Health & Social Care
Curriculum Intent
You will explore how health and social care services support people throughout their lives. You will investigate the range of local and national services available, how people access them, and the barriers that can affect the support they receive. You will develop an understanding of the factors that influence health and wellbeing and learn how professionals work together to meet the needs of individuals. Through realistic scenarios and case studies, you will apply key care values such as dignity, respect, empathy, and person-centred care, helping you understand what good practice looks like in health and social care settings.
You will build practical and analytical skills by collecting, measuring, interpreting, and evaluating physiological health data. Using this information, you will design and review care and support plans that aim to improve an individual's health and wellbeing. This will help you develop confidence in making evidence-based decisions and recommendations. Throughout the qualification, you will be encouraged to reflect on your own choices, behaviours, and attitudes, considering how they can affect both your wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. You will also develop valuable research, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills that are highly regarded by universities and employers.
Where possible, you will have opportunities to engage with professionals, employers, universities, and community organisations to gain a deeper understanding of the sector and the wide range of careers available. You may also take part in visits, guest speaker sessions, and work-related learning experiences to support your future aspirations. The Health and Social Care AAQ allows you to build on the knowledge and skills gained from your previous studies while applying your learning to real-life situations. By the end of the course, you will be well prepared for higher education, apprenticeships, and careers within the health and social care sector, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Key Stage 5 (KS5)
To support fluidity, the curriculum taught at KS5 is provided by the same awarding body as KS4. It does not limit progression options because the skills acquired are applicable to a range of future pathways.
You will research health and social care services in the local community. You will look at how people access the local health and social care services provided and the support that is given in the local community. You will be given the opportunity to demonstrate and apply the key care values to scenarios. You 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, you should be given the opportunity to self-reflect about choices they make and how they affect others. You may be given the opportunity to visit and take part in work experience in a variety of setting such as pre-schools, primary schools and nursing homes. There is also an intention to raise student aspirations by developing key links with universities. You will also be able to draw on the knowledge and skills acquired from other GCSE subjects where relevant. You can use the knowledge and skills from GCSEs generally, giving you the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to everyday and work contexts.
