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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 business student Bella Febry went out of her way to apply to complete her internship with international oil and gas company ‘OiLSERV’ in Dubai.
James Foster, Executive Vice President at OiLSERV, said: “We tried our best to challenge her, and give her experience of what it is like working in a fast paced service industry – where we deliver operations 24/7, 365 days a year across multiple countries and time zones. The intent of the program was to help her understand how all elements of the organisation have to work together to be successful.
“She worked exceptionally hard, learnt quickly, and integrated into all of the culturally diverse teams she worked with. Our teams enjoyed working with her, it was a pleasure for us to have her here.”
At the end of her placement Bella was asked to do a presentation on her time with OiLSERV to the various teams she had worked with. Following this she received a glowing letter of recommendation from the company, which they say she ‘fully deserved’.
Bella is in the first year of her BTEC Extended Diploma in Business Studies here at Weston College. By completing this invaluable work experience she has gained skills in HR, finance, IT, supply chain, law, marketing, sales, and project delivery.
When reflecting on her time with OiLSERV, Bella told us: “It was an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity. I was really pleased when I read the feedback. It’ll definitely help my CV and future career prospects. I think it will make me stand out.”
Weston College's Futsal team has beaten two university teams in the FA Female Futsal Cup.
Futsal is a format of football usually played indoors with a smaller ball which has 30% reduced bounce. It is a ‘5 a side game’ but with very different rules to the traditional ‘5 a side’. It is a sport all the greats grew up playing, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The FA Female Futsal Cup is a national tournament that is held once a year by The Football Association.
Weston's Academy of Sport entered a team which had to get past two university teams in the regional qualifiers on Sat 20th January. They won the qualifiers by beating both Exeter University and Plymouth University, with Felicity Hind, Level 2 Sport student, and Desni Darch, Level 3 art and design student, both scoring.
Coach Sarah Adams said “Having won the FA cup previously as a player it was great to give the students the opportunity to experience the buzz of this tournament and fall in love with the sport. Opportunities for futsal are increasing year on year for females and these talented girls have really put Weston College on the map nationally in terms of female futsal.
"This is the first time the College has entered this competition, the students preformed incredibly well competing against experienced adult teams. We never imaged they would get as far as the last 16 and be so close to reaching the quarter finals."
Student Felicity Hind said: “This tournament gave me an insight into an elite competition level that I would have otherwise never had the opportunity to be a part of. It was great to challenge myself by playing against adults and quality, experienced players and I am really proud to have represented the college in the last 16 stages.
"It has made me much more confident, I now have better knowledge of a new sport and can't wait to play it again.”
Weston College is set to play a lead role in tackling the construction industry skills shortage by opening a state-of-the-art industry focused training centre.
The Weston College Construction Training Centre, based just off Junction 21 of the M5, will open in spring 2019 and represents a £3.8 million investment.
It will offer training in three key construction areas – plant operations, scaffolding, and groundworks.
Courses have been selected and designed with employers’ needs in mind and in response to the growing demand for a trained and skilled construction workforce in the region.
Training will be available as required by employers and individuals, rather than fitting into the traditional academic year.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group said: “The Construction Training Centre is a natural step into commercial training and starts an exciting chapter for us.
“Over the last ten years, we’ve built strong relationships with employers to develop our apprenticeship provision.
“But we’ve recognised, more and more, the need to deliver training at the point of need – not only for school leavers during the academic year.
“The Construction Training Centre means employers can come to us at any time for short courses, top-up courses, and to up-skill staff who are taking on new roles. We’ll also provide apprenticeships in these new areas to train the next generation of this industry’s workforce.”
The new centre has been designed to equip industry with the workforce it needs now and into the future.
Dr Paul Phillips said: “It’s a direct response to the skills shortage in the three areas.
The ability for the centre to offer plant training for all major site plant will be a significant development for the South West, whether that is with 360 excavators, dumper trucks or telehandlers, the centre will offer easily accessible training, key to meeting industry demand.
The College has commissioned Midas Construction to build the centre.
Dr Paul Phillips said: “We have a long-running relationship with Midas. They understand the College, our priorities and how to provide the learning environment that students need.”
Weston College will team up with national leader for scaffolding, safety experts Simian, to provide outstanding scaffolding training.
This training centre has been made possible through the efforts of Weston College in partnership with the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and North Somerset Council.
The financial investment has been provided by the College match-funding a successful bid for funding from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Local Growth Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.
Chair of the West of England LEP, Prof Steve West, said: “We’re really pleased to support the fantastic new Construction Training Centre at Weston College. This will help to equip our current and future construction workforce with the skills they need to drive forward the building of new homes, business premises and infrastructure as our region grows. It will also help them to secure better career prospects and make the most of the opportunities available right here in the West of England.”
Derek Quinn, Executive Director for Midas Construction, said: “We are delighted to be continuing the strong framework partnership between Weston College and Midas. As a regionally-based business we are active in promoting opportunities for careers within construction and so we are particularly proud to be involved in bringing forward this new facility which will help develop a skilled and highly-trained workforce for the future.”
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