A healthy population is a critically important asset for our country. Approximately three million people in the UK work in health and social care, and the demand for health and social care workers will continue to rise given our ageing population. Our health and social care curriculum ensures that our students have the knowledge they need to access and thrive in this sector, enriched by a deep understanding of human growth and development and the health and social care services and their values.
Students’ foundational understanding of health and wellbeing as a combination of physical health and social, emotional and intellectual wellbeing is developed through knowledge of physical, intellectual, emotional and social development across the life stages. Students explore the genetic, environmental, social and economic factors affecting human growth and development, including the nature/nurture debate. Students also look at ageing in depth, including the societal effects of an ageing population.
Students’ knowledge is also applied, for example in interpreting data to assess an individual’s health and wellbeing and understanding how to design a plan to improve this. Students’ application of knowledge is tied together by an understanding of the different care values that are key to the delivery of effective health and social care services.
Year 10
In Year 10, students explore different aspects of growth and development across the life stages and the factors that affect it, including physical, lifestyle, emotional, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. They consider different life events that occur in an individual’s life, including how they can impact on people’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. Students explore how individuals can adapt or be supported through the changes caused by life events.
Year 11
In Year 11, students explore the health and social care services available to them and why individuals may need to use them, as well as possible barriers to accessing these services and how they can be overcome. Students consider the different care values that are fundamental to the delivery of health and social care services, as well as reflecting on their own application of care values.
Key Stage 5
In Year 12 and Year 13, students build on their knowledge and understanding from Year 10 and Year 11, examining in greater depth physical development, intellectual development, emotional development and social development across the life stages. They consider various complex factors affecting human growth and development, as well as the effects of ageing – both in terms of the physical and psychological changes of ageing and the impacts it has on society. Students use analysis and research to make recommendations related to human development theories and models and draw on their knowledge of these theories and models in relation to their other learning. Students learn a wide range of research methods as well how to interpret, analyse and evaluate research throughout their course. A work experience placement in the health or social care setting of their choice is a requirement for all Year 13 students.