The guidance responds to persistent underrepresentation of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds in medicine. It supports the national strategy for social mobility and addresses challenges such as limited geographical reach, lack of early intervention, and inconsistent evaluation.
Summary
This outreach guidance, part of the Medical Schools Council’s “Selecting for Excellence” initiative, provides a comprehensive framework for medical schools to design, deliver, and evaluate outreach programmes aimed at widening participation in medicine. It outlines a staged approach—introductory, developmental, and consolidation activities—targeting learners from primary school through to mature applicants.
Key findings
- Outreach must begin early, ideally in primary school, and continue through secondary education and beyond.
- Programmes should be sustained, progressive, and tailored to the learner’s stage of development.
- Medical student ambassadors are powerful role models and should be integrated into outreach delivery.
- Collaboration with central university outreach teams, NHS Trusts, and other medical schools enhances reach and effectiveness.
- Evaluation is often lacking but essential for understanding impact and improving practice.
- Mature learners and students in rural areas face additional barriers and require targeted support.
Recommendations
The report offers a “Top Ten Tips” for effective outreach, including:
- Structure outreach as a journey from early exposure to application support.
- Leverage university-wide outreach expertise and resources.
- Use relatable medical student ambassadors to inspire participants.
- Align primary school outreach with secondary school partnerships.
- Support informed subject choices at key educational stages.
- Help post-16 students build confidence and navigate the application process.
- Engage and educate teachers, parents, and carers.
- Embed outreach in the medical school’s leadership and culture.
- Prioritise evaluation to inform continuous improvement.
- Integrate outreach with admissions, student support, and career development.
Programme structure
The guidance divides outreach into three phases:
- Introductory (Primary School): Focus on aspiration-raising, demystifying medicine, and engaging families.
- Developmental (Secondary School): Support subject choices, build confidence, and deepen understanding of medicine.
- Consolidation (Post-16 and Mature Learners): Provide application support, mentoring, interview preparation, and career guidance.
Each phase includes case studies, suggested activities (e.g. summer schools, mentoring, workshops), and evaluation strategies.
Next steps
Medical schools are encouraged to:
- Coordinate outreach with university-wide and national efforts.
- Collaborate regionally to ensure equitable access across the UK.
- Track participant outcomes using tools like the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT).
- Embed outreach in strategic planning and governance structures.
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