A range of courses for Worcestershire teenagers not going to college or sixth form have been unveiled.

Worcestershire County Council's Learning Services have a number of new Young Adult Learning (YAL) Worcestershire courses starting in September.

YAL provides a dynamic alternative to traditional sixth form or college approaches for young people aged 16 to 19 (up to 24 with an education and health care plan), offering traineeships and qualified study programmes in a friendly and supportive environment. 

Catering to the needs of learners, YAL new courses offer diplomas in hair and beauty, certificate level courses in childcare and working in schools, plus bespoke traineeships in a range of subject areas.

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Learners also get the chance to attain maths and English qualifications they may have missed out on.

Kelly Champion, Young Adult Learning Worcestershire contract manager, emphasized the importance of providing diverse educational options.

She said: “At Young Adult Learning Worcestershire, we recognise that not everyone thrives in a traditional school environment.

“We're proud to be able to offer a welcoming space where learners can pursue their learning and career aspirations in a setting that can benefit their needs.

“Unlike conventional classroom settings, our courses are designed to offer more focused attention through smaller, less formal groups. 

“We’re very proud of our offer, of the successes we’ve already seen, and the partnerships we’ve built up across the county such as with Careers Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association and YMCA.

“It’s important that young adults have the chance to follow their education and career dreams and I hope that young adults reading this will know that whatever the upcoming A-Level and GCSE results bring there is a learning alternative open to you.”

YAL's open courses are conducted at various convenient locations, including Willow Trees Community Centre in Beoely, The Old Needleworks in Redditch, and the dedicated Fairfield Learning Centre in Warndon, Worcester.

Study programmes run for an academic year with traineeships lasting around 6-12 months including practical work placements.

Course details are available online at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/courses or by calling 01905 728537.