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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
September is arguably one of the most exciting times of the year as we welcome an entire new group of young people into the Weston College family.
During the first few weeks of term, we’re offering students the chance to come together and contribute towards creating a piece of artwork that will make your first week at college a memorable one…
For those who get involved, we’ll be randomly selecting one lucky winner to receive a Love 2 Shop gift voucher valued at £100!
This can be spent online and in store at numerous shops such as Alton Towers, HMV, New Look, River Island, Top Shop and many more!
How will it work?
- Take a photo of yourself during your first week at College
- Caption it with why you’re excited about starting at Weston College
- Post your photo online with #WeAreWeston
We will then search the hashtag and use your photo as part of a digital collage spelling “WE ARE WESTON” in order to display and proudly show off the incredible community that this College creates.
This community continues to thrive thanks to our students’ positive attitude and involvement. We look forward to seeing all the excitement as you start the next chapter in your lives!
Weston College is officially a Further AND Higher Education establishment following a successful bid to the Government.
The move towards offering more degrees at the College ties in with North Somerset Council’s strategy for the regeneration of Weston-super-Mare and will lead to an eventual aim of having a ‘University Centre’ in the town.
Although Weston College already offers degrees, its new status means it will be able to expand its provision significantly, leading to many more new jobs for the town and surrounding area.
Welcoming the news, Dr Paul Phillips, Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, said the College’s new status tied in with the continuing development of its South West Skills Campus (SWSC) on Locking Road, extensions to Loxton Campus on Locking Road, the development of the North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College at Junction 21and improvements at its Knightstone Campus.
He said: “The time was right to go for this bid, particularly when the town of Weston-super-Mare will be seeing major regeneration in the very near future in the form of Junction 21 and the Dolphin Square development. I am jointly working through the Local Enterprise Partnership and North Somerset Council so that the idea of regeneration in Weston-super-Mare leans towards a ‘town centre urbanisation project’ with HE a major feature of this.”
Mike Jackson, Chief Executive of North Somerset Council, said: “This is excellent news for North Somerset, and Weston-super-Mare in particular. We work very closely with the College and I am delighted that their bid to Government has been successful. Weston College already plays an extremely important role in Weston-super-Mare’s economy. As we look to the future, Higher Education should play a significant role in delivering development and investment in the town centre, which is a priority for the council.”
HE provision at Weston College has grown rapidly, with around 800 students now on HE courses with partners Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England. It is hoped that a new centre may easily double this number in the next few years.
Weston College’s aspirations tie in with a speech made recently by Universities Minister David Willetts, who said that HE provision should focus on economic ‘cold spots’.
The minister said that he hoped the removal of controls on student numbers from next year would result in more campuses being set up. He added: “There are no barriers to setting up a higher education campus. If this is your town’s dream we want you to pursue it.”
Weston College is officially a Further AND Higher Education establishment following a successful bid to the Government.
Weston College student Libby Bunker, 16, has qualified to compete in a national gymnastic acrobatics and tumbling competition in May.
Libby, who studies Business at Weston College and is a member of its Academy of Sport, attended the South West preliminary completion for national finals earlier this month where she achieved first place in tumbling.
The finals, organised by the British Schools Gymnastics Association, are happening in Stoke-on-Trent on 30th April-1st May where Libby will be representing the College in tumbling.
Libby said: “This is a great opportunity to represent the College in a sport that I am passionate about and have been doing for so long.
“I feel like all my hard work is starting to pay off.”
Paul Taylor, Sports Development and Performance Manager at the College, said: “It is great to see hard work and commitment paying off. It is very challenging combining an elite athletic and academic programme.
“We are really proud of Libby’s achievements.”
The Weston College Academy of Sport provides students with outstanding coaching, training and support.
The programme is aimed to develop the skills that the students already have within a professional and structured environment.
WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR ME?
