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 Vocabulary, spelling, grammar
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Using care-sector vocabulary accurately
Learners must understand and use precise terms for principles, values, legislation and roles, such as person-centred, advocacy, active participation and safeguarding.
Literacy: Vocabulary, spelling, grammar
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils learn and spell the five life stages and their age ranges, then use each in a sentence about a family member.
- Year 8
- Pupils build a glossary of care terms such as empathy, dignity and advocacy, with a definition and an everyday example for each.
- Year 9
- Pupils rewrite a vague paragraph about caring for a resident so that it uses person-centred, active participation and safeguarding correctly.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 1, Section 1.2.2, page 14
“person-centred approaches: learners should understand”
Progression step 3
I can use varied, appropriate and precise vocabulary including area of learning and experience/discipline-specific words for different purposes.
I can use strategies to correctly spell polysyllabic, complex and irregular words in the context of each area of learning and experience.
Progression step 4
I have experienced a range of area of learning and experience/discipline-specific and general academic vocabulary, and can use them in my own communication.
I can use a variety of strategies and resources to spell familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary and area of learning and experience/discipline-specific words correctly.
Progression step 5
I can use a range of discipline-specific and general academic vocabulary accurately and precisely.
I can use strategies to spell discipline-specific and general academic words in appropriate contexts.
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).