HEALTH & SOCIAL
Health and social care is a vocational subject and can be taken as an option at both KS4 and KS5 both are part of the Pearsons BTEC suite which follows a learner-centred approach to the curriculum. The knowledge is applied through project-based internal and external assessments providing opportunities to use real-world scenarios, acquire skills and knowledge which are transferable.
Curriculum Vision
All levels of the BTEC focus on the holistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to be able to succeed in employment and higher education. These qualifications have been developed in close collaboration with experts from professional bodies, businesses and universities and focus on transferable knowledge and skills used within health and social care such as UK legislation, equality and diversity, meeting individual needs and physiological disorders. Both KS4 & 5 students are required to develop a range of skills that enable them to research independently, apply knowledge to real-life situations and present work in an appropriate format.
GCSE & A Level
KS4 - Pearson BTEC Tech Award in HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE - Level 1/Level 2
Component 1 Human Lifespan Development
This unit comprises of two internal assessments through assignments that are subject to external standards verification. This component is 30% of the final grade
A1 - Understand human growth and development across life stages and the factors that affect it
A2 - Investigate how individuals deal with life events.
Component 2 Health and Social Care Services and Value
This unit comprises of two Internal assessments is through assignments that are subject to external standards verification. This component is 30% of the final grade
A1- Understand the different types of health and social care services and barriers to accessing them A2 - Demonstrate care values and review own practice.
Component 3 Health and Wellbeing
This external assessment component builds on the knowledge, understanding acquired and developed in Components 1 and 2. This component is 40% of the final grade and the paper is 2 hours. Learners will be given a case study and will assess an individual’s health and well-being, drawing on their understanding of life events from Component 1. They will design a health and well-being improvement plan that draws on their knowledge of services and care values from Component 2.
External assessment will be taken in Year 11 first sit in February and retake if required in May.
KS5
Two courses are offered at KS5.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care is equivalent to one A-Level
Students will take 2 external examinations
Unit 1 - Human Lifespan Development - May Year 12
Unit 2 - Working in Health and Social Care - May Year 13
Students will complete 2 internally assessed and subject to external standards verification
Unit 5 - Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs - May Year 12
Unit 14 - Physiological Disorders and their Care - May Year 13
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health and Social Care is equivalent to two A-Levels
BTEC National includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications.
Students will take 3 external examinations
Unit 1 - Human Lifespan Development - Examination May Year 12
Unit 2 - Working in Health and Social Care - Examination May Year 13
Unit 4 - Enquiries into Current Research in Health and Social Care - Examination May Year 13
Students will complete 5 internally assessed and subject to external standards verification
Unit 5 - Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs - May Year 12
Unit 14 - Physiological Disorders and their Care - May Year 13
Unit 7 - Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care - May Year 12
Unit 8 - Promoting Public Health - May Year 13
Unit 19 - Nutritional Health - May Year 13
Facilities
Health and Social Care have 1 dedicated teaching room with Chrome devices for all students. All students have access to the relevant textbooks for each course. We have a range of teaching aids including a skeleton and other body parts that can be disassembled. We are also lucky to have CPR dummies to practice our life-saving skills as well as a range of medical equipment to measure physiological health such as blood pressure, pulse, listen to your heart, and check your peak flow.
Enrichment
Health and Social Care is distinctive at Thurstable. A range of opportunities and one-to-one support, including drop-in support and revision sessions, are offered to students throughout the year. Being able to interact with a range of local health and social care setting and working alongside Colchester hospital in Restart Your Heart Day where a group of students can learn how to perform CPR. The Take over challenge where sixth form students have been able to shadow clinical staff for an afternoon following an in-depth tour of the facilities and being able to watch an MRI and x-rays being taken and imaging being discussed as well as setting plaster casts and scrubbing in for theatre procedures. Visits from ARU trainee midwives, Rheumatologist and Physiotherapists from Colchester General Hospital and a range of HSC settings bring health and social care into the classroom through interaction with the specialist students are able to gain an insight into the working lives of those in health and social care. All students in Year 12 participate in a work placement in the sixth form which enables students to put into practice and apply the theory learnt within the lesson. Having worked within the health and social care setting I am able to give real-life examples and show a passion for the subject.
Useful Subject Links
Exam Board Specifications
BTEC Level 3 Nationals Year 12/13 - https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/health-and-social-care-2016.html
BTEC Tech Awards Health and Social Care Level 1& 2 - https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-tech-awards/health-and-social-care.html
Other useful links - https://www.tutor2u.net/hsc