Specification:

Level 3 AAQ BTEC National in Health and Social Care (from September 2025)

Qualification type:

BTEC Qualification, equivalent to A Level

Entry criteria (GCSE grades):

If Health & Social Care has been studied a Merit (or equivalent), if it was not studied a 4 in English Language is necessary.

Subject description:

This course is offered in Year 12 and is a two year course. The AAQ is equivalent to one A level qualification. This qualification is made up of four units. Two are internally assessed coursework units and two are external exams. The topics covered in this course are human lifespan development, health promotion, human biology and health and principles of health and social care practice. Through studying this qualification you will gain the important knowledge,  understanding and skills that are foundations for further work or study in this area.

Year 12

Unit 1 Human Lifespan Development- external assessment  

Unit 5 Promoting Health Education - coursework

Year 13

Unit 2 Human Biology and Health – external assessment

Unit 3 Principles of Health and Social Care Practice – coursework

How is the qualification assessed?

A combination of portfolio and external assessment is used, with external examiners verifying the quality of the internal portfolio assignments.  There are two external examinations, one in each year, which total 58% of the final grade.  The internal portfolio assignments are mostly completed within lesson time, allowing students to be supported in finishing them to the best of their ability.  The overall grading is either Distinction, Merit or Pass level which each have an equivalent A Level grade and UCAS points.

Post-18 opportunities

Further studies in Higher Education on such courses as Social Work, Criminology, Midwifery, Clinical Psychology, Radiography, Nursery, Mental Health or Adult Nursing, are all possible routes to take. Apprenticeships within the Health & Social Care are also popular choices.

Teacher responsible: Ms R Scales