Information for trainees
Are you ready for your Annual Review of Progression?
The school is preparing to commence the Annual Review of Progression (ARP) for active trainees between years 2 – 6 on the HSST. Trainees commencing in September 2026 will not be asked to participate.
The review period will run from Monday 2 November to Tuesday 1 December 2026 where we will require all trainees and their supervisors to let us know about their progress towards the programme requirements including:
- Academic award – DClinSci
- Progress against the HSS standards of proficiency on the e-portfolio OneFile.
- Progress towards or completion of the professional exams.
- FRCPath parts 1 and 2 for Life Scientists with the Royal College of Pathology.
- Independent Assessment of Professional Skills (IAPS) with the school for non-Life Scientists.
- Confirmation of expected end of funded 5th year (end date) where applicable and 12 month or equivalent 6th year unfunded window (completion date), which is the date all aspects of the programme must be completed successfully in order to receive the Certificate of Completion for the HSST (CCHSST).
On Monday 2 November 2026, you and your supervisor will receive a link via email to a digital form to complete during the review window. This will allow us to assess your progress against your current timeline and determine if there are any trainees who may have issues with completing the programme on time or who require additional support or guidance.
The form will be in 2 parts:
1. Data and progression confirmation – mandatory
Confirmation of data held about you in relation to completion timelines, interruptions, extensions or other adjustments as well as your progress on the programme against the required activities.
This part of the form is mandatory and must be completed by all trainees and their workplace supervisors. Failure to complete it will mean the school may not be able to support any issues with progression or completion or award any adjustments if needed later on in the programme.
2. Raising a concern – by exception
This section should only be completed if there are current or prior issues that have impacted on you or your trainee’s ability to progress as planned over the last 12 months that you think the school should be aware of.
Issues that can be or have been resolved locally and do not impact on any required elements of the programme do not need to be reported.
The universities delivering the DClinSci will be invited separately to identify any concerns by exception.
Read more about how to raise a concern about progress
Outcomes and next steps
You will no longer receive an assessed outcome from this process as it has been redesigned to focus on your support needs. However, this is your opportunity to receive support for your training if you need it. Failure to notify us of problems when given the opportunity via ARP may impact on our ability to support your application in the event you require adjustments to your training such as extensions or interruptions in the future.
Read more about steps following on from the Annual Review of Progression
If you have identified barriers to your progress and we feel you need additional support, we may offer further guidance via email or get in touch to arrange a support meeting with one of the school’s HSST Training Programme Directors.
Out of sync trainees
Anyone who is not actively training, for example due to an interruption or parental leave, will have an opportunity at the next ARP, or can contact us separately, to let us know about any issues with their training.
Information for trainees and supervisors
Your opportunity to shape the future of the STP curriculum
This academic year’s curriculum rolling review is now starting and we are looking for:
- Lead Editors for Clinical Informatics and Urodynamic Science
- Curriculum Reviewers for the Life Sciences periodic review
Find out more about these roles and how to apply for them
Suggest updates to the curriculum
There is still time to submit feedback on the STP curriculum to inform next year’s rolling review. Feedback can be submitted through the Curriculum Library until Friday 18 September. Feedback received after this date will be considered in the following review cycle.
Submit your feedback in the Curriculum Library
Introduction to OneFile for HSST trainees and supervisors
Friday 6 November 2026 – 11am to 12pm
Join us for an introduction to OneFile, where we will show how to navigate the system, set up your submissions and give you some top tips and tricks to ensure you get the most out of the e-portfolio software during the HSST.
View further details and register for this webinar
OCSO Healthcare Science webinar – Research
The Office of the Chief Scientific Officer (OCSO) at NHS England would like to invite you to a healthcare science webinar series. The purpose of these webinars is to provide the latest information and engage with healthcare scientists on relevant topics.
The next webinar will focus on Research and will be on Wednesday 28 October 2026 from 12pm to 1pm.
If you would like to attend this webinar, please register your interest here. Following registration, the invite will be sent to you in a separate email.
The webinar is open to healthcare science professionals at all levels. You can also register for the CSO’s healthcare science bulletin here.
Register for the OCSO webinar on research
NHS England launches Educator Development Fundamentals framework
The Educator Development Fundamentals framework has been published to support the development of healthcare educators across all professions in the NHS workforce.
It sets out 9 core capability areas covering skills, knowledge and behaviours needed for high-quality education, supervision and assessment, from supporting safe care and inclusive practice to digital capability and continuing professional development.
The guide can be used by educators to identify development needs, by employers to support workforce planning, and by commissioners to inform service specifications.
With thanks to the broad range of organisations across healthcare, education and regulatory sectors we’ve worked with to produce the guide including, NHS trusts, ICBs, universities, professional regulators (the GPC and GMC), and ambulance services.
Read the Educator Development Fundamentals framework
Contribute to our Sharing Good Practice webinar series
If you or your network have developed practice that you feel could be valuable to share with your peers, please express an interest in sharing your practice.
Express an interest in sharing your practice
Information for supervisors
HSST Induction 2026
We will be holding the HSST Induction Day online this year via Microsoft Teams on Monday 5 October, 10am to 4:15pm. View the agenda for the day.
National School staff will also be present and involved in the face-to-face induction day at MAHSE.
Trainees joining the HSST will need to attend this key event as part of their induction to the training programme.
HSST Train the Trainer webinar
Thursday 19 November 2026 – 10am to 3pm
If you are new to the HSST supervisor role, you are expected to attend a Train the Trainer webinar, which will introduce you to the programme and your responsibilities.
View further details and register for this webinar
Missed a previous edition of the HSST Monthly Memo?
You will find previous copies of the HSST Monthly Memo on our website.