To mark national T Levels Week 2023, Selby College has opened a brand-new hospital simulation teaching ward – helping to train the next-generation of healthcare professionals.

The state-of-the-art suite enables its T Level Healthcare students to be immersed into real-life scenarios and simulations which they would experience when working in a healthcare setting.

It models a two-bed hospital ward and a community care environment, where students are able to practice on and treat realistic mannequins using industry-standard equipment.

With three full-sized mannequins at their disposal, students can test their clinical skills by taking blood samples, removing catheter tubes from the bladder, treating wounds, inserting feeding tubes and more.

We wanted our students to learn and experience what working on a real-life hospital ward is like and the complexities and demands that this comes with. The mannequins replicate people of all ages, skin colours and bodyweights, meaning students can gain insight into dealing with the needs of a range of different patients. By creating a cutting-edge, interactive teaching centre, our T Level students can seamlessly transition from the classroom to working out in the industry as part of their industry placement.

T Level Health students are currently taking part in industry placements at Osbourne House in Selby, Thorpe Willoughby Pharmacy, Snaith Hall Care Home and Stone Pharmacy in Goole.

A replica nursery classroom setting has also been created for the College’s T Level Education & Early Years students, which includes a soft play, dress up and reading area.

Students train on RealCare baby infant simulators, teaching them basic care such as feeding, changing and dressing infants.

This is benefitting students’ learning whilst they are out on their industry placements, which are with a range of nurseries and schools across the district, including Barlby Bridge Community Primary School, Brayton Headstart Preschool, Pollington Preschool, Rainbow Preschool, Staynor Hall Community Primary Academy and Selby Community Primary School.

I prefer practical learning and studying a T Level means that I can apply what I’m learning in the classroom to real-life scenarios. It has taught me how to deal with different behaviours and his given me experience in working with children with Special Educational Needs (SEND). I hope to study SEND further after completing my course and to find work in this area.

T Levels are two-year qualifications which aim to give students a head-start towards their chosen career path. They have been designed alongside employers to ensure learners have the skills and knowledge that are in demand.

Students spend 80% of their time in the classroom and 20% on a 45-day placement with an employer, providing them with the chance to build skills and knowledge highly sought after by employers, whilst gaining a qualification.

In addition to T Level courses in Health and Education & Early Years, Selby College also offers T Levels in Construction, Digital Services and Engineering.