About 3 million people in the UK work in the health and social care sector, that is equivalent to 1 in every 10 people.  Demand for both health and social care is liable to continue to rise due to the ageing population, so it is undisputable that it plays a key role in UK society.  The demand for people to fill these vital careers will therefore continue to increase.   

The Health and Social care department will nurture every student through their journey to develop their resilience, expression and independence, growing into well-rounded individuals to succeed in today’s diverse society. Complimenting other subjects’ and the wider school, students will experience and study a vast range of Health and Social Care topic areas requiring them to demonstrate maturity and respect for others, coupled with high expectations means students will aspire to excellence. Students will become confident and fully prepared to manage their emotions for the many challenges and opportunities they face for their health and well-being, preparing them for life and inspiring them to work in Modern Britain. 

Our intent is to provide a fluid and dynamic knowledge rich KS4 option curriculum, which gives learners, access and progress to KS5 and beyond. The course is coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulatively sufficient knowledge and skills for future learning whilst building on their experiences of SMSC during focus days in KS3. Students will ascertain research skills, using primary and secondary methods providing reliable evidence to use for supportive and critical arguments. These skills are developed through the Key stage in preparation for the application of the higher order thinking skills, evaluation and analysis required for KS5.  

Students learn how people grow and develop over the course of their lives from infancy to later adulthood, the factors that may affect this, such as predictable and unpredictable events. Students will analyse this impact from a positive and negative viewpoint, demonstrating empathy and applying knowledge through the use of case studies. The curriculum allows students to secure skills for their social development, through culture capital content understanding how people are individual and can adapt to changes using local and national health and social care support. 

Learners will also research health and social care services in their local community.  They will look at how people access the local health and social care services provided and the support that is given in the local community.  Learners will be given the opportunity to demonstrate and apply the key care values to scenarios.  Learners will develop skills in measuring and interpreting data about someone’s physiological health to design a care plan that will allow them to analyse and improve their health and wellbeing.  Overall, learners should be given the opportunity to self-reflect about choices they make and how they affect others. 

The BTEC Health and Social Care curriculum has a positive impact on the outcomes of every student. It raises awareness of different needs and the range of services available. It promotes good health which will provide life-long benefits on themselves and their families. Students express their enjoyment within the subject and consistently engage and participate in all activities given. Additionally, students benefit from experienced guest speakers from the local community to extend lessons beyond the classroom and support work related learning. This enables students to have a breadth of specialism outside of the course specification, giving them a real vocational experience.