“Animal protection is education to humanity.” – Albert Schweitzer
For Year 11: Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Animal Care
The aim of the this course is to:
- inspire and enthuse our pupils in order for them to consider a career in the animal care sector
- give our pupils the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge and understanding of, and develop skills in, the animal care sector
- support progression into specialised Level 3 qualifications in animal management, or progression into an Apprenticeship
- give our pupils the potential opportunity, in due course, to enter employment within a wide range of job roles.
This course includes visits to local farms and zoos, we also invite in visiting speakers and provide multiple animal handling experiences for the pupils.
This qualification is taught over 120 guided learning hours (GLH). It has core and optional specialist units. These units will include:
- 2 core units (totalling 60 GLH)
- 2 optional specialist units (totalling 60 GLH).
This BTEC First Award has units that your centre assesses (internal) and a unit that Pearson sets and marks (external). Our year 11s will be completing units 1,2,3 and 5.
| Unit |
Core Units |
Assessment Method |
GLH |
| 1 |
Animal Health |
External |
30 |
| 2 |
Animal Handling |
Internal |
30 |
|
Optional Specialist Units |
| 3 |
Animal welfare |
Internal |
30 |
| 4 |
Animal Housing and Accommodation |
Internal |
30 |
| 5 |
Principles of Animal Behaviour |
Internal |
30 |
For Year 10: Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Animal Care
This course at Sharples school is on offer to our pupils who want to acquire sector-specific applied knowledge and practical skills through vocational contexts by studying animal health and welfare, including signs of good and ill health, causes, transmission and treatment of common diseases in animals, the different health and monitoring checks, factors that affect animal behaviour, and how this impacts of handling and restraint; and what needs to be carried out to prepare, check and clean out animal accommodation as part of their Key Stage 4 learning.
The qualification enables our pupils to develop their practical skills, such as using appropriate equipment and techniques to handle and restrain different animals, and to prepare and clean out animal accommodation ready for use using realistic vocational contexts. We will also work to develop personal skills, such as self-management and communication, through a practical and skills-based approach to learning and assessment. The qualification recognises the value of learning skills, knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs. The qualification will broaden our pupils’ experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them
The Tech Award gives our pupils the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment. Our pupils will have the opportunity to develop knowledge and practical skills in the following areas:
- animal health and welfare, including signs of good and ill health, causes, transmission and treatment of common diseases in animals, the different health and monitoring checks, and the use of animals in society
- factors affecting animal behaviour, the impact on handling and restraint, and when it is safe and unsafe to handle and restrain animals, and the practical application of safe handling and restraint techniques and equipment
- features that need to be considered when selecting accommodation for animals to ensure it is appropriate and meets their needs, and the practical activities of preparing, checking and cleaning out animal accommodation using the appropriate equipment.
Pupils are required to complete and achieve all three components in the qualification.
| Component Number |
Component Title |
GLH |
Level |
How Assessed |
| 1 |
Animal Handling |
36 |
1/2 |
Internal |
| 2 |
Animal Housing and Accommodation |
36 |
1/2 |
Internal |
| 3 |
Animal Health and Welfare |
48 |
1/2 |
External Synoptic |
What can both qualifications lead to Post 16?
Study of the qualification as part of Key Stage 4 learning will help our pupils to make more informed choices for further learning, either generally or in the animal care sector.
They might consider progression to:
- A Levels as preparation for entry to higher education in a range of subjects
- other Level 2 vocational qualifications and related competence-based qualifications for the land-based sector ● study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a Pearson BTEC Level 3 National in Animal Management, which prepares them to enter employment or apprenticeships.
S.Booth
Teacher of Animal Care
s.booth@sharplesschool.co.uk
