Animal Care - Level 3

• 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C and above including English and a science subject
• OR a Merit in Level 2 Technical Certificate in Animal Care
• A successful interview and reference.

Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Animal Management

• Merit or above from Level 3 Year 1
• Successful interview
• Merit in Biology - desirable.

Upon successful completion of this course, you'll receive a Level 3 Animal Management Technical Extended Diploma.

This combined two-year course is the equivalent of three A Levels.

• Practical experience with small animals and running animal estates
• Animal biology
• Animal behaviour and communication
• Legislation on animal management
• Health and Safety
• Animal health, husbandry and nutrition.

• Practical sessions
• Theory classes

All practical and theory learning will take place at West Midlands Safari Park over three days per week. Mucking out the animals is still a thing, there's no escaping it!

A minimum of 18 hours will be spent each week studying for this course.

• Assessments, both written and practical
• Externally set exams
• Practical assessments.

Moderation will be externally assessed by City & Guilds.

As part of this qualification, you'll be taking part in 150 days of work experience. This placement must have an animal focus, such as at a veterinary practice, with a dog groomer or in an animal collection.

If you're aged 16-18 and haven't achieved a GCSE grade 4/C in English and maths, you'll need to take English and maths classes alongside your programme of study.

English will be included in written assessments and presentations.

Maths will be included in the weighing of food and calculating the nutritional requirements of various animals.

Tutorial is a program of essential topics affecting you as a potential employee and member of a community. You will cover topics to improve employability skills, mental fitness (both for you and those around you) and much more. It is an essential part of your personal development.

As part of you weekly timetable, you will be expected to take part in Tutorial. This consists of a 1-1 meeting (at least 3 a year) and Personal Development activities that develop you both personally and professionally. Part of the focus is to raise digital Standards and take part in Employer Engagement Activities such as guest speakers, logging Work Experience and in person and online networking.

We work with Student Experience, Careers and your Curriculum team to ensure your Tutorial elements link to your industry area and to create opportunities to develop key skills for profile raising as well as enabling you to create competitive applications and CVs.

Tutorial is also an opportunity to check in with you as part of a group and individually. You can discuss any issues you might be having that affect your learning and essentially identify strategies and support available to you.

Upon successful completion of this course, you could progress onto our Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Animal Management at Kidderminster College.

Alternatively, you can apply for a university degree in Biology, Zoology or Animal Behaviour and Welfare at a variety of higher education institutions.