School Leaver Guide 2024/25

School Leaver Course Guide 

2024-25

In this guide you'll find information about 

the different full time courses and 

apprenticeships you can study at 

Gateshead College after your GCSEs. 

Hello from everyone at Gateshead College 03 

Our promise to you 04 

Earn your employment edge 08 

Hard work wins 10 

T Levels 12 

Careers advice 14 

Student support 16 

College life 18 

We like to be social 20 

English & maths 22 

The heart of the community 23 

Academy for Sport 24 

CoLab 28 

Campus and travel information 30 

Our courses 34 

Find a course quiz 36 

A Levels 38 

Apprenticeships 40 

Vocational study programmes & T Levels 42 

⚫ Art & Design 44 

⚫ Automotive 48 

⚫ Business 54 

⚫ Catering & Hospitality 60 

⚫ Construction 64 

⚫ Digital Technology & Games 72 

⚫ Early Years 80 

⚫ Engineering 84 

⚫ Hair & Beauty 90 

⚫ Health & Social Care 96 

⚫ Music, Dance, Performing & Production Arts 102 

⚫ Sport 108 

⚫ Travel & Tourism 114 

⚫ TV, Film and Media 118 

⚫ Uniformed Public Services 122 

How to apply 128 

Get in touch 130

HELLO. 

Deciding what and where to study after 

your GCSE exams is a tough choice. 

There are so many options out 

there and it’s important to choose 

somewhere that feels right for you. 

At Gateshead College, we promise you 

a top-quality education with real world 

skills that will help you in life as well 

as in work. Qualifications matter and 

we’ll help you get the ones you need 

but we’ll also give you so much more. 

Working together, we’ll give you 

the confidence and self-belief you 

need to find your purpose. 

We’re all here to support you every 

step of the way from our amazing 

teachers to our team of professional 

experts including careers advisers, 

learning support workers, mental health 

workers and financial advisers. 

Together we will do all we can 

to help you succeed. 

FROM 

EVERYONE 

AT 

GATESHEAD 

COLLEGE. 

03

OUR 

PROMISE 

TO YOU. 

WE’LL TREAT 

YOU 

AS AN 

INDIVIDUAL. 

We promise a learning experience 

that’s just for you, designed around 

your strengths and ambitions. 

WE’LL ASK 

YOU TO 

WORK HARD, 

BUT 

YOU’LL 

ENJOY IT. 

Nothing worth having comes easy. 

We’ll ask you to dig in, work hard 

and challenge yourself. And we’ll be 

with you every step of the way. 

WE’LL WORK 

HARD TOO, 

FOR YOU. 

We’re on the same team, playing by 

the same rules. Learning is a twoway 

street and we’ll put everything 

we’ve got into making sure you 

achieve your full potential. 

WE’LL GIVE 

YOU AN 

EXPERIENCE 

AS WELL AS 

AN 

EDUCATION. 

We’ll use our insider knowledge, 

best in class employer partnerships, 

creative minds, commercial know-how, 

enterprising approach and fantastic 

facilities to ensure your time with us is 

an experience as well as an education. 

04

We promise you a 

top quality education 

with real world skills 

that will help you in life 

as well as in work. 

Our promise to you 

WE’LL 

INSPIRE 

YOU. 

Our teachers love to teach. 

They want to share their knowledge, 

inspire and motivate you. 

They’ll push you when you need it, 

nurture you and be your biggest 

cheerleader along the way. 

WE’LL HELP 

YOU BE 

OUTSTANDING 

AND 

STAND OUT. 

You’ll leave us job-ready with a 

CV packed with experiences and skills 

for life and work, as well as a qualification 

and the confidence to stand out. 

WE WON’T 

PATRONISE 

YOU. 

You’re your own person, an individual 

and that’s how we’ll treat you. 

We won’t talk down to you, pretend 

we know best or ignore your opinion. 

05

06

CLASS 

MATES, 

SOUND 

STAFF 

& 

PROPER 

GRAFT. 

07

Employment Edge 

EARN YOUR 

EMPLOYMENT 

EDGE 

WITH 

GATESHEAD 

COLLEGE. 

We want you to have 

the confidence to hold a 

conversation, the ability 

to use your initiative and 

the strength to tackle the 

world of work head on. 

That’s why we partner with 

hundreds of organisations 

to offer real-life context to 

what we teach. They work 

with us to make sure the 

skills you learn are exactly 

what industry needs. 

Our network of some of 

the brightest business 

minds, forward thinking 

entrepreneurs, ambitious 

family businesses, 

global enterprises and 

aspirational start-ups 

means we’re in the best 

position to give you the 

highest quality education 

combined with real world 

skills. 

It’s something we 

call education with 

employment edge. 

And it’s totally unique to 

Gateshead College. 

08

09

HARD 

WORK 

WINS. 

The hard work of our students and staff 

means that we consistently have some of 

the best achievement rates in the country 

year after year. 

There isn't anything quite 

like walking through 

Gateshead College 

- the atmosphere is 

incomparable to anywhere 

else I have worked. 

The vibe is friendly, 

fun, and focused! 

What's more, it is the hard 

work of students, teachers 

and support staff that 

creates the buzz. I am very 

proud of what we achieve 

each and every day. 

This means: 

● You get the very best quality of 

education and support 

● You have access to relevant and inspiring 

work experience and real world opportunities 

● Our students achieve high grades and 

move into jobs or higher education 

● Our Teacher Academy supports our teachers to be 

at the top of their professional game 

Amy Girdlestone 

A-Level Geography 

Teacher and Learning 

Facilitator 

“Our achievement rate of 

90.5% 

is among the best 

in the country." 

10

Hard work wins 

11

GET AHEAD 

WITH 

T LEVELS. 

If you know what industry 

you'd like to work in and 

enjoy technical training 

with lots of time to gain 

practical skills, T Levels 

could be a great 

choice for you. 

During this two-year programme, you’ll spend 

20% of your time in the workplace working 

with an employer and 80% gaining high-quality 

training in the classroom. 

What are T Levels? 

T Levels are technical qualifications that have been 

endorsed by business leaders and designed to 

get you career-ready. Depending on the T Level 

route, you’ll spend a minimum of 45-days (315 

hours) working in industry to get the skills and 

experience that employers are looking for. 

What level are they? 

T Levels are a Level 3 qualification. Students 

achieving the very top grade in their T Level 

qualification will have the equivalent of three A*s at 

A Level - or 168 UCAS points. 

What can I do after T Levels? 

Just like with any other vocational or academic 

qualification, T Level students can progress to higher 

education, a job or higher level / degree apprenticeship. 

Which T Levels can I study at 

Gateshead College? 

● T Level in Big Data (Digital Business Services) 

● T Level in Software Development (Digital 

Production, Design and Development) 

● T Level in Networking and Infrastructure (Digital 

Support Services) 

● T Level in Carpentry and Joinery 

● T Level in Electrical Installation 

● T Level in Construction Design, Surveying and 

Planning 

● T Level in Education and Early Years 

● T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing 

and Control (Engineering) 

● T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for 

Engineering and Manufacturing 

● T Level in Health 

● T Level in Healthcare Science 

● T Level in Science 

● T Level in Management and Administration 

12

T Levels 

Chloe Perrin (right) 

completed the T Level 

in Education and Early 

Years and is now studying 

for a degree in Social 

Work at Northumbria 

University. Her favourite 

part of the course was 

the industry placement as 

it gave her a real insight 

into her chosen career. 

She said: “The T-Level has 

given me so much confidence 

and experience and enabled 

me to get exactly where I 

want to be - studying social 

work at university. The blend 

of vocational experience 

and classroom learning 

has given me the tools I 

need to be one step ahead 

in higher education.” 

Hannah Carney (middle) 

also completed the T Level in 

Education and Early Years and 

has moved onto Northumbria 

University to study a degree 

in Childhood and Early 

Years Studies. Her favourite 

part of the course was also 

the placement because it 

helped her gain experience 

of working with children and 

experienced early years staff. 

She said: “The T-Level has 

given me the chance to move 

onto higher education to 

pursue my career. It’s helped 

me get here by building my 

confidence and giving me real 

life experience in nurseries.“ 

Hear from Dan of Infinity27, one of our T Level placement employers... 

13

Careers advice 

CAREERS ADVICE 

THAT'S 

WORTH HAVING. 

Working with you from day 

one, we’ll help you map out your 

future and support you to make 

the right decisions to get you 

where you want to be. 

We have a team of expert careers 

advisers who’ll be there for you whenever 

you need them. Their advice is impartial, 

meaning they’ll help you decide what’s 

best for you - not us. 

You can make an appointment with them 

while you’re still at school to help you 

decide what to do when you leave. Speak 

to them in person, over the phone or 

during one of our enrolment events. 

Work experience 

With a network of over 450 

employers, we’ll help you find a 

work experience placement that 

matches your skills and ambitions. 

You’ll develop the valuable skills 

employers want, expand your 

network and build real-world 

experience that’ll be great on 

your CV. 

Many of our students have gone 

on to be offered work with their 

placement employer. 

Work inspiration 

You’ll also take part in our work 

inspiration programme, a series 

of activities and experiences 

to help you explore different 

career opportunities; this might 

be through mentoring, site visits, 

competitions set by employers 

and Q&A sessions. 

14


Click here and try 

our careers quiz to 

discover what kind 

of jobs may be right 

for you. 

Tips & talks 

from 

employers 

Work experience 

and work inspiration 

A personal 

career plan 

CV writing 

workshops 

Dedicated 

UCAS 

support 

Volunteering 

opportunities 

Career 

events 

Got an idea of the 

career you want? 

Click here for more 

information on job roles, 

salaries and the course 

you should be studying 

to get you there. 

Mock 

interviews 

15

Student Support 

WE'RE 

HERE 

FOR YOU. 

Whatever support you need, 

we're here for you and will 

make sure you get the most 

out of your time at college. 

Our specialist team can help with: 

● Special educational needs 

and disabilities (SEND) 

and EHCP support 

● Physical and sensory disabilities 

● Dyslexia, dyspraxia, neurodiversity 

or other specific learning difficulty 

● Mental health and wellbeing 

● Exam access arrangements 

● Money, finance and bursaries 

● Careers advice 

Helping you save money. 

Free benefits for everyone 

All our students enjoy a range of 

benefits: 

● Free IT software 

● Free parking 

● Discounted food 

● Discounted haircuts and 

beauty treatments. 

Gateshead College Bursary 

Lots of our students receive help 

from our bursary of up to £800 to 

cover the costs of: 

● Travel 

● Uniform, kits & equipment 

● Other course related costs 

Free college meals 

Free lunches are available to some 

students. Plus, we provide free 

breakfasts for all students. 

16

Student Support 

Hear from some of our students about 

how the foundation has helped them... 

Gateshead College Foundation 

When you study with us you'll have 

exclusive access to the Gateshead 

College Foundation - a charitable 

fund to help you to get the most 

from your college experience. 

The foundation can help towards 

travel and course costs and it 

can pay towards those amazing 

experiences that will really make 

your CV pop! 

For example, you can apply for 

money to buy clothing for a job 

interview, pay for travel to a work 

experience placement or pay to 

enter an industry competition. 

Find out more: 

www.gateshead.ac.uk/foundation 

All funding applications/awards are based on household 

income or qualifying benefits. 

17

Coming to college 

COLLEGE 

LIFE. 

Being a Gateshead College 

student is very different from 

being at school. 

You'll be treated like an adult from 

day one and you don’t have to wear 

a uniform. You’ll call your teachers by 

their first names and you'll have more 

independence and a more flexible 

timetable rather than the 9am to 3pm 

school day. 

WHAT OUR 

STUDENTS SAY. 

Check out the other benefits 

of coming to college... 

“The teaching on my 

course is good.” 

96.6% 

agree 

“The college staff are 

friendly and helpful.” 

98.4% 

agree 

“My course was designed to 

give me the knowledge and 

skills for my future career." 

96.2% 

agree 

18

19

WE LIKE 

TO BE 

SOCIAL. 

Follow us on social media to stay up 

to date with events, competitions, 

news and find out what our 

students are getting up to. 

@gatesheadcollege 


@gatesheadcoll 


20

21

English & maths 

IT ALL 

ADDS 

UP. 

English and maths are vitally important to 

employers which is why you’ll study these 

as part of your course to either improve 

your skills or achieve better GCSE grades. 

Studying English and maths in college is different 

to school as we’ll show you how these skills are 

relevant to the industry you want to work in. 

Plus, our teachers are experts at breaking these 

subjects down and making them relevant to 

everyday life to help your understanding and build 

your confidence. Through the use of games, quizzes 

and online apps they’ll make your learning fun. 

Need to re-sit? 

No problem. 

If you didn’t achieve a grade 

4-9 in your GCSE English or 

maths, don’t worry. 

You'll re-sit the exams with 

us and we’ll help you 

prepare for them. 

Which English and maths option is right for me? 

You’ll receive a personalised programme to help you 

progress regardless of the level you start at. To help 

us decide which level you need to study, we take you 

through some initial assessments either before you join 

us or during your first two weeks. 

This shows us where your strengths and weaknesses 

are. We combine these results with your qualifications 

and make a decision about the right English and 

maths programme for you. 

Everyone is different and we will make sure we find the 

best option for you and will really support you to get the 

results you need. 

22

The heart of our community 

We're proud to be at 

the heart of a thriving 

community with our 

roots firmly grounded in 

Gateshead. 

We believe in helping local 

people to secure a better future 

for themselves and their families. 

It was a privilege to be there 

and speak to the Prime Minister. 

During your time at college you'll 

be encouraged to get involved in 

supporting charities and projects 

within our local community. This 

might be something you take on 

yourself or a team effort with the 

rest of your class. 

Making a difference 

We know our students care 

about the society they live in 

and together we can help make 

a difference and make it a 

better place to live and work for 

everyone. 

You’ll have the opportunity to get 

involved and make a difference 

in our community supporting 

charities and voluntary 

organisations including Save the 

Children, British Heart Foundation, 

Gateshead Foodbank, FACT, 

Comic Relief and Macmillan 

Cancer Support. 

Policing student Tom Jackson 

helped run a project to source 

and donate free school uniforms 

to 200 families in Gateshead 

as part of a National Citizen 

Service (NCS) scheme. 

He was chosen as one of the 

nation’s Coronation Champions 

as part of an official Coronation 

project organised by the 

Royal Voluntary Service. 

As a Coronation Champion Tom, 

19, received a specially designed, 

official Coronation Champions 

pin and a certificate signed by His 

Majesty The King and Her Majesty 

The Queen. Tom also attended 

a garden party at Buckingham 

Palace alongside The King and 

members of the Royal Family. 

Tom said: “Words cannot 

describe how joyous and proud 

I am to have won a Coronation 

award. It’s such an honour to 

be representing NCS and just 

amazing to see how much of 

an impact my project had. 

THE 

HEART OF 

OUR 

COMMUNITY. 

It helped hundreds of people and 

this award wouldn’t have been 

possible without the help of my 

team and my community. NCS 

has played such a huge part in my 

journey in life and I am so proud of 

the work we have accomplished.” 

23

Academy for Sport 

WORK HARD 

PLAY HARDER. 

Our Academy for 

Sport is home to eight 

specialist academies, 

all offering outstanding 

training, coaching and 

playing opportunities for 

everyone of all abilities. 

You don’t need to be studying 

a sport course to join one of 

our sport academies, you can 

study any full-time course with 

us and get involved. We'll work 

your timetable to enable you 

to take part in up to 4.5 hours 

of training a week and to play 

in competitive matches. 

OUR LIONESSES. 

Two former students played in the Lionesses 

squad that won the Euro Championships in 2022. 

Jill Scott 

Midfielder 

24 

Demi Stokes 

Defender 

Why train with us? 

● We’re at the top of our game 

when it comes to sport, 

education and training 

● Our facilities are among the 

best in the country and include 

3G pitches, an indoor athletics 

track, sports hall, cardio gym, 

strength and conditioning 

gym, massage suite, aerobics 

suite, gym and boxing ring 

● You’ll get up to 4.5 hours of 

professional training each week 

within your specific academy 

with specialist coaches 

● Free access to physiotherapy 

assessments and treatment* 

● The opportunity to compete 

in local, national and 

international competitions 

● A personalised training 

programme and access to a 

strength and conditioning coach 

for performance athletes 

● We’re also TASS accredited 

which means we help our 

athletes get the best from their 

sporting and academic careers 

● Students get a free core kit bundle 

* subject to screening process 

8 SPECIALIST 

ACADEMIES: 

Athletics 

Basketball 

Boxing 

Men's football 

Men's rugby 

Netball 

Women's football 

Women's rugby 

Some of our academy students 

are selected to compete at a 

regional and national level and 

we’re very proud of them all: 

Netball Georgia Grey - AoC 

National squad, Holly Jones - AoC 

National squad, U19s North East 

regional squad & Wales Senior 

and Under 21s squad. 

Women’s Rugby Niamh Swailes 

- Captain of England Under 18s 

& the North East and Cumbria 

Centre of Excellence squad. 

Men’s Rugby George Dafter - 

Durham U17s, Nelson Da Silva, 

Noah Fleming and Ben Harris - 

Northumberland U17s , Sam Suka 

- Newcastle Falcons U17s 

Athletics AOC Northern Athletics, 

Elli O’Halloran- 1st shotput, Reece 

Slater 1st - 1500m 

Boxing George Peacock - U64kg 

MTK Box Cup Champion 

Dionne Mannion - 2022 U54kg 

Youth Cadet National Champion, 

Zoe Macdonald - 2021 U69kg MTK 

Box Cup & U69kg Female Youth 

Development National Title. 

Womens Football Libbi McInnes 

- England Under 18, Rebecca 

Ferguson - England U17, Neve 

Herron & Jess Brown - England U19


NEW. 

ESPORTS 

ACADEMY. 

Find your level in the world of Esports. You’ll train and review your 

performance in our newly refurbished games lab and have the 

chance to compete in the British Esports Student Championships. 

Find out more here. 

25


IN A 

LEAGUE 

OF OUR 

OWN. 

We work in partnership with some 

of the region's well-known sporting 

organisations including the Newcastle 

Eagles and Gateshead Football Club. 

Newcastle Eagles 

We've teamed up with the country's 

most successful team in British 

basketball, the Newcastle Eagles, 

to give talented players the chance to 

bring out the best in their basketball 

performance while studying at college. 

Not only do we deliver our 

Basketball Academy in partnership 

with the Eagles but our Head Coach 

is also the Eagles legend and recently 

retired player, Drew Lasker. 

Originally from Houston, Texas, 

Drew has 15 years experience of 

playing professional basketball in the 

BBL, having played the last seven years 

for the Eagles as guard. 

FLYING 

HIGH. 

Former academy players who are now 

playing for the Newcastle Eagles: 

Themba Yabantu 

Sauveur Kande 

Sean Murphy 

26

PLAY 

TO 

WIN. 

Gateshead F.C. Academy 

Through our exclusive partnership 

with Gateshead Football Club 

we created the Gateshead F.C. 

Academy to give young North 

East footballers the best chance of 

pursuing a professional career in 

the sport. 

As a top performing player, you'll 

compete against the best youth 

teams in the country with the 

opportunity to be talent spotted to 

the club’s first team. 

You’ll not only receive the highest 

level of professional training but 

also a recognised qualification 

as you will study an academic or 

vocational study programme. 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Train at Gateshead 

Football Club 

Opportunities to represent 

Gateshead Football 

Club in the National League 

at senior and youth levels 

Gain a qualification in a 

subject of your choice 

Undertake a work experience 

rotation in roles related 

to running a successful 

football club, for example 

football administration and 

strength and conditioning 

Academy success 

Former academy players who are 

now playing for professional clubs: 

Oliver Thompson 

Gateshead F.C. First Team 

Chris Basham 

Sheffield United 

Tom White 

Barrow 

Jon Mellish 

Carlisle United 

Connor Pani 


Elliot Forbes 


Eddie Thomas 


Kyle Errington 


Lewis Leech 


As part of the academy structure 

the elite academy teams compete 

against some of the best academy 

teams in the country whilst studying 

a course of their choice. 

27

CoLab 

Study a creative course with 

us and you’ll become part of 

CoLab - a collaborative way 

of learning and working which 

brings together skills and 

specialisms from across the 

college. 

As a CoLab student you’ll have the 

unique opportunity to develop skills 

within your particular vocational area 

and you’ll also get the chance to apply 

these skills as you would in industry. 

Take a look at this student produced film to find out more... 

28

CoLab 

YOUR 

COLAB 

EXPERIENCE. 

Most colleges teach vocational 

programmes separately and 

concentrate on just the skills 

development; in a CoLab project you 

would be developing your specialist skills 

as part of a production team and in the 

context of the industry. 

If you are a media student for example, 

instead of learning camera operation 

skills in isolation, you will still hone these 

skills alongside auditioning, casting, 

directing and filming scenes devised and 

acted in by performing arts students. 

You'll also work with our media make-up 

students, our production arts students 

and our music students who'll compose, 

edit and produce the music; all within the 

exciting, high pressure environment of a 

TV studio, live broadcast, film or even for 

a music video set. 

Find out more 

www.gateshead.ac.uk/colab 

29

OUR 

CAMPUSES. 

Baltic Campus 

Training kitchens 

Botanica Salon 

200-seat theatre 

Music recording studios 

Two floor learning centre 

Three restaurants 

Starbucks 

Science labs 

Relaxed social spaces 

Dance studios 

Health care lab 

How do I get there? 

Quarryfield Road 

Baltic Business Quarter 

Gateshead 

NE8 3BE 

0191 490 0300 

Go North East 53/54 and 93/94 

go direct to Baltic Campus. 

Bus routes from across the region 

go to Gateshead Interchange, 

just ten minutes walk away. 

Free car parking at all campuses. 

Just ten minutes walk from 

Gateshead Interchange. 

30

Campus and travel information 


83m indoor athletics track 

3G artificial and grass pitches 

Boxing suite 

Strength and conditioning gym 

Cardio gym 

Massage suite 

Aerobics suite 

Pole vault, long jump and 

throw area 

Sports science and medicine 

facilities 


Neilson Road 

Gateshead 

NE10 0EF 

0191 490 2447 

The 93/94 Loop bus connects 

the Interchange to the Academy. 

Bus routes from across the 

region go to Gateshead 

Interchange. 


Just ten minutes walk from 

Gateshead International Stadium. 

31


Skills Academy for Construction 

Workshop spaces for each trade: 

- Bricklaying 

- Carpentry and joinery 

- Electrical 

- Plumbing 

Relaxed social spaces with 

vending machines 


Eighth Avenue 

(off Kingsway South) 

Team Valley 

Gateshead 

NE11 0SX 

0191 490 4617 

The 93/94 Loop bus connects 

the Interchange to the Academy. 



Interchange. 


32 

The nearest Metro station to the 

Skills Academy for Construction 

is Gateshead Interchange.


Skills Academy for Automotive & Engineering 

Mechanical maintenance 

workshops 

Welding and fabrication workshops 

Spray paint booths 

Rolling road 

Motor vehicle workshops 

CNC and CAD machines 

Café 


Kingsway South 

Team Valley 

Gateshead 

NE11 0SU 

0191 490 2430 

The 93/94 Loop bus connects the 

Interchange to the Academy. 



Interchange. 


The nearest Metro station to the 

Skills Academy for Automotive 

is Gateshead Interchange. 

33

Our courses 

RIGHT 

LET´S 

START 

34

Our courses 

. 

Vocational Study Programmes 

and T Levels 42 

GET 

Find a course quiz 36 

A Levels 38 

Apprenticeships 40 

ED. 

35

MAKE 

A CHOICE 

THAT’S RIGHT 

FOR YOU. 

Choosing what to study after GCSE 

exams can be confusing. There are 

so many different options available 

and it can be overwhelming. 

Take our quick quiz to 

help you decide what 

choice is right for you. 

36

Yes 

START HERE. 

Do you like 

writing essays, sitting 

exams and traditional 

school style 

learning? 

No 

Quiz 

A LEVELS. 

A Levels could be for you. 

They are a more academic and 

traditional way of learning. 

No 

Do you like practical 

learning and know 

which sector you'd like 

to work in? 

Yes 

They last for two years and can 

lead to higher level or degree 

apprenticeships, foundation 

degrees, honours degrees or 

work. Find out more about 

A Levels on our website. 

Go to A Levels 

Do you feel like 

you are ready for the 

world of work 

and want 

to earn 

a wage? 

No 

Yes 

We can help. 

Speak to our 

careers team 

or sign up for one of 

our Enrolment Events 

for one-to-one 

career advice. 

VOCATIONAL 

STUDY PROGRAMMES 

OR T LEVELS. 

More practical and hands-on, 

vocational training will give you 

skills in a specific sector or trade. 

These programmes can lead 

to university, an apprenticeship 

or straight into work. 

Visit our website to find out more. 

Go to Vocational Study 

Programmes & T Levels 

APPRENTICESHIPS. 

An apprenticeship might suit 

you. You usually spend four days 

a week in work and one day in 

college. You’ll be paid a wage 

and will complete qualifications. 

There are various apprenticeship 

levels which can lead to 

management positions. Take a 

look at our website to find out 

more about apprenticeships. 

Go to Apprenticeships 

37

A LEVELS. 

There are lots of reasons 

to study A Levels at 

Gateshead College including 

our 100% pass rate in 2023: 

100% 

A level pass rate 

for 2023 

Dedicated university application 

service with early bird UCAS 

applications. 

Workshops by leading universities 

and visits to campuses. 

Inspirational work experience 

placements with a relevant 

employer related to the career that 

you are interested in. 

Small class sizes and one-to-one 

support. 

Expert careers advice. 

Opportunities to participate in 

university schemes enabling you 

to get into university with lower 

entry grades. 

Weekly personal, social and 

development sessions with 

outstanding pastoral support on a 

one-to-one basis. 

High achievers programme with 

additional support for Russell 

Group university applications and 

the chance to study four A Level 

subjects. 

Chance to join the best sport 

academy in the region with a 

flexible timetable allowing you to 

train and play each week. 

38

WHAT 

CAN 

I STUDY? 

You can choose to study three A Levels 

with us. You’ll have six hours of lessons 

per week for each subject plus 

personal study time. 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Art & Design 

Biology 

Business Studies 

Chemistry 

Economics 

English Language 

English Literature 

French 

Further Maths 

Geography 

History 

Law 

Maths 

Media Studies 

Politics 

Physics 

Psychology 

Sociology 

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Hear from David, a former A Level student, 

now at Cambridge University... 

A Levels 

A Level + vocational combo 

You can study A Levels alongside 

a vocational qualification: 

● Level 3 BTEC Sport & 

Exercise Science 

● Level 3 BTEC Criminology 

Extended Project 

You’ll also have the opportunity to do an Extended Project which will 

give you the chance to gain additional UCAS points. 

For your extended project you’ll carry out a piece of research on a 

topic of your choice, then write a report or produce an artefact which 

can be anything from a piece of artwork or creative writing to a drama 

production or piece of music. 

Depending on the grade you achieve for the Extended Project, you can 

gain between 8 - 28 additional UCAS points. 

HOW DO I APPLY? 

Click here to go straight to the 

A Level courses on our 

website. Decide which course is 

for you and then apply online. 

Or sign up to one of our 

Enrolment Events, click here to 

find out when the next one is. 

See back page for full details... 

39


What is an apprenticeship? 

Apprenticeships combine work and study. 

You'll be employed while studying and will spend at 

least 20% of your time away from your job to study 

towards your apprenticeship. On completion of your 

apprenticeship you'll have gained the knowledge, 

skills and behaviours required to succeed in your 

chosen career or progress to the next level of your 

apprenticeship. 

How much will I earn? 

This depends on your employer but there are 

nationally set minimum wages for your age. If you’re 

already employed your salary may not change. 

How long does it take? 

The duration depends on the type and level of 

apprenticeship. It can vary from a minimum of one 

year up to four years. Most apprentices are employed 

for a minimum of 30 hours per week. 

What if I’m already employed? 

If you're already employed you can still do an 

apprenticeship. Contact us on 0191 490 2450 or 

employers@gateshead.ac.uk and we'll work with you 

and your employer. 

What will I achieve? 

You'll get the skills and experience employers look 

for, putting you ahead in the jobs market. You'll also 

achieve English and maths at Level 2 if you don't have 

them already. 

Strong partnerships. 

We have worked with organisations such as 

Atom Bank, Sage UK, Bellway Homes, Brewin Dolphin, 

Go North East, Karbon Homes, A&P Tyne, 

Ford Engineering and Essity. 

By working with leading employers, we ensure our 

training remains relevant and up to date, providing 

our apprentices with valuable work ready skills. If you 

want to work for a business that doesn't currently 

employ apprentices, for example a family firm, we can 

advise them on apprenticeship training and financial 

incentives. 

40

Apprenticeships 

How do I get an apprenticeship? 

Securing an apprenticeship is very similar to 

applying for a job. First you need to find a suitable 

apprenticeship vacancy that you’re interested in - 

click here to see our current apprenticeship vacancies. 

You’ll then be asked to complete an application form 

and if you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited for an interview 

with the employer. We can provide help and support 

every step of the way to give you the best chance of 

success. 

Find our vacancies. 

All vacancies are listed on our website, click here. 

If you’re still at school but know you want an 

apprenticeship, sign up now and we can get you 

job ready. 

Can’t find the area you want to work in? 

If the apprenticeship you want isn't listed below 

please contact us and we'll help you to get sorted. 

Can't find a vacancy? 

One of the brilliant things about Gateshead College is 

that you can start a vocational study programme with 

us and move into an apprenticeship at any time if a 

vacancy becomes available. 

HOW WILL 

I GET MY 

EMPLOYMENT 

EDGE? 

● Dedicated application and 

interview skills support 

● Access to our careers team to help 

you plan your career journey 

● Quality education and training combined 

with employment in your chosen industry 

We offer a range of apprenticeships including: 

Accounts and Finance Data Analyst 

Beauty 

Electrical Maintenance 

Bricklaying 

Engineering Machinist/ 

Mechatronics 

Bus and Coach 

Engineering Maintenance 

Business Administration 

Business Analyst 

Carpentry and Joinery 

Content Creator 

Customer Service 

Cyber Security 

Engineering Operative 

Hairdressing 

Leadership and 

Management 

Learning and Skills 

Teacher 

Manufacturing 

Maintenance Operations 

and Engineering 

Technician 

Marketing 

Metal Fabricator 

Network Engineer 

Plumbing Heating and 

Gas 

Plate Welder 

Property Maintenance 

Quantity Surveyor 

Software Development/ 

Tester 

Supply Chain 

Surveying Technician 

Teaching Assistant 

Vehicle Body Repair and 

Paint 

Vehicle Mechanic 

(Light and Heavy) 

Just some of the employers we have developed apprenticeship training for: 

41

VOCATIONAL STUDY 

PROGRAMMES 

& T LEVELS. 

If you have a clear idea of what 

type of career or trade you’d 

like to work in, then vocational 

study programmes are ideal as 

they are focused on individual 

industry sectors. 

They provide you with a mix of practical 

hands-on work and theory in fun, 

interactive sessions. The course content 

is shaped around the technical skills 

employers look for and you study them 

over one or two years. 

T Levels are a new type of practical 

qualification designed by leading 

businesses. You’ll spend 80% of your 

time in the classroom and 20% on an 

industrial placement with one of our 

partner employers. 

42

Vocational study programmes & T Levels 

What are the different levels of 

vocational qualifications? 

Level 1 

Introductory or 

beginner level. 

Level 1 courses are 

equivalent to GCSE 

grade 1-3 and you’ll 

need one GCSE to 

study one of these 

courses. 

Level 2 

Intermediate 

level. 


equivalent to GCSE 

grades 4-9 and you’ll 

need three GCSEs at 

grade 3 or above to 

join. 

Level 3 


equivalent to 3 A 

Levels and you’ll need 

five GCSEs at grades 

4-9 including English 

and maths to study. 

For practical vocational courses including 

construction, automotive, engineering, catering and 

hair and beauty the highest level you can start at 

is Level 2 as you won’t have the experience or skills 

needed to go straight onto a Level 3 course. 

This is our simple guide to the different levels but to 

check the entry requirements for individual courses 

please visit our website. 



courses on our website. 

Decide which course is 






43

ART & DESIGN. 

Study courses that are endorsed 

by employers ensuring they're 

up-to -date and industry relevant. 

Receive expert careers 

advice from our independent, 

award-winning team. 

Test your skills in live briefs, 

commissions and competitions set 

by employers. 

Gain relevant work experience 

which could lead to a job or 


Be mentored by some of the 

region's most successful business 

people. 

Learn in specialist art and design 

studios. 

93% 

of Art & Media students have 

progressed into work, an 

apprenticeship, 

further or higher 

education. 

Our partnerships with top creative employers means you’ll study 

and network with professionals at some of the best venues in the 

North East: 

NORTHERN 

STAGE 

44

LISTEN 

UP. 

Art & Design 

Hear from Sharon, one of our art & design teachers. 

Find out how the Gateshead 

College Foundation can help 

with cash to make sure you 

get the most from your 

time at college. 

See page 17 

As a student on one of 

our Art & Design courses, 

you will also be part of CoLab, 

an innovative approach to gaining 

experience of collaborating in a real 

life, industry related way. 

Click here for more info. 

45

Courses 

ART & DESIGN. 

Art & Design 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 

Entry requirements 

Three GCSEs at grade 4 or above 

including English and a creative 

subject. We would also like to see 

examples of your work (this can be 

digital). We will consider those who 

don’t meet the entry requirements, 

subject to an interview. 

What will I learn? 

This course gives you a great 

foundation for a creative career. 

You will choose one of two specialist 

strands to focus on: 

● Digital Art – where you'll learn 

digital design skills such as 

photography, digital drawing, 

editing and animation. 

● Traditional Art – where you’ll 

learn design skills using 

traditional art materials 

and skills. You will create 2D 

Drawing, Painting, Graphic 

Design, Illustration, Printmaking 

and 3D (Sculpture). 

You will build on your existing 

creative abilities, learning new skills 

and working on a specialism that 

challenges and excites you. The 

course provides regular workshops 

with artists and businesses and you 

will be encouraged and supported 

to work with clients on industry-led 

projects. 

Level 3 

courses attract 

UCAS points. 

46 

Fine Art 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above 

including English, maths and a 

creative subject. We would also 

like to see a portfolio of your 

work (this can be digital). We will 

consider those who don’t meet the 

entry requirements, subject to an 

interview. 


If you have a passion for art, love 

getting creative and want to 

experiment with different styles, 

then this specialist course could be 

for you. 

You'll work with an encouraging 

and supportive creative team to 

find your own unique style before 

specialising in your own preferred 

pathway; 2D Drawing, Painting, 

Graphics, Illustration, Printmaking 

and 3D (Sculpture). 

You will learn through 

experimentation and exploration 

by engaging in practical and theory 

sessions, work on live briefs with 

industry specialists, discover the 

work of other artists and designers, 

find opportunities for career 

and progression routes and visit 

galleries and places of cultural and 

educational interest. 

We work closely with industry 

professionals in order to provide 

an opportunity to build a valuable 

network right from the start. 

Competitions, collaborative working 

and live projects give you the 

confidence and skills to progress 

into employment or university. 

Fashion Design & 

Level 3 

Communication 

Duration 

2 years 









interview. 


Are you an aspiring designer? Or 

perhaps want to start your own 

fashion label? Or do you have a 

desire to set the next big trend? 

Wherever your interests lie, 

our course offers an exciting 

introduction into the dynamic 

world of fashion. From concept to 

production, you’ll learn the skills 

needed to create high-quality 

products that will then be effectively 

communicated through various 

visual media. 

You will be taught the fundamentals 

of fashion design; from garment 

construction, pattern cutting, 

sewing and textiles with a focus on 

sustainability. 

You will develop skills in styling and 

image-making, visual graphics, 

fashion drawing and photography 

to promote you and your creative 

vision. As well as this, you will 

study the historical influences and 

theoretical concepts in fashion to 

help inform your practical skills, 

project research and critical 

reflection.

Digital Arts 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 









interview. 


If you have boundless imagination 

and the desire to explore industry 

standard digital tools, to invent and 

create exciting visuals, then this 

course is ideal for you. 

Digital Arts offers opportunities 

to manipulate pixels as 

well as traditional media to 

design characters, props and 

environments for your comics, 

games and film ideas. Working 

with experts in the field in our state 

of the art digital lab, you will hone 

your craft to be able to design, 

model, animate, light and render. 

Our Digital Arts course offers three 

pathways: 

● Illustration - you'll develop skills 

in digital painting for concept 

art and editorial illustrations. 

● Sequential Art - you'll develop 

skills in book illustration, 

comics and storyboards. 

● Animation - you will 

develop skills in 2D/3D 

animation, storyboarding, 

modelling, lighting and 

rendering for 2D/3D. 

GatesheadArtandMedia 

47

AUTOMOTIVE. 

Gain the knowledge, skills and 

behaviours that employers require 

using industry standard equipment 

and tools including: 

● MIG/MAG welders 

● MIG brazers 

● Rolling road 

● 4 post lift, 2 post lift and 

other lifting equipment 

● JIG equipment for 

chassis alignment 

● Spray booths and spray guns 

● Hydraulic equipment 

● Spot welders 

● Tyre fitting 

● Balancing equipment 

● Dent pullers 

● Diagnostic equipment 

● 4 wheel alignment equipment 

● Electric vehicle trainer 

● Hybrid vehicle trainer 

Study courses that are endorsed by 

employers ensuring that they are 

up to date and industry relevant. 

Develop a range of skills including 

problem solving that enable you to 

work in your desired job role. 


which could lead to an 

apprenticeship or job. 

Test yourself in projects and 

competitions set by employers. 

Be taught by our highly skilled team 

who have years of experience 

working in the automotive sector. 

They are always developing their 

knowledge and skills by working 

closely with employers. 

We work in partnership with large 

national employers as well as some of 

the region’s leading companies including: 

Nissan 

Go North East 

Halfords 

NEARC 

Tyneside Coachworks 

North of England Coachworks 

Aston Workshop 

Arriva 

Fergusons Transport 

North East Concrete 

CF Recovery 

Hitachi Rail 

100% 

of Automotive students have 

progressed into work, 

an apprenticeship, 


education. 

48

Automotive 

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Take a look for yourself... 






See page 17 

49

Courses 

AUTOMOTIVE. 

Motor Vehicle Body Repair and 

Paint Refinishing 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


No entry requirements. 


If you’re not sure if you want to work 

as a mechanic or a body and paint 

repairer then this course is ideal for 

you. Through a range of practical 

sessions you’ll get a taste of both to 

help you decide and prepare you for 

your next level of study. 

You’ll gain the basic skills you 

need as well as developing your 

employability, communication and 

social skills. 

Vehicle Accident Repair 

Multiskilled 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


1 GCSE. 


If you want to work with cars but 

you're unsure whether you want to 

get under the bonnet and become 

a mechanic or master finishing 

techniques and become a body 

repairer, then this course will help 

you decide. 

In our workshops, you'll gain practical 

hands-on skills in mechanics and 

body repair techniques and during 

our classroom sessions you'll build 

your knowledge in both areas. 

You'll also get a taste of what it's like 

to work in the motor industry during a 

work placement. 

Motor Vehicle 

Service & Repair 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


1 GCSE 


If you're into cars and want to enter 

into the vehicle repair industries but 

are unsure which path to follow, 

this full time course will give you 

the essential skills, knowledge 

and experience you need to 

start preparing for a career in the 

automotive industry. 

It is a practical, hands-on course 

and you'll be working in the very 

best motor vehicle workshops on 

a variety of vehicles with industry 

standard resources. You will also be 

given the opportunity to take up a 

work experience placement in the 

motor industry to get a taste of the 

working world. 

50

Automotive 

Motor Vehicle 

Service & Repair 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Ideally a Level 1 Service and 

Repair qualification or good level 

of experience. You'll do an initial 

assessment in English and maths to 

ensure you are enrolled on the right 

level programme. 


Get the technical skills needed to 

work in today’s motor vehicle repair 

industry, including the diagnosis 

of non-complex system faults. 

A very practical course that'll give 

you hands-on experience working 

on a range of vehicles. 

The course provides essential 

knowledge for those who want to 

work as a vehicle technician in all 

types of dealerships, maintenance 

depots and garages. You’ll also go 

on a work experience placement 

with a local employer. 

Vehicle Maintenance 

& Repair 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 automotive qualification and 

an initial assessment in English and 

maths to ensure you are enrolled on 

the right level programme. 


You'll learn everything you need 

to know to pursue a career 

working as a service technician in 

all types of garages, dealerships 

and maintenance depots. 

Master your skills working 

on a variety of vehicles and 

diagnostic equipment. 

You'll also gain a qualification in 

refrigerant handling, knowledge 

of electric and hybrid vehicles 

and have the opportunity to 

complete work experience 

with local businesses. 

Don't worry if you 

haven't got a 

4 in maths and 

English, we will help you 

achieve these as part 

of your course. 



Automotive courses on our website. 

Decide which course is for you 

and then apply online. 





51

Courses 

AUTOMOTIVE. 

Motor Vehicle Body Repair 

& Paint Refinishing 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


1 GCSE 


This course will give you the 

essential skills, knowledge and 

experience you need to work 

as a body repairer in garages, 

dealerships and specialist 

body repair shops. 

It’s a practical, hands-on course 

and you’ll be training in our 

state-of-the-art workshops on 

a variety of vehicles and industry 

standard resources. You’ll also 

follow a formal paint refinishing 

qualification so that by the end of 

your programme, you’ll have the 

skills and experience of both of 

these specialist areas. 

You will also be given the 

opportunity to take up a work 

experience placement in the 

motor industry to get a taste of the 

working world. 



Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 1 Body Repair and Paint 

Refinishing or a good level of 

practical experience and an 

initial assessment in English and 

maths to ensure you are enrolled 

on the right level programme. 


This is a unique opportunity to 

gain skills in two specialist areas - 

body repair and paint refinishing. 

During this one-year course you'll 

get practical skills and knowledge 

working on a wide range of 

vehicles in our workshops. 

You'll also complete a work 

placement with a local employer to 

gain an insight and understanding 

of working in a body repair shop. 

This qualification forms part of an 

advanced level apprenticeship, 

giving you a head start over other 

candidates if you wish to progress to 

an apprenticeship. Alternatively you 

can progress to our Level 3 course. 



Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 Body Repair and Paint 

Refinishing qualification and 

an initial assessment in English and 

maths to ensure you are enrolled on 

the right level programme. 


Get the skills and knowledge 

to work as a body repairer or paint 

refinisher working on a wide range 

of vehicles in all types of garages, 

dealerships and specialist body 

repair shops. You’ll train in our 

state-of-the-art workshops and 

and gain work experience 

with local employers. 

This qualification also forms part 

of an Accident Repair Advanced 

Apprenticeship, so if you apply to an 

apprenticeship you’ll be one step 

ahead of other candidates. 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 

52

Automotive 



Automotive courses on our website. 







53

BUSINESS. 


employers ensuring they're 

up-to-date and industry relevant. 

Receive expert careers advice 

from our independent, 


Test your skills in projects set by 

employers. 



apprenticeship or a job. 

Our industry partners include: 

54 

96% 

of Business students have 




education.

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Business 

Hear from Jack, a former business student... 






See page 17 

Or Vicky & Lisa, our business team... 

55

Courses 

BUSINESS. 

Introduction to 

Business and Travel 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


A minimum of 2 GCSEs 

grade 2 and above. 


If you’re looking for an introduction 

to business, travel and hospitality, 

this course is ideal for you. 

Customer service is at the heart of 

the business, tourism and hospitality 

sectors and you’ll develop your 

business awareness skills and 

confidence to ensure you know 

how to give your customers that 

five star treatment. Working on 

an event, you’ll also build your 

team work, problem solving and 

communications skills. 

Starting your own Business 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


3 GCSEs in any subjects at a 

grade 4 or above, or equivalent. 


This course has been designed to 

give you the knowledge and skills 

to start your own business, enter 

employment or an apprenticeship. 

You’ll work on different business 

ideas considering the type of 

ownership and the skills and 

resources you will need to set up 

your business. Plus, you’ll get creative 

developing a brand name, logo and 

promotional material for 

your business. 

Understanding all things numbers 

and legal are vitally important to a 

business start-up and you’ll learn 

about HMRC and tax requirements 

including VAT, cash flow forecasts, 

invoices and payment receipts. 

You’ll also learn how to develop a 

robust and thorough business plan. 

Tourism is a multi-million pound 

industry and you’ll learn more about 

the sector here in the UK and get 

out and about visiting key tourist 

attractions. 

You’ll also develop your digital, IT 

and presentation skills throughout 

the duration of the course. 

The skills and knowledge you 

gain from the course will help you 

step into a job, apprenticeship or 

progress on to the next level 

of study. 

56

Introduction to 

Business Management 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


4 GCSEs in any subjects at a 

grade 3 or above, or equivalent. 


This course has been designed 

to give you the opportunity to 

explore a number of different 

topics and develop the essential 

skills and knowledge you need to 

work successfully in a business 

environment. 

You’ll explore how businesses 

operate, find out about different 

types of businesses and how they 

are managed and use financial 

tools to support growth and 

maximise profits. You will also 

discover how businesses use 

marketing to deliver sales and 

the importance good customer 

service and branding has on their 

reputation. 

You'll have the opportunity to 

interact and learn from some of the 

region's largest businesses and hear 

from inspirational entrepreneurs 

who will share their experiences 

with you. 

The skills and knowledge you gain 

will help you decide the direction 

you want your career to take and 

specialise in an area you’re most 

interested in, choosing from: 

● Enterprise 

● Finance 

● Marketing 

● Retail 

● Digital business technology 

Business 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


5 GCSEs grade 4 and above, 

including maths and English. 


On this course you’ll learn the 

theory behind how businesses 

are run. This includes how and why 

businesses produce financial 

statements, finding out about 

successful marketing campaigns 

and events and the processes 

businesses go through when 

recruiting new staff. Along with 

your studies you will develop a 

range of skills that are highly sought 

after by all employers, such as 

time management, organisation, 

communication and resilience. 

1. Leadership and Management 

You will be given the opportunity 

to develop your leadership and 

management skills through a range 

of workshops, trips and visits and 

guest speakers who will share a 

wealth of knowledge and expertise 

with you to allow you to pursue 

a career in leadership and equip 

you with the skills, knowledge and 

behaviours needed to become 

the future leaders in the business 

world. You will also complete a 

CMI qualification to make you 

stand out in the jobs market. 

2. Digital Marketing 

Living in a digital world requires 

businesses to compete on a digital 

level. You will be working with 

leading businesses to develop 

your digital marketing skills 

and meet industry specialists 

who will show you the tricks of 

the trade. All students will also 

complete a Google Garage 

marketing qualification. 

3. People Management and Law 

It's important that businesses look 

after and develop their talent 

to ensure they are the most 

competitive business on the market. 

You will be working with industry 

specialists and securing a mentor 

from a local firm including a law 

firm which will help you learn about 

the actions businesses must take 

to stay within the boundaries of the 

law, how to recruit the best people 

to ensure you have the right skill 

set in your team, how to motivate 

your staff to reach their full potential 

and how to get people to work 

together to maximise results. 

4. Investment Finance and Accounting 

The world of finance is growing, 

from trading on the stock market, 

investment banking, financial 

planners to accountants, the 

demand for skilled staff is high. 

You will develop your finance skills 

and knowledge by attending 

work placements in a financial 

setting, working with local finance 

companies and having guest 

speakers come in to discuss careers 

and opportunities in the industry. 

Students will also complete an 

AAT accounting qualification. 

Business 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 

57

Courses 

BUSINESS. 

T Level in Management 

and Administration 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 Years 


5 GCSEs at grades 5-9 including 

maths and English. 


Do you see yourself as a future 

leader? If so, then this course could 

be for you. You will learn how to 

manage a successful business 

by developing your knowledge 

and skills in areas such as people 

management, finance and business 

behaviours. 

In the first year, you’ll develop an 

understanding of a broad range 

of issues relevant to the business 

sector, including: 

Business context 

You’ll explore organisational cultures 

and values, the role of both internal 

and external stakeholders, different 

forms of governance and the 

impact of organisations on society 

and the environment. 

Project and change management 

Understanding change 

management theories and models 

are an essential part of working 

in business and will help you to 

support and improve projects. 

Business behaviours 

You’ll gain an understanding 

of the importance of good 

communication and how to adapt 

styles for different purposes, 

methods and audiences. 

Quality and compliance 

You’ll learn about the importance of 

maintaining and improving quality 

in all aspects of public and private 

sector organisations. 

At the end of the delivery of the core 

content, you’ll put everything you 

have learned into practice by working 

on an employer set project. The 

employer-set project will consist of a 

well-defined, real industry-style brief. 

In the second year you’ll complete 

an occupational specialism in Team 

Leadership and Management 

along with a comprehensive work 

experience placement. 

A unique part of a T Level is the 

time students spend on an industry 

placement (minimum of 315 

hours/ around 45 days) or around 

20% of your course. This gives you 

an invaluable opportunity to put 

your new knowledge and skills into 

practice and understand the world of 

work. 

T Levels are a new type of practical qualification 

designed by leading businesses. 

You’ll spend 80% of your time in the classroom 

and 20% on an industrial placement. 

Following the course you can step into 

employment, go onto an apprenticeship 

or a degree at university. 

58

Business 



Business courses on our website. 







59

CATERING 

& HOSPITALITY. 

The North East is an excellent base 

for anyone wishing to work in the 

fast-paced food service industry 

with its growing street-food scene, 

vibrant café culture and some 

amazing independent restaurants 

offering cuisines from around the 

world. 

You’ll gain the essential skills and 

knowledge of the industry and train 

as part of our professional team in 

our student-run restaurant Enfields 

Kitchen. 

Working with our industry 

partners you’ll gain experience 

and exposure, while building up a 

professional network. 

You’ll undertake relevant, quality 

industry placements. 

Enjoy masterclasses from top chefs 

and business owners. 

Showcase your work with real 

customers during our external 

events and themed evenings. 

Working on live projects, you’ll 

get the opportunity to put your 

skills and knowledge to the test. 

Past projects have included the 

Chamber of Commerce Annual 

Dinner at Durham Cathedral, 

prestigious events at the Marriott 

Hotel and the college’s Student 

Awards. 

We have strong relationships with some of regions leading 

organisations including: 

60

DON'T JUST 

TAKE OUR 

WORD FOR IT. 

Hear from our catering students at Cafe 21... 

Catering & Hospitality 

92% 

of Catering students have 


an apprenticeship, further 

or higher education. 

Or from Naomi, a former catering student who owns 

Studio 28 Patisserie... 






See page 17 

61

Courses 

CATERING 

& HOSPITALITY. 

Cookery & Food 

and Beverage service 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


No previous qualifications are 

required, however you will 

need to attend an interview. 


You will develop a core introductory 

skill base in the correct use of 

equipment and knives in order 

for you to cook and present a 

wide range of meat, poultry and 

vegetables, sauces and garnishes. 

The course also covers some 

patisserie elements including cakes, 

sponges and hot and cold desserts. 

You’ll build your confidence and 

customer service skills working 

front of house in Enfields Kitchen, 

our student-run restaurant. You’ll 

deal with customers, undertake 

initial barista training, work 

on table design and handle 

cash and card payments. 

You’ll be taught hygiene 

requirements, how to be safe at 

work and the key fundamentals 

of kitchen cleanliness. In addition, 

you’ll also gain an understanding 

of international culinary terms 

in French and Italian. 

Professional Cookery 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Vocational qualifications at Level 

1 or three GCSE grades at 4 or 

above including English and maths. 


You’ll cook and present a wide 

range of meat, fish and poultry 

dishes with an extensive variety 

of accompaniments such as 


This will develop your core skill in 

the use of equipment and knives. 

You will also learn how to prepare, 

cook and finish a range of hot and 

cold desserts, experimenting with 

pastry products including cakes, 

sponges, biscuits and scones as well 

as bread and other dough products. 

You’ll learn how to develop menus 

for a variety of customers and 

events including preparation 

for customers with allergies 

and understanding the 

fundamentals of nutrition. 

While this course is aimed at 

those who want to be in the 

kitchen, to ensure you can best 

support your customer-facing 

team in the future, you’ll learn 

about front-of-house operations 

and dealing with customers. 

Food and Beverage Service 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSE’s grade 4 or above 

including either English and maths. 

Level 1 cookery is desirable or 

experience, but not essential. 


You will develop a skill set to be 

able to work confidently front of 

house and deal with customers. 

This will include the full customer 

journey from managing their 

booking, meeting and greeting, 

confidently describing menu 

options, dealing with allergy 

related queries, serving food and 

drink and processing payments. 

We’ll also train you in the art 

of mastering the perfect 

cup of coffee using industry 

recognised equipment. 

Customer service is at the heart 

of front-of-house operations 

and we’ll teach you how to give 

your customers 5 star treatment. 

From the moment they make the 

booking to the way you greet them 

on arrival and how you explain 

the menu choices to them, we’ll 

build your skills and confidence. 

To ensure you can talk 

knowledgeably about food you’ll 

also learn introductory culinary 

skills. We’ll teach you how to cook 

and present a selection of meat, 

fish and poultry dishes with a 

range of accompaniments such as 


62

Catering & Hospitality 

Professional Patisserie 

and Confectionary 

Level 3 

Hospitality Supervision 

and Leadership 

Level 3 

Professional Cookery 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 Professional Cookery or 

equivalent skills/experience. 



practical skills and knowledge for 

a career as a pastry chef in the 

catering and hospitality industry. 

You’ll develop skills in the complex 

methods in producing pastries, 

hot and cold desserts and 

developing your unique adaptation 

methods to dishes which include 

chocolate centre pieces, boiled 

sugar work and pastillage. 

Running the dessert section of 

Enfields Kitchen, you’ll put your skills 

and knowledge to the test and gain 

confidence in a professional setting. 

You will extend your abilities in key 

topics required in catering and 

hospitality such as professional 

cookery, food hygiene, menu 

development and costings. As well 

as studying essential topics to give 

you the edge such as nutrition, 

allergies and culinary terms. 

Duration 

1 year 


Four GCSE grades at 4 or above 

including English and maths. 


You will develop a range of 

skills to work in a supervisory 

role in the hospitality sector. 

Customer service is at the heart 

of front-of-house operations and 

we’ll teach you how to confidently 

lead a team and ensure they 

give your customers the 5 star 

treatment. From the moment 

they make the booking to the 

way they are greeted on arrival, 

we’ll build your leadership skills 

and confidence to ensure you 

get the best out of your team. 

You’ll also get the opportunity 

to manage and organise 

events and supervise, mentor 

and support students on our 

Level 1 and 2 courses. 

Teamwork, customer service 

and good communication are 

essential skills in the hospitality 

sector and you’ll perfect these 

with lots of opportunities to put 

them into practice on this course. 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 Professional Cookery or 

four GCSE grades at 4 or above 



This course will give you the skills 

to work at a supervisory level, 

as a senior chef or specialise in 

a particular field of catering. 

You will develop a complex skills 

base in the correct methods of 

preparing and cooking meat, fish 

and poultry dishes using different 

styles and your own adaptation 

of presentation. This will also 

include an extensive variety 

of accompaniments such as 


In order to give you a broader 

transferable skills set you will also 

develop your work in a range 

of different pastry products 

from sweet to savoury. This is 

regarded as a must in some 

industry establishments. 

You’ll have the opportunity to 

develop leadership and supervisory 

skills as well as building your 

knowledge in food hygiene, menu 

development and costings. 



Catering & Hospitality courses on 

our website. Decide which course is 






Level 3 


UCAS points. 

63

CONSTRUCTION. 

Train in some of the best facilities in 

the UK. 



up-to -date and industry relevant. 




Test your skills in competitions set 

by employers. 






people. 

Study in industry standard 

facilities which include a number 

of workshops, roofing stations and 

real house builds. 

We'll help you apply for an 

apprenticeship with one of our 

employer partners. 

99% 

of Construction students have 




We work in partnership with some of the best employers in the 

region who look for their next apprentices amongst our students: 

64

LISTEN 

UP. 






See page 17 

Construction 

Hear from Mick 'The Brick' , one of our construction teachers... 

Or from Craig who specialises in plumbing and electrical courses... 

65

Courses 

CONSTRUCTION. 

Certificate in 

Construction Skills 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


There are no formal entry 

requirements. 


If you’re interested in working in the 

construction industry but are not 

sure which trade area to specialise 

in, this course is the perfect 

opportunity to develop the practical 

skills needed by employers in the 

industry, while giving you a taster of 

a variety of trades. 

You will study an introduction to 

health and safety as well as a range 

of trade skills including carpentry 

and joinery, bricklaying, plumbing 

and electrical installation. 

Once you have completed this 

course, you’ll be in a better position 

to decide which trade you would 

like to specialise in. 

Bricklaying 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


Two GCSEs at 3 or above, ideally 

including English and maths or 

equivalent. 


This introductory course will 

help prepare you for work in the 

construction industry or give you 

the qualification to progress on to 

the Level 2 bricklaying course to 

develop your knowledge and skills 

further. 

You’ll learn through a combination 

of hands-on practical training and 

classroom based activities. 

Bricklaying 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


You must have a full Level 1 

qualification in a relevant subject 

area. 


Hands-on training in our industry 

standard workshops will provide 

you with the skills needed to be 

a bricklayer or to progress to 

an apprenticeship. Alongside 

bricklaying skills, you’ll be trained 

in arches and openings, various 

types of walling and all aspects of 

building. You’ll also have the chance 

to develop your skills through work 

experience placements. 

66

Construction 

Carpentry & Joinery 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 




equivalent. 


You'll build foundation carpentry 

and joinery skills to help you 

progress to an apprenticeship, work 

or further training. Practical and 

hands-on, you’ll learn carpentry 

and joinery techniques using hand 

and power tools, as well as health 

and safety. 

On completion of the course, 

you can progress to one of our 

Level 2 courses, into work or an 


Site Carpentry 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


You must have a Level 1 in 

Carpentry and Joinery and 

GCSE English and maths. 


This course develops your craft skills 

to work at recognised industrial 

standards within this trade area. 

You will learn new site carpentry 

skills as well as developing those 

learnt at Level 1. The college has 

close links to local construction 

companies, so you’ll also have the 

opportunity to take part in valuable 

work experience placements in the 

commercial world. 

Diploma in Site Carpentry 

(Construction) 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 in Site Carpentry or some 

equivalent work experience. 


You will cover three core subject 

areas including health, safety and 

welfare, technical information, 

quantities and communication 

and the construction industry and 

the built environment. You’ll learn 

a range of practical skills such as 

first and second fixing operations, 

how to set up and operate cutting 

and shaping machinery, how to set 

up complex structural carcassing 

components and how to maintain 

non-structural and structural 

components. 


haven't got a 







Construction courses on our 







67

Courses 

CONSTRUCTION. 

Plumbing 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 




equivalent. 


This course is ideal for those 

wanting to enter the plumbing 

industry. You’ll have the opportunity 

to pick up some core knowledge 

and skills in basic plumbing, 

enabling you to progress onto the 

Level 2 course. 

You’ll cover a variety of topics 

including carrying out safe 

working practices, understanding 

fundamental scientific principles 

within building services engineering 

and understanding low carbon steel 

pipe fabrication work for domestic 

plumbing systems. 

Receive a weekly tutorial, take part 

in course enrichment activities and 

study English and maths at your 

appropriate level. 

Plumbing Studies 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Two GCSEs at 4 or above in English 

and maths. 


If you’d like to become a plumber, 

this course will give you an insight 

to the plumbing industry gaining 

the technical knowledge and 

skills required to undertake basic 

domestic plumbing work, including 

cold and hot water systems, 

sanitation and central heating. 

You’ll also gain an understanding 

of the importance of health and 

safety within the industry and will be 

able to take part in valuable work 

experience placements. 

Electro Technical 

Installation 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Two GCSEs at 4 or above, including 

English and maths. 


If you’d like to be an electrician, 

this course will give you an insight 

to the electrical industry gaining 

the technical knowledge and 

skills required to undertake basic 

domestic electrical work. 

You'll get to grips with lighting 

circuits, ring final circuits, cable 

sizing and how to add additional 

circuits to existing installations. 

You'll also gain an understanding 

of the importance of health and 

safety within the industry and 

have the chance to take part 

in valuable work experience. 


haven't got a 





68

Construction 

Electro Technical 

Installation 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Four GCSE at grade 4 or above, 

preferably including English and 

maths, or a vocational qualification 

at pass or above, and Functional 

Skills English and maths at Level 2. 


If you’d like to be an electrician, this 

course is for you. You'll get an insight 

in to the electrical industry. You'll also 

have the opportunity to complete 

valuable work experience. 

This course covers the 

following units: 

● Health, safety and 

environmental considerations 

● Organising and overseeing 

● Terminating and connecting 

● Inspection 

● Testing and commissioning 

● Fault diagnosis and rectification 

● Electrical scientific principles 

● BS 7671 

● Electrical design 

● Electrical maintenance. 



Construction courses on our 







69



You’ll spend 80% of your time in the classroom and 

20% on an industrial placement with one or more 

of our construction partner employers. 




70

Courses 

Construction 

CONSTRUCTION. 

T Level in Carpentry 

and Joinery 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 5 or above, ideally 

including English, maths and 

science. 


You'll gain a great understanding 

of the construction industry, 

covering topics such as health 

and safety, construction science 

principles and sustainability. 

During the course you'll prepare 

and plan for the production of 

complex timber-based products 

and gain knowledge and skills 

in design, measurement and 

calculations of quantities, as well 

as the production of a method 

statement and risk assessment. 

You'll also build upon your numerical 

skills to produce material and 

cutting lists to minimise wastage. 

You’ll undertake 315 hours of work 

placement putting into practice 

what you’ve learnt in the classroom. 

Working with some of the region’s 

key employers, you’ll get a taste 

of what it’s like to work onsite. 

T Level in Architectural 

Design and Surveying 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 5 or above, ideally 

including English, maths and 

science. 


If you’re interested in working in 

civil engineering, surveying or town 

planning then this course is for you. 

You’ll explore the science behind 

building design by looking at 

different construction methods, 

design principles and processes 

and surveying and planning. You’ll 

also study the construction industry 

and its role in the economy as well 

as the importance of sustainability, 

environmental impact and 

corporate social responsibility. 

As new technology emerges, the 

construction sector is continuously 

evolving and you’ll gain an 

understanding of digital engineering 

techniques and the impact of 

the Internet of Things (IoT). Using 

mathematical techniques you’ll 

solve construction problem and 

make accurate and appropriate 

measurements. 

You’ll be taught key principles 

for working in the industry 

including project management, 

budgeting and resource 

allocation, procurement, and risk 

management. As well as studying 

essential topics such as health 

and safety, building regulations 

and standards, relationship 

management and 

customer service. 

As the course is a T Level, you’ll 

also undertake 315 hours of work 

placement putting into practice 

what you’ve learnt in the classroom. 

Working with some of the region’s 

key employers, you’ll get a taste of 

what it’s like to work in both office 

based construction design and 

planning environments as well as on 

a construction site. 

The opportunities you will gain 

through your taught sessions 

in college and your experience 

whilst on work placement will 

support you in gaining a career 

or an apprenticeship within 

the construction industry. 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 

Progress to PlanBee. 

When you finish the Level 3 you'll be 

in a perfect position to apply for our 

paid higher apprenticeship, PlanBee. 

You'll work for a range of architects 

and building companies, earn a 

wage and gain a qualification. 

Click here for more details. 

71

DIGITAL 

TECHNOLOGY 

& GAMES. 


the UK. 







Test your skills in live project briefs 

set by employers. 




Be mentored by some of the region's 

most successful business people. 

Have strong industry links with local 

digital companies, ensuring we are 

providing you with the industry skills 

employers are looking for. 

Digital courses are designed to give 

you the knowledge and practical 

skills you need to apply technology in 

a workplace and demonstrate your 

abilities to employers. 


72

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Digital Technology & Games 

Hear from Jake who studied 

software development... 






See page 17 

Or Neil from Dustup, one of our industry partners... 

73

Courses 

DIGITAL 

TECHNOLOGY. 

Digital Technologies 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


Two GCSEs at a minimum 

of grades 1-2. 


Are you interested in the digital 

technology sector as a career 

choice? Our course is packed with 

exciting projects that will develop 

your skills in a range of digital 

technologies. From digital animation 

and website design to computer 

programming, you'll gain a broad 

understanding of the industry 

and its range of opportunities. 

You will develop a digital product 

from start to finish, using industrystandard 

software. You'll also learn 

how to design and create a website 

and get hands-on experience in 

writing computer programmes. 

Our course is more than just a 

qualification. We'll help you develop 

key skills that will make you more 

employable and give you an edge in 

the job market. You'll also have the 

opportunity to engage with local 

businesses and improve your skills 

through work experience and other 

activities designed to boost your CV. 

74 

Digital Technologies 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Four GCSEs at grade 3 preferably 



Are you looking for an exciting 

new way to engage with digital 

technologies? 

We're proud members of Dynamo 

North East, and we've designed our 

programme to give you a range 

of creative and technical skills to 

prepare you for your next step, 

whether it's a T Level or 

Foundation Diploma. 

On our course, you'll get hands-on 

experience with a variety of digital 

technologies, including software 

development and mobile app 

development. You'll be challenged to 

create your own mobile application 

within Unity and develop bespoke 

software applications using C#. 

You'll also get to build and test 

your own PC, troubleshoot 

common problems, and gain 

valuable skills in big data analysis 

and database design. 

That's not all – our programme 

also includes real-world work 

experience opportunities, employer 

briefs and commissions that will 

help you understand the world 

of work and make an impression 

on potential employers. We want 

you to be job-ready when you 

finish our course, with the skills and 

experience you need to succeed in 

the workplace. 


haven't got a 

4 in English and maths, 

we will help you achieve 

these as part 

of your course.

Digital Technology 

Cyber Security & 

Infrastructure Support 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at grades 4-9 including 



The vocational course endorsed 

by Dynamo North East and other 

partners can provide you with the 

skills and knowledge you need to 

become an asset to any business. 

The course covers the fundamentals 

of encryption, investigating how 

hackers penetrate systems, and 

providing strong cyber defence 

tactics. You will also learn how to 

build and maintain computer 

systems, support network 

technologies, and develop skills 

in programming, database 

development and web design. 

It’s not just about the technical 

skills you will learn, the course 

also provides training on money 

management, job hunting, interview 

skills, confidence building and 

resilience. With relevant and highquality 

work experience placements, 

employer talks, and commercial 

and vocational projects, you will gain 

valuable experience and make an 

impression on potential employers. 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 

Software Engineering & 

Development 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 





If you're interested in a career as a 

software engineer, a web database 

developer or a social media expert 

this is the course for you. 

Our course in Software Engineering 

& Development will equip you 

with the skills you need to design, 

develop and implement the systems 

that we use daily. You will explore 

different programming languages, 

including those used to develop the 

applications and web pages. You'll 

learn how to think outside the box, 

create bug-free software that can 

be maintained for years, and gain 

the knowledge and skills to become 

a software developer, an apprentice 

or go on to further study. 

We offer work experience 

placements, employer talks, 

commercial and vocational projects, 

which will help you make a lasting 

impression on potential employers 

and can often lead to gaining 

an apprenticeship. 

98% 

of Digi Tech students have 




education. 

75

Courses 

DIGITAL 

TECHNOLOGY. 

This is a new type of qualification 

that combines a minimum of 

315 hours (or 45 days) industry 

placement with studying in college. 

When you’re on placement, you’ll 

spend time with our network of 

digital employers, developing your 

technical skills, working as part 

of a team and gaining valuable 

work experience. Past students 

have spent time with Mediaworks, 

Enigma Interactive, Geek Talent, 

Tombola and Hedgehog Lab. 

In college, you’ll study concepts, 

theories, principles and core skills 

relevant to software engineering 

including programming concepts, 

business context, digital concepts 

and environments, agile project 

management, system security 

and testing methodologies. You’ll 

also look at industry standard 

knowledge, skills and behaviours in 

requirements analysis, designing, 

implementing and testing software 

solutions. 

When you complete the course, 

you can step into work, move onto 

university or apply for a higher or 

degree level apprenticeship. 

76

Digital Technology 

T Level in Software 

Development (Digital 

Production, Design 

and Development) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 





You'll engage in a mix of classroom 

learning and hands-on experience 

through an industry placement of at 

least 45 days, providing you with the 

transferable skills needed to stand 

out to potential employers as well 

as prepare you for further study or 

higher apprenticeships. 

You'll also gain practical experience 

with programming concepts using 

Python, further developing your 

computational thinking skills. This 

course will provide you with a solid 

foundation in business context, 

including how businesses use a 

range of digital skills. 

You will develop the skills and 

knowledge needed to start a career 

in the digital industry. 

T Level in Networking 

and Infrastructure 

(Digital Support Services) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 





This course has been designed to 

reflect the needs of the digital sector 

and the role of a Digital Infrastructure 

Technician. 

You'll dive into the infrastructure 

support needs of a range 

of businesses, and gain an 

understanding of data storage and 

access levels. You'll enhance your 

computational thinking skills, and 

explore digital environments. 

You’ll also have an opportunity to 

gain real world skills with an industry 

placement that will prepare you for 

the workplace or higher-level study. 

Don't miss out on this incredible 

opportunity to launch your career in 

the digital sector with confidence. 

T Level in Big Data 

(Digital Business Services) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 





Want to start your career in the 

digital sector? This course blends 

technical learning with hands-on 

digital experience, specifically 

designed for the role of a Data 

Technician. 

You'll have the opportunity to engage 

in a mix of theory, technical concepts 

and principles, combined with 

invaluable on-the-job experience 

during your industry placement. 

This practical experience will give 

you the skills that employers are 

actively seeking, and set you apart in 

the job market. 

You'll gain essential digital skills 

needed in a range of business 

environments, and learn about how 

data is gathered, manipulated 

and analysed. 



Digital Technology courses on our 







Level 3 


UCAS points. 

77

Courses 

GAMES. 

Games 

Level 1 

Games Design 

Level 2 

Esports 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Two GCSEs at a minimum of grades 

1-2. 


Are you interested in games or 

working in the games, art or media 

industry? We're looking for students 

who are keen to develop their 

creative skills and learn something 

new. Don’t worry if you're not at a 

high standard yet, as we'll teach you 

everything you need to know. All 

you need is a willingness to learn. 

During the course, you'll have the 

opportunity to design and create 

visual and audio content, create 

game assets such as environments, 

characters and objects, use 2D and 

3D technology and develop your art 

and creative skills. If you're looking 

for an opportunity to explore your 

creative side and develop skills that 

will be useful in the games industry 

and beyond, then this course is 

perfect for you. 



Games and Esports courses on our 



Duration 

1 year 


An appropriate vocational 

qualification at Level 1 or three 

GCSEs at grade 3 or above, 

preferably including English 

and maths. 


Develop the skills needed to help 

you become a games designer. 

Learn about digital design, 

animation, game engines, sound 

editing, asset building and 3D 

modelling. In the final part of the 

course, you’ll focus on a personal 

project, going in-depth and 

developing your skills and ideas. 

On completion, you can progress to 

one of our Level 3 courses in either 

games production or switching to 

another of our creative courses, 

such as photography. 





Duration 

1 year 

Entry requirement 


qualification at Level 1 or three 

GCSEs at grade 3 or above, 


and maths. 


This course is designed to give you 

the skills and knowledge needed to 

succeed in the fast-growing world 

of esports. 

You'll have the opportunity to learn 

from industry professionals and 

experienced gamers who will 

teach you everything from the 

basics of gaming to the skills of 

competitive play. You'll also get to 

work with cutting-edge technology 

and equipment that is used in 

professional esports tournaments, 

giving you a taste of what it's like to 

compete at the highest levels. 

The benefits of this course go far 

beyond just learning how to play 

video games. You'll also develop 

important skills like teamwork, 

communication, and problemsolving, 

which are highly valued by 

employers across a range 

of industries. 

On completion, you can progress 

to one of our Level 3 courses 

in esports. 

78

Games 

99% 

of Games students have 




education. 

Games Production 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Four GCSEs at 4 or above including 

English. A digital or art related 

subject and maths are also 

preferred but not essential. 


If you're a 3D modeler, programmer, 

concept artist, animator or an 

all-round gaming enthusiast, then 

our innovative games production 

course is perfect for you. 

Our course is validated by the 

world-renowned University of 

the Arts London (UAL) and other 

partners like Sumo Digital and 

INFINITY27, putting you in control of 

your own progress and allowing you 

to choose specialisms that suit you. 

This will push your potential and 

give you the confidence you need 

to succeed in the industry. 

We have industry-level kit, software, 

and PROTO across the road. You 

can trust that you'll be learning 

with the best possible resources 

and facilities. We offer you the 

opportunity to work on live briefs for 

real companies, create real games, 

compete in game jams, win prizes, 

create an impressive portfolio, 

interact with real game studios, 

meet new friends and take the first 

steps on the path that could lead 

you to your dream job. 

Esports 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Four GCSE grades at 4 or above 

including English. 

A business, digital or sports related 

subject and maths are also 

preferred but not essential. 


This course is designed to 

challenge your preconceptions 

about gaming and the world of 

business, and help you to explore 

the untapped potential of the 

esports community. With the right 

skills and knowledge, you could be 

part of this exciting and potentially 

very profitable industry. 

You’ll learn how to build 

your gaming empire using 

entrepreneurial skills and business 

insight. This includes hosting 

competitions in-house and 

competing at a national level in 

popular games like League of 

Legends, Valorant, Rocket League, 

and Overwatch. 

This course will also give you the 

opportunity to meet industry 

professionals and business owners 

who will offer guidance and share 

their own experiences. 

What is esports? Andrew the course leader tells all... 

79

EARLY 

YEARS. 

Learn in a dedicated nursery 

creche classroom space. 

Complete a work placement within 

an early years setting and gain 

valuable experience and the skills 

required by employers. 

There are a number of roles you 

can pursue after studying an 

early years course including: 

● Teacher 

● Nursery practitioner 

● Classroom assistant 

● Pre-school practitioner 

You’ll use a range of different 

technology including augmented 

and virtual reality throughout the 

course. 

Receive expert careers advice from 

our independent award-winning 

team. 

90% 

of Early Years students have 




education. 


region such as: 

The Sue Hedley Nursery School 

80

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Early Years 

Hear from Holly our early years student... 






See page 17 

...and Joel too. 

81

Courses 

EARLY 

YEARS. 

Introduction to Health, Social 

Care and Children's and Young 

People's Setting 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


No formal entry requirements. 


This course is designed to help you 

progress into future courses and 

possible careers in either Health 

and Social care or within Early Years 

and Childcare. 

You'll explore different aspects of 

working in a caring role, including 

an awareness of the various roles 

and provisions within the sector, 

effective communication and 

teamwork, healthy lifestyles and 

also how to safeguard vulnerable 

people and protecting yourself. 

You will gain real world experience 

of both healthcare and early years 

settings through community events 

and simulated activities. This could 

be activities arranged through 

charities or within in our early years 

learning suite. 

On successful completion of this 

course you may be considered for 

progression on to a Level 2 course 

within your chosen pathway of 

either health and social care or 

early years and childcare. 

82 

Diploma for the 

Early Years Practitioner 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at 4-9 including 

English language and maths. 


If you have career aspirations 

of becoming an early years 

practitioner and working with 

children aged 0-5 then this is the 

perfect course for you. 

You'll gain excellent knowledge on 

a range of subjects linked to your 

specialised early years course. 

These include: child development, 

safeguarding, equality and diversity 

and supporting children with 

special educational needs. 

You'll be taught through classwork, 

interactive practical activities and 

demonstrations. Your IT skills will 

be honed and we will also use a 

blended learning model through 

our online platforms. 

This course will enable you to work 

with children of different ages within 

a nursery environment and you’ll 

undertake a work placement of 250 

hours. 

If you'd like to continue developing 

your knowledge and skills in college 

you have the option to progress to 

the T Level in Education and Early 

Years. 

Introducing Caring for Children 

and Young People 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Ideally candidates will have 

achieved a grade 3 in English and 

maths, plus one other subject area. 


This course is designed to help 

you gain key skills and progress 

to a higher Level 2 qualification. 

You'll gain an introduction to 

the sector and the knowledge 

and understanding of child 

development and well-being 

for children aged 0-5 years. 

You will have an understanding of 

the skills needed when babysitting. 

It includes the babysitter’s 

responsibilities to the children 

they care for, their responsibilities 

to the parent(s) and accident 

prevention and fire safety. 

You may have the opportunity 

to work alongside a professional 

as part of a work placement. We 

have excellent links with a range 

of high-quality employers in day 

nurseries and primary school. 

Before going on work placement, 

you'll get a feel for what the world 

of work is like by taking part in 

simulated activities in our 

exclusive early 

years learning 

suite. 


haven't got a 



these as part 

of your course.

Early Years 

T Level in Education and 

Early Years 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 5 or above in 

English, maths and science. 


You’ll spend 315 to 750 hours 

on industry placements with 

employers, working as part 

of a team and learning the 

practical skills needed for jobs 

in early years and childcare. 

You’ll cover the knowledge portion 

of the course, learning through 

projects, presentations and 

innovative technology such as 

virtual reality. You'll also complete 

a paediatric first aid course to 

further strengthen your CV. 

On completion of the T Level, 

you’ll have the required license to 

practice at Level 3 which means 

you can seek work as a Teaching 

Assistant or a fully qualified Level 

3 Early Years Practitioner. 

Diploma for the Early 

Years Workforce (Early 

Years Educator) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Four GCSEs at 4 or above 

including English and maths 


This course will provide you 

with the knowledge and skills 

required to work with children 0-5 

years and additional knowledge 

of children 5-7 years. You will 

complete a minimum of 350 

hours industry placement, 

working alongside experienced 

Early Years Practitioners in 

education and childcare settings. 

In doing so you will gain valuable 

practical skills and experience 

needed to work with children. 

You will be involved in many 

practical sessions including care 

routines, healthy eating and craft 

activities for young children. Many 

of these lessons will take place 

in our dedicated early years 

learning suite which provides 

simulated nursery experiences. 

On completion of this course 

you will have achieved the 

required license to 

practice as a Level 3 

Early Years Educator. 





of our education and childcare 




Early Years courses on our website. 







Following the course you can step 

into employment, go onto an 

apprenticeship or a degree 

at university. 

83

ENGINEERING. 

You’ll gain the knowledge, skills and 

behaviours that employers require, 

using industry standard equipment 

and tooling including: 

● Milling machines 

● Lathes 

● CNC 

● Welding and grinding 

equipment 

● Electronics equipment 

● Oscilloscope 

● Motors and gears 

● Pneumatics rigs 

● Soldering irons 

● Wiring equipment 

84 

100% 

of Engineering students have 




education. 


employers ensuring that they are 





Be taught by our highly skilled team 

who have years of experience 

working in the engineering sector. 

They are always developing their 

knowledge and skills by working 

closely with employers. 

We work in partnership with some 

of the region’s leading engineering 

companies including: 

Ford Aerospace 

A&P Tyne 

Aliweld 

Baker Hughes 

Beamish 

Blue Hydraulics 

Tyneside Standards 

EDM Zone 

UK Docks 

Opsec 

Ambic 

Alder Pelzer 

R & R Bearings 

Pipeflex Systems 

Wearside Pneumatics 


Welding Engineers 



Renovo Solutions 


Karm Engineering 


Millfield Composites 

See page 17 

TI Fluid Systems

Engineering 

Look at what our students get up 

to in engineering... 

85

Courses 

ENGINEERING. 

Ford Engineering Academy 

An exclusive partnership with 

Designed in partnership with one 

of our region's most successful 

engineering firms, Ford Engineering, 

this academy will put you in 

the perfect position to secure 

an apprenticeship. You'll study 

foundation engineering skills 

such as electrical installation and 

circuit design. 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


No entry requirements. 



essential skills, knowledge and 

experience you need to work in 

engineering from electronics and 

electrical to computer-aided 

design (CAD) and pneumatics. 

You'll spend time in our engineering 

workshops, getting hands-on with 

the following equipment: 

● Pneumatics training boards 

● Oscilloscopes 


● AutoCAD 

You'll also gain experience 

working on placement with an 

engineering employer as part of 

your programme to help you get 

job ready. 

Hear more about this course from Chris Ford, 

Managing Director at Ford Engineering Group. 

86

Engineering 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at grade 3 or above 

including English, science and 

4 in maths. 


This course allows you to choose 

one of three different areas 

of engineering to specialise in 

and gain the relevant skills and 

knowledge for a career in the 

industry: 

● 

● 

● 

Mechanical 

Focusing on CNC and manual 

machining, fitting and assembly 

applications 

Electrical 

Focusing on Electrical 

installation, wiring and testing 

circuits, electrical engineering 

principles, electrical systems 

and devices 

General Engineering 

Focusing on welding techniques, 

electrical circuits, testing and 

fault diagnosis and CAD 

Our industry standard workshops 

have a range of equipment which 

you’ll get to grips with during your 

course: 

● MIG/MAG 

● MMA 

● TIG 

● Milling machines 

● Lathes 

● Hand tools 

● Oscilloscopes 


● Box pan folders 

● Swaging machines 

● Presses 

You'll also study English and maths 

as well as doing a work experience 

placement with an engineering 

employer. 

This course is designed to prepare 

you for an apprenticeship and you'll 

be able to apply for one with our 

employer partners and continue 

your studies or you'll be able to 

progress onto one of our Level 3 

courses. 



Engineering courses on our 

website. Decide which course is for 

you and then apply online. 





87

Courses 

ENGINEERING. 

Engineering Technologies 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 year 


Four GCSEs at 5 or above including 



You will study an Extended Diploma 

in Engineering Technologies 

where you will gain knowledge in 

engineering principles including 

engineering and environmental 

health and safety as well as 

engineering organisational 

efficiency and improvement. 

You'll learn computer aided control 

(CAD), computer numerical control 

(CNC), programme logic controllers 

(PLC) and electrical installation. 

Once you have completed 

this course you can secure an 

apprenticeship, progress into 

employment, higher education or 

study a Higher National Certificate 

(HNC) with us. 

On all our Engineering 

Level 3 courses, 

you'll complete a 

work experience placement 

with an engineering 

employer to get you 

job ready. 

T Level in Engineering, 

Manufacturing, Processing 

and Control (Engineering) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 5-9 including 



Get started on your career in 

engineering and manufacturing 

with this T Level. It has been 

developed in collaboration with 

employers and professional bodies 

which will give you the essential 

practical and theoretical skills to 

work in the engineering industry. 

You'll develop an in-depth 

understanding of how 

the engineering industry works, 

principles of engineering design 

and manufacture, manufacturing 

techniques, theories of mechanical 

engineering and a wide range of 

practical engineering skills. 

As this course is a T Level, you'll 

spend 80% of your time at 

college studying and 20% on an 

industry placement, where you will 

put what you have been learning in 

the classroom into practice with an 

employer. 

T Level in Maintenance, 

Installation and Repair for 

Engineering and Manufacturing 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 





Developed in collaboration with 

employers, this T Level will give 

you the essential practical and 

theoretical skills to start you career 

in maintenance engineering and 

manufacturing. 

Designed to meet the demands of 

the sector, you’ll develop an in-depth 

understanding of maintenance, 

installation and repair requirements, 

fault detection and diagnosis, 

isolation and resolution methods and 

communication for maintenance, 

installation and repair activities. 

You’ll also get the opportunity to 

put into practice what you learn 

at college during an industry 

placement of up to 45 days. Your 

placement will give you a fantastic 

opportunity to experience work in 

the engineering and manufacturing 

sector gaining invaluable hands-on 

work experience. 

88

Engineering 





of our engineering partner employers. 




89

HAIR 

& BEAUTY. 

Train in our industry standard salon 

Botanica, working with paying 

clients. 





our independent, award-winning 

team. 

Test your skills in competitions. 




You will be taught by industry 

experts and have the 

opportunity to engage in industry 

masterclasses and support 

fashion shows and events. 

95% 

of Hair & Beauty students have 





90

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Hair & Beauty 

Hear from Kelsie who 

studied media make-up... 






See page 17 

Or Helen, one of our 

hair & beauty teachers... 

91

Courses 

HAIRDRESSING. 

Hair Techniques 

for Beginners 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


Four GCSEs at 1-3. 


You’ll work in our professional 

salon. With a focus on hairdressing 

techniques, you’ll develop 

skills in colour enhancement, 

plaiting and twisting, cutting 

techniques and creative styling. 

You’ll have the chance to 

enter national hair competitions 

and will complete an industry 

placement one day a week 

to help develop your 

communication and creativity 

skills. 

Intermediate Hairdressing 

Techniques 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 1 Hairdressing. 


You'll get a range of essential 

technical, practical knowledge 

and skills, which will equip you 

to seek either further training or 

employment as a junior stylist. 

Master your skills in shampooing, 

conditioning, styling, finishing 

and setting hair, cutting and 

colouring techniques. 

Following successful completion 

of this qualification you'll be 

qualified to work in a number 

of roles in hairdressing salons, 

hotels or cruise ships. 

Advanced Hair Artistry 

and Styling 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 Hairdressing. 


You'll spend a year with us 

developing the knowledge and 

skills required in today's fast paced, 

creative hairdressing industry. 

You'll study and develop 

advanced skills in hairdressing 

consultation services, cutting 

techniques, creative colouring, 

hair colour correction, creative 

styling and dressing, hair 

extensions and hair design. 

Working as part of our professional 

team in our commercial salon, 

you will have the opportunity to 

perfect your customer care skills 

and understand what it means 

to work as part of an effective 

team dealing with paying clients. 

You'll also have the opportunity 

to build your own portfolio 

of work and enter regional 

and national competitions. 



Hair & Beauty courses on our 







Level 3 


UCAS points. 

92

Hair & Beauty 

93

Courses 

BEAUTY THERAPY. 

Beauty Therapy 

Level 1, 2 & 3 

Duration 

1 year at each level 


Level 1: Four GCSEs at 1-3, 


and maths. 

Level 2: Four GCSEs at 4-9 


and maths. 

Level 3: Level 2 beauty qualification 


These courses will give you the 

skills, knowledge and experience 

you need to pursue a career in the 

beauty therapy industry. 

You can start at Level 1 and work 

your way up or go straight in at 

Level 2 or Level 3 if you have the 

grades required. 

On the Level 1 course ' Beauty 

Techniques for Beginners' you’ll 

develop skills in skin care, hand care, 

make-up application, face painting, 

nail art, manicure and pedicure. 

On the Level 2 course 'Intermediate 

Beauty Therapy Techniques' you’ll 

build on the skills covered at Level 

1 and develop new skills in eye 

treatments, hot waxing techniques 

and be trained by Eve Taylor 

specialists. 

On the Level 3 course 'Advanced 

Beauty Therapy Techniques' 

you’ll develop further skills in body 

and facial electro therapy, 

body massage and tanning. 

You’ll gain industry experience in 

a professional salon and have the 

chance to learn extra skills. 

At all three levels, you’ll work in 

our professional salon Botanica, 

perfecting your customer care skills 

and interacting with paying clients. 


into work or an apprenticeship, 

a Level 4 qualification or foundation 

degree in complementary health, 

care or beauty therapy. 

Beauty Techniques 

for Beginners 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 

Entry requirements: 

Three GCSE grades 1-3, preferably 

including maths and English, plus 

an informal rview with a member of 

our teaching team. 



around current working practices 

within the beauty industry. You'll 

learn not only the practical skills but 

also your knowledge of the industry, 

how to work effectively as part of a 

team and to build your confidence 

in preparation for your progression 

onto the next level. 

An important part of your course 

will be an industry placement. This 

is your chance to see the industry 

and get some real-life experience, 

which is always good for your CV. 

On completion of this course, you'll 

be able to continue your training 

onto Level 2 beauty therapy or a 

beauty apprenticeship at Level 2. 



Hair & Beauty courses on our 







94

Hair & Beauty 

Creative Hair and 

Media Make-up Artistry 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Four GCSEs at 4 or above 

or Level 1 in Beauty Therapy or 

Hairdressing. An interview and 

practical skills test to demonstrate 

dexterity and artistic ability. 


This course will provide you with a 

range of specialist practical skills 

and technical knowledge, which 

will equip you to seek employment 

or further training within the media 

make-up industry. 

The qualification covers a very 

wide range of knowledge and skills 

required for working in the beauty 

industry. 

Advanced Hair and 

Media Make-up Artistry 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 in Beauty Therapy, 

Hairdressing or Make-Up. 

An interview and practical skills 

test to demonstrate dexterity and 

artistic ability. 


If you’re looking to expand on your 

existing beauty skills and specialise 

in make-up within the media 

industry, this course is for you. 

You will develop your understanding 

of working in the film, television 

and theatre industry as well as 

having the opportunity to recreate 

historical hair and make-up looks 

and current media make-up and 

creative hair designs. 

The course includes the creation 

and presentation of a look-book 

and an industry portfolio as well 

as the application of body art and 

camouflage make-up. 

Advanced 

Nail Technician 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 Beauty Therapy, 

Hairdressing or Nail Technology. 


This specialist course gives 

you the skills, knowledge and 

understanding required to perform 

nail enhancements and advanced 

nail art techniques. 

The course includes the use of 

gel and acrylic nail enhancement 

products, how to design and apply 

nail art and airbrush design as well 

as helping you to develop excellent 

communication, team working and 

client care skills. 


into work in the media make-up 

industry or go on to specialist 

further study. 

As a student on one of our 

Hairdressing or Beauty Therapy 

courses, you will also be part of 

CoLab, an innovative approach to 

gaining experience of collaborating in 

a real life, industry related way. 


95

HEALTH & 

SOCIAL CARE. 

Health and social care workers are 

in high demand across the North 

East, making any of these courses 

a great choice if you want to take a 

vocational route into employment. 

You'll receive expert careers 



Learn using a range of technologies 

including virtual reality and 

augmented reality to support 

your studies. 

Apart from recognised careers 

such as nurses and midwives, 

health and social care courses can 

lead to careers such as: 

● Ambulance care assistants 

● Lab workers for the NHS 

● Therapy assistants 

● Managers of care facilities 

90% 

of Health & Social Care students 

have progressed into work, 




region such as: 

96

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Hear from Jack who studied health and social care... 

Health & Social Care 






See page 17 

And from Michelle, one of our health and social care teachers... 

97

Courses 

HEALTH & 

SOCIAL CARE. 

First Extended Certificate 

in Health & Social Care 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at 3-9 including 

English and preferably 

maths and science. 


If you're looking to become a 

care worker, home carer, health 

care assistant or support worker 

then this course is for you. 

You’ll gain a sound understanding 

of communication, healthy living, 

values, human lifespan, promoting 

health, anatomy and physiology. 

Your learning will be delivered 

through classwork, practical 

activities, demonstrations and 

guest speakers as well as blended 

learning through online platforms 

and an interactive care home app. 

Fantastic opportunities to 

undertake work experience 

could also be available. 

On completion you may 

be able to progress onto 

our Level 3 programme or 

into an apprenticeship. 

Foundation Diploma 

in Health & Social Care 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Five academic GCSEs 

at 4-9 including English, 



On this course you'll gain an 

understanding of working in health 

and social care environments, 

principles of safe practice, 

meeting individual needs, 

human lifespan development 

and physiological disorders. 

Your learning will be delivered 

through classwork, practical 

activities, demonstrations and 

guest speakers as well as blended 

learning through online platforms 

including an opportunity to use 

virtual reality technology to explore 

the human body. In addition 

you will develop independent 

learning skills, teamwork and 

professional behaviours. 

You'll get fantastic hands-on 

experience through a supervised 

work placement with a minimum 

of 100 hours at one of our industry 

partners, for example in a care 

home or community setting. 

On completion you may be 

able to progress onto the Level 

3 top up Extended Diploma 

or into an apprenticeship. 

98


Extended Diploma in 


Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 4-9 including English, 

maths and science. This is a top-up 

from the Foundation Diploma so 

you will have completed this first. 


On this course you'll gain an 

understanding of working in health 

and social care environments, 

principles of safe practice, 

meeting individual needs and 

human lifespan development. 

You'll have the opportunity to study 

a range of units including anatomy 

and physiology, health psychology, 

understanding mental health, 

microbiology and current practices 

in research and public health. 

You'll get fantastic hands-on 

experience through a supervised 

work placement with one of our 

industry partners for example, in a 

care home or community setting. 

This is a two year programme 

of study, in the first year you'll 

study the Level 3 Foundation 

Diploma in Health & Social Care. 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 



Health & Social Care courses on 

our website. Decide which course is 






99

Courses 

HEALTH & 

SOCIAL CARE. 

Alanah and Abbie tell us more about implant 

technology in healthcare... 

T Level Transition 

in Health 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at 4 or above to 

include English or maths and 

science and a range of other 

GCSEs at grade 3. 


You'll develop knowledge, skills 

and behaviours relevant to the 

health sector to enable you to 

become confident and ready to 

progress to the Level 3 T Level in 

Health. During the course, you will 

gain an understanding of subjects 

such as human lifespan, services, 

roles and responsibilities in health, 

including care values and effective 

communication. 

In addition you will have an 

opportunity to develop your 

understanding of science concepts 

and research to support your 

transition onto the T Level. 





of our education and childcare 


There will be a vocational experience 

unit where you will spend time 

in health care settings. You'll also 

develop a greater knowledge of 

personal and social development 

through career planning 

and creating a personal and 

professional portfolio. All learners 

will develop their digital skills and 

will have achieved GCSE maths on 

completion of the T Level Transition. 

Following the course you can step 

into employment, go onto an 

apprenticeship or a degree 

at university. 

100


T Level in Health 

Level 3 

T Level in Science 

Level 3 

T Level in Healthcare Science 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 





This is an ambitious new 

course which will support you 

to develop an exciting career 

in healthcare, which is the UK’s 

largest employment sector. 

You will take part in a minimum of 

315 hours of industry placements 

which are matched to your career 

aspirations, learning the practical 

knowledge and skills as part of 

a working team, some of which 

may be based in NHS settings. 

In college, you’ll gain the theoretical 

knowledge of healthcare and apply 

this understanding to your chosen 

career route through practical 

projects and demonstrations 

in our clinical rooms. 

Your progress will be assessed 

through a combination of exams 

and assignments. When you 

finish the course, you’ll be able to 

step into work, an apprenticeship 

or progress to university. 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 5-9, including English, 

maths and science. You will require 

a DBS check and an interview. 


Our T Level in Science will 

support you to develop an 

exciting career in laboratory science, 

which is a huge area of growth 

both in the NHS and private sector. 

You will take part in a minimum of 

315 hours of industry placements 

which are matched to your 

career aspirations, learning the 

practical knowledge and skills 

as part of a working team. 

In college, you’ll gain the theoretical 

knowledge of the health and science 

sector looking specifically at health 

and safety, scientific methodology, 

experimentation and scientific 

techniques before specialising 

in laboratory science where you 

will further your development of 

knowledge in areas such as the 

performance of scientific techniques 

to collect experimental data. 

When you finish the course, 

you’ll be able to step into 

work, an apprenticeship or 

progress to university. 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 5-9, including 


You will also require a DBS check. 


Designed in partnership with 

businesses and employers, this 

course will support you to progress 

into an exciting career in healthcare; 

the UK’s largest employment sector. 

You'll study core science concepts 

including the structure of cells, tissues 

and large molecules, genetics, 

microbiology and immunology 

as well as a comprehensive 

understanding of topics relevant 

to working in that sector including 

health, safety and environmental 

regulations, and principles of good 

scientific and clinical practice. 

You will learn and develop your 

skills by using a range of exciting 

and innovative teaching and 

learning methods including 

projects, presentations, displays 

and innovative use of VR bringing 

your curriculum experience alive. 

You will take part in a minimum 

of 315 hours industry placement, 

matched to your career aspirations. 

You will also explore a diverse 

range of job roles and occupational 

areas working in health & science 

settings which may include 

up to two different employers 

to widen your experience of 

different services and sectors. 

101

MUSIC, DANCE, 

PERFORMING ARTS 

& PRODUCTION ARTS. 


the UK. 








commission and competitions set 

by employers. 





region's most successful 

business people. 

Learn in our specialist music and 

dance studios and perform in our 

theatre. 

98% 

of Music, Dance & Performing 

Arts students have progressed 

into work, an apprenticeship, 

further or higher education. 



North East: 

102

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Watch our performing arts students in action 

Music, Dance, Performing & Performing Arts 






See page 17 

As a student on one of our Music, 

Dance, Performing and Production 

Arts courses, you will also be part 

of CoLab, an innovative approach to 

gaining experience of collaborating in 

a real life, industry related way. 


103

Courses 

MUSIC 

& DANCE. 

Performance Skills 

(Music Performance or 

Music Technology/DJ) 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at 3 or above, ideally 

including either English and maths 

or equivalent, plus an audition. 


This course allows you to sample all 

areas of performing arts and music 

before choosing a pathway that 

suits you. 

You can choose from three different 

strands: 

● 

● 

● 

Performing arts - where you'll 

learn practical skills in dance, 

acting, stage management 

and musical theatre 

Music performance - where 

you'll develop practical 

skills in music performance 

and composition 

Music technology - where 

you will be introduced to the 

recording studio, live sound, 

events management and DJing. 

On each of these you'll work 

collaboratively with other students, 

curating and taking part in 

performances for live audiences in 

our professional theatre and other 

venues to build your confidence as 

a creative. 

Music Performance 

Level 

Duration 

2 years 


Four GCSE grades at 4 or above, 

including English and preferably 

maths, plus an audition. 


You’ll be taught by leading industry 

professionals, have instrumental 

lessons, study graded music theory 

and have the opportunity to study 

graded instrumental syllabus (RGT, 

LCM and Rock School). 

Your lessons will be both practical 

and theoretical culminating in 

weekly live venue performance 

workshops in our professional 

theatre as well as other 

performances in local 

professional venues. 

Production & DJ 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 Years 



including English and preferably 

maths. 


On this course you'll develop 

your skills in the fundamentals of 

studio recording, composition and 

acoustic, learning all aspects of 

music production including mixing, 

mastering, sound design and 

engineering. You can specialise 

in electronic music production, 

song writing, live sound, event 

management, sound engineering, 

music promotion and digital 

marketing. 

You'll work alongside the music 

performance and production 

arts students, our expert staff and 

industry pros in a vibrant student 

community to create your own 

musical masterpieces. You will learn 

how to turn simple music ideas 

into finished work ready for digital 

distribution or live performance. 

104 

Music Tech,

Music & Dance 

Dance 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 Years 



including either English or maths, 

or a relevant qualification at 

Level 2 or appropriate experience 

plus an audition. 

Our dance provision at Gateshead 

College is delivered by a team of 

friendly and highly trained, expert 

staff. Supporting a rich timetable, 

visiting artists and key industry 

choreographers join us throughout 

the year, to help you build an artistic, 

creative, technical and professional 

skills set. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to 

visit key dance events annually, 

such as ‘Can You Dance?’ regionals 

and Move it - London. All our dance 

courses are designed to help you 

prepare for higher education and 

a sustainable career in the creative 

sector. 

You'll choose to specialise in either 

commercial, contemporary or 

musical theatre with the opportunity 

to also try elements from all areas. 

Commercial Dance 


This practical and physical 

programme will develop your 

commercial performance skills 

across urban/commercial, jazz, 

lyrical, ballet and choreography. 

Assisting with progression on to 

higher education courses, weekly 

singing lessons in contemporary 

and musical theatre will underpin 

your audition preparation. 

Theoretical sessions which focus 

on progression routes, training 

providers and potential dance 

employment will further develop 

your knowledge of the industry 

and help with the UCAS application 

process. 

Contemporary Dance 


Our contemporary course 

focuses on building technical skills 

and knowledge of the industry 

through technique, creativity and 

performance. Participation in 

contemporary, classical ballet, and 

technical jazz specialised classes 

is compulsory, along with the 

option to take additional classes in 

commercial and stamina classes. 

The course provides workshop 

opportunities with prominent 

industry dancers and 

choreographers, while our highly 

trained and experienced team 

will support you in building your 

artistic, technical and professional 

skills. Sessions geared around 

viable progression routes, training 

providers and potential dance 

employment will develop your 

knowledge of the industry. 

Musical Theatre 


This specialist pathway within 

dance will focus on the skills 

required in musical theatre 

performance. Working towards a 

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in 

Performance and Production over 

two years, this exciting course will 

provide dance-based training in 

musical theatre and will enable you 

to progress on to a higher education 

course with confidence, secure 

in the knowledge that you are 

prepared for the rigorous demands 

of the industry. 

You will combine in-depth vocal 

and acting training with dance 

techniques in this unique pathway, 

tailored to explore material from the 

world of professional theatre. 

Throughout the course, you will 

have the opportunity to master 

the art of acting through song, 

combining disciplines that will give 

you the skills necessary to produce 

moving theatrical performances. 

You will learn new and challenging 

material for performance 

opportunities that will give you the 

chance to shine as you put what you 

have learned into practice. 

105

Courses 

PERFORMING ARTS 

& PRODUCTION ARTS. 

Performing Arts 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at grade 4 or above, 



This course allows you to sample all 

areas of performing arts and music 

before choosing a pathway that 

suits you. 

You can choose from four 

different strands: 

● Performing arts - where you'll 

learn practical skills in singing, 

acting, stage management 

and musical theatre 

● Dance – where you’ll develop 

your creative, technical 

and performance skills 

● Music performance - where 

you'll develop practical 

skills in music performance, 

composition and production, 

as well as event management 

● Music technology/DJ – where 

you will be introduced to the 

recording studio, live sound, 

events management and DJing. 

On each of these you'll work 

collaboratively with other students, 

curating and taking part in 

performances for live audiences in 

our professional theatre and other 

venues to build your confidence as 

a creative. 

106

Performing Arts & Production Arts 

Performing Arts 

(Acting for Stage and Screen) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 Years 


Five GCSE's at grade 4 or above 

including either English and Maths 

and an audition. 


If your passion is Acting for Screen 

and other digital media, you can 

look forward to working on short 

films, multi-camera projects, voice 

characterisation for animation 

and digital platforms, presenting 

and vlogging. Those who prefer 

Acting for Stage will experience 

musical theatre, contemporary 

and classical theatre, singing, 

movement and dance. 

In the second year, students 

fulfil a minimum of 30 hours 

work experience at Live theatre, 

Newcastle, working with 

professional actors, directors, 

producers and facilitators, giving 

you real industry experience to start 

you off on a successful career in an 

exciting and rewarding profession. 

This course is also central to our 

‘COLAB’ ethos. Where students 

work collaboratively with other 

areas of the college. Students on 

this course have worked with Media, 

Production Arts, Music, Media- 

Make-up and Dance students on 

a range of projects under the 

COLAB banner. 

Production Arts 

(Technical Theatre Production) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 Years 


Five GCSE's at grade 4 or above 

including either English and Maths 

and an audition. 


This course offers a unique 

combination of lighting and 

sound design and operation, set 

design, prop making, rigging and 

maintenance, production and stage 

management skills. Throughout 

this course, you will build your skills 

working as part of a production 

team, giving you real industry 

experience and preparing you for 

a successful career in this exciting, 

ever-changing and dynamic 

profession. 

Production Arts students at 

Gateshead College are an integral 

part of all the performances we 

stage, both in-house and at a 

range of music and theatre venues 

across the region. Students also get 

to engage with visiting lecturers, 

as well as go on trips and visits 

to venues, both regionally and 

nationally. 

Many of our graduates have 

secured places at some of the 

nation’s leading drama schools 

and HE institutions, including RADA, 

Mountview, Royal Welsh College 

of Music and Drama, LIPA and 

Backstage Academy. 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 

107

SPORT. 

You’ll study courses that are 

endorsed by employers ensuring 

that they are up to date and 

industry relevant. 




Our Academy for Sport is one of 

the most successful colleges for 

sport in the UK. 

Our facilities are among the best in 

the country and include 3G pitches, 

an indoor athletics track, sports 

hall, cardio gym, strength and 

conditioning gym, massage suite, 

aerobics suite, gym and boxing ring. 

Many of our athletes have gone on 

to become professionals in their 

chosen sport, competing both 

national and internationally. 


108

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Sport 






See page 17 

Hear from 

Katy on why 

she chose to 

study with us... 

97% 

of Sport students have 




education. 

Take a look at where you would be studying... 

109

Courses 

SPORT. 

Sport 

Level 1 

Sport 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


One GCSE at any grade. 


You’ll study all aspects of how and 

where to participate in sport, look at 

improving fitness, healthy lifestyle, 

sport in the workplace and working 

safely. 

We’ll help you to develop the skills 

that show your potential to an 

employer. This includes how you 

can use your knowledge to best 

effect, that you have the right 

attitude, high standards and will be 

a great asset to their business. 

As part of this qualification you will 

study the following units: 

● Taking part in sport 

● Personal exercise and fitness 

● Developing sports 

volunteering skills 

● Assisting at a sports event 

● Effect of exercise on 

human body systems 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at 3 or above. 


This course is designed to provide 

you with knowledge on a range 

of sports subjects and students 

will also have the opportunity to 

develop their understanding on 

different career opportunities 

within sport. 

You will study a wide range of units 

on this course which includes: 

● Participating in sport 

● Anatomy and physiology 

for exercise 

● Introduction to healthy 

exercise and nutrition 

● Sports coaching 

● Physical fitness and 

injuries in sport 

● Performance analysis for sport 

● Work experience in 

the sports industry 


haven't got a 



these as part 


110

Sport 

Health, Exercise & 

Fitness Instruction 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at 4 or above. 


This course will prepare you for 

work in the health and fitness 

industry. You’ll study anatomy 

and physiology, how to maintain 

health, safety and welfare in a 

variety of fitness environments. 

In addition, you'll explore how 

to communicate with and 

motivate clients, employment 

law, industry specific legislation, 

customer service, diet and lifestyle, 

how to plan group exercise 

sessions and how to instruct a 

variety of exercise sessions. 

We will also develop your English 

and maths skills and provide a 

work placement in industry. 

On completion you can 

progress onto one of our Level 3 

programmes or apply for fitness 

instructor roles in the industry. 

Personal Training for 

Health, Fitness and 

Performance 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 year 


Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification 

and GCSE English grade 4. 


If you're already a qualified fitness 

instructor, this course will help you 

develop the skills, knowledge and 

competence required in order to 

work unsupervised as a personal 

trainer. This includes being able to 

offer one-to-one training, baseline 

assessment, nutritional advice and 

progressive programming. 

You'll study anatomy and 

physiology, sports conditioning, the 

principles of exercise and fitness 

and programming and nutrition. 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 

Sport & 

Exercise Science 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


English Language GCSE at 5 plus 

four more GCSEs at 4 including 



This course gives you the 

knowledge and skills to be able 

to apply the principles of science 

to enhancing sport performance 

and develop the foundations for 

a career in sport. You’ll have the 

opportunity to study physiology, 

anatomy, biomechanics, 

psychology, fitness testing, nutrition, 

massage, technology in sport, 

coaching for performance, fitness 

training, research project and sport 

injuries. You’ll also complete a work 

placement. 

On completion you could go on to 

further study at university or into 

employment within the health and 

fitness industry. 



Sport courses on our website. 







111

Courses 

SPORT. 

Sport and Physical Activity 

(Coaching and PE Teacher) 

Level 3 

Sport and Physical Activity 

with Outdoor Education 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 





If you have a passion for sport and 

want to build a career around the 

wide range of sport-based roles 

on offer in sports performance, 

participation health and fitness, this 

course is for you. 

This programme will prepare 

you for the next steps in your 

career whether this is a job, an 

apprenticeship or a university 

programme in sport. 

You’ll study a range of topics 

including health and wellbeing, 

sports development, anatomy and 

physiology in sport, sporting injuries, 

sports massage and fitness training. 

In the second year, you’ll undertake 

a sport related research project. 

Duration 

2 years 



including Maths and English. 


This course will help you start your 

career in outdoor education or 

to run your own outdoor activity 

sessions. 

If you enjoy activities such as 

Climbing, Mountain Biking, Paddle 

Boarding, Rambling, Orienteering, 

and Kayaking, this course is for you. 

Outdoor education specialists have 

had an input in the course design. 

The course will be a combination 

of practical and outdoor activities 

alongside the theory needed 

to make you a knowledgeable 

practitioner. 

You’ll also take part in work 

experience with one of our industry 

partners, helping you discover the 

type of role you are suited to. 

You'll study the same units as the 

Level 3 Diploma plus practical sports 

performance, development of sport 

and physical activity, coaching for 

performance, research methods in 

sport and four optional units. 



Sport courses on our website. 







112

Sport 

Gateshead Football Club 

Academy 

Level 3 

An exclusive partnership with 

Duration 

1 year 


Entry onto this programme 

will be via an invite and trial to 

assess whether your footballing 

capabilities are at the required level. 


We've teamed up with Gateshead 

Football Club to offer a fantastic 

student athlete football 

development programme, 

which combines education 

with football excellence. 

You will train full time with 

Gateshead F.C. staff and represent 

the club in the U19 Northern 

Alliance League (Premier League). 

You'll study an academic or 

vocational qualification of 

your choice enabling you to 

continue your studies whilst 

playing and training at a full time 

professional football club. 

photo credit: Damon Williams, 

Level 2 Photography student 

@damonwilliamsphotography 

Click here for more information 

on the Academy. 

113

TRAVEL & 

TOURISM. 

Our students have secured jobs 

with British Airways, Hilton Hotels & 

Resorts, Jet2 and Hays Travel. 

Experience teaching and learning 

outside the classroom, exploring 

the various tourist attractions in 

our region. 

You’ll get the chance to work on 

some of the biggest tourism events 

in the region. 


the UK. 


by employers ensuring they're up to 

date and industry relevant. 



team. 






people. 

Find out from guest speakers 

what they look for in their future 

employees. 


114

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

97% 

of Travel and Tourism students 




education. 

Travel & Tourism 

Watch to see what our travel and tourism students 

get up to on the course... 






See page 17 

or find out what they get up to on their placements... 

115

Courses 

TRAVEL 

& TOURISM. 

Introduction to Business 

and Travel 

Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


A minimum of 2 GCSEs at 2 

and above. 


If you’re looking for an introduction 

to business, travel and hospitality, 

this course is ideal for you. 

Customer service is at the heart of 

the business, tourism and hospitality 

sectors and you’ll develop your 

skills and confidence to ensure you 

know how to give your customers 

that five star treatment. Working 

on an event, you’ll also build your 

team work, problem solving and 

communications skills. 

The tourism industry is a 

multi-million pound industry and 

you’ll learn more about the sector 

here in the UK and get out and 

about visiting key tourist attractions. 

You’ll also develop your digital 

and IT skills and presentation skills 

throughout the duration of the 

course. 

The skills and knowledge you 

gain from the course will help you 

step into a job, apprenticeship or 

progress on to the next level of 

study. 

Travel, Hospitality 

and Aviation 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


4 GCSE’s at grade 3 and above. 


If you have ambitions to work in the 

fast paced travel industry whether 

that’s in a travel agency, hotel or in 

aviation, then this course is for you. 

You’ll learn how to deal with 

customers and exceed their 

expectations throughout their 

customer journey whether that’s 

when you’re checking them in at 

the airport or their hotel. 

We’ll also teach you how to handle 

complaints and deal with difficult 

customers. 

You’ll look at how tour operators, 

hotels, travel agents and tourist 

attractions operate, as well as 

developing skills in team work while 

organising an event. You'll also 

study the exciting world of aviation 

and learn how airport and airlines 

operate with the opportunity to 

work in a simulated airport / aircraft 

facility at SimFly. 

Getting out and about is a key 

part of this course and you’ll go 

on a range of trips and visits and 

complete work experience in the 

travel and tourism industry at one of 

our partner organisation's including 

Leonardo (formally Jury's Inns), 

Maldron and Encore Hotels. 

116

Travel & Tourism 

Hospitality, Events & 

Tourism Management 

Level 3 

Duration 

1 or 2 years 


5 GCSE qualifications at grade 4 

and above including English and 

maths are required. If you do not 

meet the GCSE entry requirements 

but have achieved a Level 2 

qualification in travel and tourism 

or hospitality (minimum grade 

requirement) you may still be 

considered (interview required). 


This course will enable you to 

develop skills and gain knowledge 

to confidently give your customers 

5-star service as well as building 

your leadership skills and 

confidence to ensure you get the 

best out of you and your team. 

You will learn about the structure 

of these industries, the impact of 

tourism on destinations and how 

visitor attractions enhance their 

appeal to customers. Preparing for 

a career will enable you to explore 

the different job roles within these 

industries, analyse employment 

opportunities as well as planning 

for and taking part in an interview 

and evaluating performance to 

produce a development plan. 

As part of this course you will 

attend a work placement with 

one of our partners. You’ll also 

get the opportunity to work as 

part of a team in our studentrun 

restaurant Enfield’s Kitchen, 

serving paying customers. You 

will also organise and manage 

guided tours, events and supervise, 

mentor and support others. 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 


Click here to go straight to the Travel 

and Tourism courses on our website. 

Decide which course is for you and 

then apply online. 





117

TV, FILM 

AND MEDIA. 


employers ensuring they're industry 

relevant. 


our independent, award winning 

team. 


commission and competitions set 

by employers. 






people. 

Learn in specialist TV, film and 

content creation studios. 

93% 

of Media (and Art) students 


an apprenticeship, further or 

higher education. 



North East: 

118

READY 

FOR YOUR 

CLOSE-UP? 

TV, Film and Media 






See page 17 

As a student on one of our 

TV, Film and Media courses, 

you will also be part of CoLab, 

an innovative approach to gaining 

experience of collaborating in a 

real life, industry related way. 


Watch a show reel from our talented TV, 

film and media students 

119

Courses 

TV, FILM 

AND MEDIA. 

Media 

Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 



qualification at Level 1 or some 

GCSEs grade 3 or above, preferably 



Get a solid grounding in a range 

of production techniques for visual 

and audio media using the latest 

techniques and systems. You’ll find 

out how to develop ideas, work as 

part of a team, conduct effective 

research, plan projects and meet 

deadlines. 

You’ll also develop your 

communication and presentation 

skills, find out how the media 

industry operates and work on 

maximising your chances of 

securing a job or progressing to 

further education or training. 

The course includes some contact 

with our industry partners and 

you’ll be encouraged to take up 

work experience and networking 

opportunities. On completion, you 

can progress to our Level 3 course. 

Level 3 


UCAS points. 



TV, Film and Media courses on our 

website. Decide which course is for 

you and then apply online. 





120

Media 

Photography 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Four GCSEs at grade 4 or above. 

An art related subject, maths 

and English is preferred, but not 

essential. We would like to see a 

selection of your work, this could be 

in a sketchbook, digital or a portfolio. 


This is a fantastic introduction 

to creative and commercial 

photography supporting you to 

develop the technical skills used 

by industry professionals. Learn 

how to use industry standard 

software and equipment to 

compose and construct images 

and develop a broad view of 

photography including elements 

of art and design disciplines. 

You’ll work on commissions 

from our external employer 

partners, developing valuable 

industry contacts and your 

commercial skills. On completion 

of this course, you can progress 

to university or into employment. 

TV & Film 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 



A creative related subject, English 

and maths are preferred but not 

essential. 


Do you want the skills and 

knowledge to make your films 

stand out, create a professional 

showreel to get you noticed in 

an industry that is exponentially 

growing in the North East? 

You will work on live briefs for 

ITV and the BBC through our 

partnership with Signpost 

Productions whilst developing 

your skills and CV on a course that 

has been designed and refined 

with our industry partners to 

ensure you keep pace with this 

ever-evolving digital workplace. 

You’ll learn all genres and formats 

of video and film production in 

detail, work on live briefs with our 

employer partners, build a fantastic 

showreel, undertake commissioned 

work and go on work placements. 

There are no exams on this 

course; you’ll be assessed via 

a final major project, a body of 

work that shows your strengths 

and personal interests. This will 

prepare you for progression to 

university or into employment. 

Digital Journalism 

and Content Creation 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 



A creative related subject, maths 

and English are preferred but not 

essential. 


This course will give you the skills 

and expertise to start your career 

as a traditional or video journalist, a 

professional podcaster or a blogger. 

By working on live commissions 

for ITV and the BBC through 

our partnership with Signpost 

Productions, you’ll learn the 

skills to develop a range of 

content including video, podcast, 

photography and creative writing 

to make your work stand out and 

get ahead in this competitive yet 

inspiring field. Validated by the 

world-renowned University of the 

Arts London (UAL), this course 

explores all digital journalistic 

platforms. 

You’ll work on live briefs from our 

other employer partners, build a 

portfolio and choose a specialism 

for a final personal project. 

121

UNIFORMED 

PUBLIC SERVICES. 

Take part in a five day residential 

at Catterick Garrison with the 

Army and a Royal Marines training 

day based at HMS Calliope. 


the UK. 






team. 




Previous students have gone on 

to work in the forces, blue light 

services and the justice system as 

well as studying subjects at degree 

level including criminology and 

policing. 

99% 

of UPS students have 





122

DON'T 

JUST TAKE 

OUR WORD 

FOR IT. 

Hear from some of our policing students... 

Uniformed Public Services 






See page 17 

Fan of Line of Duty? Take a look at 'GC-12'... 

123

Courses 

UNIFORMED 

PUBLIC SERVICES. 


Level 2 

Duration 

1 year 


Three GCSEs at 3 or a Level 1 

qualification at distinction grade. 


This is your chance to gain 

experience in the armed forces, 

police, fire, prison and paramedic 

services before applying to work 

in your chosen service. The course 

covers a range of units which are 

taught through a mix of classroom 

study, group activities and field trips. 

You will study law and crime, 

land navigation, physical fitness, 

employment skills and adventurous 

activities. You will also study maths 

and English qualifications and 

complete work experience with the 

army and the police. 

You’ll build on your interpersonal 

and communication skills and 

learn how to be an effective team 

player. You can progress to a range 

of careers in the public services or 

continue your studies with us on the 

Level 3 programme. 


(Armed Forces) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 4 or above, including 

English. 


Develop the knowledge, 

understanding and skills you need 

to work in the armed forces. This 

course is relevant if you want a 

career in the Army, Navy, Marines, 

RAF, Coastguard or National Guard. 

You’ll cover leadership and 

teamwork, equality, diversity and 

inclusion, security procedures, 

emergency planning and response, 

government and politics, conflict 

management, psychology as well 

as taking part in fitness testing and 

team sports. 

You’ll also enjoy projects with 

professionals such as the army 

residential, adventure days with the 

Royal Marines and development 

days with the Royal Navy. 

Students progress directly to degree 

courses with leading universities. 


(Fire Brigade and Policing) 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 4 or above, including 

English. 


If you want to work as a fire fighter, 

then this course is perfect for you as 

it's been designed to give you the 

skills knowledge and behaviours 

to pursue your career in the fire 

service. 

You'll develop your leadership skills 

and aspects of your physical fitness. 

In addition, you'll cover emergency 

planning and response, conflict 

management, security procedures 

and hierarchy and routine. 

You will also have the opportunity 

to undertake some exciting trips 

including a land navigated walk, 

indoor rock climbing, archery, 

orienteering and a survival 

expedition. 

124


Criminology 

Level 3 

Duration 

2 years 


Five GCSEs at 4 or above, 




to help you get into a number of 

careers and industries including; 

Law enforcement, Corrections and 

Rehabilitation, Legal Professionals, 

Social Services, Forensic and 

Investigations Security and Private 

Investigations, Research and Policy 

Analysts Intelligence and Homeland 

Security, Corporate Security, 

Cybersecurity and Cybercrime. 

You'll be taught by teachers who 

all have industry knowledge 

and experience. You'll also have 

the opportunity to attend talks 

from people that have worked 

in the industry and complete 

work experience which will 

link to your career goal. 

As part of the programme, 

you’ll study: 

● Criminology theories 

● Changing awareness of crime 

● Prepare for a career 

● Develop leadership skills 

● Crime Scene Investigation 

● UK legal systems 

● Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

● The Influence of the UK 

Government, international 

organisations and the Media 


Level 1 

Duration 

1 year 


No specific entry qualifications and 

you can take Maths and English 

courses suitable for your level. 


This course prepares you to work 

in Uniform Public Services such 

as the Army, Navy, and RAF. 

You will learn to work as part of a 

team, and develop and practice 

leadership skills whilst planning 

and navigating an expedition. 

You'll also have the opportunity 

to gain valuable experience 

with the Army, Navy and RAF. 



UPS courses on our website. 







125

SAY 

HELLO. 

Taster sessions 

● Try different subjects 

● Apply for a course 

● Meet your future classmates 

● Chat to our expert teaching team 

We’re running taster sessions for our 

different subject areas, to help you find out 

about our courses and see what life 

at college is like. 

You can take part in as many taster sessions as you 

like, in as many subject areas as you like, so if you’re 

still stuck on which course to choose this could help 

you decide. 

If you’ve already applied to study with us, you 

can still come along and make friends ready for 

starting college. 

Visit www.gateshead.ac.uk to find out when the events 

are taking place and book your place. 

126

127

HOW 

DO I 

APPLY? 

128

A LEVELS, 

VOCATIONAL 

STUDY 

PROGRAMMES 

& T LEVELS. 

Application process 

1. Complete an application form. 

Fill in a form on our website. 

2. Have a chat with our teachers. 

When we receive your form we'll be in touch to 

arrange for you to come into college to have a 

chat with one of our teachers. This will give you the 

opportunity to get to know them, find out about 

the college, our courses and get answers to your 

questions. If you’d like to progress your application, 

we’ll sort this for you. 

3. Have an audition. 

For some of our courses (music, dance and 

performing arts), you’ll need an audition and we’ll 

get in touch to arrange this. You’ll be given a date 

and time and be told exactly what to expect. 

4. Keep in touch. 

We’ll invite you to our Say Hello events throughout 

the year where you can discover more about your 

course, get to know your teachers and meet your 

future classmates. 

5. Start college. 

You’ll confirm your grades with us in August 2024 

and we’ll get you ready for starting college in 

September. 


You apply for an apprenticeship in 

the same way you apply for a job. 

Find our vacancies on our website. 

Can’t find a vacancy? 

If you can’t find an apprenticeship vacancy that’s right 

for you, you can start a vocational study programme. 

Then, when a vacancy becomes available, we’ll help 

you to apply and transfer across. Sign up for our 

vacancy alerts on our website. 

Application process 

1. Search for a vacancy. 

Visit our website or the National Apprenticeship 

Service’s website to browse apprenticeship 

vacancies. 

2. Register online. 

Create an account with the National Apprenticeship 

Service. Visit www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship. 

3. Complete an application form 

If you need help with this, please get in touch. 

Call our team on 0191 490 2364 or email 

apprenticeships@gateshead.ac.uk 

4. Interview selection. 

If your application is shortlisted, an apprenticeship 

adviser will have a chat with you and help you to 

prepare for your interview. 

5. Interview. 

You’ll attend an interview with the employer to talk 

about your skills and experience. This may be done 

virtually or in person. 

6. You’re hired! 

What happens if I’m not successful? 

We’ll help you to find another vacancy 

or you could start a vocational study 

programme. 

How do I apply? 

NOT SURE 

WHAT 

TO STUDY? 

Don’t worry – sign up for one of our 

enrolment events to find out more about 

our courses or get in touch with our 

careers team: 

start@gateshead.ac.uk 

Follow us on social media 

for the latest updates, 

news and competitions. 

129

GET IN 

TOUCH. 

There are lots of ways to contact us. 

So if you’ve got a question about 

anything at all, don’t hesitate to 

get in touch. 

Course information 

0191 490 2246 


Apprenticeship information and advice 

0191 490 2364 

apprenticeships@gateshead.ac.uk 

Student finance advice 

0191 490 4627 

support.funds@gateshead.ac.uk 

Find us on social media 



@gatesheadcoll 


0191 490 2216 

career.guidance@gateshead.ac.uk 

Learning support services 

0191 490 2253 

or 0191 426 4329 


130

If you know someone who 

requires this information in 

an alternative format, 

e.g. large print, Braille, audio 

or another language, or 

help with understanding the 

information, please call 

0191 490 4611 or email 


At Gateshead College we celebrate 

individuality. Everyone is welcome here, 

and we make sure that you all have 

equality of access to our services, premises, 

facilities and employment opportunities. 

All of our campuses are accessible. 

Terms & Conditions 

We have made every effort to make 

sure that all the information in this 

guide was correct (October 2023). 

We do reserve the right to amend 

or cancel courses, for example if 

student numbers are insufficient. 

Where a course is cancelled by the college, 

or times and/ or fees and/or days change 

to such an extent that your attendance 

becomes impossible, you’ll receive a full 

refund if you have paid fees. Other refunds 

of tuition fees will be considered where a 

student withdraws from the course having 

studied no more than three sessions of the 

course (a session is defined as attendance 

on any given day of the course). 

Progression to the second year of 2 

year courses is subject to successful 

completion of year one. 

Destination statistics are based on the 

known destinations of students who studied 

at Gateshead College in 2021/22.

Wednesday 8th November 2023 

5.00pm - 8.00pm 

Monday 4th December 2023 

4.30pm - 7.00pm 

Monday 15th January 2024 

4.30pm - 7.00pm 

Monday 12th February 2024 

4.30pm - 7.00pm 

Monday 11th March 2024 

4.30pm - 7.00pm 

Monday 22nd April 2024 

4.30pm - 7.00pm 

Monday 13th May 2024 

4.30pm - 7.00pm 

Monday 10th June 2024 

4.30pm - 7.00pm 

July 2024 

Monday 1st July 2024 

1.00pm – 5.00pm 

Monday 8th July 2024 

1.00pm – 5.00pm 


1.00pm – 5.00pm 

Monday 22nd July 2024 

1.00pm – 5.00pm 


1.00pm – 5.00pm 

August 2024 

Monday 5th August 2024 

1.00pm – 5.00pm 


1.00pm – 5.00pm 

Thursday 15th August 2024 

9.30am – 5.00pm 


1.00pm – 5.00pm 

Thursday 22nd August 2024 

9.30am – 5.00pm 

Friday 23rd August 2024 

9.30am – 3.30pm 

Tuesday 27th August 2024 

9.30am – 5.00pm 

Wednesday 28th August 2024 

9.30am – 5.00pm 

Thursday 29th August 2024 

9.30am – 5.00pm 

Friday 30th August 2024 

9.30am – 3.30pm 

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