Health & Social Care

KS4 OCR Nationals level 2 (worth 4 x GCSE A-C)

This course is of interest and benefit to all students but would particularly be a good grounding for anyone interested in a career working in the health, social care or early years sectors. The work is very practical and vocationally based and includes independent research, producing displays, presentations and a wide range of activities. The assessment for two of the units includes organising and holding a children’s party for a group of children from a local nursery school.

Students are assessed through 6 units to make up a portfolio of evidence:

Unit 1 Preparing to give quality care
Unit 2 Communicating with service users
Unit 3 Practical caring
Unit 4 Hygiene & safety in care settings
Unit 5 Development & Care of young children
Unit 6 Preparing to work with young children

This course can lead on to studying A level Health & Social Care or the Diploma in Society Health & Development.

KS5 AQA As & A2

Students follow a programme of units that allow them to learn and undertake independent research into Health Social Care and Early Years provision in Torbay and the rest of the UK.

The units cover biological elements such as health, illness and disease, immunisation and screening. Psychology elements that explore children’s cognitive and social development and the theories that support that development are also included. In addition they learn how effective communication supports all the caring services.

Head of Health and Social Care: Susan Harper

Childhood Studies

KS4

The CACHE Level 2 Award in Child Care and Education provides learners with the knowledge and understanding of child development and education necessary for working with children in a variety of job roles and settings.

This qualification is based on the current National Occupational Standards for Children’s Care, Learning and Development at level 2 and reflects the shift in focus to children’s services.

This is offered as either a single or double option. The single option is known as the Award in Child Care & Education. It is equivalent to 1 x GCSE at A* - E grade and is assessed as two coursework units :

• An introduction to working with children
• The developing child

The double option is known as the Certificate in Child Care & Education. It is equivalent to 3 x GCSE at A* - E grade and is assessed as three coursework units, one portfolio and one externally marked exam.

• An introduction to working with children
• The developing child
• Safe, healthy and nurturing environments for children
• Children and play
• Communication and professional skills within child care and education

Students with 5 or more GCSE grades at C or above, including English, may be able to progress to the Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education in the Sixth Form. Career progression includes Higher Education and students regularly go on to pursue a career in primary teaching.

Head of Childhood Studies: Jane Eeles

Psychology

AS/A Level

Psychology is an academic discipline involving the scientific study of the mind, mental processes and behaviour. Psychologists study such concepts as memory, stress, abnormality, emotion, personality, behaviour, interpersonal relationships and individual behaviour. Psychology also refers to the application of such knowledge to various fields of human activity including issues related to daily life, for example: the management of aggression, the treatment of mental health problems, the management of stress and the treatment of eating disorders. Psychology includes many sub-fields of study, including such areas as research, human development, sports, health, industry, media and law. The study of Psychology is also considered to be excellent grounding for either employment or Higher Education and is widely accepted by universities as suitable preparation for all degree courses.

Sociology

(GCSE)
Sociology is about

• how people live
• what makes society work
• why people behave as they do
• how social groups such as family, youth groups and schools affect us.

ASSESSMENT
The course is assessed in two ways:
Written exams at the end of the course - 80%
Coursework - one assignment during the last year - 20%

COURSEWORK
You will use textbooks and be expected to research using books, newspapers, T.V. and other media for essays and coursework. Your coursework will be a piece of Sociological research.

Homework is important and will be:

• learning for tests
• conducting surveys
• writing essays
• watching television programmes about social issues
• reviewing social issues covered in the media

Topics covered :

• What is sociology
• The family
• Education
• Social Class or keeping up appearances
• Migration and movement
• Crime and deviance
• Work, leisure and unemployment
• Poverty and the welfare state
• Power and politics

Why should I study Sociology?

• It can help you understand your own life better
• Sociology is most useful for anyone thinking of going into journalism, or any caring profession or the police, or law, or teaching
• It is accepted for nurse training and is one of the GCSE's that is seen as most useful for nurse training
• It gives you an understanding of what is going on in the world, why things are the way they are.

Sociology 'A' level is available in the 6th form at Paignton and at other local colleges. It can contribute to an Art or Science based degree.

Head of Sociology: Mrs S Preston

HEAD OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SCIENCES FACULTY: Ms D Appleby