Local pupils win regional 'Step into the NHS' competition

Students from South Wilts Grammar School in Salisbury have won the top prize for the South West region in an annual NHS competition.

Students, Alice Ward, Beatrice Wild, Erin Gilson and Poppy Chismon, aged 13, are encouraging other students to enter next year's competition which re-opens this month to celebrate the NHS’ upcoming 75th birthday.

The 'Step into the NHS' competition encourages secondary school pupils to research and create a job advert for an NHS role while learning about the many careers in the health service.

Alice, Beatrice, Erin, and Poppy created a multi-player board game based on the role of Emergency Call Dispatcher.

The aim of the game is to complete as many mission cards as you can before they run out. Players can fall on an ‘action space’ which can either help or hinder them. Throughout the game, participants learn about the role of an emergency call dispatcher and the type of tasks they might face.

You can watch a video of the girls explaining their board game below.

Regional winners, Alice Ward, Beatrice Wild, Erin Gilson and Poppy Chismon, commented, “We had an amazing time working as a team, being creative and having fun. It was the perfect opportunity for us to work together and display our individual strengths whilst working as a group.

"We recommend other students to sign up and give The Step into the NHS competition a go, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. A big thank you to the NHS for producing this contest.”

Health Education England (HEE) runs the Step into the NHS competition each year to raise awareness of the more than 350 career opportunities in the NHS, while supporting the career aspirations of young people in education.

Dr Navina Evans, Chief Executive, Health Education England, said, “Well done to everyone at South Wilts Grammar School who entered the competition, you should all be extremely proud of yourselves.

"I am amazed with Alice, Beatrice, Erin, and Poppy’s game based around an Emergency Call Dispatcher. The concept of the game is incredibly clever and factual, but also creative and fun for all ages. The girl’s hard work will be an inspiration to next years’ contestants.

"This year’s competition saw 898 entries from more than 1,540 pupils in 120 secondary schools across England. As well as encouraging students to explore the range of careers in the NHS, they had the chance to create a job advert for an NHS role in their own personal and creative way."

Michele Chilcott, Headteacher at South Wilts Grammar School, added, “The Step into the NHS competition raises students' aspirations and opens their eyes a to a wide range of health and social care career opportunities.

"We are incredibly proud of Alice, Beatrice, Erin, and Poppy’s teamwork, presentation, and design skills, which impressed teachers as well as the judges.”

Tom Wilkinson, Emergency Operations Centre Recruitment and Retention Lead at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), said, “We would like to congratulate South Wilts Grammar School on their winning entry – what a great achievement!

"The role of an Emergency Medical Dispatcher is a critical part of the ambulance service. They are the first point of contact when a 999 call comes through the medical emergency. They can give lifesaving help and advice ahead of an ambulance resource arriving on scene.”

The judges for the secondary school competition were television presenter Martin Dougan, 2020’s UK Career Leader of the Year Stacey Drake and medical student and vlogger Takanayi Mureyi.

Takanyi, medical student and vlogger, said, “Making a board game can be very complex to create, however this highlighted the girls’ ability work as a team.” 

Stacey Drake, 2020 CDI Careers Leader of the year, said, “What a great concept and board game. Incredible amount of work and effort has taken place- very impressive and I loved the poem.”

Developed in partnership with teachers, the Step into the NHS competition is now open for the 2023 competition. It has curriculum-linked resources for KS2 and KS3, including a careers quiz, an A-Z of NHS careers and stories from NHS staff, introduce students to more than 350 NHS careers. 

For details of all the career opportunities the NHS can offer, visit the NHS Health Careers website here.

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