The Sector Skills Council for Science is known as SEMTA; Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies. They represent over 130,000 businesses and over 2 million employees. The bioscience sector of the council has a large demand for highly-skilled technicians in the following areas; in vivo sciences (physiology, pharmacology, toxicology and pathology), clinical research, medicinal and analytical chemistry, engineering and maths and statistics. Employers within this area are looking to recruit young people with practical, applied science skills.

The BTEC Applied Science qualifications are designed to give you the opportunity to acquire these technical and employability skills. You will have the opportunity of entering employment in the science sector or progressing on to vocational qualifications such as the BTEC Higher National Diplomas in Applied Biology and Applied Chemistry or health related or other science-related qualifications.

You will have the opportunity to develop a range of skills and techniques, personal skills and attributes essential for successful performance in working life. You will learn about aspects of employment within science organisations and develop practical scientific skills.

These qualifications will appeal to those who prefer portfolio-based assessment covering a variety of scientific investigations. The qualifications offer a range of areas including laboratory science, forensic science, medical science, environmental and biological science and chemical and physical science.

Full-time courses:

• Applied Science BTEC Level 2 Diploma
• Applied Science BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary/Extended Diploma

We also offer:

• Biology GCSE
• Biology A level
• Chemistry A level
• Physics A level
• Science - Access to Higher Education Pathway

Visit our course search page for further information.

Case study

Delphine Pellenc
Physics Lecturer

What brings you to your role at Reading College?

I first started teaching maths and biology at University in France during my PhD. I then moved to the UK for a job in research at the University of Reading. Although this was intellectually satisfying, I was missing the interaction with students and the possibility of passing on my passion for and knowledge of sciences. This is when I heard about a job at Reading College to teach Biology and went for it. This first step in further education was a revelation to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I then extended my teaching to Vocational courses in Health and Social Care and decided to complete my teacher training. I now teach A level Physics and have just started teaching the BTEC in Applied Science. I really feel that I have found my true vocation.

What do you love about your job?

The diversity of the learners and of the subjects I teach are the main reasons why I enjoy it so much. I love working with and alongside people from different backgrounds whom I constantly learn from. As a teacher, I obviously enjoy helping students reaching their goals. There are few things which are more rewarding than seeing someone realising that they can do something they thought they could not. This is another aspect of the job: FE is a second chance for many of our students and I love being part of an institution than can offer that to them. Because we need to adapt to changes in local demographics and employers’ demands, we are constantly faced with new challenges.