Bede Academy has developed a new T-Level course in health in
partnership with Northumbria University, to support young people considering
careers in healthcare.
Designed to encourage more people to work in the NHS, health and
social care, the new course will offer students the chance to take their first
steps towards achieving their career aspirations through an alternative pathway
to A Levels or apprenticeships.
With a national shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, the
University and Bede Academy say that the new course will prepare students for
work, further training or study in a range of careers across the health sector.
Experts from the University’s Department of Nursing, Midwifery and
Health and Student Recruitment team have worked closely with the leadership
team at Bede Academy to develop the course curriculum and train teachers to
deliver it at the Academy’s campus in Blyth.
The University will also provide further support after the course
begins in September, including use of
facilities, support to secure placements and allowing pupils to shadow students
at Northumbria University.
Speaking on the partnership, Helen Bower, Director of Student
Recruitment at Northumbria University, said: “As an institution we are
dedicated to making higher education more accessible to allow as many people as
possible to pursue their career goals, as well as helping to meet the regional
and national workforce requirements and this new course will help us to achieve
both those objectives.
“These types of courses are integral to helping more people access
careers in healthcare. We’re hopeful that this could be the blueprint for a
T-Level in health to be rolled out across other partner schools and colleges.”
Due to start running in September 2024, the two-year course will
cover a range of areas including working in the sector, health and safety,
managing information and data, good scientific and clinical practice. Students
will also learn about person-centric care, health and wellbeing, infection
prevention and control and safeguarding, as well as some core science concepts
and their application in health.
Students will have the opportunity to specialise in the second
year before progressing on to a higher-level apprenticeship, a degree course or
employment across of number of areas including dental nurse, ambulance support
worked, healthcare support worker, emergency care assistant, maternity support
worker or social care worker.
Andrew Thelwell, Principal (Secondary) at Bede Academy said: “We are proud to be able to work in partnership with Northumbria
University to introduce this course into our Post-16 curriculum. We want to
build a partnership with Northumbria University so that our students can access
the best possible routes into incredible, high-skilled, high value work and
careers – in this case by working in the health sector – that will change, and
in some cases save, people’s lives.”
By combining classroom learning with an extended 45-day placement
students will gain hands-on experience and opportunities to engage with
potential employers as well as develop an understanding of the workplace.
T-Level courses are nationally recognised programmes that launched
in September 2020 and follow a framework created alongside employers and with
support from the Department for Education (DfE). The courses are available at
selected colleges, schools and other providers.
Bede Academy is one of 40 schools across the region partnered with
Northumbria University through its NU Allstars scheme. The programme is designed to create and foster partnerships with
schools and colleges to wider access and participation across higher education.
The scheme offers students at partner establishments an extensive package of
activities and guidance designed to build knowledge, skills and opportunities
and support them into further education.
Through the scheme the university also offers a number of
financial support opportunities, including a £1,500 scholarship, as well as
additional support during admissions such as contextual offers, aspirational
offers, dual offers and consideration of extenuating circumstances to help as
many students as possible reach their goals.
Students who undertake and pass the new T-Level in health will be
guaranteed interviews for related courses at Northumbria University.
Northumbria
University is one of the largest centres for healthcare professional education
in the North of England, offering a range of specialist degree and CPD programmes across many areas of nursing, midwifery, operating department
practice, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The University’s Children’s
Nursing programme is ranked third in the UK in the latest Guardian University Guide.
Northumbria
University is dedicated to reducing health and social inequalities,
contributing to the regional and national workforce and improving social,
economic and health outcomes for the most marginalised in society. Through its
new Centre for Health and Social Equity, known as CHASE, researchers will
be delivering world-leading health and social equity research and creating
innovative, evidence-based policies and data-driven solutions to bring
impactful change across the region, the UK and globally.
For more
information about partnerships and access participations programmes with
Northumbria University please contact Tom Smith, UK Student Recruitment
and Access Manager.
Click
here for more information about the T-level in Health course at Bede Academy
