Curriculum overview for BTEC Level 2 Technical Award in Health and Social Care

Curriculum intent – the knowledge, understanding and skills that students will learn
Students will build knowledge and understanding of the life stages and key characteristics in the physical, intellectual, emotional and social (PIES) development classifications and the different factors that can affect an individual’s growth and development. They will learn different life events and how they impact an individual and how they can be supported through those events. Throughout the BTEC Health and Social Care course, students will acquire an understanding of factors that can affect an individual’s current health and wellbeing, learning different conditions and diseases. The core skills students will develop are the skills, attributes and values required to give care and how these benefit the individual. Students will learn to recognise barriers and obstacles an individual may encounter  gaining health care and how these can be overcome. The course enables students to build personal skills such as communication, recognising needs, time management and organisation.

Curriculum implementation – teaching, learning and assessment strategies
In class, teaching is sequenced thematically following the assessment windows set out by the exam board: teaching for the first internally assessed component, exploring the factors of human life span development, will take place at the beginning of Year 10 with the assessment submitted at the end of Term 1. Following this unit, teaching on the second internally assessed component, Health and Social Care services and values, will take place with the work submitted at the end of Term 2. Work will then begin on the externally-assessed examination Component 3 which will be sat in the Winter examination period in Year 11. Students will be encouraged to improve as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with curious and enquiring minds. As such, students are expected to undertake independent research of case studies, as well as identifying gaps in their knowledge and working to address the identified needs. As the first two components are assessed by means of an extended piece of coursework writing, assessment will take the form of questioning and formative assessment in order to ensure that students have a sound understanding of concepts being assessed. During the teaching of the externally-assessed component, students will tackle regular low-stakes knowledge tests to consolidate the learning which has taken place, as well as answering exam-style questions. They will have access to model answers and be given time scale guidance to help them develop their independent study.

Curriculum impact – intended outcomes for students 
At Blackfen School, the intention is not to simply have young people completing the BTEC Level 2 course in Health and social care, but rather to give students the opportunity to develop vocational sector-specific applied knowledge. Students will develop a sound understanding of the health and social care services and, in the process, understand lifestyle factors leading to lifestyle diseases. Students will be confident in the planning of advice and actions case studies could be given to adapt and improve their health, and will develop primary and secondary research skills for health care and practitioner’s roles. They will become developed in their use and understanding of vocational terminology and skills. Students will be able to organise and communicate their knowledge and understanding in different ways, analysing key factors and reaching substantiated judgements and being self-reflective in their practice.

BTEC Level 2 Technical Award in Health and Social Care
Exam board: Pearson https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/btec-tec-awards/health-and-social-care/2022/specification-and-sample-assessments/btec-tech-award-health-and-social-care-spec.pdf

Coursework: Yes - 60%

Component 1: Human lifespan development
Internal Assessment
Window for assessment: September-December of Year 10

Component 2: Health and social care services and values
Internal Assessment
Window for assessment: January – May of Year 10

Component 3: Health and wellbeing
External Assessment    
Window for assessment: January of Year 11