NHS Lothian

A career pathway has been developed in order to progress a pupil from S5 to become a registered Biomedical Scientist.

There are three types of senior phase programmes offered to West Lothian Students:

HNC Applied Science over two years: This programme is offered to S5 pupils only and is delivered on two afternoons per week and enables the students to gain the HNC over two years. There is the option to leave at the end of S5 with the NPA.

HNC Applied Science over one year: This programme is offered to S6 pupils and is delivered over two days (Mon / Tues) and is dependent on school timetabling.

PDA Science: Offered to S6 pupils and is delivered over one day [Mon] and is dependent on school timetabling.

Those students that attain the HNC Applied Science can either progress to year 2 in a science related degree at various universities or they can apply for a Modern Apprenticeship.

Students who leave in S5 with the NPA and those who leave in S6 with the PDA can also apply for a Modern Apprenticeship.

The Science Training School collaborates with a number of science related industries thereby providing the students with the opportunity to visit the work place and gain an insight to the various careers available.

What benefits or impacts have resulted from these activities? 

For employers:

• Provides potential employers to meet the students and give them an overview of the various careers available to the young people.
• The NHS and the wider the life science industry will be able to recruit learners who have attained both the academic knowledge and the skills required, reducing the time for new recruits to be fully operational in the lab.

For young people:

• Provides a variety of opportunities on leaving school – more positive destinations.
• Learners gain access to work placements within a working NHS Laboratory
• The training laboratory at the St John’s site will be run to industry quality standards ensuring that learners know what it means to work in a working lab
• Small group work aids students understanding of both the academic and vocational work undertaken within laboratory

For the Public Sector: 

Pupils are learning about healthcare science career opportunities (over 50) available to them thus increasing the pool of potential employees.

Establishing the school has brought several benefits for each organisation.

Fife College has been able to learn from NHS Lothian laboratory staff and introduce modern realistic practicals into the curriculum thereby increasing staff knowledge through CPD sessions but also providing the students with work experience.