Curriculum vision:

Our Health and Social Care curriculum is designed to develop knowledgeable, compassionate and reflective individuals who understand the importance of supporting others and improving lives. We deliver a knowledge-rich and vocationally relevant curriculum that prepares students for both higher education and future employment in the care sector. Students gain a deep understanding of human development, health conditions, professional roles, legislation and ethical practice. Academic rigour is central to the course, with students learning to research, interpret and apply knowledge to real-life scenarios and case studies.

How is Health and Social Care taught at SJBC?

Health and Social Care at SJBC is taught through a carefully sequenced, applied curriculum that combines academic challenge with practical relevance. Each unit is planned to build knowledge cumulatively, with regular opportunities for students to apply learning to realistic scenarios and service user case studies.

Lessons are structured to support deep understanding of key concepts such as human development, health and wellbeing, care values, and the roles and responsibilities of professionals. Assessment is purposeful and ongoing, with a mix of internal assignment briefs and external examinations. Teachers provide regular feedback, and students are supported to reflect, improve and work towards mastery in both knowledge and coursework execution.

What homework will students do in Health and Social Care?

Homework is structured around our three-strand approach: Pre-learning, Application, and Consolidation. Sixth form students are also required to undertake 5-7 hours of independent learning per week.

• Pre-learning may involve researching service providers, reading case study information, watching care-related documentaries, or familiarising themselves with professional standards or legislation.
• Application tasks include completing assignment planning, applying theories to scenarios, analysing case studies, and practising essay questions for written exams.

Consolidation tasks help embed key knowledge through revision cards, knowledge organisers, quizzes, and completing reflection logs or review tasks based on feedback.

How are wider skills – e.g. literacy, oracy, numeracy and independent research – delivered through Health and Social Care?

Health and Social Care is rich in opportunities to develop the wider skills students need for success in education, work and life:

• Literacy: Students regularly produce extended written assignments, using formal academic language, correct referencing, and specialist health and social care terminology.
• Oracy: Verbal communication is embedded through scenario discussions, role-plays, group debates and presentations.
• Numeracy: Numeracy is applied in the context of interpreting health data, analysing care costs or looking at demographic statistics.

Independent Research: Students are expected to carry out research to support their coursework and deepen their knowledge of real-world practice.