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

About the course

If you are applying for a place on the 14-16 programme please ask school to request an admissions form from 14to16@myerscough.ac.uk

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.

Parents/Schools, please note when completing the application form you must use child’s name and DOB but the parent/school email and telephone number. All official documents, interview and enrolment information will be emailed on the parent/school email provided and this could be anytime from the time of application through to September. If the email changes it is important you let us know. Failure to do so could lead to the application being withdrawn from the process.

Location: Warrington (Walton Hall)
Course length: One / Two Years Croxteth Thursday / Walton Hall Wednesday 9.30-2.30
Available course dates: Please select a start date & location before you apply.

Location: Warrington (Walton Hall)
Start date: September

Location: Croxteth Park (Liverpool)
Start date: September

Course modules

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.

Learning and assessment

The course is largely practical and students will work both in a classroom and in the College's Animal Academy. Students will complete an Entry Level Three Certificate Qualification. Year 10 students progressing to Year 11 will complete an Entry Level Three Diploma.

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 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 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.

Latest news, Animal studies

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING OUR VOCATIONAL OFFER FOR HOME EDUCATED STUDENTS FROM SEPTEMBER 2025

Tuesday 12th November 2024 update

Myerscough College is committed to providing high quality technical education across the land-based and sports sectors. Our 14-16 curriculum provision will remain in place for the 2025/26 academic year, starting September 2025, but it will need to be accessed via applications from local schools, on behalf of their pupils.

After extensive discussions with our Local Authorities (LAs) regarding the future of home education, it is clear that the government is focused on prioritising the reintegration of many home educated young people back into mainstream education. In light of this direction, we have made the strategic decision to change the Elective Home Educated (EHE) element of our 14-16 programme, in order to align with this broader educational policy.

The only change being implemented at Myerscough is the method of applying for a place and that, moving forward, Electively Home Educated applicants must be enrolled with (or linked to) a secondary school. That school can then submit an application for the programme.

This change will not impact students who are already currently attending Myerscough College through their schools.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this decision, please do not hesitate to contact the Home Educated support teams at your relevant local authority. They will be able to provide information about available school places for September 2025 entry. Once a suitable school has been identified you can start a dialogue with them about the option of attending Myerscough. If discussions are successful, the school can submit an application.

For information about the content of the 14-16 curriculum you can email us at 14to16@myerscough.ac.uk or call 01995 642222.

Additional support

Myerscough will arrange for copies of academic reports to be sent to educational providers in order to support and enhance the likelihood of securing a school or alternative provision placement for students.

Additionally, please access the links below to help with guidance and support during this transition period:

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/supporting-school-transitions/

Supporting children's transition to secondary school: guidance for parents and carers | Anna Freud