Gemma

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Gemma
Gemma did not really know what she wanted to do
in key stage 4. She really liked the idea of
being able to concentrate on something for a
reasonable proportion of her time, so she chose a
Foundation Diploma in society, health and
development rather than a GCSE course including
childcare, which was her other interest. In Year
10 she became more engaged in learning,
responding well to applied learning. She
completed the principal learning units at the end
of that year and began to work on the principal
learning and project for a Higher Diploma.
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Gemma Foundation Diploma in society, health and
development
additional and specialist learning 120 GLH
principal learning 420 GLH
generic learning 200 GLH
8 mandatory units
functional skills (80 GLH)
GCSE in PE (120 GLH)

• An introduction to society, health and
  development
• An introduction to principles and values
• An introduction to partnership working in
  society, health and development
• Communication and information sharing in society,
  health and development
• Working safely to protect individuals across the
  society, health and development sectors
• How does lifestyle affect the health and
  wellbeing of individuals?
• Addressing the needs of individuals
• Human growth and development

project (60 GLH)
minimum 10 days work experience
personal, learning and thinking skills (60 GLH)
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General KS4 courses
Work experience
Project
As a result of her experience in the care home,
Gemma decided to investigate whether access to
adult social care service provision and support
is equal between different groups of the over
65s. In particular, she focused on residents with
dementia and those with motor difficulties. She
found that there has been lots of recent press on
the difficulties for those with dementia, so she
used much of that information in the presentation
she made for her assessment.
English GCSE Maths GCSE Science GCSE Citizenship
GCSE (short course) PE GCSE
This aspect of Gemmas course was organised by a
work-based learning provider, which placed her in
several different environments during year 10 (a
day a week during term 2). Her block placement in
year 11 (2 weeks) was in a local residential care
home where her bubbly personality went down well
with the residents. She got to know two of the
female residents well and took care of simple
personal needs (e.g.hair brushing and helping at
mealtimes etc.) and planning social activities.
Progression route By the end of Year 11 Gemma
had completed four units of her Higher Diploma,
and her level 2 project. Her other subjects had
benefited from her improved motivation and she
had achieved English and PE GCSEs at grade C. She
plans to stay on in Year 12 to complete her
Diploma, including some specialist learning.
Then she can decide whether to progress to an
Advanced Diploma or to take up a job with
continuing training.
AND... principal learning functional skills
personal, learning and thinking skills ASL
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