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.

Childhood Studies

KS4 - CACHE Level 2 Award in Child Care and Education

This qualification prepares students to work in a supervisory capacity with children and their families in a variety of settings and environments within the sector of Children's Services.

It covers the age range from birth to 16 years.

The award is assessed through two units of written assignments.

It is useful, but not essential, for students to have some babysitting experience during the course.

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 by 2 written exams:

- one at the end of Year 10
- one at the end of Year 11, or, alternatively,
- ALL units can be taken at the end of Year 11.

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 :

Year 10

• Studying Sociology
• The Family
• Education

Year 11

• Mass Media
• Crime and Deviance
• Social Inequalities

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, or probation services
• 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 HEALTH & SOCIAL SCIENCES FACULTY: Ms D Appleby