Bitesize courses: Diabetes and Heart Disease

Biology – Bitesize courses: Diabetes and Heart Disease

Course aim

This course is for any learner who is interested in science and understanding how the human body works.

Attending the course will help enhance your knowledge of key functions associated with the human body and the highlight the dangers of homeostatic imbalance.

Course length and duration

One 2 ½ - hour session

Course content

The main topics that will be touched on in this course are: types of diabetes, the effect of high blood sugar on the body and the cause and treatment of heart disease.

• Why is a high sugar diet bad for our body?
• What are the risk factors for heart disease?
• How can we change our lifestyle to lower the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease?

Entry requirements

Anyone who is interested in studying Biology related subjects can enroll onto the Biology Taster course without an initial assessment.

Learning strategies

The course will be delivered through distance learning. You will be required to join online sessions and complete online tasks and assessments. In order to develop further, you may be given work to complete outside of the class hours.

Exams

There will be no formal exam at the end of this course, but there will be some informal assessments to check your understanding of the topics.

Other information

Completion of this course will not lead to an automatic entry into GCSE Biology.

GCSE Biology Taster

Biology – GCSE Taster

Course aim

This course is for any learner who is considering starting Biology GCSE in September. The aim of the course is to provide a taste of some fundamental topics covered in GCSE Biology.

Course length and duration

The course will be run over 3 weeks (one 2 ½ - hour session each week). To make the most of this course you will need to attend each session.

Course content

The main topics that will be touched on in this course are: Cells, the digestive system, and microorganisms

• What is a cell? How to cells work together to carry out essential functions and processes?
• The function of the digestive system is digestion and absorption. How do we access the minerals and nutrients found in food?
• There are four main types of pathogen: viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protest. Learn how viruses use their host organism to reproduction and how the body defends itself from these invading microorganisms.

Entry requirements

Anyone who is interested in studying GCSE Biology from September 2022 can enroll onto the GCSE Biology Taster course without an initial assessment.

Learning strategies

The course will be delivered through distance learning. You will be required to join online sessions and complete online tasks and assessments. In order to develop further, you may be given work to complete outside of the class hours.

Exams

There will be no formal exam at the end of this course but there will be some informal assessments to check your understanding of the topics.

Other information

Completion of this course will not lead to an automatic entry into GCSE Biology. However, you will be offered to take the GCSE Initial Assessment in the summer. The outcome of the Initial Assessment will determine whether you will be suitable to enroll onto a Biology GCSE course which starts in September

Maths GCSE (Higher)

Maths GCSE: Higher (AQA 8300)

Course description 

This course will cover the Higher content of GCSE Mathematics where learners can achieve grades up to 9. The main areas of study are Number, Ratio, Proportion and rates of change, Algebra, Geometry and Measure, Statistics and Probability.

GCSE Maths courses will be delivered either on site or online. For online classes, you must have easy access to a computer with the internet. Classes will be held either once a week (3 hours) or twice a week (2.5 hours each).

This course consists of a 3 week IT Fundamentals course at the start to maximise participation in learning using digital tools, followed by GCSE Higher course lasting around 30 weeks.

Support if you are registered unemployed, looking for a job or a better job - Route to Work 

As part of your programme of learning, we will support you to develop the skills you need to get a job or a better job, such as CV writing, application forms, interviews and working in a team. Your tutor will discuss individual learning and development needs to agree with you which of our Route to Work short courses will best suit your needs and enrol you on these modules. 

Entry requirements

This course is normally delivered over 2 or 3 years in schools. Therefore, it is necessary that learners have good literacy (at least Level 1) and numeracy skills before starting the course. Ideally, learners should have achieved Level 1 Maths Functional Skills, or Grade D/Grade 3 in GCSE Maths, or similar in an equivalent course (e.g. CSE/’O’ level Maths) in order to complete the course in one year. 

Initial assessment

To gain a place on the course, all learners must book an initial assessment by calling BAES Info Line (0121 303 4318) or one of the BAES centres. GCSE initial assessments are generally carried out face-to-face although people can book a remote assessment on Teams/Zoom. Depending on the results of the assessment, learners may be advised to join a course other than GCSE Higher.

Learning strategies

It is important that learners attend all sessions and make time to work at home every week in order to prepare, practise and consolidate their learning. The Service has on-line subscriptions to MathsWatch and MyMaths, and learners can access videos, quizzes and other activities on our BAES Moodle site.

Learners will be expected to carry out at least 4 hours of independent study in their own time, every week, to cover all the course content.

Progress monitoring

Learner progress and attendance will be monitored throughout the course. After the first progress check in October, the learner and their teacher will determine whether it is appropriate for the learner to continue with the course. Aspects included in the discussion are attendance, punctuality, ability to cope with the amount of work required and performance on progress checks.

Exams

There will be three exams at the end of the course in May and June which will be carried out in one of our centres. They will be marked externally by AQA and results will be available in August.

Progression

A GCSE Grade 4 or higher will open up a variety of career and training opportunities.

 

Maths - Working towards Entry 3

Maths - Working towards Entry 3

Course Description

This course aims to enable you to build on your previous mathematical knowledge and to increase your understanding, confidence and skill set in order to use mathematics in everyday situations.  

This course will cover three main areas of study:  

• Using numbers and the number system up to 1000 (whole numbers, fractions & decimals) 
• Using common measures, shape and space. 
• Handling information and data (tables, tally charts, bar charts and line graphs). 

Working Towards Entry 3 courses will be delivered either in the classroom (face-to-face). This course includes a 3-week BAES IT Fundamentals course to maximise participation in learning using digital tools and also a Next steps course at the end to help you prepare for the next level. 

Route to Work.

As part of your programme of learning, we will support you to develop the skills you need to get a job or a better job. Throughout the year, modules covered include Career Planning, All about Money, and Timesheets and Payslips.  

Entry Requirement

Your English skills need to be at Entry Level 2 or above and you need to have an understanding of some basic maths concepts. 

Initial Assessment

To gain a place on the course, you must book an initial assessment by calling the BAES Info Line (0121 303 4318) or via one of the BAES centres. Initial assessments are carried out by face-to-face assessment at a centre. Depending on the results of the assessment, you may be advised to join a different level or course. 

Learning Strategies

In order to cover all of the course content, you will be expected to carry out at least 2 hours of independent study each week.

It is important that you attend all sessions and make time to work at home, in order to prepare, practise and consolidate your learning. The Service has an online subscription to MyMaths, and you can access videos, quizzes and other activities on our BAES Moodle site.

Progress Monitoring

Your progress and attendance will be monitored throughout the course. After the first progress check, you and your teacher will determine if you can cope with the level and amount of work required, and if you have demonstrated good attendance and punctuality, in order to continue with the course. It may be that a more suitable course is recommended. 

Exams

There is no exam attached to this course.

Progression

Working towards Entry 3 will prepare you for Maths Functional Skills Entry 3. You will be required to complete a short assessment to check whether an Entry 3 Functional Skills course is suitable.