NHS Trust helps boost students’ grades

An education programme being trialled at Guy’s and St Thomas’ improves engagement, grades, and attendance for local students.

The project, called Aspire 350, equips young people in years 10 and 11 with life skills and development opportunities beyond the school curriculum, whilst offering them a route into NHS careers.

Since its launch in schools last February, over 50% of participating students have scored higher grades in their core subject areas.

The project, funded by Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, works with 40 students across three local secondary schools and a pupil referral unit who were identified by their schools as students who would benefit from the opportunity. It’s curriculum, designed with the students, consists of weekly hour-long workshops delivered by NHS staff as well as local charities and businesses.

Aspire 350 helped 15-year-old Vlada Liashok feel a part of her new school after she moved to the UK from Ukraine two years ago. The programme, with its small class size of eight, helped her showcase her potential and learn about herself. During the course Vlada learnt essential life skills from financial management to first aid. She discovered that she wanted to study philosophy, politics and economics at university, and was inspired to think about her future career.

Vlada, who lives in south east London, said:

The course becomes a part of who you are – it has led me to the career I want, and provides us with the basic survival skills for life.  

Thomas Soyemi, Vlada’s teacher and head of year 11 at one of the participating secondary schools, said: “I’m always nervous about bringing in external groups in GCSE years as it can be disruptive, but Aspire 350 has been absolutely amazing.

“The programme gave the students the space to be themselves, whilst teaching them life skills that connect with what they learn in school. It has made them feel equipped for their lives ahead.”

Aspiring architect Breanna Davis had never considered a career in the NHS before taking part in the programme. Along with her fellow students, she visited St Thomas’ Hospital to see the variety of roles available within the NHS including engineering, paramedic and catering.

Following her GCSE’s, Breanna plans to sit her T-levels in digital business and then take up a career in architecture. The 16-year-old from Croydon said:

The programme was quite life changing, as it gives you an experience of how hospitals work, and makes you want to think of them as a career path as well. I can now look at hospital architecture as a career path too.

With more than 350 careers available in the NHS, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust needs people with diverse backgrounds and skills to deliver exceptional care to patients.

Hayley Robinson-Allen, schools widening participation manager and project lead, said: “To see the students develop and come out of their shell has been amazing, and I’m so proud of how far they have all come in just over a year.

“Alongside building on life skills, we want to help young people in our local community pursue the careers they want, but perhaps in the careers they didn’t know existed within the NHS. At the Trust we are a ‘little city’, any job you can think of – nursery staff, engineers, chefs – we need.” 

Once students have completed the project they are also offered support with entry level jobs, apprenticeships and internships at the Trust, as well as being registered onto the staff bank.

Through projects like Aspire 350, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity are supporting the workforce of the future.

Barbara Kasumu, Executive Director of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, said: “We are so proud to have funded this pilot project that has supported the education of so many students, like Breanna and Vlada. Through projects, like Aspire 350, we are able to invest in our young people and best support our local community.”