Sustainability - NEW for 2026!

Qualification

Level 3 Sustainability

OCR

Subject Leader

Mr P Gordon

pgordon@combertonvc.org

Entry Requirements:

Minimum Entry Requirements: 

5 x 5s

4 in English and Maths 

Subject Specific Entry Requirements:

4 in GCSE Maths

Why study Sustainability?

This qualification is worth half an A-Level. The marks are Pass, Merit, Distinction.

Through a combination of theoretical study and hands-on experience, you will develop the necessary knowledge and skills that can support progression into areas that have a relationship with sustainability and environmental conservation.

This qualification gives students the opportunity to apply learning in ‘real life’; contexts.

Students will use primary research to investigate practises used in an organisation, analyse collected data to draw conclusions about how sustainable the practises used by an organisation are then draw conclusions to their own investigation into sustainable practises and recommendations for the organisation to become more sustainable.

What can I do with Sustainability after Sixth Form?

By completing this qualification, students will gain the essential knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to pursue careers in sustainability-related fields. It also provides a pathway into environmental apprenticeships, supporting progression into both further study and employment.

The knoweldge gained from this qualification will support and compliment further study in a range of subjects including:

• Business Studies
• Design Technology
• Economics
• Geography
• Psychology
• Sociology

What will I study?

The course is structured around two core units. The first, Fundamentals of Sustainability, is assessed through an external examination and accounts for 50% of the final grade. The second unit, Sustainability in Practice, is assessed through non-examined coursework and makes up the remaining 50%.

Fundamentals of Sustainability

This unit is assessed by an exam. In this unit you will learn about the key topics relevant to sustainability including the inter relationships of the three pillars of sustainability (i.e. environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability). Topics include:

• Understanding sustainability
• Environmental sustainability
• Economic sustainability
• Social sustainability
• Communicating and reporting sustainable practices

 

Sustainability in Practice

This unit is assessed by an assignment. In this unit you will learn about the practices organisations are adopting to become more sustainable, and the technologies that are being used. You will also learn research methodologies and how to analyse data and draw conclusions. You will use this knowledge and understanding to investigate a real organisation’s practices and recommended how they can become more sustainable.

Topics include:

• Sustainable practices in industry
• Plan research
• Conduct data collection
• Analyse data and draw conclusions
• Communicate research conclusions