COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS
Your Future Starts Here
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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
Fake news is a term used to describe any news item that presents false information as facts in an attempt to make you believe a certain thing or react in a certain way. It is most often associated with politics, after coming to prominence during the 2016 American election.
Sometimes legitimate news outlets can get things wrong, but the difference between this and fake news is that fake news deliberately tries to mislead or provoke a reaction in the reader. If you’re a social media user, chances are you’ve read a fake news story without even knowing it. Here are some ways you can spot whether a news story is fake…
Check the website
Not all news sites are legitimate, and if you don’t recognise the website or haven’t heard of the publication before, then you should give the article extra scrutiny. Check the URL to make sure that you are reading from a trusted site, as some fake news sites use similar (but not identical) URLs to mainstream news organisations.
If the news is on social media in the form of a Facebook post or tweet which doesn't have evidence to back itself up, treat it with extra caution. In one month in 2018, over 45,000 Facebook posts were identified as fake news, spread by automated accounts to cause confusion and propaganda. Even if the Facebook post contains a video or an image, it is fairly simple to misrepresent the situation or even doctor the image to suit the post's political purpose. Always check out where the post comes from. It is usually easy to determine whether the news is reliable or not by looking at other posts from the account. If one of your friends shares news that you think is fake, point it out!
Is there a sensational headline?
Many fake news sites earn money by getting you to click on headlines, others know that most people who see the article on social media will only read the headline, and use a sensational headline to prompt the reader to share the article to a wider audience. If the article has an outrageous title, or a wild claim that makes you want to click to read more, look beyond the first few lines and try to find the evidence behind the claim. Remember, if it an outrageous claim that seems too outlandish to be true - it probably isn't.
Is it editorial?
Editorial is a type of news commentary that many legitimate news sources publish, but the key is to remember that it is a person’s opinion and might not take into account evidence which conflicts with their views. Similarly, if the article you’re reading is written like a news report but has opinions in it which aren’t quotes, then the article is probably biased. All respected news sources present news in an unbiased form and allow the reader to make up their own minds on an issue.
Examine the content
Many news organisations, real or fake, attempt to be the first to ‘break’ a news story in order to remain relevant in a highly-competitive market. If the article you’re reading seems rushed, has spelling mistakes, has an incorrect date, or anonymous sources, bear in mind that this news article might not have had time for all of the facts to be checked. Poor spelling, grammar and vocabulary on older articles may indicate that the item you are reading comes from an unreliable news outlet.
Where does the news come from?
Most news articles will have a ‘source’ for their information. Sometimes this source is named but other times the source is anonymous. Naming a source is a good indication that the news is real, as the person is willing to go on record and put their reputation at stake to break the news; however bear in mind that fake news sites often lie about their sources. To find out whether an article is properly sourced, check the named source’s social media for similar commentary and look to see if other news outlets are reporting on the same comments.
There are many legitimate reasons why sources choose to remain anonymous, so you don’t have to immediately discredit sources without a name - but bear in mind that without more information the source could be anyone.
Could you join the Weston College team as a teacher in training?
Weston College is looking for graduates to join its teaching team in a number of subject areas...
All of these roles are salaried at £23k-£25k per year, and include a generous holiday allowance, a defined benefits scheme, and plenty of training opportunities.
Digital, Computing & IT
We are looking for a motivated individual to join our highly successful Computing & IT team at Weston College and become involved with the teaching, learning, and assessment across our range of exciting Digital, Computing & IT pathways including Applied Computing, Cyber Security, Data Analysis and Digital & Technology Solutions with provision ranging from Level 1-3 computing, new Higher Apprenticeship Standards and Degree provision.
Engineering
We are looking for a motivated individual to join our highly successful Engineering Team at Weston College and become involved with the teaching, learning, and assessment across our range of exciting Engineering pathways including Manufacturing, Aerospace, Nuclear & Electronics with provision ranging from Level 2 PEO -Degree level.
Civil Engineering
We are looking for a motivated individual to join our highly successful Civil Engineering Team at Weston College and become involved with the teaching, learning, and assessment across a range of Construction, Civil Engineering and the Built Environment courses from Level 2 to HNC / HND.
Students from Weston College’s hospitality and catering department have attended their first industry event, preparing food and serving front of house at Thornbury Castle.
Level 1 and 2 hospitality and catering students were invited to a Chef’s Forum event at the hotel, where they made canapés with Head Chef Andy Chan at a sparkling wine reception.
Andy said: “The learners were a credit to the industry. They were so keen to learn, and it’s wonderful to get people like them in the kitchen and see the future of catering. They have all been really great!”
The event saw a huge range of chefs and suppliers from across the Bristol area attend, giving the students a chance to network while getting first-hand event experience.
They also got the chance to watch a number of demonstrations, including butchery, herbs and spices, and demos from the Thornbury Castle chefs themselves.
Sandra Bull, Area Manager of Hair, Beauty, Hospitality and Catering, said: “It was the first event experience for many of our Level 1 students, and they were thrilled to get the opportunity and experience a real working environment. It really helped them to get a feel for the industry and learn about potential future career paths.
“We’re so proud of all of our students for their efforts, and extremely grateful to everyone in the industry who continue to coach and inspire the next generation!”
WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR ME?
