Further education and training in Wales - Trailblazers

Guilds, OCR, AQA and a range of professional bodies in
different employment areas.
BTECs (available from Edexcel) and OCR Nationals are
particular types of work-related qualifications and are available
in a wide range of subjects. Many have been designed in
collaboration with industry, which means they can provide you
with the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for.
You usually study them full or part-time at college, or
sometimes through a link between school and college.
Other courses
As well as the main further education qualifications on the National
Qualifications Framework, many Welsh colleges may also offer:
• Life Skills courses
These courses aim to help you prepare for adult life. Although
they may not always lead to a qualification, they can be useful
if you have learning difficulties and need support to become
more independent.
• Professional qualifications
For certain jobs or professions you might have to hold a
professional qualification before you can be fully qualified for
that particular job. While some people take these qualifications
while doing the job, you can study and gain these qualifications
beforehand.
• Access to university qualifications
Some colleges offer access to degree courses in partnership
with one or more universities. These are usually run at
colleges and enable people who do not hold formal
qualifications, like GCSEs, to go on to higher education.
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