GCSE Health and Social Care
(Double Award) - Examination Board: OCR Specification: J412

Learning is through a variety of activities such as: writing reports, discussing case studies, carrying out investigations, giving presentations, group work, individual work, completing assignments, visits where possible and visiting speakers.
Entry requirements
The course will appeal to students who:
- enjoy written work and writing reports
- are comfortable with a subject that involves producing two large pieces of course work
- are good at meeting deadlines
- have a keen interest in health and social care services and how they operate
- are interested in finding out what affects health
- enjoy studying a subject that is very relevant to life experiences
- have the willingness to find out information through personal investigation
- want to move onto a related career or into further education
- wish to build up a qualification by studying individual units
Method of Assessment
For Units 1 and 3 students have to produce two large pieces of portfolio work which is initially internally assessed followed by external moderation. This portfolio work makes up 60% of the assessment. Units 2 and 4 are assessed by a written exam paper. The two together make up 40%of the assessment.
Year 10 and 11
There are four units that must be covered:
- Unit 1 - Health and Social care and Early Years Provision in which students learn about the care services that are available and how they meet the needs of the people who use them. They will also learn about a range of job roles and the skills, qualities and qualifications needed to do these jobs.
- Unit 2 - Understanding Personal Development and Relationships in which students learn about the process of growth and development throughout life and the different factors that affect our relationships as well as our development.
- Unit 3 - Promoting Health and Well Being in which students will learn about the factors that affect our health and well-being and they will also learn the different ways of improving our health.
- Unit 4 - Safeguarding and protecting individuals in which students learn about how to reduce infection and basic First Aid as well as how to recognise potential risks to safety as well as reducing risks in care settings.
Future opportunities:
A GCSE in Health and Social Care is a work related subject that will provide a valuable insight into health care, social care and early years services and provides an excellent progression route into further education and work in Health and Social Care. It is equal to two GCSEs with grades ranging from A*A* to GG.
Further Information
By following this course students will:
- Gain an understanding of health and social care
- Learn more about the stages of personal development
- Have the opportunity to apply learning in a practical and realistic way
- Develop skills which are highly valued by employers
- Gain confidence by developing independent learning skills
For further information please see Mrs Robertson or Mrs Gilroy. Please note that places on this course are limited and your suitability for the course will be taken into account.