Upcoming Courses

The course is a 'summer school' for current students who wish to continue to craft over the summer break. It will be self-directed but tutor led and is designed to build proficiency and confidence in handbuilding and/or wheel throwing. You'll produce quality work from a personal student created brief, using contemporary and historical ceramics for inspiration.

This course is for clothes making beginners. In this course will learn how make a basic top in calico (unbleached cotton fabric) and then make the garment in your chosen fabric.

Gain Confidence in English is a welcoming Community ESOL course for adults who want to improve their English for everyday life and work. Whether you are new to English or already know a little, the course helps you build confidence step by step. Classes run from Pre-Entry to Entry 3 and provide a supportive space to practise speaking, listening, reading and writing with others in your local community.Lessons focus on real-life situations—such as talking to your child’s school, visiting the doctor, travelling around London or communicating at work—so you can use English in a practical and meaningful way.

Gain Confidence in Maths is a friendly community course designed for adults who want to improve their everyday numeracy skills. Whether you have always found maths difficult or simply want to refresh what you already know, this course helps you build confidence step by step.By strengthening your foundation in maths, you will develop the skills needed to manage real-life situations—from budgeting and understanding bills to comparing prices, planning journeys, or making informed decisions for work or home. Lessons are practical, supportive and easy to follow, using interactive activities, group discussions and real-world examples to make maths feel relevant and achievable.You will have plenty of chances to practise, ask questions, and apply what you learn in a safe and encouraging environment.

Helps you to improve your practical maths skills. You will be able to apply the skills learnt in everyday life, both at home and in the workplace.

Helps you to improve your Digital skills for work.

Helps you to improve your English in reading, writing and spoken language.

Our ESOL courses are based on the syllabus of the ESOL Skills for Life curriculum for each level and focus on developing reading, writing and speaking and listening skills over an academic year.

Family Learning at WAES offers a wide range of friendly, practical workshops designed to empower parents and carers to support their children’s education and wellbeing. Whether you want to better understand how your child learns, feel more confident helping with homework, strengthen family relationships, or enjoy creative activities together, you’ll find a course that suits your needs.Our workshops cover essential skills such as key maths concepts, English and phonics, digital safety, and understanding how schools teach and assess children. Examples include Everyday English for Parents New to the UK, Read and Spell in English Using Phonics, Developing Mathematical Reasoning in KS2 and Empowering Parents in the Digital Age, Confident Communication.

The Green Live Learning Lab is about using your local area to learn about sustainability. We will learn how we can help the environment through changing how we live in our homes, and we will visit local sites to see examples of this.

Please note: We have multiple courses starting every 5 weeks. Click course details for course options and dates.

Learners will have one wheel each. This course covers all techniques including basic beginner-level skills such as clay preparation, centring, throwing to cylinder, making bowls and turning a foot ring.

This programme consists of a Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping, and a Level 1 Award in Business studies. In addition, the programme also offers students the opportunity to prepare for the Level 2 AAT. The purpose of the Level 1 Award in bookkeeping qualification is to provide you with a basic introduction to the bookkeeping skills necessary for entry level roles.

This qualification will develop the knowledge and awareness of the types of provision in the Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s sectors. It includes the roles played by workers, from principles and values through to health and safety and working with others. There is the option to take units in more specialised areas such as learning disability, child development or mental health.The qualification:• is aimed at learners who wish to develop an understanding of these settings before deciding whether working in the sector is for them• allows learners to gain the knowledge, understanding and skills required for employment and/or career progression in the sectors• allows learners to tailor their learning to their interests through the provision of a broad range of optional units• provides opportunities for the development of transferable skills• supports progression to Level 2 qualifications in health, social care or children's settings• provides learners with the opportunity to progress to employment, in due course, in a range of job roles in the care sectors.In addition you will complete an English for Health and Social care element alongside the main qualification.

This UAL accredited course is designed to introduce you to the creative and practical skills required to study at a higher level in fashion design with the intent to work in the fashion design or related industries.

On this year long course, you will gain key knowledge, skills and understanding of the fashion design process so you can create your first designed garments. These be showcased in the end of year fashion show.

This UAL accredited course is designed to introduce you to the creative and practical skills required to study at a higher level in graphic design with the intent to work in the graphic design or related industries.

On this year long course, you will learn how to become a creative designer and produce a unique portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills though graphic communication.

Please note: This is a year-long course that runs on Mondays and Wednesdays, 09.30-16.30

This UAL accredited course is designed to give you every possible chance to develop your skills, competencies and knowledge that are required to study at a higher level in Creative Media Production and Technology and/or a successful future in the wider industry.

The Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to access and progress to degree level study or employment in the media sector. It provides an opportunity for those who have an interest in media to explore, develop and test their creativity within a qualification structure that is stimulating and demanding and provides a supportive transition from general to more specialised study.

The VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing is a qualification that has been specifically designed to develop your practical skills to an advanced level through a variety of techniques in the following units; the creative art of cutting women’s hair, the artistic skill of colouring, imaginative dexterity of styling and dressing hair, and how to provide effective consultation support for colleagues. Underpinning this qualification you will develop a sound knowledge of monitoring health and safety whilst working in the hairdressing industry. You will also develop a knowledge and understanding of the practical skills learned throughout this qualification.

The Level 2 Diploma is for those who want to build on their skills and knowledge to further develop and explore their creativity in the area of visual and fine art. You will refine and continue to enhance your skills in a way that will enable you to visually respond in a contemporary format to challenges and issues that motivate you. You will explore a wide range of techniques, continually experimenting with these to push the boundaries of your work to produce highly individual creative responses.

The Level 2 Diploma is for those who want to build on their skills and knowledge to further develop and explore their creativity and technical knowledge in the area of ceramics. You will refine and continue to enhance your skills in a way that will enable you to practically respond to challenges and issues that motivate you. You will explore a wide range of techniques, continually experimenting with these to push the boundaries of your work to produce highly individual creative responses.

The City and Guilds Level 2 Technical in Floristry is an intensive, two day a week, course designed for you if you are looking to start a career within the floristry industry.

Through this qualification you will learn about different flowers and plants and how to look after them. You will also learn that there is more to floristry than flowers and that for florists to be successful, they need to understand their tools, environment and the finishing touches that make a difference. With this, you will develop an understanding of design principles and the skills needed to apply these to the design and creation of floristry products.

This UAL accredited course is designed to develop your creative and practical skills required to work in the fashion industry. Through research, skill-based workshops and experimentation with a range of techniques and materials, you will begin to develop your knowledge of a wide range of creative fashion techniques. The garments you create will be showcased in the end of year fashion show.

Please note: This is a year-long course.

This UAL accredited course is designed to develop your creative and practical skills required to study at a higher level in graphic design with the intent to work in the graphic design or related industries.

Explore graphic design through a range of assignments from typography and layout to packaging and marketing materials using design techniques and software applications including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. During this course you will be able to explore basic elements of design such as typography, layouts, composition, 2D and 3D designs. With a variety of project brief assignments, you will gain a good foundation of the understanding of the design theory and process with the development of ideas and mock ups through to the final product.

This Level 3 Gateway Certificate is a 24 week course that will develop your skills in Digital Marketing and Social Media for E-Commerce. This course will prepare you for employment within different roles in the digital and creative industries and in other industries that require specific digital and IT skills within Social Media for E-Commerce.

This UAL accredited course is designed to introduce you to a wide range of creative media concepts, methods and skills. This will include learning about and creating media products including video, audio, web & interactive media. There will be a focus on the changing nature of the creative industry and how creative media augments multiple platforms and social media.

The content of this course will provide you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to provide a safe and stimulating environment for children. It will enable you to support child development and understand how to safeguard children. You will learn about legislations, policies and procedures that influence the childcare provision and ways of implementing them in your practice.

You will build your proficiency and confidence in handbuilding and/or wheel throwing. You'll produce quality work through a project-based assignment, using contemporary and historical ceramics for inspiration. Learners will be encouraged to be experimental with surface decoration and glazing.

Please note: This course will be tutor supported for half of each session (90 minutes).

The course introduces learners to the fundamentals of computer programming using block based tools, helping them understand how programs are structured and how code can be used to solve problems. Learners will develop practical skills in creating and testing simple programs, while also gaining an awareness of text based programming and how it is used in real world digital environments.

The content of the course has been designed to provide learners with an understanding of the knowledge and skills needed when working directly with children and young people in school or college environments.

The course introduces learners to the fundamentals of cybersecurity, including what cybercrime is and how it affects individuals and organisations. You will explore common online threats, the risks they pose, and the basic protective methods used to keep data and systems secure. Learners will also develop an understanding of key concepts such as user access control, secure working practices and the importance of recognising vulnerabilities in digital environments.

This programme has two qualifications. The VTCT Level 2 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing is a qualification that has been specifically designed to develop your practical skills in; the creative art of cutting or dressing women’s hair, how to provide effective shampooing and conditioning services, the artistic skill of colouring and lightening hair and how to provide a good consultation service for your clients. . The VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Barbering is a qualification that has been specifically designed to develop your practical skills in; the creative art of cutting men’s hair, the specialist work of cutting facial hair and how to offer a good consultation service for clients.

The Level 3 Diploma is for those who want to build on their skills and knowledge to further develop and explore their creativity in the area of visual and fine art. You will refine and continue to enhance your skills in a way that will enable you to visually respond in a contemporary format to challenges and issues that motivate you. You will explore a wide range of techniques, continually experimenting with these to push the boundaries of your work to produce highly individual creative responses.

This AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) Level 2 course offers a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of accounting. It is ideal for individuals who are starting out in the field or looking to develop essential financial skills for their career. Delivered in partnership with Mindful Education, the course follows a flexible Online and In Class blended learning model, combining the flexibility of online study with the structure of regular classroom sessions.

The Level 3 Diploma is for those who want to build on their skills and knowledge to further develop and explore their creative ceramics practice. You will refine and continue to enhance your skills in a way that will enable you to visually respond in a contemporary format to challenges and issues that motivate you. You will explore a wide range of techniques, continually experimenting with these to push the boundaries of your work to produce highly individual creative responses.

Please note: This is a year-long course. In term one and two, this course runs on Thursdays and Friday, 09.30-16.00. In term 3, it runs on Thursdays only, 09.30-16.00

This UAL accredited course is designed to progress further your creative and practical fashion design skills.

This UAL accredited course is designed to progress further your creative and practical graphic design skills.

Explore graphic design through inspiring challenges and project briefs and learn how to communicate information and visuals through the power of graphic design. You are encouraged to contextualise your creativity through guided research activities. You will develop your individual creative practice and experiment with a range of materials and techniques, learning professional skills and creating original design solutions.

This is a practical foundation course, designed for people interested in a career in floristry, but who have little or no previous experience.

You will learn basic floristry skills and techniques week by week. You will create practice designs to build your knowledge and confidence, which will enable you to produce designs suitable for studying at a higher level. You will also gain skills in completing written and computer based assignments.

Please note, this is a WAES certified course, and will allow you to progress onto our ‘Level 2 Technical Certificate in Floristry' course.

This AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) course is a mid-level accounting qualification, ideal for anyone who is looking to advance their existing knowledge of accounting. Delivered in partnership with Mindful Education, this flexible course combines online learning with face-to-face lessons through our Online and In Class model. You will study a range of more complex accounting tasks and develop a deeper understanding of financial processes, including preparing financial statements, management accounting, tax processes and business awareness.

Led by our popular tutor, you will learn the fundamentals of watercolour painting and drawing in this online course. You will be required to purchase materials to participate in the course.

History of Art for all. An exciting new course for the Pimlico Centre introduces you to the history of art. Artist and lecturer John Timberlake will explain what to look for when viewing art and will help you experience art at a deeper and more enriching level.

Get creative, be inspired on this ten week art course using a mixture of different textile and craft materials you will create a unique piece of textile art for your home.

The Amazon Web Services (AWS) re/Start programme is a full-time training course designed to prepare Greater London residents for entry-level careers in cloud computing. Delivered in collaboration with AWS, the course runs Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, in a hybrid format (three days onsite and two days online). It combines hands-on technical training in cloud technologies with employability skills such as communication, teamwork, and interview preparation, helping learners become job-ready for roles in the IT and cloud sector.

This Level 1 NCFE award will cover key principles of painting and drawing, including ways of looking and using varied materials. You will learn to explore ideas and techniques and allow you to develop knowledge and understanding of artistic processes. It will teach you skills necessary to progress onto our level 2 courses in art.

The Level 1 VTCT Award in Introduction to Employment in Retail (RQF) qualification will provide you with the basic knowledge and understanding to work in Retail. This qualification will help those who are new to the workplace or returners to work who wish to build their confidence and gain an understanding of the Retail environment. You will learn different areas of retail including:• customer service• the selling process• health & safety

The course will be self-directed but tutor led and is designed to build proficiency and confidence in handbuilding and/or wheel throwing. You'll produce quality work through a project-based assignment (optional), using contemporary and historical ceramics for inspiration. Learners will be encouraged to be experimental with surface decoration and glazing.

The course provides a comprehensive introduction to advanced networking and cybersecurity practices, giving learners the knowledge and skills needed to progress into technical roles or further study. You will explore how networks are designed, managed and secured, examine common threats and vulnerabilities, and develop practical skills in ethical hacking techniques. The course also covers project management within networking and cybersecurity contexts, helping you plan, deliver and evaluate technical projects effectively.

This Level 3 qualification is designed for learners who have successfully completed a Level 2 course in Software and Programming and wish to further develop and extend their digital and IT skills. IT prepares learners for IT roles, covering network engineering, project management, access control, ethical hacking, network management and much more.

This course is designed for beginners, and will cover key skills and techniques needed to progress to a higher level. You will work with beautiful fresh flowers and create both traditional and contemporary designs, which you can take home each week. The course also covers key health and safety requirements.

Community Knit and Stitch is a friendly and creative Community Course that introduces learners to a range of simple textile skills in a relaxed group setting. It offers an opportunity to explore knitting, crochet and hand sewing while enjoying the social and wellbeing benefits of making together. The course focuses on creativity, confidence building and the pleasure of completing small handmade projects at your own pace.

This Level 2 Gateway Award is a 12 week course that will introduce you to the key principles of digital marketing via social media, email and adverts. This course will give you a foundation for progression into higher level study.

This evening ceramics course introduces the basic handbuilding and wheel throwing techniques through practical demonstration and guidance. Learners will also gain skills in glazing.

Please note: we have courses running on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings every term. Click course details for multiple course options and dates.

This AutoCAD beginner course is designed to help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the software and develop the skills you need to create 2D drawings. Over the duration of the course, you will learn how to navigate the AutoCAD interface, create basic geometry, use drawing aids and tools, organize your drawings and work with layouts.

Please note, this is a WAES certified course, and will allow you to progress onto our Level 2 AutoCAD course.

This evening ceramics course introduces the basic handbuilding and wheel throwing techniques through practical demonstration and guidance. Learners will also gain skills in glazing.

Please note: we have courses running on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings every term. Click course details for multiple course options and dates.

Building information modelling (BIM) is a collaborative process for creating, managing, and storing information about a built asset throughout its life cycle. Revit is a widely used BIM software for designing, planning and managing the construction of built assets, such as buildings and infrastructure. It enables professionals to create detailed 3D models that integrate architectural, structural and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) components, supporting real-time collaboration and accuracy across all project stages.

Please note, this course is only open to residents living within Westminster City Council or the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This Community course offers a clear, supportive and empowering introduction to menopause and perimenopause. It is designed to help adults understand the physical, emotional and lifestyle changes that can arise during this stage of life. Delivered by a highly experienced, professionally accredited health and menopause coach, the course brings together up to date research, practical tools and compassionate guidance.

Please note, this course is only open to residents living within Westminster City Council or the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This Introduction to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course is offered by WAES Community Learning and provides a clear, practical introduction to understanding mental health and supporting others in times of distress. Delivered face to face or online over two half day sessions, the programme helps adults recognise early signs of mental health difficulties and respond in a calm, informed and compassionate way. Led by a highly qualified and experienced mental health practitioner, the course blends current knowledge, real world practice and sensitive guidance.

If you’re interested in improving the energy efficiency of UK homes and exploring a career in retrofit, sustainability, property maintenance, or energy consultancy, this course is for you. If you live in London and the surrounding areas and can study on Thursdays and Fridays, this course is the ideal way to start your career in the green skills sector.

The course is delivered in person in Central London, on Thursdays and Fridays for 3 weeks. There is an online exam at the end of the course, which will be at the Lisson Grove site.

Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit is being funded through DESNZ Warm Homes programme.

The “Full Stack Bootcamp” is a 16-week, full-time training programme run in collaboration with Code Institute that prepares learners for careers in the digital workforce as software developers.

The Level 1 Award in Energy Efficiency and Sustainability is an introductory qualification designed to provide learners with a basic understanding of energy efficiency, sustainability, climate change, and practical ways to reduce energy consumption at home, in the workplace, and in transport.The course is ideal for learners who are looking for a stepping stone into the construction, retrofit, green skills, and environmental sectors. It provides a solid foundation of knowledge and helps learners develop an understanding of how energy-efficient practices and sustainable behaviours contribute to reducing carbon emissions and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

This Community course helps you develop the English communication skills needed to succeed in the workplace and during the job search process. Over six weeks, you will build confidence in both written and spoken communication through practical, real world tasks. The course also supports the development of key transferable skills—such as critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork—often referred to as Fusion Skills.

Learn how to make your own clothes on this short beginner's course. It will teach you how to use the sewing machine, as well as basic sewing techniques and processes. You will learn to construct a simple garment.

Do you want a career in teaching? Are you already working as a trainer, instructor or as a Learning Support Assistant and would like to further your qualifications? Maybe you are a little unsure about your next steps so would like to get a taste of the profession without fully committing to a year-long course.

This course will enable learners to acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to develop additional specialist competence with education and early years. It will help practitioners to understand their responsibilities to children with special educational needs (SEND) and children who have English as an additional language (EAL).