Unit Award Scheme
Case study The Children’s Hospital School at Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College Hospital
The Children’s Hospital School in central London provides education for children and young people across two hospital trusts. Its leaders and teachers aim to minimise the interruption and disruption to children and young people’s education so that, as far as possible, academic progress and an interest in learning will continue throughout a hospital admission.
Why we use the Unit Award Scheme
Elaine Sheil, Assistant Headteacher, said she chose the Unit Award Scheme in September 2021 as she had heard about its positive impact on pupils in other hospital schools. She said that students “can work towards the outcomes of awards from such a variety of subjects and topics that can pique their interest. We offer as many units as our learners choose to do.”
Young people at the school have learned about a wide range of subjects from Art: “Polystyrene Tile Making” to working on parts of their GCSE Maths curriculum: “Use of symbols Part 1”.
Teachers have also been able to write AQA Unit Awards such as “3D Printing” and “Taking Part in a Philosophical Dialogue” in order to maximise the achievement of their learners. So far, 90 young people have each achieved at least one Unit Award and overall they have achieved 161 AQA Unit Awards in total. They are truly proud of their certificates.
All teaching staff at the school have undergone training in how to deliver unit awards. This means they are able to explain to learners about the scheme, support them with their choice of topics, and outline what they will have to aim towards to be awarded with a certificate at the end.
For the Children’s Hospital School, the scheme gives learners the opportunity to boost their confidence and maintain their education. Learners who’ve been awarded a certificate have said:
- “At least I didn’t waste my time in hospital.”
- “Now people will believe I can really do maths.”
Learners at the Children’s Hospital School have found that the scheme is hugely motivational and personalised – it promotes the idea that learning and achievement are possible in the most trying of circumstances.
The scheme helps to make learners feel that they are valued at a time when they are away from their mainstream education. The sheer range of awards, the flexibility of the scheme and the ease of administration are among the benefits for the Children’s Hospital School and its learners.

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