Structured Education Programme

The Structured Education Programme in Pennine is a programme of educational activity that spans the three years of GP training.

It is delivered by a team of enthusiastic experienced educators and administrators, supported and quality assured by Health Education England North West.

The sessions are held at Pennine Acute Hospitals Education Centres.

The Programme is delivered in two parts:

1. ST1&2s are taught together during the first two years of their training.
2. ST3s have a separate programme of activities.

We take a three year view of educational activities mapping each educational session to the GP curriculum ensuring wide coverage.We cover all aspects of the GP Curriculum providing our Trainees a base to help them complete all elements required for MRCGP and independent practice.

The SEP is complimented by teaching within hospital posts, GP Training Practices, with whom we work closely and any elements of personal study.

The format is a mix of lectures and small group work.We encourage active participation at all levels and aim to help Trainees develop as adult learners. 

We have introduced a number of innovative teaching methods that further add and compliment our educational sessions. These include:

1. Focus Groups
2. Theme Days
3. Virtual Surgeries

GPSTs are released for teaching sessions.The Programme is delivered on a Thursday with ST3’s in the morning and ST1 & 2’s in the afternoon.

We are pleased to offer our GPST2’s an innovative method of teaching that compliments the main teaching programme in ST1&2.

The Focus Groups are designed to integrate with the main GPST1&2 teaching programme and to complement it by engaging the learner on topics that are particularly relevant to them during their placement in General Practice. As such it is intended to support the transition from secondary to primary care. It is also intended to ensure that the GPST has exposure to aspects of primary care administration and management needed in preparation for the AKT.

As such, we discuss topics including “Paperwork in Primary Care”, “How GP Practices Earn Money” and “Quality Assurance”.

We also run sessions on Communication Skills, facilitated by our CSA Mentors.

There is also timetabled a Stats afternoon in preparation for the AKT exam.

These groups run alongside the lectures and are intended for those STs who are currently in a GP Practice or GP Plus Post.

There are usually eight sessions per course. It is repeated every 6 months and each trainee is expected to attend one course during their GP placement. Sessions take place between 2.00 and 4.30pm on Thursday afternoons, usually alternating with the lecture.

Attendance is mandatory for all GPST1&2 who are currently working in a GP Practice (either in a standalone GP post or a GP Plus post). Trainees on the course are expected to attend each session unless on annual leave and attendance will be monitored (as it is with the main lectures).

The dates and venues will appear on the timetable.

We are pleased to offer this popular addition to our SEP for all GPSTs in Pennine.

The Theme Days compliment the SEP and are available to any GPST in Pennine. They offer the chance to deliver education in a particular topic in some detail and linked to the GP Curriculum.The events are a full day and draw upon a wide variety of speakers and facilitators who are experts in the particular field of study.

List of topics included in our Theme Days are as follows:

• Mental Health
• Male/Female topics
• Musculoskeletal
• Surgical specialties
• Paediatrics
• Veterans & Public Health
• Cancer

We are pleased to offer this popular addition to our SEP for all GPSTs in Pennine.

Within the virtual surgeries, GPST3s will start to explore and understand important issues of everyday General Practice. The problems, scenarios and conundrums set have been carefully planned to be authentic and to reflect the complexity and challenge of a real life GP.
Each group will work on a scenario and present possible solutions the following week.