London’s private school pupils allegedly struggling to get work experience in hospitals

A growing number of private school pupils are allegedly struggling to get work experience placements at NHS hospitals in London.

Some hospitals are reportedly reserving placements for state-school pupils, meaning students from private schools may be less likely to receive the essential clinical exposure required for a medical degree.

Advice for prospective medical students from the British Medical Association claims clinical exposure is essential to even be considered for a medical degree, and medical schools will expect all applicants, regardless of their background, to have a “broad range of healthcare experience.”

According to the Daily Mail, a prospective medical student from a south London school was supposedly told by King’s College Hospital Trust that private school pupils were not permitted on some of their courses, even if they lived in the area.

Gordon West, who is head of careers at a prestigious independent school, Stowe, alleged one of his students had also been unable to secure a work placement.

Speaking about the pupil’s experience, he said: “This young woman is not from a wealthy background at all; she’s from one of the highest priority groups there are.

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The Daily Mail reported that the institutions prioritising applicants from state schools were St Bartholomew’s Hospital,  University College London Hospitals (UCLH), King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which includes the world-famous teaching hospital, King’s College Hospital, and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. 

However, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust told The London Tab that whilst they do prioritise applications from students attending state schools, it’s to ensure its commitment to creating opportunities for individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and for bridging career-related access gaps.

A spokesperson for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust said the hospital do not reserve places, but it does want to represent the local communities they serve and have criteria they follow surrounding where they encourage applications from.

UCLH said around 20 per cent of students on work experience placements last year were from independent schools, and to ensure they support the community, a specific scheme is offered to local schools.

Bart’s Hospital also clarified students can access work experience either through a staff referral or a participation programme for local schools, which has no restrictions on private school students.

Asked about the reports, the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, told LBC: “I’m really sorry, that’s actually the first I’ve heard of that story. I thought that I was briefed on absolutely every single aspect of what’s going on across our NHS today. But that is news to me. 

“Generally speaking, I think if people are qualified to do a particular job or to get a particular type of work experience, then they should be qualified to do that. And there’s usually equalities legislation which ensures that.

“As far as I know, there is nothing in our equalities legislation that would allow discrimination of that nature. But I’m not across the detail of this particular story.

“But my instinctive reaction is to say that if you are qualified to do a type of work or get a certain type of work experience then whatever your background you should be able to do that.” 

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A spokesperson at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “While we welcome work experience applications from students enrolled at fee-paying schools, we prioritise applications from students attending state schools.

“Our decision is rooted in a commitment to create opportunities for individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and a desire to bridge the gap in access to career-related opportunities.

“We are committed to providing opportunities to individuals who might otherwise be disadvantaged due to their socio-economic circumstances.

“One critical aspect we consider is the broad network and connections that students from fee-paying schools often possess. This network can significantly impact their exposure to various careers, due to interactions facilitated by their school curriculum.

“Striving to create more equitable access for local children, we aim to counterbalance these advantages by offering our work experience programmes primarily to those who face greater challenges in accessing such networks and opportunities.

“Our approach is evidence-based and data-driven, aligning with a nationwide effort to address disparities and ‘level up’.  By focusing largely on students from state schools, we hope to contribute to closing the gap and providing exposure to those who may not otherwise have such opportunities.

“King’s is an anchor institution, supporting our local community to thrive. 

“Students are very welcome to join us as volunteers (from age 16). This enables them to show longer-term commitment to the NHS, which extends past the work experience period volunteering.”

A spokesperson for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust said: “South London and Maudsley has a long and proud history of being a pioneer in mental health research and treatment.

“Our commitment to clinical excellence is second to none and many of the country’s leading clinicians would have been, and are being, trained at the Trust.

“It is especially important to us that we support people from across our diverse communities to follow their dreams and take on a career in mental health. Work experience opportunities are the very first step for young people to get an inspiring taster of what it is like working in mental health services.

“We welcome and support requests for work experience from people of all backgrounds who meet the criteria, including those who attend private school. We are particularly keen to support our local schools and actively encourage applications that represent our communities.

“We strongly encourage anyone interested in career in the NHS to look at https://www.jobs.nhs.uk today.”

A UCLH Spokesperson said: “It is incorrect that independent school pupils are barred from gaining work experience at UCLH – around 20 per cent of placements last year went to pupils at independent schools. As a leading teaching Trust we receive large volumes of work placement requests from across the country so to support our community we offer a specific scheme to local schools.”

A spokesperson from Bart’s Hospital said: “There are two ways in which students can access work experience at our hospitals – either through a staff referral or Healthcare Horizons, a participation programme for local schools in East London Boroughs.

“There is no restriction on private school students. We welcome students aged 14-19, regardless of whether they attend a state or independent school. ”

NHS England has not yet responded to a request for comment. 

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