BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Animal Management

General information

The 60-credit BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma extends and deepens the specialist work related focus from the BTEC Level 3 Diploma. On successful completion of the qualification, learners are prepared for appropriate direct employment in the vocational sector and it is suitable for those who have decided that they clearly wish to enter a particular specialist area of work. It is broadly equivalent to one GCE A Level.

The Level 3 Subsidiary diploma is designed to provide a work-related qualification in a range of animal related sectors. They prepare the individual for employment and provide career development for those already in work. It provides opportunity for learners to gain a nationally recognised vocational qualification that can also allow them to progress onto higher education with additional credits and qualifications and study courses such as an Extended Diploma in Animal Management.

Course content

• Qualification credit value: a minimum of 60 credits
• Minimum credit to be achieved at, or above, the level of the qualification: 45 credits
• Mandatory unit credit: 10 credits
• Optional unit credit: 50 credits
• A maximum of 10 optional credits can come from pother QCF BTEC units to meet local needs
• There are 16 contact hours of teaching per week over three days. There is additionally one study day.

Core units are:

• Understand and Promote Animal Health

Some specialist units are:

• Business Management in the Land based Sector
• Understand the Principles of Animal Nutrition
• Understand and Interpret Animal Behaviour and Communication
• Understand Animal Welfare and Breed Development

Teaching and assessment

All units are assessed and graded against specified criteria and then an overall grade for the qualification is awarded. Methods include; presentations, leaflets, assignments, essays, experiment write ups, posters, information sheets, question sheets, work sheets, quizzes and tests, practical observations and more. The methods employed will include: written essays, presentations, practical demonstrations, husbandry with the animals, work sheets, mini assessments and together these combine a portfolio of evidence.

All students will study functional skills in personal development classes. These are assessed as a free standing qualification but embedded into a course. As such they can gain separate recognition for this.

Entry requirements

4 GCSEs A*-C, including English, maths and science, or a BTEC Full Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care (Merit).

Additional course costs

• Due to the nature of the course ALL animal care students are required to pay £52 (subject to change) for personal protective equipment, which includes steel toe cap boots, lab coat, a Bromley College Animal Care t shirt and waterproof jacket. Please note that boots do not need to be purchased through the College and this will result in a reduction in the above cost.
• 'Bromley College Animal Care' hooded tops may also be purchased at an addition cost of £20, but this is not compulsory.
• Lockers are available for a deposit of £5, which is refunded once the locker key is returned.
• There may also be additional charges for educational visits but these can be paid through installments.

Progression

Types of work include: Veterinary nursing, zoo keeping, animal rehabilitation, animal behaviour, carry out research, teaching. Alternatively students may wish to study an HNC/HND in a related subject, for example Zoology, marine biology and animal behaviour.