This vocational qualification helps give pupils the practical knowledge, skills and understanding to care for a range of animals in a variety of settings. The school farm provides a good basis for husbandry tasks, behaviour observation and health checks, supplemented by exotic species in the Biology labs, and visits to animals kept in other settings in our local area. Off site trips and external speakers facilitate a widening and broadening of knowledge and understanding. Within the BTEC syllabus, there is a focus on learning that brings together knowledge and understanding with practical and technical skills. This is achieved through learners performing vocational tasks that encourage the development of appropriate vocational behaviours and transferable skills. These include the ability to learn independently, research actively and methodically, being able to give presentations and participate as active group members. Within the course, pupils prepare for and spend 75 hours on work experience placements in the Animal Care sector, developing valuable employability skills.