• Ms A Rutherford (Head of Department)
• Mrs A Davidson
• Mrs C Snelgar

Our aim is for all students to strive for personal excellence and demonstrate a commitment to learning as they fulfil their potential. We aim to provide an environment, which is fully inclusive, where every student is valued for who they are and who they can become.
Our courses give students the knowledge and skills needed by someone considering working with people in a Child, Health and Social care provision capacity. We have a successful history of giving our students the qualifications they need to become successful in jobs in the Child, Health and Social Care sector such as teaching, early education, social work, nursing, midwifery, paramedic science and many more.
The vision of the Department is to enhance the student as a person through confidence building and a positive ‘can do’ attitude. We want students who choose to take our subjects to become confident young people who make a positive contribution to their community, and society as whole.
Our approach to teaching and learning supports the specialist vocational nature of the subject. Teaching gives a balance of practical skill development and knowledge requirements. It covers the knowledge, skills and values within the discipline of Early Childhood studies and Health and Social Care.
Students will develop academic knowledge and its application to practice, applying their learning to actual events and activities within the sector. Students examine and discuss media articles that highlight developments in sector, and examples of good practice. Student reflection is also encouraged, an essential skill for working in this sector.
The subject consists of many planned experiences in school and out: lessons, topic days, assemblies, clubs, trips and visits, workshops, residential visits, fundraising, and community work.  Outcomes are designed to develop the skills needed for learning and for life and to develop cultural capital and appreciation of their chosen subjects beyond assessment.
The delivery of this subject is enriched and extended by the use of, for example:

• Case study materials
• Visits to local settings
• Inviting service users or contacts to come to speak about working in the sector or their experiences of using services
• Local employers discussing particular case studies and real-life experiences, related to the units within the qualification
• Simulated activities to illustrate examples of good and poor practice, such as the effective or ineffective application of communication skills within child, health and social care scenarios.

To find out what we are learning about and why, please see the appropriate curriculum map:

Coming Soon.

Our approach to teaching and learning supports the specialist vocational nature of the subject. Teaching gives a balance of practical skill development and knowledge requirements. It covers the knowledge, skills and values within the discipline of Early Childhood studies and Health and Social Care. Students will develop academic knowledge and its application to practice, applying their learning to actual events and activities within the sector. Students examine and discuss media articles that highlight developments in sector, and examples of good practice. Student reflection is also encouraged, which is an essential skill for working in a child, health and social care sector.
The subject consists of many planned experiences in school and out: lessons, topic days, assemblies, clubs, trips and visits, workshops, residential visits, fund raising, and community work. Outcomes are designed to develop the skills needed for learning and for life and to develop cultural capital and appreciation of their chosen subjects beyond assessment.
The delivery of this subject is enriched and extended by the use of:
• Case study materials
• Visits to local settings
• Inviting service users or contacts to come to speak about either what it is like to work in the sector or their experiences of using services
• Local employers discussing particular case studies and real-life experiences, related to the units within the qualification
• Simulated activities to illustrate examples of good and poor practice, such as the effective or ineffective application of communication skills within health and social care scenarios.

Students are actively involved in placements throughout the year and working with the community both in Key Stage 4 and 5. Events that include visits to settings including Bendrigg Outdoor Centre and speakers from the health professions as well as hosting a coffee morning for grandparents are an essential part of the course. The department also runs a culture club for key stage 3 students at lunchtime.

The very nature of Health & Social Care is career learning in its own right. The subject is relatable and relevant to everyday and working life, with real-life contexts and examples from the sector. Careers Education begins in KS4 where students learn about the job opportunities within the sector. Students research the different professionals and the roles they have across the sector, as well as learn about the skills, qualities, human values and qualifications required.
In KS5, students are given the opportunity to develop their career thinking and to acquire important career management and employability skills. The Department has excellent links with many workplaces within our local and wider community. The aim of these industry links is to support students gain a greater understanding of work-based requirements of different job roles but also to gain practical work placement experience. Students have integrated work placement opportunities including residential care homes, hospitals, schools and shadowing health professionals.
All students have the opportunity to join in cultural events and external learning opportunities which provide opportunities to complement formal careers.