Exam Board: Pearson
The animal care sector is developing rapidly from a low-grade, largely manual sector into a service industry meeting the broad demands of the animal-owning and interested public. In 2019 the animal care sector is worth approximately £1 billion to the UK economy. This sector has 20,000 businesses, 78,000 employees and many volunteers. There are many different career paths and opportunities for those wishing to work in animal care. The animals involved can be small or large, domesticated or exotic, and the work can be in sub-sector areas such as animal welfare, business, science and wildlife conservation.
Study of this sector at Key Stage 4 will complement GCSE study through providing an opportunity for practical application alongside conceptual study. There are also strong opportunities for post-16 progression in this vital sector.
The units included within this qualification:
Component 1: Animal Handling - Learners will develop their animal handling skills. They will also gain understanding of the principles of animal behaviour, enabling them to handle and restrain animals safely.
Component 2: Animal Housing and Accommodation - Learners will develop their understanding of the accommodation and housing requirements of animals by carrying out the preparation, checking and cleaning out of animal accommodation
Component 3: Animal Health and Welfare - Component 3 covers all aspects of animal health and welfare and will equip learners with a good understanding of the relationship between looking after the wellbeing of the animal and the effect this has on maintaining animal strength and vigour. The component also gives an understanding of how animals are used in society and how they are protected by legislation.
Component 1: Animal Handling: 3 internally assessed assignments (60 marks total).
Component 2: Animal Housing and Accommodation: 4 internally assessed assignments (60 marks total).
Component 3: Animal Health and Welfare: 1 hour externally assessed exam.
Learners who generally achieve at Level 2 across their Key Stage 4 learning might consider progression to:
● A Levels as preparation for entry to higher education in a range of subjects
● other Level 2 vocational qualifications and related competence-based qualifications for the land-based sector
● study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a Pearson BTEC Level 3 National in Animal Management, which prepares learners to enter employment or apprenticeships.
This can lead to job roles such as a dog groomer, animal welfare officer, zoo keeper.
A job in the Animal Care industry could take you to work in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, America or the rest of the world.