With such a wide range of healthcare careers to choose from, Health Education England (HEE) and NHS Careers are keen to encourage young people to consider joining one of the many healthcare teams across England, through their annual Step into the NHS schools competition. The competition aims to raise awareness among 12 to 14 year-olds about the breadth of careers available and help them to develop important job seeking skills.
To be in with a chance of winning a fantastic prize*, students from years 8 and 9 need to choose a healthcare career they might be interested in and produce a job description and eye-catching advert for the role, which will appeal to their peers.
Professor Ian Cumming, chief executive of HEE, said: “As ever, we are very keen to support young people with their career choices and encourage enthusiastic, talented and caring people to become part of the NHS in a wide variety of roles. This national competition also provides an excellent opportunity for young people to learn about the right values and behaviours expected of all staff working in healthcare and to demonstrate their knowledge of this in their entries.
“I am delighted to be launching the Step into the NHS schools’ competition within HEE for 2014/15, as it has proven to be a useful resource for teachers and has helped young people take those first steps towards deciding their future career.”
Last year’s competition winners chose the role of dramatherapist for their entry, devising a very creative marketing campaign to promote the role based on sock puppets on a washing line.
The 2013/14 winners’ headteacher from High School for Girls, Gloucester, Ms Ewa Sawicka, said: “We were thrilled that our students won this important prize. This competition was a very valuable classroom tool, engaging students with the workings of the health service and the different career options available to them. The hard work and effort invested in this project reflects our pupils’ commitment and dedication to learning.
“I’d encourage other staff and schools to get involved as it’s a fantastic way for pupils to explore opportunities and broaden their experiences.”
Careers, Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), English, citizenship and business teachers across the region have been sent detailed information about the competition and how to enter, and the materials are available on our website at:www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/schoolscompetition.
Teachers have until 30 January 2015 to submit their students’ entries.
*National winners each receive a laptop computer and regional winners each receive an Amazon voucher.
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