GCSE Health and Social Care, and Childcare
This is a writing-heavy GCSE: learners read unseen case studies, apply care-sector terminology and write reasoned judgements across two 12-hour NEAs and an examination with extended answers. Numeracy is limited to one area of Unit 1, reading physiological measurements and interpreting wellbeing statistics, surveys and lifestyle data. The biggest thing Key Stage 3 can build is confident reading of a short case study followed by an organised, evaluative written response that uses the right terms.
- First taught
- September 2026
- Amount of literacy work
- High
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the WJEC specification (PDF)
How this GCSE is assessed
- Unit 1: Health and Social Care, and Childcare in Wales in the 21st Century: Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 40%
- Unit 2: Adult Health and Social Care: Non-examination assessment 12 hours (choice of case studies), 30%
- Unit 3: Childcare: Non-examination assessment 12 hours (case study and investigation), 30%
Skills that use Measurement
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Reading physiological measurements
Learners must understand physiological measurements used as wellbeing indicators, including height, weight, blood pressure, temperature, peak flow, heart rate, pulse and blood sugar, each with its own units.
Numeracy: Measurement, Communicating with symbols
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils take their pulse for 30 seconds, double it to get beats per minute and record it with the correct units.
- Year 8
- Pupils read temperatures from pictures of a digital and a strip thermometer and decide which readings show a fever.
- Year 9
- Pupils read blood pressure and peak flow values from sample records, state the units and say whether each is within a normal range.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 1, Section 1.3.1, page 16
“physiological measurements: height, weight, blood”
Progression step 3
I can read and interpret scales or divisions on a range of measuring instruments.
I can measure and record temperatures involving positive and negative readings.
Progression step 4
I can read and interpret scales on a range of measuring instruments.
I can represent and use compound measures, using standard units.
Progression step 5
I can understand and use a variety of compound measures.
I can use appropriate notation, symbols and units of measurement, including compound measures.
Good to know
- The specification awards no separate marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar and says nothing about calculators; assessment detail is left to the Assessment Pack: "The Assessment Pack will include all detailed information relating to assessment." (page 33).
- Unit 1 is a written examination with extended answers: "Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes" (page 4).
- Both NEAs are 12 hours and must be submitted digitally: "Assessments must be submitted digitally." (page 34).
- Case studies are unseen until the assessment starts, so reading skills cannot be rehearsed on the actual text: "Learners should not have access to the case studies or tasks until the start of the assessment." (page 34).
- Evaluation is heavily weighted: AO3, "Investigate, analyse, and evaluate values, issues and provision in health and social care, and childcare, making reasoned judgements and drawing conclusions.", is 30% of the qualification (page 33).
Links with other GCSEs
Pulse and heart rate work overlaps with fitness testing in Physical Education and Health, and wellbeing statistics link to data handling in Mathematics and Numeracy and Geography.
Source: WJEC GCSE Health and Social Care, and Childcare specification, teaching from 2026, for award from 2028 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2025).