Entry 3 Vocational Studies

At Warrington and Vale Royal College every learner is put first and we truly believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to raise expectations within themselves.

Vocational Studies Routes will support and encourage you to gain confidence and develop a wide range of key employability skills in a friendly and nurturing environment. The course centres on where you want to be in the future and how we can help you get there.

Vocational Studies is for young people aged 16-19 who do not have the grades to get onto a Level 1 course and are unsure about your future career choices.

This course is suited for learners who may need a stepping stone qualification to either gain the required entry standards or to adjust to college life before accessing a full-time vocational course. Many young people have struggled to engage at school will find the transition from school to college difficult, we will work with you to help you adjust and meet college expectations so that you are given the best possible chance to progress. If you think you need extra time and support to develop the right skills for college and to find an area that you are interested then this is the course for you!

All our tutors have a wealth of experience and are passionate about their subject and they want to share this with you so that you can reach your full potential. As a unique individual we will work closely with you to identify your long-term goals and give you all the help you need to reach them.

The course duration is 1 year.

This course is the perfect stepping stone for students who come to us without the necessary GCSEs to get onto a level 1 or level 2 course and who may not have a clear idea on their future career goals. The major aim of your programme of study is to allow you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to be successful on a full-time technical course. The first step is to choose a ‘Route’ from: Introduction to Hospitality & Catering, Introduction to Construction, Introduction to Health & Social Care or Introduction to Creative Arts,

This course is designed to provide a foundation in your chosen field, to give you a strong start in pursuing a career of your choice while developing the behaviours and attitudes needed to succeed in the workplace. If your chosen field is not one of the Routes, don’t worry, the skills you will learn are transferrable into any industry such as customer service and administration. You will take part in both group and individual projects, gaining practical experience and building your confidence through industry placement. These opportunities will enable you to gain essential employability skills that will prepare you for further education, training or entry-level employment opportunities.

You will also work to develop your English and maths skills, to work towards a GCSE, an alternative maths and English qualification, or to help maintain existing skills.

You are at the centre of this supportive and nurturing course designed to help you reach your full potential.

The majority of our students go on to study on Level 1 programmes, however, just because this is an Entry level course it doesn’t mean that you have to do Level 1, some learners skip this stage and are accepted on to Level 2!  

We have learners who have progressed all the way from Entry 3 to university and to employment, apprenticeships and supported internships.  One of our students impressed the college so much on his work placement he is now a fully fledged member of the maintenance team!

We have guest speakers from industry throughout the year and you will take part in work place visits to a variety of employers and working environments from construction to retail, entertainment to hospitality and catering.

Work experience is a key part of your programme of study and you will be given help and guidance in finding the right placement for you. Engaging with employers will give you a valuable insight into the world of work and develop your employability skills.  External work placement either individual or part of a group project, live briefs and a range of work-related activities will help you gain key skills that employers are looking for and a designated Industry Placement Officer is on hand to help you source placements and guide you every step of the way.

• Dedicated Progress Coach
• 1-2-1 in class if applicable
• In class support staff
• Mobility support
• Exam access arrangements
• Orientation
• Modification of learning materials and specialist resources

We have a team of staff dedicated to providing learning support if it is required and a welfare team that are on hand to offer guidance, support and help when needed.  Additionally, eligible students can access a wide range of finance and funding support to help them during their time at college.

There are many providers who offer ‘similar’ courses, but what they can’t offer is the wide range of opportunities that will be available to you:

• Individualised curriculum
• Community projects and employer led live briefs
• Internal and external work placements
• Enrichment activities, trips and visits
• Links with local employers
• Independent living skills
• Vocational experience days
• Excellent progression routes
• A team of dedicated staff with over 80 years of combined experience

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

If there are any costs attached to trips and visits or any PPE required for experience days you will be given notice and all costs are kept to a minimum to ensure all learners can participate. Help is available if learners are in receipt of a bursary.