Work experience students take on virtual hospital placement As part of National Careers Week, over 150 students from BMAT STEM Academy in Harlow took part in a virtual work experience placement with teams at PAHT. The BMAT STEM Academy is a state-of-the art and unique centre that offers a programme of science, technology, engineering and mathematics team, patient experience, site (STEM) based curriculum. management and the daily running of the hospital. The national campaign, which ran from Monday 1 March until “The students applied their Saturday 6 March, allowed learning to make evidence year 10, 11 and 12 students, based recommendations aged 15-18 years old, to for improvements to the gain first-hand experience of departments.” what it is like to work within a hospital environment and set Kain West, a year 11 student them the challenge to plan an from BMAT STEM Academy, improvement project. said: “The experience of meeting some of the NHS Karen Kingsmill, school and workers has given me insight college liaison coordinator said: into their workplace and their “Although this year’s work mindset while working there. experience placements were different due to the coronavirus “This experience as a whole (COVID-19) pandemic, we has given me ideas of what were excited to offer a number jobs to consider if I ever am to of virtual work experience join the NHS.” places to local students. “The tailored work experience schedule allowed the pupils to develop their understanding of the workplace and gain an insight into the many employment opportunities in the NHS. “The students learned more about the quality improvement
about their roles, including the business, administrative, and resource allocative side of the NHS really showed me and the rest of the students diverse careers within the NHS. “It’s paramount that future generations learn about this and I was lucky enough to have that opportunity this week.”
Tara Osman, a year 12 student from BMAT STEM Academy, said: “Listening to the staff talk about their diverse roles as part of the NHS was intriguing because the NHS is often thought of as being nurses, doctors and surgeons, when in fact that is not the reality. “Listening to the staff talk 8
