Overview
Playing an active role in nurturing and training the next generation of GPs and other health care professionals gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge, shape future practice, and make a lasting impact on the workforce of tomorrow. Along the way, you’ll develop new skills, gain fresh perspectives, stay up to date with clinical developments, and join a supportive community of passionate educators. Many clinicians find that becoming an Educator reignites their enthusiasm for practice and provides a renewed sense of professional fulfilment.
Why become an Educator?
Training Pathway
In the East of England there is a straightforward 5 step pathway for ‘Aspiring Educator Training’, which is run by the local Training Hubs on a regular basis which started in early 2024.
You can become a Tier 3 educator aka Educational Supervisor (or trainer in the old language), or tier 2b Educator aka Clinical supervisor (associate trainer) or Tier 2a, OOH supervisor, by doing more, or less, of the content in the pathway. (Up to level Tier 2b this may be appropriate for other professionals apart from GPs who have an input into GP Registrar training.)
The training uses a blended approach, and is guided by a very usable handbook that provides a long lasting record of your learning. Apart from your handbook which has links to the teaching through relevant content, videos, exercises, examples and reflection, there is a half day Educational Theory webinar and a 2 day Face-to-face workshop. Finally, there is a simple form that requires your details and declaration of suitability and completion of training. The whole process takes around 25-35 hours.
Ongoing Quality Monitoring
As an Educator there are ongoing requirements to keep up to date in your Educator role, and to ensure you are providing a good experience for your learners. To support this, the Primary Care School offers a range of educational events, development opportunities, and regular newsletters, while local GP training schemes provide Educator meetings, workshops, and networking opportunities throughout the year.
Approximately two years after being approved as an Educator in the East of England, you will be asked to complete a self-declaration form aligned with the national Educational Quality Framework. As part of this process, Educators are expected to have attended at least 50% of local Trainer meetings and one Primary Care School educational development day.
The Training Hub also gathers feedback from learners and Training Programme Directors (TPDs) to help ensure high standards of educational practice. If all requirements are met and feedback is satisfactory, you will not normally be required to complete a further self-declaration for another four to five years. At this stage, there are additional expectations to demonstrate how you have further developed your educational experience, knowledge, and skills.
The most up to date requirements can be seen here: Ongoing Quality Monitoring | East of England
Teaching Medical Students
Some GPs and Practices enjoy playing their part in the education of undergraduate medical students.
There are 3 local universities who regularly send students:
Contact should be made directly with the university or medical school, and the commitment and arrangements for students at different stages of their undergraduate journey varies from year to year and university to university.