Programmes for School Leavers
Courses for 16 to 18-year-olds
COURSES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS
With hundreds of unique, exciting and inspiring programmes to choose from, everything you need to create your brighter future is waiting for you at Weston College.
From the minute you walk through the door, the experience and the environment that we create is all about maximising your potential. It’s about preparing and motivating you for a fresh and focused career pathway.
Every Weston College student becomes part of one of our exciting new Career Excellence Hubs. This means you will take part in a study programme with lots of career boosting benefits, all with the aim of help you to go further, giving you the opportunity to become career ready with the skills, knowledge and expertise you need to be successful in your next step and reach your ultimate goal - whatever that may be!
Whether you are looking for the next step after school or the next step in your career, we're bound to have a programme for you. Take a look below at the different types of qualifications available for school leavers and young people between 16 and 18 years old.
Did you know we also run English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)?
Start your brighter future by selecting a subject you're interested in below, and don't forget - you can apply online and it only takes 5 minutes!
Discover our range of courses for school leavers aged 16-18 using the search options below...
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Qualifications Explained
At Weston College we know that everyone learns differently. That’s why we deliver a variety of different qualification types - to give you the chance to learn in the way that suits you the most.
A Levels
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.
Apprenticeships
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
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.
Traineeships
Traineeships are a great way for 16 to 24-year-olds who haven’t yet gained the skills and experiences necessary to apply for jobs and apprenticeships. They are taught mostly in the workplace and include a mixture of personal and social development, and employability skills. The aim of a traineeship is to train you within a company so that you are more likely to be offered an apprenticeship or a job.
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.
CHOOSING WHAT TO STUDY
We are all about CAREERS NOT COURSES and pride ourselves on being able to offer a huge range of programmes to ensure you develop the skills and knowledge employers and universities are looking for. As the only education provider in North Somerset that enables you to work your way up from an entrylevel programme to a degree, we’re here to help you choose the right programme for you.
We can help you choose your study programme or apprenticeship by accessing the following support:
School Liaison Team
Working with local schools we help you find out about college life and programmes of study, and we provide you with advice and guidance about what programmes will best suit you. We will either visit your school, attend careers fairs and parents’ evenings or coordinate campus and virtual events such as our taster days, holiday workshops and tours.
Events
We put on a number of events over the year, which will be a mixture of face-to-face and virtual events. These provide you and your family with the opportunity to explore our facilities, speak to our lecturers, find out about the support on offer and choose the right programme for you. Our events also give you the opportunity to engage with a number of employers to find out about careers in their industry and why they value the calibre of candidates that come from Weston College.
CAREERS ADVICE
- On our website you can access a wealth of career guidance, such as:
- All the programmes you can study.
- What our alumni have gone on to achieve.
- Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) that will help explain what relevant careers and jobs are available, including salaries.
- NEW – Subject careers roadmaps, so you can map your journey with us and ensure it will get you into your chosen career. Also, check out Career Coach - this provides you with the opportunity to:
- Take an assessment that matches you with careers.
- Explore broad career pathways that match your strengths and interests.
- Compare careers within a pathway - including salaries, required education and more.
- Explore our programmes that will set you on the path to your desired career.
- Take a career assessment - and receive an in-depth report that can help you identify the best programme and career path for you!
We’re here and happy to help – if you would like more advice and guidance, contact our school liaison team by emailing schoolteam@weston.ac.uk. - they you can arrange a one-to-one careers appointment with our specialist staff.
LATEST NEWS
<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Last month, a group of </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Business</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> and </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Travel and Tourism</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students went on an exciting trip to New York City. They explored famous landmarks, experienced different cultures, and learned more about their studies in a real-world setting. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The trip gave students a chance to see how a big city operates and to visit well-known places like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Rockefeller Centre, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the High Line, and Central Park. Each stop gave them a better understanding of history, business, and tourism and, because they visited over Valentine’s Day, they witnessed 4 proposals which was definitely a highlight! </span></p><drupal-entity alt=""Business and Travel students smiling in Grand Central Station"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a042fd0-03f6-462d-bd13-2176465f8013" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Besides the main attractions, students also explored Ellis Island, Chinatown, Little Italy, and 5th Avenue. These areas gave them a glimpse into the different cultures that make up New York and allowed them to see parts of the city that are not always on the typical tourist route. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Many students found the 9/11 Memorial and Museum particularly impactful as it was such a powerful experience and a massive part of history, being portrayed through exhibitions, personal stories, and artefacts. For our Travel learners, it put something they have read and learnt about in the classrooms into a real-world context and gave them a deeper understanding of how it affected travel and tourism, not only in America, but internationally. </span></p><drupal-entity alt=""Picture of the 9/11 Memorial"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fefa1f8e-83b4-4641-a2e6-eebb78b0ca6b" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p> </p><drupal-entity alt=""Students standing on Brooklyn Bridge smiling"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ead08e8-7d25-4db0-8b5a-81c31217c67d" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Lucille, a first-year Level 3 </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Travel and Tourism</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> student, shared her experience: “The New York trip was so much fun, from seeing and exploring the landmarks of the city to meeting other learners in other classes who also went on the trip. I especially enjoyed seeing the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge while getting to try some classic New York experiences like riding in a yellow taxi and tasting amazing food.” </span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Hannah Carstensen, one of our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Travel and Tourism</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> lecturers who organised the trip, added, “For both our Business and Travel and Tourism learners, this was an incredible opportunity to visit a premier destination for tourism which is home to countless corporations, financial institutions and business headquarters.” </span></p><drupal-entity alt=""Travel and Tourism students wearing cabin crew blazers and helping them out"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3b8ff194-1c8c-400c-acfc-ce00fe2e1fdb" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p> </p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Beyond learning, the trip helped the learners create unforgettable memories and build friendships with students on different courses that they don’t always get chance to interact with. It was an incredible trip that allowed them to experience a city completely different to Weston-super-Mare. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">If you are interested in applying to one of our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Business</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> or </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Travel and Tourism</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> courses, click here. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>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 </strong></span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>. 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.</strong> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a> recently visited our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</a> learners to deliver an insightful guest talk about careers in the aviation industry. The three members of Jet2 staff provided in-depth information on what it's like to work at<a href="https://jet2careers.com/"> Jet2</a>, along with valuable advice and guidance on how students can begin applying and make a strong first impression.</p><p>The guest talk started out with each <a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a> staff member giving an introduction to themselves and their career journey at <a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a>, as well as an overview of facts about<a href="https://jet2careers.com/"> Jet2</a> as a company. The learners were then quizzed on which airports in the country <a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a> are based at, testing the learner's memories of the airport 3-letter codes! The guest talk then covered the different types of roles which learners could apply for, including Cabin Crew, Luggage Handling, Passenger Service Agents, Customer Operations etc. This allowed the learners to open their eyes to the wide range of opportunities in aviation, as many had only previously considered Cabin Crew!</p><p>The learners were given key information about the benefits they receive if they work for <a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a>, such as the hourly rate, discounts on holidays and flights, and they reiterated how working for<a href="https://jet2careers.com/"> Jet2</a> means there is always opportunity to move around different roles. The guest talk also highlighted what the learners can expect during their training at <a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a>, such as when they would be required to take exams, the duration of the training, and the support they would be receiving around this time before starting their role.</p><p>When the students were asked whether they perform better with practical work compared to academic tasks, every learner raised their hand; <a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a> responded by highlighting that this is ideal for roles within their company, where hands-on experience plays a key role in professional development! The students had the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback, leading to the decision that it would be beneficial for <a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a> to return to the college for a day of ‘Mock Interviews’. This will allow our learners to practice and prepare for their real interviews.</p><p>The guest lecture was extremely informative, and we would like to thank <a href="https://jet2careers.com/">Jet2</a> for taking the time to come and speak to our learners.</p><p>To find out more about our Business courses, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin… here</strong></a>, and to find out more about our Travel and Tourism courses,<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Last week, the Winter Gardens hosted a fantastic Ramadan event to celebrate Iftar, the breaking of fast, where anyone was welcome to attend. With lectures, speeches, prayers, songs and lots of delicious food—it was unmissable and a great way to bring the community together and enrich people in the culture.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Ramadan is a month-long celebration of the Quran where Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours; this is known as fasting. Fasting allows Muslims to focus on their faith and remember the month that the Quran was first presented to the Prophet Mohammed. Ramadan takes place on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which changes every year depending on the moon cycles, but this year, it began on Friday 28 February and will end on Sunday 30 March.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">At the Winter Gardens event, the evening commenced with a recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by captivating performances by Birmingham’s Nasheed group, Shaam. Aishah Ahmed from Aishah’s Food Charity, the organisation behind this event and the provider of the heaps of fantastic food, delivered an inspiring speech, highlighting their efforts and the importance of the event. This was followed by a lecture on the significance of Ramadan and a prayer before the sunset and the attendees broke their fast, indulging in the delicious spread.</span></p><drupal-entity alt=""The Winter Gardens full of people celebrating the Ramadan event"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4eaa28e3-cb41-48b8-b8da-69ea8d2b654b" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Aishah’s Food Charity prepared trays of food for each table, including roast chicken pieces, vegetable pakora, vegetable samosas, lamb, chicken and vegetable biryani, Dall soup, and baklava for dessert.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This charity was set up by Aishah Ahmed, a 21-year-old Law student who wanted to help reduce hunger in Weston-super-Mare by setting up a hot meal foodbank every Wednesday evening to help those in need. She wanted to follow in her dad’s footsteps, Sayd Ahmed, who has a long reputation for similar work in the community. All the food was delicious and packed with flavour and heart which everyone in the room enjoyed.</span></p><drupal-entity alt=""Hospitality and Catering students and staff standing smiling with Sayd Ahmed"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="92f0cec8-ec24-4413-b1bc-9352d87fbb23" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">In order to immerse our students in this religious occasion, our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Level 2 Hospitality and Catering</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> learners assisted in the preparation of some of the food. During a workshop with local business owner, Syed, our students learnt how to make chicken biryani and vegetable pakora, focusing highly on the spices used. They even got to attend the event themselves to enrich themselves in the culture and gain a better understanding of Ramadan, as well as assisting in serving the dishes to the community.</span></p><drupal-entity alt=""Syed cutting marinated chicken into pieces for the students to taste test"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a5e3908-290d-43e3-9db9-c80a202e2aba" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The evening continued with other speeches from influential people from around Weston-super-Mare, lessons surrounding breaking the fast and the end of the fasting period, and concluding with a final performance from Nasheed by Shaam Group and closing ceremony remarks.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This event had over 500 attendees from in and around Weston-super-Mare, welcoming everyone with open arms to learn about their religion and celebrate this event with the community as a whole. With delicious food, amazing company, and fantastic music, this event was a great way to celebrate Ramadan and Iftar, experiencing the cultural traditions and educating everyone about its importance.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">A big thank you to Aishah’s Food Charity for organising this event and allowing our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Hospitality and Catering</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students to be a part of it.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This workshop forms part of the Hospitality and Catering Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:16px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;">If you’re interested in applying to one of our Hospitality and Catering courses, click here.</span></a></p>
