Public Services Level 3 (City)

This course is an introduction to the work of uniformed public services and offers you the opportunity to develop the skills and personal qualities needed for further study or employment.

The Level 3 Diploma course is made up of 12 units of study. You will learn about areas such as:

Leadership and teamwork

Understanding discipline

Physical preparation, fitness, and sport

Outdoor activities and adventurous expeditions

Responding to emergency service incidents

Command and control in the uniformed services

Government, policies and the legal system

Police powers and the criminal justice system

Crime and its effects

Custodial care

Uniformed public services employment and career planning

Approximately 30% of the course is practical and 70% is classroom work. This course has a compulsory outdoor activity and skills element which involves taking part in physically demanding activities such as public services fitness tests, outdoor sports, walking, camping and map reading, which take place in all weathers.

Course enrichment activities include visits, training days and residential courses. A range of public services organisations come into college to give presentations and work with students on practical activities and assessments.

Experience of work can include working with community and voluntary organisations, major incident simulations with the fire service and work supporting police training. Students are also encouraged to undertake voluntary work alongside the course.

All students are expected to wear a course uniform. You may be entitled to help from the college's Learner Support Fund with the cost of uniform, trips, visits and anything else you need to buy for your course.

Staff and Facilities

At Sheffield College you will learn from highly qualified staff with a range of academic and public services work-related backgrounds. Our students benefit from our good partnerships with the local emergency services and public sector employers.

The excellent facilities for our uniformed public services students can include

Adventure training area with low ropes and obstacle course

Climbing wall

Combat zone

Emergency incident training area

All weather sports pitch

Gym and sports hall

IT facilities

This course is suitable for those interested in a career in the uniformed public services. It is important that you have a positive outlook and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone by trying different activities. You should come with a reasonable level of fitness and stamina, have commitment to the course, and be able to deal with discipline. As BTEC courses are coursework - based programmes with no formal exams, excellent attendance and punctuality is a key to success.

The BTEC course is continually assessed by coursework. Assessment methods include written assignments, presentations, observations of practical tasks, group or individual projects, and role-play activities. There are no formal exams.

You will be required to devote time outside of taught classes to produce coursework such as assignments, written reports, and presentations to set deadlines.

5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including English Language

Where can it lead?

Successful students can apply to university/higher education courses including The Sheffield College Foundation Degree in Public Services: Policing Studies. Past students have gone on to study criminology/criminal justice, counselling, law/legal studies, nursing, outdoor pursuits, paramedic studies, politics, psychology, social care, sociology and sport.

Future career opportunities could include working in, the armed forces, police service, fire service, ambulance service, UK border agency, outdoor activity centres, prison service, security services and voluntary organisations.