Health & Social Care

GCSE Health and Social Care

GCSE Health and Social Care is the study of health and well-being. Students learn about the key stages of physical and emotional development and begin to understand the profound influence relationships and life events can have on an individual’s health. Students also examine the factors that influence a person’s self-concept and how people react to change in their lives.

Students complete one exam paper in May/June of Year 11, Unit SA 1: Personal Development, health and wellbeing, which is worth 50% of the final grade.  Topics covered include personal development, what influences an individual’s health and well-being, as well as issues that affect the nature and quality of human life, including diversity and cultural issues. Students then go on to complete one piece of Controlled Assessment – Unit SA 2: Working in Health and Social Care during Year 12, when a new title and focus will be released each year.  This Unit is divided into 3 tasks set by CCEA and represents 50% of their final GCSE grade.

Visiting speakers, video resources and the use of personal experiences, makes this course both enjoyable and one which a variety of students can access and achieve well in.

A Level Health & Social Care

We offer a very successful GCE Health and Social Care Post 16 A Level course, following the CCEA Specification.  The 2-year course offers pupils the opportunity to see for themselves how policies and procedures work together in care settings, such as local pre-school day care centres, nursery schools, P1-3 in primary schools, special needs school, hospitals and residential homes for the elderly and disabled, to ensure service users receive the best standard of care possible.  In this subject students will gain a broad understanding of health, social care and early years, as well as developing skills, knowledge and understanding linked to the sector. Students will have an opportunity to apply learning in a practical and realistic way and follow a programme of study that enables progression. The course is assessed through both external examinations and on-going coursework tasks, approaches which suit a variety of different learning styles, as well as reflecting the types of assessment students will experience in third level education.  Work Experience opportunities in Year 13 both provides relevant knowledge and understanding, as well as helping students discover career opportunities.

Health and Social Care is a broad, stimulating, relevant and interesting post-16 subject, which has proven to be an excellent preparation for progressing into third level education and many potential career choices.