Entry Level Three Award/Certificate in Animal Care (14-16 Programme)

About the course

This entry level course is for young people who are interested in working with animals. It will provide students with the basic practical skills and knowledge they need to either gain employment or progress to further training in Animal Care. It will also help develop common, social and interpersonal skills and widen life experiences.

Year 1

Year 1

Animal health and nutrition

Day to day care of animals

Exercise and handling of animals

Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

Students need to be 14 or 15 and have an interest in animal care. This course is open to Home Educated learners.

Learners will complete a basic literacy assessment at interview. All learners will start the course on a 6 week trial. Statements must be submitted as part of the application process for appropriate learners and support agreed prior to any offer being made.

Your school or Home Educating Parent or Guardian must complete Application Form Part B before your application will be processed.

For home educated applicants your Parent or Guardian must complete the Home Educated Form and return before your application will be processed.

Learning and assessment

The course is largely practical and students will work both in a classroom and in Croxteth Park’s Animal Academy. Student will start on the entry 2 qualification, students completing two years on the course will progress to the entry level three qualification.

There are two intakes per year one in September and one in January. Students only completing a part year will complete an award qualification. Students completing a full year will complete a certificate qualification.

Progression

Students who successfully complete the course may wish to study full time at Myerscough or at another college. They may also progress onto a workplace apprenticeship through the College

Careers

Employment in kennels, catteries, pet shop, grooming parlour, welfare societies e.g. RSPCA.

Special requirements

You will require specialist clothing including wellington/work boots (preferably steel toe-capped), overalls, waterproofs.

Animal Studies

Britain is well regarded as a nation of animal lovers, from companion pets to large animal collections. This has resulted in a multi-million pound industry, ranging from well known national pet feed companies to pet stores, catteries and kennels and numerous other businesses providing for the needs of animals.

If you care about animals and have a deep interest in their health and wellbeing, Myerscough provides an excellent opportunity for you to further your studies. You'll develop a range of skills and have the opportunity to care for a range of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets, farm animals, reptiles and amphibians and a range of invertebrates.

Our Brand New Animal Studies Centre

Myerscough College’s Animal Studies Centre has tripled in size after the completion of a £3 million extension and major refurbishment. The new Animal Studies Centre features specialist classrooms, dedicated indoor and outdoor areas for different animal groups, as well as spacious private rooms, reception and study areas, all fully equipped with the latest I.T technology.

The new Animal Studies Centre also offers a range of services to the public, from grooming and healthcare through to behaviour classes and hydrotherapy for injury recovery.

Our Animals

As part of your course at Myerscough College, you'll get to work with a wide range of animals, from dogs and cats through to chameleons, iguanas and snakes, fish and invertebrates. You'll also get to help look after the College Alpacas, Bailey and Icicle - two of the department's biggest characters.

A choice of learning locations

As well as our £3m Animal Studies Centre at our Preston Campus, we also offer Animal Studies courses at our learning centres, including our new Animal Studies Centre at Croxteth Park in Liverpool, Walton Hall in Warrington and Witton Park in Blackburn.

Scottish Wildcats

Myerscough College plays a key role in the conservation of Britain's most iconic native predator, the Scottish Wildcat as part of Scottish Wildcat Action's conservation and breeding programme. There could be as few as 100 of these timid and elusive cats left in the wild and this work goes a long way to ensuring their survival.

Blue Cross Rehoming Centre

The Animal Studies Centre is now officially working in partnership with Blue Cross and now has a rehoming centre on the Myerscough Campus. This gives a fabulous experience for students who get the opportunity to work in a real life rehoming environment, gaining a valuable insight into the workings of a cattery and developing skills for employment within the animal sector.