Child Development

The aim of this department is to prepare students for work in the fields of teaching/child care, social work, and medicine/nursing either through direct entry or via higher education.

Information about Home Economics (Child Development) GCSE

"This is a two year course and follows the OCR specification.  The course focuses on child development from conception to the age of five.  Students will develop knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to the roles and responsibilities of the family, pre-conception, conception, pregnancy, birth and post-natal factors, diet and health in relation to  young babies and children, stages and conditions of development and support available to the child and family.  The scheme of assessment includes course work with a value of 60%, and an end of course examination with a value of 40%." 

Information about Health & Social Care AS and A level

"This course follows the AQA specification.  The AS course includes three units, two of which are internally assessed and one which is externally assessed by an examination.  The A2 course follows a similar format.  The units studied at AS are: Effective Caring, Effective Communication, and Health Illness and Disease.  The units studied at A2 are: Working in Health and Social Care, Service Users with Disabilities, and Early Years Education." 

Information about BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development

This is an Edexcel Level 3 qualification and is equivalent to three A levels.  The qualification is unit based and the academic element is assessed through reports, essays, activity planning and child observations; there is no end of course examination.  Units are graded as Pass, Merit, and Distinction.  Students with a combination of Merits and Distinctions are eligible for entry to university to study for a degree.

Over the two year period, students are required to complete 18 units of which 7 units are compulsory.  Students are also required to complete 800 hours' work experience with children between 0 and 7 year of age.  The majority of this experience will be gained within the Hurst Lodge environment.  In the first year, the students will be introduced to the BTEC programme and undertake the 7 core units.  In the second year, the remaining 11 units will be completed. 

Because of the intensive nature of this course it is not recommended that pupils study additional A level subjects.  If they wish to do this then they may wish to opt for the BTEC National Certificate.

Information about BTEC National Certificate in Children's Care, Learning and Development

This is an Edexcel Level 3 qualification and is equivalent to two A levels.  The qualification is unit based and the academic element is assessed through reports, essays, activity planning and child observations; there is no end of course examination.  Units are graded as Pass, Merit, and Distinction and this qualification is included in the UCAS tariff. 

Over the two year period, students are required to complete 12 units of which 7 units are compulsory.  Students are also required to complete 800 hours' work experience with children between 0 and 7 year of age.  The majority of this experience will be gained within the Hurst Lodge environment.  In the first year, the students will be introduced to the BTEC programme and undertake the 7 core units.  In the second year, the remaining 5 units will be completed. 

Pupils may wish to study an additional AS/A level subject alongside the BTEC National Certificate.

Page last updated on: 12 Apr 2010