Free Level 3 Health and Social Care Course in St Albans – St Albans Girls’ School

CostFREE
Duration2 years
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryClassroom based
Start1 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyPearson Edexcel awarding body

About this course

Free Level 3 BTEC National in Health and Social Care Course in St Albans. Classes run at St Albans Girls' School. This two-year, full-time daytime course covers both vocational and academic content across the health and social care sector. You'll explore care values, health care services, and the skills needed for roles in healthcare or for progression to university. The course combines internal assessment with externally assessed components.

Who this course is for

Health & Social Care at STAGS provides students with the opportunity to explore a combined vocational and academic pathway, ensuring they have a breadth of knowledge within differing roles and career routes within the sector. We provide a dynamic and vocational study to prepare students for higher education or develop transferable employability skills ready for a role within the healthcare environment. The study of care values and the different health care services supports our students in the development of skills so that they can thrive as educated citizens and can make a positive contribution to society.

The Extended Certificate is for students who are interested in learning about the health and social care sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in health and social care-related subjects. It is designed to be taken as part of a programme of study that includes A Levels.

Entry requirements

Please contact to discuss entry requirements: [email protected]

What you will learn

  • You'll explore the values and principles that underpin health and social care practice.
  • You'll examine the structure and function of different health and social care services.
  • You'll develop knowledge of human development across the life span.
  • You'll study the factors that affect health and wellbeing.
  • You'll build understanding of safeguarding and duty of care in care settings.
  • You'll develop transferable employability skills relevant to healthcare roles.
  • You'll learn how to apply care knowledge in vocational and academic contexts.

How you will learn

You'll learn through classroom-based lessons combining academic study with vocational application. Assessment includes internally assessed assignments and externally assessed examinations. The Pearson Edexcel specification includes 360 guided learning hours. You'll complete coursework units assessed by your centre and sit external assessments set and marked by Pearson Edexcel. First external assessment takes place in 2026.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. St Albans Girls' School will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Care assistant: support adults or older people in care settings.
  • Healthcare support worker: assist clinical staff in NHS or private settings.
  • Social care worker: work with vulnerable adults or children in the community.
  • Mental health support worker: provide day-to-day support in mental health services.
  • Residential support worker: support people living in care homes or supported housing.
  • Early years practitioner: work with young children in nursery or childcare settings.

What you could study next

  • Foundation Degree or BSc in Health and Social Care: the level 3 btec national in health and social care qualification supports direct entry to many university programmes in nursing, social work, and allied health.
  • T Level in Health: a technical alternative if you want a more work-placement-focused Level 3 route.
  • BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) Level 4 in Health and Social Care: a shorter higher education route if a full degree isn't your next step.