Case studies

I have eight areas of Principal Learning, covering health, safety and development. I’ll be looking at how lifestyles affect people’s health, human growth and development, and loads more.

There is a lot of variety in this course. I’ll get to work on a project I choose, as well as doing work experience. This will be a really good chance for me to see what a job in care might be like.

For the Additional Specialist Learning bit, I’ve chosen to do a GCSE in PE so that I could keep fit. I love sports and I care about my own health.

Work Experience will be in an old people’s home. I’ll get to see what the job involves, plus I can make a difference whilst I’m there.

Working there will also help me with my project. I want to see what kind of help old people with illnesses get - especially people with things like dementia - and find out what illnesses are cared for the most and why.

I’ll probably work up to a Higher Diploma and do some specialist learning in the areas I enjoy most. Maybe then I’ll do some more study or look at getting a job with training.

This case study is an illustration of how and why a student might decide to do a Diploma; it does not refer to a real individual. To talk through your own specific study or career goals, you can seek further advice and check local availability with your teacher or Connexions Adviser.

For the Principal Learning, we’ll look at six areas like finding out about working together, good communication, keeping people safe, personal development and loads more. I’ll get to show how organised I can be and it will definitely help to open some doors.

Because I’m so interested in it, I’m taking a Level 3 BTEC Certificate in Management as one of my Additional and Specialist Learning choices.

My work experience placement is two weeks in a large doctor’s surgery. They are starting a new clinic all about diet and nutrition and I’m going to be designing a new record-keeping system. I’ll also be helping with the administration, making appointments and speaking to the local hospital, hospice and pharmacy.

I’m writing an essay for my project about what palliative care is and how hospitals, hospices and everyone else works together to support people who are dying. Researching this will mean I can compare what I find out in the UK to care in other countries.

I think I want to do a management role in a hospital. But before I go and do a degree or something, I want to start working in the sector to get a better idea of what the job would involve. I’ll probably go to university when I’m older.

This case study is an illustration of how and why a student might decide to do a Diploma; it does not refer to a real individual. To talk through your own specific study or career goals, you can seek further advice and check local availability with your teacher or Connexions Adviser.

The Principal Learning covers six areas. I’ll find out about all the different sectors, partnership working, sharing information and how principles and values are used by people who work in the industry.

I’m also doing a GCE AS in Health and Social Care and one in Biology and Human Biology. This makes up the Additional and Specialist Learning part of my Diploma course, where I get to choose to do subjects that I’m interested in.

I can’t wait to do work experience. I’m spending two weeks in a nursery and the other two weeks with the probation service. I like the idea of working in community justice and trying to help young people that have got themselves into trouble. Making a difference is something I find really rewarding, so this part of the Diploma will be fun and I’ll learn a lot.

I already know a bit about working with nursery children from previous school work. I think I’m going to do my project on how three year olds use outdoor equipment and space. I want to use the findings to plan an adventure playground suitable for that age group.

I might look at what job opportunities there are to work with children in the probation service. I know there is a Level 3 NVQ in Community and Youth Justice, so maybe I’ll go on to try that. Or even better, I could do that as part of an Advanced Apprenticeship in community justice.

This case study is an illustration of how and why a student might decide to do a Diploma; it does not refer to a real individual. To talk through your own specific study or career goals, you can seek further advice and check local availability with your teacher or Connexions Adviser.