Health and social care is the UK’s largest employment sector, and the Covid-19 pandemic has shown us the importance of health care and social care within our communities. Our aim is to inspire the health and social care sector workforce of the future whilst working with our young people. Within our health and social care department, we aim to develop caring and compassionate individuals who develop a passion and desire to work within this expanding industry. Health and social care is a large and growing sector within the British economy with approximately 3 million people employed  - equivalent to 1 in every 10 people - meaning its currency as a subject to be delivered to pupils at KS4 is high. Due to our ageing and growing population, demand for services continues to rise, with health and social care services playing a key role in today’s society. 

Our health and social care curriculum follows the BTEC Tech Award and gives our students the opportunity to study how people grow and develop over the course of their lives, from infancy to old age, as well as factors that may affect this such as life-changing events like divorce, bereavement or parenthood. Students will also study and assess how people adapt to these changes as well as the types of support available to help them. Health and social care equips our students to discover the impact of positive and negative human development and how to critically analyse the ways in which these factors affect our day to day lives. Our students can explore academically and practically areas that influence how we all develop throughout our life span, and in turn raise expectations of our own lives and how we can live in a successful and healthy way. 

Our curriculum will: 

Develop the character of all students 

All pupils are nurtured through their journey to develop the needed knowledge and understanding to gain a BTEC Tech Award qualification. Not only will they become knowledgeable in the subject of health and social care, but they will develop sought after softer skills. Through their study of health and social care, they will become resilient, independent learners; developing empathy, supporting others and developing the use of their own initiative to solve problems and plan activities. They will grow into well-rounded individuals, who have a holistic understanding of growth and development of individuals through the life stages, as students study component 1.  

Health and social care promotes opportunities for students to draw from real life experiences, case studies and opportunities to undertake research to compliment learning and create skills that will be used throughout their lives. These skills encourage students to think outside typical ‘adolescent mindset’ and begin to challenge the way they perceive the world we live in. Furthermore, highlighting how human relationships, physical environments and socioeconomic status may influence how they and others develop. 

Ensure all students are literate and numerate 

Our students read a variety of texts in their ‘weekly diet’ of health and social care – through given case studies, health-based research or their own qualitative research - allowing them to immerse themselves in the professional language used within the sector.  Our students are encouraged to adopt the language of a health care assistant when creating a health improvement plan for their client in component 3 for example. A BTEC qualification includes four written extended assignments – where students can apply their knowledge and research to a given task. Our students apply their numeracy skills through investigating measures of health – for example when calculating body mass index for a client and interpreting given data on a BMI chart.  

Build knowledge and aspirations of all students 

We use a knowledge-rich curriculum to allow students to thrive through igniting curiosity of the health and social care sector and the roles within it.  The high expectations set out across the department inspires students to rise to the challenge and aspire towards excellence. We have fostered a highly ambitious classroom environment and an ethos where students want to achieve the very best they can.  

Ensure all students have the secure foundations to progress into further education and employment 

We aim to allow students to explore possible careers options within class, as well as develop key health and social care sector employability skills such as effective communication, caring and empathy, as well as promoting fundamental values of care. 

We believe that students deserve a broad and ambitious health and social care curriculum. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding by applying their learning skills in a work-related context. Students are supported and encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and develop skills that are essential for the modern- day workplace. The students will experience working to deadlines; working from a prescribed brief; presenting information effectively; and accurately completing administrative tasks and processes. 

Our students gain an awareness of the Care Values within the sector and how they can support high-quality care when working with clients to improve outcomes. These are transferable skills that students will adhere to throughout their working lives and when working alongside others and within their families. Through reflective practice of their own actions and performance we intend to instil values in students that will encourage them to become well-rounded individuals in society with the confidence to achieve career aspirations and to create, thoughtful and caring individuals who will in turn, pass these values on in the future.  

We have a successful history of giving our students the qualifications they need to become successful in jobs in the health and social care sector such as teaching, social work, nursing, midwifery, paramedic science and many more.  The majority of our students progress onto level 3 study with a view to working within this sector. 

Develop cultural capital of all students 

Within health and social care, there are many opportunities to explore SMSC topics and build our students’ cultural capital. Students become confident and are equipped with the skills to be able to manage their emotions as they move through adolescence, dealing with the life events, challenges and opportunities they face for their own health and well-being as well as preparing them for life outside of education and inspiring them to make a difference.