Uniformed Public Services
Attendance: Full Time
Course level: 3
Location: Wellington Road Campus
Course code: X0041
Start dates:
06/09/2027
Age:
a future student (16-18)
If you’re interested in a career in the armed forces, police, fire and rescue service, ambulance service, prison service, UK Border Force or other uniformed public services, our Uniformed Protective Services courses provide the perfect starting point.
You’ll develop the knowledge, skills, discipline and fitness needed to succeed in a wide range of public service careers. Through practical activities, scenario-based learning, team-building exercises and work experience, you’ll gain valuable insight into how public services operate and the qualities required to work within them.
Our courses focus on developing leadership, teamwork, communication, resilience and problem-solving skills while helping you build the confidence needed to progress into higher-level study, apprenticeships or employment.
You’ll also benefit from educational visits, guest speakers and realistic training activities delivered in partnership with local public service organisations.
Qualifications available
- Edexcel Level 1 Extended Certificate in Public Services
- Edexcel Level 2 Extended Certificate in Public Services
- Edexcel Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Uniformed Protective Services (MAFA Pathway)
- Edexcel Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Uniformed Protective Services (Police Pathway)
The qualification level and pathway will be discussed during your interview and based on your qualifications and career ambitions.
Course details
Entry Requirements:
- Level 1: Three GCSEs, including Grade 2 in English and maths.
- Level 2: Four or more GCSEs at Grade 3 or above, including English and maths.
- Level 3: Five or more GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English and maths, or successful completion of a relevant Level 2 qualification.
For all levels, you will also be required to:
- Attend an interview with a member of the course team
- Demonstrate good attendance, punctuality and a positive attitude to learning
- Show an interest in the uniformed and protective services sector
- Participate fully in practical and physical activities
Additional course information
Trips, visits and enrichment
Students have the opportunity to take part in a range of practical and industry-related activities, including:
- Fitness and physical training activities
- Outward-bound expeditions
- Adventure training exercises
- Military-themed challenges
- Large-scale incident simulations
- Community projects and volunteering
- Guest speakers from organisations including the Police, Armed Forces and other public services
- Crime investigation and public safety workshops
Work experience
All learners complete a minimum of 30 hours of work experience or work-related activity to help develop professionalism and workplace skills.
Core Skills Framework
Throughout your studies, you will develop the college’s CORE employability skills through:
- Practical lesson activities
- Tutorial sessions
- One-to-one progress meetings
- Enrichment programmes
- Personal target setting and review
Uniform and costs
- A college-branded uniform is compulsory and costs approximately £123.
- Financial support may be available for eligible students to help with these costs.
What will I learn?
Depending on your chosen level and pathway, you may study:
- The role and work of public services
- Citizenship and society
- Behaviour and discipline in the protective services
- Employment in public services
- Police powers and the law
- Custodial care
- Crime and its effects on society
- Security procedures
- Responding to incidents
- Research and investigation skills
- Community engagement
- Physical preparation and fitness
- Leadership and teamwork
- Communication skills
- Navigation and map reading
- Adventurous activities
- Technology in protective services
MAFA Pathway
Ideal for students interested in:
- Army
- Royal Navy
- Royal Marines
- RAF
- Fire and Rescue Service
- Ambulance Service
- Prison Service
- UK Border Force
Police Pathway
Ideal for students interested in:
- Police Officer
- Special Constable
- Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
- Criminal Justice Services
- Policing and Intelligence careers
What skills will I gain?
By studying a Uniformed Protective Services qualification you will:
- Develop leadership and teamwork skills
- Improve communication and interpersonal skills
- Build confidence and resilience
- Improve your fitness and physical preparation
- Learn navigation and expedition skills
- Develop problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Learn how public services operate
- Gain experience of scenario-based learning
- Develop planning and organisational skills
- Build employability skills valued across public service sectors
- Gain valuable community and volunteering experience
How will I be assessed?
Assessment methods may include:
- Assignments and reports
- Individual and group presentations
- Case studies
- Practical activities
- Role-play exercises
- Fitness testing
- Map and compass navigation tasks
- Question and answer sessions
- Video and audio evidence
- Portfolio building
- Examinations (where applicable)
What can I do next?
Successful completion of a Uniformed Protective Services qualification can lead to:
- A higher-level Public Services qualification
- University or Higher Education study
- Public service apprenticeships
- Applications to uniformed and protective services (subject to entry requirements)
Potential career areas include:
- Police Officer
- Special Constable
- Prison Officer
- Probation Officer
- Firefighter
- Paramedic (with further qualifications)
- Army Soldier
- Royal Navy Rating or Officer
- RAF Airman or Officer
- Royal Marines Commando
- UK Border Force Officer
- Customs Officer
- Security Officer
- Youth Worker
- Community Support Worker
- Emergency Planning Officer
Future careers
Undecided on your future?
Our Future Finder tool can help you explore options and match them to our courses. City of Wolverhampton College partners with employers and leading universities, ensuring our qualifications are relevant and designed to help you succeed.
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