Level 3 Health & Social Care, V Level Education & A Level Psychology

This study programme combines AAQ Health and Social Care, A level Psychology and V level Education, giving you a strong foundation in understanding human behaviour, education, development, health and care practice.

Health & Social Care develops your understanding of human growth, health conditions, biology, care values, safeguarding and person‑centred practice.

Psychology focuses on how people think, feel and behave, exploring memory, social influence, attachment, mental health and scientific research methods.

V level Education enables students to develop and apply knowledge, understanding and skills in education practice. It supports students to plan effective and inclusive learning and to evaluate assessment information across a range of education stages, to ensure all students are able to maximise their learning.

This combined pathway offers:

• An engaging introduction to psychology, health, wellbeing and professional care practice.
• Skills valued by employers and universities, including critical analysis, communication, research, empathy and problem‑solving.
• Applied, practical learning shaped by sector experts and aligned with real health & care environments.

The content provides a broad level 3 foundation that supports progression to further study and apprenticeships. This route is ideal for students interested in people‑focused careers where understanding behaviour, development and care are central.

Through AAQ Health & Social Care, you will explore human lifespan development, health and wellbeing, biological functioning, and health conditions such as diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD) and dementia. You'll also develop an understanding of care values, communication, safeguarding, equality, diversity, legislation and person-centred practice that underpin effective health and social care services.

Through A Level Psychology, you will explore the science of human behaviour and the factors that influence how we think, feel and act. Topics include social influence and obedience, memory and forgetting, attachment and early relationships, biological, cognitive and behaviourist approaches, mental health conditions such as phobias, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), alongside research methods and data analysis.

Through V Level Education, you will develop an understanding of learning, teaching and inclusive educational practice. You will explore pedagogical approaches and the theories that underpin them, setting learning goals and success criteria, inclusion within the education and early years sector, reflective practice, and planning effective learning sessions that support all learners.

Throughout the programme, you will develop a range of valuable academic, professional and transferable skills, including critical thinking and problem solving, academic writing and research skills, communication and interpersonal skills, understanding health inequalities, working with vulnerable individuals and groups, decision-making within care and education settings, and planning inclusive learning experiences.

Possible higher education degree routes include:

• Psychology
• Nursing (Adult, Child, Mental Health, Learning Disability)
• Social Work
• Health & Social Care
• Occupational therapy
• Paramedic
• Midwifery
• Counselling
• Policing & Criminology
• Education & Teaching
• Early Years/ primary/ secondary teaching
• Early childhood studies

Career opportunities:

• Healthcare support roles
• Mental health support
• Community care work
• Youth & family support
• Research assistant roles
• Classroom or learning support roles
• Teaching assistant

Throughout the year we welcome guest speakers to the college from people who work in the industries that you may wish to go in to. We have links with universities and visit many campuses to attend taster sessions for the next steps.

You will be allocated a progress coach who will provide you with support to help you succeed on your study programme and progress on to your chosen career or progression path. We have a team of staff dedicated to providing learning support if required, as well as a Welfare Team that is on hand to offer guidance, support and help when needed. Additionally, eligible students can access a wide range of finance and funding support to help them during their time at college.

Click here for learning support: https://wvr.ac.uk/college-life/learning-support

• You will benefit from experienced tutors from sociology, education, early years and health and care sectors.
• Strong employer and university links.
• A supportive, inclusive learning environment.
• Facilities including realistic care environments and digital resources.
• High academic standards and tailored pastoral support.

You will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English, maths and science. Alternatively, you will have achieved a minimum grade merit in a level 2 course and have GCSE English, maths and science at grade 4 or above.

There will be additional costs which will be communicated to you where appropriate, by your teacher. This will include:

• Uniforms
• Textbook
• Industry related trips.