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Protective Services Academy

Protective Services Academy is a bespoke academic and personal development programme designed for 16 - 19 year olds interested in careers in one out Uniformed Protective Services in the U.K such as armed forces, police, fire, prison services or border forces or third sector organisations such as RNLI or Mountain Rescue.  

Our programmes will provide its students, known a ‘recruits’ with a nationally recognised qualification alongside developing future leadership, physical & mental robustness that will support them while joining the Protective Services, gaining employment/apprenticeship or moving onto university study.  

The Protective Services Academy differs from Public Services and military preparation courses offered in many other colleges which often fail to effectively prepare individuals holistically for entry into the uniformed protective services either through too much focus on the academic qualifications (BTEC qualifications) or a narrow focus on a single protective service (military preparation). 


Pathway Choices

We offer different pathways in the Protective Services Academy - click below to find out more about the pathways we have on offer for you. 

PSA Pathways

Armed Forces Pathway

Blue Light and Security Pathway


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What will our students experience? 

  • Full-time Level 2 or 3 qualifications in Uniformed Protective Services, Public Services or Outdoor Education and Leadership 

  • Careers and Employment Syllabus 

  • Duke of Edinburgh Gold 

  • British Army Residential  

  • Royal Marines Residential 

  • Careers Presentations from all protective services 

  • Educational Visits to protective services units, stations and barracks. 

  • Map Reading and Navigation 

  • Monthly Fitness Testing 

  • Team Sports 

  • Adventurous Activities 

  • Endurance Training 

  • Strength and Conditioning 

  • Health and Wellbeing Syllabus (Nutrition, Sleep, Stress Subtance Misuse, Personal Hygiene etc) 

These phases are delivered alongside each other, meaning we ensure a whole person approach to a recruit’s education and development. This also means that although you will have classroom-based lessons that will build towards assessment etc. You will also have lessons on health, fitness, mental resilience, trips, visits and residentials which are designed solely for your personal development. 

Our staff are experienced and qualified teachers, many of which are former protective service personnel. 

Please see details about the courses below...

Extended Diploma in Uniformed Protective Services 

About the course:

This is a two-year programme studying a BTEC Extended Diploma in Public Services which is designed for 16-19-year-old young adults that are interested in a career in the armed forces, police, fire service, prison services or even the civil service. This course will provide you will the skills, qualities and importantly the nationally recognised qualification you will need for a successful career in the protective services.


What does this qualification cover?

The Protective Services Academy differs substantially from BTEC Public Services and military preparation courses offered in many colleges which often fail to effectively prepare individuals holistically for entry into the protective services either through too much focus on the academic qualifications (BTEC qualifications) or a narrow focus on a single protective service (military preparation).

At Protective Services Academy we ensure that upon completion, all recruits are fully prepared for all progression options either academic or employment. We achieve this through the delivery of a bespoke three-part programme…


Education – BTEC Extended Diploma in Public Services, English and Maths (if required)

Health and Fitness – Physical Training, Sports, Mental Resilience Training (MRT), Health and lifestyle education and Adventurous Training

Careers, Employment and Personal Development - Careers and Employment Syllabus, Gold DofE, First Aid and CPR, Leadership and Initiative Development and UCAS


What is expected of you:

The first thing we are after at the Protective Services Academy is the right individual, this comes in all different forms but the basic requirements would be, commitment, grit, sense of humour and willingness to ‘have a go’.

You will be expected to engage in all classroom and practical based activities as well as support the school through completing break and lunchtime duties and support breakfast and after school clubs.

Attendance and Punctuality are of upmost importance, simply put… if you are not in class, taking part in practical based session or attending trips and visits you will not be developing the skills, qualities and knowledge that you require for effective service in the Protective Services.


What it prepares you for:

BTEC Public Services Level 3 qualifications are nationally recognised, so dependent on the programme enrolled on recruits will gain between up to 3 A-Level equivalents meaning that this qualification allows you to gain UCAS points.

It is our goal at the Protective Services Academy to put all our recruits in the unique position of being fully prepared academically, physical and mentally to join the protective services on completion of the programme, or to progress onto employment, apprenticeship or university…

University Progression Routes

Employment or Apprenticeship Routes

BA (Hons) Public Service

Police Force

BA (Hons) Policing Studies

Fire Services

BSc (Hons) Psychosocial Analysis of Offending Behaviour

British Army

 

BSc (Hons) Community Policing and Criminal Investigation

Royal Navy and Royal Marines

BSc (Hons) Cybersecurity

Royal Air Force

BSc (Hons) Policing and Criminal Investigation.

HM Prison and Probation Service

BA (Hons) Policing

U.K Border Force and Maritime and Coastguard Agency


Entry Requirements:

  • 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above (including English and Maths)
  • Any Level 2 Diploma at Merit level plus grade C/4 or above in English and Maths

*However, if you have not achieved the Maths and/or English, you can still join the course but would have to do these qualifications alongside the Extended Diploma course. All applicants are required to undertake the Protective Services Academy Selection test which will include; a fitness test, leadership/teamwork planning test and an interview.


Qualification Details

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Public Services 500/7801/X


For more information:

If you are an internal applicant, please talk to Mr A Power - Protective Services Academy Director or Mrs C. Danher, Assistant Headteacher - about the possibility of studying this in the sixth form. 

If you are an external applicant and would like more details about this course please email sixthform@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk