Alternative education options for Worcestershire’s 16-19 year olds

Young Adult Learning Worcestershire (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 & Health Care Plan), offering traineeships and qualified study programmes in a friendly and supportive environment.

Catering to the needs of learners, YAL’s new courses offer Diplomas in hair and beauty, Certificate level courses in childcare and working in schools, plus bespoke Traineeships that are tailor-made to what the learner has a career interest in. Learners also have the chance to attain Maths and English qualifications that they may have missed out on.

Kelly Champion, Young Adult Learning Worcestershire Contract Manager, emphasized the importance of providing diverse educational options: "At Young Adult Learning Worcestershire, we recognize 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.”

Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy, Infrastructure, and Skills said “Young Adult Learning Worcestershire is a fantastic initiative from Worcestershire County Council's Learning Services. By providing flexible and supportive education options, in a supportive, safe, environment, helps to improve the life chances and aspirations for Worcestershire’s youth. This helps support local economic development through high quality education and training, that leads to further skills development and sustainable careers. Their study programmes and tailored traineeships, empower learners to excel while fostering personal and professional growth. If you know someone aged 16 to 19 who's seeking an engaging alternative to Sixth Form or college, I encourage you to reach out and explore the exciting opportunities that Young Adult Learning Worcestershire have to offer."

YAL's open courses are conducted at various convenient locations, including Willow Trees Community Centre in Beoley, 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 that include practical work placements.

Course details and to book are available online via the Courses Search webpages on the County Council website or by calling 01905 728537. You can stay connected with Young Adult Learning Worcestershire on social media by following @YALworcs on Facebook, X, and Instagram.