Health and Social Care
For more curricular information contact info@clwacademy.org.uk
Curriculum intent
The Level 3 AAQ in Health and Social Care is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values required for progression into higher education, apprenticeships, or employment within the health and social care sector. The curriculum provides a coherent and progressive learning journey that develops students’ understanding of human development, health, wellbeing, and care across the life stages. Students explore how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health outcomes, while gaining insight into the roles, responsibilities, and values of health and social care professionals.
A strong emphasis is placed on applied learning, enabling students to connect theory to real-world practice. Through case studies, practical activities, and assessment tasks, learners develop essential skills including communication, empathy, problem-solving, research, and reflective practice. Ethical awareness, equality, diversity, and safeguarding are embedded throughout the curriculum to ensure students understand the professional standards expected within care settings.
The qualification supports students to become confident, independent learners who can analyse information, evaluate care practices, and make informed decisions that promote positive outcomes for individuals and communities. Students are encouraged to develop resilience, professionalism, and a commitment to social responsibility, preparing them to meet the demands of further study and the evolving health and social care sector.
By the end of the course, students will have a strong foundation of subject knowledge, practical skills, and professional behaviours, enabling successful progression into careers such as nursing, social work, midwifery, paramedic science, education, youth work, and other related pathways.
| Pedagogy | Enrichment | Other General Principles |
| Teaching is delivered through a topic-based, applied approach that develops secure knowledge of health, wellbeing, and care practice, alongside a spiral development of AAQ skills including research, analysis, evaluation, and professional communication. High-quality teacher instruction and modelling support students to apply knowledge to vocational contexts, respond to assessment briefs, and demonstrate understanding through both internal and external assessment tasks, in line with AAQ assessment objectives. Assessment is formative and summative, with clear feedback that addresses misconceptions and informs future learning. End-of-unit assessments and assessment preparation are followed by timely intervention to support progress and achievement | A wide range of enrichment opportunities enhances learning and helps students develop confidence, empathy, and professional understanding: Interview opportunities with adults in and beyond the school community, allowing students to explore individual life experiences and gain insight into how needs change across the life stages; Educational visits to care homes and primary care settings, providing first-hand experience of care environments and helping students link classroom learning to professional practice; Guest speakers from the health and social care sector, including professionals from a range of roles, who share their experiences, responsibilities, and career pathways. These opportunities support students in developing communication skills, ethical awareness, and a realistic understanding of working in health and social care. | The curriculum will enable students to: Learn through a coherent and progressive approach to health and social care, allowing key knowledge and skills related to human development, health, wellbeing, and care practice to be revisited and consolidated while supporting personalised progression; Develop new subject-specific skills and understanding through a range of engaging, applied contexts, including real-life case studies, care settings, and contemporary health and social care issues; Build a broad range of practical and analytical skills aligned to AAQ requirements, including research, data handling, assessment of care needs, evaluation of care practices, and enquiry-based learning; Enhance their social, ethical, and professional understanding, enabling them to make reasoned, evidence-based judgements about care provision, equality, diversity, safeguarding, and key issues affecting individuals and communities. |