A specialist academy based at a Hull sixth form college, which has helped hundreds of young people take their first steps towards a career in health and social care, is looking to enrol its next cohort of students ahead of its 10-year anniversary in 2025.
The Medical, Health and Social Care Academy (MHSCA), part of St Mary’s College Sixth Form on Cranbrook Avenue, was established in 2015 by the college and NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group to support local students onto NHS and Social Care career pathways.
The two-year Medical, Health and Social Care Academy programme sits alongside students’ sixth form studies and is delivered in partnership the local NHS organisations and higher education providers, Hull University and Hull York Medical School.
Since its inception, more than 750 students have been through the Academy, with more than half going on to start careers in the NHS, social care and third sector care organisations.
The first of three open events for potential students, who would start the programme in September 2025, takes place at St Mary’s College Sixth Form this Thursday (17 October) from 4.15pm to 6.45pm.
Cicely Alsbury, the Academy’s Partnership Director, said: “When the Academy was set up, we were the first partnership of its kind between the NHS and a higher education institution and as we approach our 10-year anniversary, we continue to go from strength-to-strength.
“The number of our former students going on to further education at our local university and then into a career in health and care in our local workforce speaks volumes about the Academy and our results.”
Jayne Adamson, Executive Director of People at NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which picked up the mantle when clinical commissioning groups were replaced by ICBs, added: “We know many children and young people have an emerging passion for health and care – the Academy sets that passion alight and is an exceptional stepping-stone for teenagers wanting to pursue a career in the NHS and care sector.
“The Academy can be immensely proud of the contribution it is making in the area, with hundreds of former students now working in a wide range of roles right across the local NHS and care sector.
“We hope the Academy, together with other higher and further education providers in Humber and North Yorkshire, can continue to contribute to our workforce for many years to come.”