animal care

At Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School, our Animal Care curriculum reflects our deep commitment to stewardship of creation and respect for the dignity of living beings, central tenets of Catholic Social Teaching

By nurturing compassion, responsibility, and aspiration, we motivate and prepare all students, regardless of background or ability, not only for industry-relevant skills, but for lives shaped by faith, ethics, and respect for creation.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the ways its animals are treated”

Mahatma Gandhi

Our mission is to ensure that all students are safe, happy, flourishing, and succeeding in their animal care educational journey.

Our curriculum is designed to:

Equip students with breadth of knowledge across a growing UK industry.
Develop expertise in animal behaviour, health, welfare, habitat, and relevant legislation.
Offer hands-on experience in handling and restraint of different species and preparing and cleaning animal accommodation.
Promote compassionate professionalism, integrating Catholic values with practical skills.
Offer inclusive, safe, and aspirational learning experiences for all students.

Through this, we nurture responsible, confident learners prepared for progression in animal care pathways.

Key Stage 4 | BTEC Tech Award in Animal Care

Our structured Key Stage 4 curriculum comprises three sequential components:

Component 1 | Animal Handling & Restraint (Year 10)

Component 2 | Animal Welfare Needs & Accommodation

Component 3 | Animal Health

Students benefit from:

A balanced blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience: handling animals, preparing accommodations, and learning welfare norms
A variety of teaching approaches: discussions, research, paired and independent learning, and practical sessions.
Industry-linked enrichment: visits from specialists, trips to animal care settings providing authentic, real-world insights
Assessment strategies: internal assignments and practical demonstrations, combined with an externally assessed exam component

Enrichment & Career Pathways

Designed to inspire future professionals, the curriculum provides:

Hands-on exposure through animal care environments and guest practitioners.
Guidance toward progression opportunities, including Level 3 Animal Management qualifications or apprenticeships.
Real insight into the growing animal care industry, helping students make informed decisions about their futures.

Catholic SOCIAL TEACHING

Our Animal Care curriculum is an expression of our Catholic identity in action:

Stewardship of creation: Caring for animals is a living demonstration of our respect for God’s creatures.
Compassion and dignity: Teaching responsibility and empathy underpinned by Gospel values.
Spiritual formation: Encouraging reflection on God’s world and our role as compassionate caregivers.
Social/Moral development: Students learn to balance ethical considerations, responsibility, and care for all life forms.