This course is purpose built for students who wish to pursue a career in the health sector, the social care sector, sports sector or child care. We cover a range of topics; understand life, each other, and society.  The mandatory and optional content provides a balance of breadth and depth, while retaining a degree of choice for individual learners to study content relevant to their own interests and progression choices.

Course Content  and assessment criteria

4 units of which 3 are mandatory and 1 optional. 2 units are external, 2 internal.

Mandatory :

• Human Lifespan Development - physical, intellectual, emotional and social development across the human lifespan. Factors affecting human growth and development – Interventions and the different professionals providing care and treatment. The unit will be assessed through one examination of 80 marks lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Human Biology and Health - Human body structure and systems, normal physiological functioning and the impact of common disorders. This unit will be assessed through one examination of 80 marks lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes.

• Health and Social Care Practice  - Core Principles, values and legislation that underpin and        influence health and social care, and the effect of social determinants on an individual health status. This unit will be internally assessed in the form of an assignment.

Optional :

• Health, Social Policy and Wellbeing – Public health policy and its influences, including health-related organisations/groups and a range of strategic factors
• Promoting Health Education – Health education, its purpose and use of different approaches and models to achieve positive health outcomes
• Safe Environments in Health and Social Care – Appropriate provisions in services relevant to different needs; governance relating to safe environments
• Health Science – Types of infections and their potential impact on a local, national and international scale.

Head of Subject: Mrs A Blundell

Exam Board: Pearson, 

360 GLH (480 TQT) Equivalent to one A Level

Entry Requirements

5 in Child Development  (if taken). At least 5 GCSE grades 9-4 including grade 5 in English Lit or Lang  

Are you interested in?

Health Sector

Social Care

Child Care

Leading to a career in: Nursing, Midwife, Occupational Therapist, Primary education, Social Work, Sports Studies and Development.

This subject goes well with: Biology, Sociology, Psychology, Applied Science, English, History, Sport, Children’s Play, Learning and Development

Student views

"I enjoy Health and Social Care because it helps me to care about and understand people."