Department of Public Services

Qualification BTEC FIRST DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC SERVICES (UNIFORMED)

This is a two-year course offered to Year 10 students. It is made up of six units.

During the course students will have the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities, attend army training days, listen to guest speakers from different Public Services and undertake team work exercises.

The course aims to give students an introduction to the skills and knowledge required for successful employment in Public Services. The units that are covered at this level are

• Unit 1 Uniformed Public Services Employment
• Unit 2 Public Service Skills
• Unit 3 Uniformed Public Service Fitness
• Unit 5 Public Service Workplace Welfare
• Unit 6 Adventurous Activities and Teamwork for the Public Services
• Unit 8 Land Navigation by Map and Compass

Qualification BTEC FIRST DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC SERVICES (UNIFORMED)

This is a one-year course offered year 12 students returning to school after their GCSE examinations, who are unable to continue with A level (GCE) courses.

Students will follow the same units as the two-year course studied by year 10.

ASSESSMENT OF UNITS OF WORK: FIRST DIPLOMA

The workis continuously assessed through projects, presentations and practical work realted to the public service. Grades of pass, merit, distinction and distinction* are awarded, depending on the quality of work produced.

BTEC First Diplomas attract points for the DSCF School and College Achievemnt and Attainment Tables (formerly Performance Tables). The qualification attracts the same points as four GCSEs at A*-C, and contributes 80 per cent towards the threshold. for the detailed point scores for a pass, merit, distinction, and distinction*, please see the National Database of Accredited Qualifications.

Qualification BTEC NATIONALS IN PUBLIC SERVICES (UNIFORMED)

This is a two year course. The qualifications are divided up into blocks of 6 units, each equivalent to one A level.

Students can study 6 units, which leads to the BTEC NATIONAL AWARD IN PUBLIC SERVICES, or 12 units, which lead to the BTEC NATIONAL CERTIFICATE in Public Services.

This course is designed to equip students with the skills, understanding and knowledge required for successful employment in the uniformed public services such as the Armed Forces, the Police Force and various emergency services. The course is made up of a range of units that are a mix of both theory and practical work. Some of the units that could be covered include:-

• Government, Policies and the Public Services
• Team Leadership in the Uniformed Public Services
• Citizenship, Contemporary Society and Public Services
• Team Development in Public Services
• Understanding Discipline within the Uniformed Public Services
• Physical Preparation and Fitness for the Uniformed Public Services
• Outdoor and Adventurous Expedition
• Uniformed Public Services Employment

ASSESSMENT OF UNITS OF WORK

The work is continuously assessed through projects, presentations and practical work related to the public service. Grades of pass, merit and distinction are awarded depending on the quality of the work produced.

A pass grade equals 6 points
A merit grade equals 12 points
A distinction grade equals 18 points

Grade boundaries and UCAS points (as of 1st January 2007)