitality page.
Are you still unsure on what apprenticeship is best suited to you?
Take our quiz to find out which area you could consider a career in. If you need any help or support in choosing the right industry for you, click here.
WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR ME?
