In Health and Social Care, students learn about the services provided for clients at every life stage and the roles and responsibilities of workers in the health services, social care services and early years (up to 8 years) care and education. This subject has its foundation in real life experience.

There is a dedicated Health and Social Care classroom with an interactive whiteboard, student computer, printer and a bank of resources and research materials.

At KS5, AS and A2 Health and Social Care is offered as a double award (worth 2 AS and A2). The exam board used is AQA.  Topics studied include effective communication, health, illness and disease, complimentary therapies, mental health disorders and early year’s education.

A student approach to learning is taken. Courses are a mixture of exams and coursework. Trips enhance the curriculum and have been offered to primary schools and university health care departments, for example. Visiting speakers also come into classes. Recent examples include nurses (mental health and general), midwives and complimentary therapies practitioners. Possibly the most important sources of information however, are real clients and care workers. Students are expected therefore, to spend one half day at a vocational setting. These placements could be in a nursery, school, day centre for people with learning disabilities or a care home.

Students who have not studied Health and Social Care at GCSE are able to easily pick it up at advanced level.