Hello and welcome to Reigate College’s Public Services Department.
My name is Nicky Avery and I’m Head of BTEC Public Services. I’m looking forward to meeting you in person and welcoming you to the department at the start of the academic year. In the meantime, I’d like you to complete a series of tasks over the coming weeks and months.
Public Services will be a new course for most of you so it’s really important to make sure you’re as prepared as possible before you start. These tasks have been designed to introduce you to the subject and for you to complete on your own at home. There’ll be the chance to share what you’ve learnt when you join in September.
The tasks will be released here, in three phases (see table below) and should be completed by Choices Day on 1 September 2021. Please throw yourself into them and above all enjoy them!
Please note, some Course Leaders (for example for Music) may release their tasks earlier, as they may form part of the College’s audition process. If this applies to you, you’ll be notified separately.
New Starters Course Tasks and Activities
| Release date | To be completed by | |
| Explore your Subject | 1 June | 1 July |
| Get Going | 1 July | 1 Aug |
| Aim High | 1 Aug | 1 Sep |
Explore your Subject
Explore and Investigate: Information to engage students with the subject (and targeting students who may be undecided)
The Protective Services are here to help, support and protect members of all communities. They have to deal with a wide range of incidents in an efficient, professional and effective manner. Knowledge of the way they work is essential for all units within BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Protective Services.
TASK 1:
The Protective Services can be divided into 5 groups of services.
For each group below, provide two examples of a service
- The Emergency Services – Eg. Police
- The Armed Services – Eg. Navy
- Central Government – Eg. Department for Education
- Local Government – Eg. Recycling and refuse centre
- Voluntary Services – Eg. Mountain Rescue
TASK 2:
Whilst the Protective Services are divided into 5 different groups, they often work together to manage incidents.
Research and give examples of how the different groups of Protective Services have worked together to plan for and respond to the following incidents:-
- Northern England flooding November 2019 to February 2020
- COVID 19
- Terrorist incidents such as the Streatham attack 2020
Useful websites:
https://www.forces.net/news/coronavirus-how-military-helping
Get Going
Getting Started: Developing skills important for the subject
Obedience and conformity are essential qualities when in the Armed forces and a topic that is discussed in detail in Unit 2 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Protective Services.
TASK 3:
Watch the following video about the Milgram Experiment and answer the question below:
What do you think the implications are for an experiment like this in relation to:
- The participants in the experiment
- The UK Protective Services such as the British Army, RAF and Royal Navy
- The nature of human beings and what they are capable of
Aim High
Aim High: Complete work set for the start of the course
An introduction to criminology is Unit 13 in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Protective Services. Learning about different theories of criminality and why crime is committed is a key feature of this unit. It is important for those who work within the Police Service and justice system to understand these theories and apply them in their work.
TASK 4:
Research the following criminal theories…
- Biological Positivism (Lombroso)
- Psychodynamic Theory (Freud)
- Behavioural Theory (different theorists…..Bandura, Sutherland, Bowlby, Skinner)
Evaluate these theories. Include the following:
Useful links:
https://www.history.com/news/born-criminal-theory-criminology
https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html
https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html
Expeditions are an integral part of the Armed Services training in preparation for combat. Unit 11 Expeditions is part of BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Protective Services. Researching historical and more recent expeditions forms part of the unit.
TASK 5:
Research one of the following explorers…
Ellen MacArthur, Ernest Shackleton, Sir Edmund Hillary, Roald Amunsden
Look at the following areas regarding their expedition…
- Type
- Duration
- Form
- Location
- Aims
- Funding
- Equipment
Consider why the Protective Services value expeditions?
Useful links:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/ellen-macarthur-2005
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/shackleton_ernest.shtml
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/sir-edmund-hillary-tenzing-norgay-1953
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/roald-amundsen-north-west-passage-expedition-1903-06
EXTENSION TASK:
Protective Services is a “real world” subject, with society providing topical discussion points all the time.
News Stories – Shamima Begum
Background – Shamima Begum is a British-born woman. She left the UK, aged 15, to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria. Her intention to return to the UK in 2019 resulted in a public debate about the handling of returning jihadists. Most recently in this story, the Supreme Court has upheld the decision to take away her British citizenship.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c347vzp58nzt/shamima-begum-case
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/28/shamima-begum-court-ruling-brings-shame-on-uk
TASK – Watch the video below and undertake your own research.
Through your own research, make sure you are able to provide an answer to each of the questions below:-
Do you agree with the Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the Home Secretary’s decision to take away her British Citizenship?
What are the consequences for Shamima Begum losing her citizenship?
What are the consequences for the UK/UK legal system?
Head of Sport and Public Services
