[H]ealth Education England (HEE) has announced that a student from Keswick School in Cumbria is the national winner of the Step into the NHS schools’ competition.
Joe Kinsella, a year 8 pupil from the school, impressed the judges with his entry to promote the role of an A&E doctor.
Joe created a snakes and ladders-type game which takes ‘players’ through training, qualifications, skills and qualities necessary for the career.
This year Joe’s game beat more than 1,700 entries across the country, as the competition attracted record numbers of pupils to get involved and learn more about careers in the NHS.
Now in its ninth year, the competition aims to promote the 350 plus careers available in health and social care professions across the NHS and students were tasked with designing an advertisement and job description for their chosen role, working individually or in groups of up to four.
Simon Jackson, head teacher of Keswick School said: “The importance of enhanced awareness of careers opportunities for young people cannot be underestimated. It can give direction and focus as well as enable informed choices for future study. This has been a fantastic competition and I am delighted our entries were so highly commended. Congratulations Joe.”
Joe Kinsella, the national winning student from the North West added: “I enjoyed creating the game and chose an A&E doctor because it is an action packed job which I found really interesting.”
Penny Laverick, multi professional careers advisor for Health Education England in the North East said: “I’d like to congratulate Joe and Keswick School on their fantastic entry. Young people are extremely important to the future of the NHS workforce. It is important that the NHS engages with young people now and lets them know about the wealth of career opportunities.
“There are more than 350 different careers to choose from in health and jobs range from community matron, dietician or public health analyst to a finance manager or web developer. Initiatives such as the schools competition really help to raise awareness of this.”
The NHS in North Cumbria is working closely with local schools to promote careers in the NHS. This work includes annual hands on careers fairs known as healthcare and blue light events. They allow students to meet professionals and educators to find out about a range of careers and study routes into them. It was through this event that Keswick School were inspired to get involved with the Step into the NHS competition and explore NHS careers further with their students.
Victoria McDade, recruitment and attraction manager at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “It’s really exciting that a student from Cumbria was chosen as the national winner and it highlights the exceptional talent and creativity of our young people. This competition gets students thinking about careers in the NHS and opens their eyes to the vast range of opportunities on offer. It’s fantastic to be working with local schools and I’m confident that this celebration will play a part in inspiring the next generation of health professionals in Cumbria.”
