BTEC Health & Social Care
AAQ Health and Social Care – from September 2025
The Alternative Academic Qualification (AAQ) is designed for post-16 students with an interest in health and social care and aims to progress to higher education as a route to graduate level employment. Equivalent to one A Level, it is suitable for students looking to develop their applied knowledge and skills in health and social care alongside two A Levels.
The qualification has been developed in consultation with higher education representatives to ensure students have the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to progress, and thrive, in higher education.
Content
AAQ Health and Social Care Students:
- Take responsibility for their own learning
- Develop interpersonal and practical thinking skills
- Have a strong core base of knowledge
- Have real experience of effective teamwork
- Know how to work to a brief with set deadlines
- Efficiently manage time to complete tasks and processes
Assessment
Assessment is specifically designed to fit the purpose and objective of the qualification. It includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications in the sector. There are three main forms of assessment that you need to be aware of: external, internal and synoptic.
External – Exam
Internal – Pearson set written assignment
Synoptic - Requires students to demonstrate that they can identify and use effectively, in an integrated way, an appropriate selection of skills, techniques, concepts, theories and knowledge from across the whole sector as relevant to a key task.
The qualification has three mandatory units and 1 optional unit, covering the following topics:
- Human Lifespan and Development – PIES (Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social) and factors affecting growth and development, interventions and the different professionals providing care and treatment. External Exam.
- Human Biology and Health – Human body structure and systems, normal physiological functioning and the impact of common disorders. External Exam.
- Health and Social Care Practice – Core principles, values and legislation that underpin and influence health and social care, and the effect of social determinants on an individual's health status. Internal Assessment.
Students have a choice of four optional units covering the following topics:
Health, Social Policy and Wellbeing – Public health policy and its influences, including health-related organisations/groups and a range of strategic factors. Internal Assessment.
Promoting Health Education – Health education, its purpose and use of different approaches and models to achieve positive health outcomes. Internal Assessment.
Safe Environments in Health and Social Care – Appropriate provisions in services relevant to different needs; governance relating to safe environments. Internal Assessment.
Health Science – Types of infections and their potential impact on a local, national and international scale. Internal Assessment.
Entry Requirements
Please refer to The John of Gaunt Sixth Form entry requirements.
Moving On
Health and Social Care is a widely recognised qualification enabling access to a variety of courses in higher education, e.g. nursing, midwifery, teaching, social work etc. Students can also seek employment in the care and early years sectors.
