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
We recently spoke with a previous adult learner of ours, Nichole, who underwent our ‘Training the Trainer’ course, to find out how the course has helped her in her current role.
Hi, I’m Nichole, a Senior Projects Officer at North Somerset Council. Over a year ago, I did the 2 day ‘Training the Trainer’ course at Weston College, which was encouraged to me by my employer, North Somerset Council (NSC), as part of their commitment to staff development.
At North Somerset Council, my role combines technical expertise, change management, and project management, and I am tasked with training colleagues in a variety of subjects. As someone accustomed to wearing many hats, I felt that I needed a solid foundation to help me develop and deliver effective training sessions. Weston College’s ‘Training the Trainer’ course offered the perfect opportunity to hone these skills.
One of the key benefits of the ‘Training the Trainer’ course is the emphasis on building confidence in presenting to groups. I was initially feeling slightly apprehensive about presenting - a very common fear in the workplace! However, the course helped me to realise that the fear of presenting is often much greater than the actual experience; it is never as scary as you originally might think. The course provided a supportive and safe environment that allowed me to practice new skills and step outside of my comfort zone.
One aspect of this course that stood out for me was the guidance of Megan, the course leader. Megan’s approach to teaching helped me to not only understand the mechanics of creating a training program but also see the importance of establishing clear objectives and purpose. I walked out with a much greater understanding of how to create a purpose for the course I had to design in my current role – and this clarity has been crucial for me as I have moved forward in my responsibilities. Megan leads by example and has a lasting impact on those who she teaches!
Taking part in ‘Training the Trainer’ has significantly helped with my development of a training program that I have rolled out across North Somerset Council. Drawing on the templates and techniques I learned, I have created training sessions tailored to my colleagues’ needs. These sessions have been uploaded into the council’s corporate training platform, and I now serve as an instructor. Over the past six months, I have delivered both live and recorded sessions, supported by weekly communications. This combination of formats has earned me a reputation for being not only knowledgeable but also genuinely helpful to my colleagues.
Looking back nearly a year after completing the course, I can say that the skills I gained from ‘Training the Trainer’ have allowed me to create something meaningful for my organisation, as I continue to expand my training program with additional modules. The course was not only helpful for myself, but also for many of my colleagues at North Somerset Council, as there were a large number of us who participated and have benefited from doing so.
I would recommend for anyone who delivers training in their workplace to take a short course to further expand your skills and knowledge, as this increase in your own confidence will help you to make a lasting impact across your organisation.
We are extremely excited to be launching our Cricket Academy for 2025!
The Cricket Academy is open to all aspiring cricketers across the college and will take place 15:30-17:00 Friday afternoons starting this Friday 24th January for our indoor preparation before our inaugural league season.
⏰ 15:30-17:00
📅 Every Friday
📍 Loxton Sports Hall
As part of our winter preparation, our squad has already taken part in the indoor regional championships where they played against teams from Richard Huish, Exeter and Truro. We are excited to see the squad grow and continue to work together across the 5-week indoor training week before we start our outdoor season in May.
During these sessions, you will get the chance to use our state-of-the-art indoor net facility which was installed in partnership with Somerset County Cricket Club and is home to part of the club's state school programme.
We look forward to welcoming you and developing your skills and techniques even further within these sessions.
UCW is excited to announce the launch of a new Degree Apprenticeship in May 2025 (subject to final approval as pending from the Nursing and Midwifery Council). This new Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA), in partnership with UWE Bristol, is an initiative to help support the NHS Long Term Workforce Development Plan - providing a clear career pathway within nursing.
The aim of the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) is to offer an alternative route to obtaining a nursing degree and to support the progression of those who have already completed Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner programmes, and who would like to continue to study to obtain a nursing degree.
By opening new routes to become a Registered Nurse, this Degree Apprenticeship is a response to employer demand and increases the capacity and capability of the nursing workforce by ensuring that the right person with the right level of skills and education is delivering the right care to patients.
At Weston College, we have invested over £11 million into our technical facilities to create employer-led, high-specification, future-proofed delivery spaces at our UCW site for training the existing and future workforce. Investment has also been made into additional high-spec computer technology (hardware and software) ensuring facilities and equipment match industry requirements and expectations.
If you would like to register to apply for this upcoming Degree Apprenticeship, please email apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk
If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.
WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR ME?
