Pathway to Animal Care
Course Code: P265977
Key Information
Course type:
Vocational
Campus:
Highbury Campus
Start Date:
07 Sept 2026
Duration:
1 year
Attendance:
Full-time
Fees:
Free
Are you an animal-lover, where the ideal day's work is looking after creatures great and small? Our Level 1 Pathway to Animal Care course at City of Portsmouth College is the springboard you might need.
This course prepares you to progress to a higher qualification in animal care (or similar sector), with classroom learning mixed with at least 30 hours of work experience within the animal care sector. You'll also build a portfolio of work through activity, group, photo and video assessments.
Units include:
- caring for animals
- developing confidence working with animals
- learning and employability skills.
A minimum of four GCSEs at Grade 2 or above, including maths and English.
100% attendance is expected for the duration of the course. Maths, English, work experience, tutorials and employability sessions all form part of the overall qualification and non-attendance to any of these sessions may result in the overall qualification not being achieved. Continued non-attendance to any timetabled sessions may result in losing your place on the course.
You will be assessed through a variety of ways (activity, group work, photographic and video) which will be presented through a portfolio of evidence. As a student on the programme, you will have weekly tutorials and receive feedback every six weeks to discuss your progress and to set achievement targets. All our programmes are planned around your individual learning needs, with every student having a timetable that clearly identifies the sessions that will be taught. You will be assigned a Programme Lead who will support you throughout your time in College. Teaching, coaching and learning support staff will work closely with you and your parents/carers to help you achieve planned learning goals.
This course is the perfect stepping stone into further education and enables progression into other vocational courses or an apprenticeship.
We work hard to keep our course information up to date. Occasionally we may make small changes to course content, start dates, locations or fees to keep our courses current and relevant. If anything important changes after you apply, we’ll always let you know.
Level 1 Pathway to Animal Care
We work hard to keep our course information up to date. Occasionally we may make small changes to course content, start dates, locations or fees to keep our courses current and relevant. If anything important changes after you apply, we’ll always let you know.
You may also be interested in
Related Features
NEWS 13-05-2025
Could this BE any cuter? Animal Care welcomes first gecko hatchling
The animal care department was over the moon when COPC’s very first newborn gecko hatched this Sunday.
NEWS 02-04-2025
Out and about with Animal Care
Our Animal Care students have enjoyed a couple of educational and fun days out recently.
NEWS 28-04-2025
Green skills training project benefits businesses
A Green Skills upskilling project offering free and subsidised courses designed to support the move to net zero in the region has been hailed a great success.
NEWS 03-04-2025
Eid: unity, tradition and celebration
Yesterday marked a special occasion as we came together to celebrate Eid with the students of Resolve and Pathways. Foundation Pathways Lecturer April Wilson tells us all about it.
NEWS 17-03-2025
Medals for our Combined Cadet Force leaders
Our Combined Cadet Force leaders are honoured with King's Coronation medals, then Principal Katy and Deputy Principal Emily couldn't resist joining in with the drill.
NEWS 04-03-2025
Becoming a green energy superpower
It’s Day 2 of Colleges Week and today’s focus is on the government mission for the UK to become a green energy superpower.
