In the Social and Health Studies department at Thomas
Alleyne's High School in Uttoxeter, specialist subject teachers are
employed who also have experience of the subjects they teach,
outside the classroom. This includes a qualified state registered
nurse who has spent 15 years in a variety of general and
specialised hospital roles and who brings an enormous knowledge to
the department. It's not just her anatomy and physiology knowledge
and practical nursing skills that have been invaluable to the
students, but also her knowledge of current legislation and
provision of services which have consistently helped students to
achieve top grades in Unit 8 - Care Practice and Provision.
Another member of staff has previously worked on a
school for students with behavioural difficulties and now works 1
day a week with a Homestart family. She is able to transfer these
'real life' skills and knowledge to her classroom practice and
broaden the students understanding and experience of the wider
world of care, not just that which is learned from a text book. A
third member of the department previously worked as a histology
technician in a hospital and can bring the knowledge of human
anatomy gained from witnessing post mortems and pathologist's
dissections to her anatomy and physiology lessons and bring the
topic, quite literally, to life.
Students are encouraged to try out many fields of interest such as
nurseries and primary schools, hospitals, residential care homes
and working with vulnerable young people. Whilst at work
placements, students work closely with a mentor from each care
setting to ensure they are aware of health and safety issues,
specific policies and procedures and so that they have feedback on
their performance over the time spent in the care setting.
Year on year, there has been an exceptional number of
offers of university places to students, and the amount and variety
of work experience done is very often been a deciding factor.
Contact George for more information