The School Directors

• Dr Alice Carter - Associate Dean, London Foundation School DirectorDr Celia Bielawski - Deputy Director (North Central London)
• Dr Nick Rollitt - Deputy Director (North East London)
• Dr Fionnuala Crummy - Deputy Director (North West London)
• Dr Channa Jayasena - Academic Lead (North London)
• Dr Amelia Hughes - Deputy Director (South East London)Dr Mark Cottee - Deputy Director (South West London)

The School Administration Team

• Mark Bellaera - Service Delivery Manager
• Simon Rosan - Operations Manager & Foundation School Manager
• Tarek Hussain - Officer (North Central & East London trusts)
• Andrew Goodhand - Officer (North West London trusts)
• Adeola Teluwo - Officer (South London trusts)
• David Jarvis - Administrator
• Launa Broadley - Administrator
• Paige Arnold - Administrator

The Health Education Team (HET), who manage the London Foundation School, use the PGMDE Support Portal for managing all FAQs for both Trusts and Trainees across the region.

Our Most Common FAQs Topics:

Additional Training Time
Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP)
Changes in Circumstances
Inter-Foundation School Transfers (IFST)
Proof of Training
Training Flexibly/Less Than Full-time (LTFT)

Updated 13th September 2024

Congruent with UKFPO 2024 entry criteria

• Personal Circumstances approval for F1 doctors
• Implications for those allocated to the London Foundation School
• Late Personal Circumstances
• New applications for personal circumstances for the F2 year

Personal Circumstnaces approval for F1 doctors

The national pre-allocation (Personal Circumstances) process allows some applicants to apply to be pre-allocated to a Foundation School on the grounds of Personal Circumstances on the basis of the following criteria: 

Criterion 1: You are a parent or legal guardian of a child or children under the age of 18, who reside primarily with you or for whom you have significant caring responsibilities.

Criterion 2: Significant Caring Responsibilities (as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

Criterion 3: You have a health condition or disability for which ongoing follow up for the condition in the specified location is an absolute requirement.

Criterion 4: Extraordinary circumstances (e.g. athlete, armed forces reserves, house adapted for a disability)

Criterion 5: a) educational circumstances

                    b) widening participation

Additional information is on the Foundation Programme website

Approved personal circumstances results in applicants being pre-allocated to a specific foundation school for their foundation training, provided they meet the national allocation criteria and they complete medical school successfully.

Approval of a personal circumstances application does not guarantee allocation to a specific Trust or programme within the foundation school, although there is provision to allocate to a programme group via the national process.

An applicant pre-allocated to a foundation school on the grounds of personal circumstances will not be permitted to link their application to another individual in the application process.

Implications for those allocated to the London Foundation School

Generally foundation schools do not offer pre-allocation of specific programmes within the foundation school to those with personal circumstances.

The London FS, however, covers a wide geographical area.  In order to reduce the chance of a distant allocation, individuals pre-allocated with criteria 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be able to preference the programme group geographically linked to their home address.

The London Foundation School includes 5 programme groups (they may cover wider geographical areas than the descriptors suggest owing to the need to make them fairly similar):

North West London

North Central London

North East London

South London West

South London East

All other applicants will be reviewed looking for a specific and overwhelming need to be offered a specific site/area e.g. F1 on dialysis.

Late Special Circumstances

Applicants who wish to change their allocated foundation programmes will only be able to do so on the basis of having approved personal circumstances, subject to their being a suitable vacancy available, or following an approved swap for the F2 year (see swaps guidance).

F1

Late applications for F1 personal circumstances will be reviewed to confirm their eligibility as soon as they are received.  

Applicants applying for late personal circumstances approval whose home address is outside the London region are encouraged to apply for a foundation school transfer to the foundation school nearest to their home address, as this would provide them with the greatest opportunity of being allocated to a location within a reasonable commute of their home address. 

If a vacancy within the nearest foundation school was not available the applicant would retain their place within London and we would endeavour to identify a vacancy at a trust within a reasonable commute, however, the London FS is unable to guarantee this.

Please refer to the foundation school transfer guidance and application form under “key documents” of the UKFPO website.

New applications for personal circumstances for the F2 year

Some F1 doctors may be eligible to apply for new personal circumstances for F2 owing to a significant change in their circumstances since starting their F1 year:

• Any changes made would be for the location of the F2 year, and would not affect the existing F1 programme.
• If F2 personal circumstances are approved, and it is agreed that the allocated trust is not within a reasonable commute, the location of the linked F2 Trust may be adjusted, subject to available programmes.
• Please note that subsequent reallocation is subject to capacity and therefore it is not always possible to provide a programme at a site within a reasonable commute.
• If you feel you need to make an application for Personal Circumstances please contact the School team here.

Change in Exceptional Circumstances

If you are due to start FY1 in August 2025, or are a current trainee due to start FY2 in August 2025, and you have experienced an exceptional change in circumstances since you applied to the foundation training programme which affects your ability to complete training in your current location, please let us know via completion of the following form: 

***Form to be made available in March/April 2025***

Please also ensure that you submit your additional supporting information via our applicant support portal here

We are only able to consider an exceptional change in circumstances that can be evidenced and will not consider any requests for programme swaps between doctors who have had no change to their personal circumstances.  

The criteria are those in the guidance for IFSTs 2024 on the UKFPO website: 

1. Parental responsibilities. 
2. Primary carer responsibilities. 
3. Medical condition or disability for which ongoing follow-up for the condition in the specified location is an absolute requirement. 
4. Unique circumstances (these must be unique, not other circumstances which do not meet the requirements for the other criteria). 

The forms are open from ***Date TBC** at 12pm and will close at 5pm on ***Date TBC*** with all submissions being reviewed by the foundation school directors shortly after.  

There are very limited numbers of alternative programmes available so it is highly unlikely we will be able to place successful applicants in their preferred alternative location, but we will do all we can to take your circumstances into account. 

Details of 2025 Group Preferencing will be published on this page shortly.

A copy of the 2024 presentation slides can be found here: 2024 LFS Group Preferencing Slides

The London Foundation School officially started August 2023, with North-West London, North Central and East London and South London combining. Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) uncoupled from South Thames to form an independent KSS Foundation School.

There is one Foundation School Director (FSD)/ Associate Dean, who works closely with 5 deputy FSDs, each aligned to a geographical area (North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-West and South-East), each also lead on a Pan-London workstream.

The London Foundation School covers a huge diverse cultural and socio- economic area giving a huge range of training opportunities for the more than 2000 Foundation doctors in the school. There are five London Integrated Care Systems (ICS): NW, NC, NE, SW and SE, overseeing 34 acute and mental health trusts, along with many General Practices. There is a wealth of experience and opportunities here and we look to welcoming you to our school. This prospectus should provide you with all the information you require when considering foundation training in London. We hope you find it useful. London Foundation School Team.

Please find our school prospectus for 2024 here: LFS 2024 Prospectus       

Each of our affiliated trusts provide us with Individual Placement Descriptors (IPDs) for each of the posts within our programmes detailing:

• Site of the job
• Main duties of the placement
• Typical working pattern
• Employer Information

The IPDs for each Trust can be accessed below:

North London Trusts

• Barts Health NHS Trust
• Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• London North West Healthcare NHS Trust
• North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
• Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
• The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust          
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Whittington Health NHS Trust

South London Trusts

• Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
• Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
• King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
• St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

London Foundation School Swapping Process

UPDATED: Friday 6th October 2023

Position Statement

In December 2019 the London and KSS Foundation School decided they would mirror the approach to swaps adopted by other UK Foundation Schools, which aims to offer flexibility to foundation doctors whilst ensuring a generic and broad training programme for all.

The decision was taken that only foundation doctors entering an F2 training programme would be allowed to swap, with the window of opportunity for making arrangements being in their F1 year. The process will be supported by the Foundation administrative team.

As of August 2023 the London regions have merged to create the Pan London Foundation School. As part of this merge swaps will be permitted across the whole of the Pan London region.

The Pan London region includes the following sub regions: North Central, North East, North West, South West, South East London.

There are two types of swaps:

• Whole Programme Swaps (Also referred to as Swap Shop)

• Swapping of Individual Placements (Also referred to as Local Swaps)

Three Way Swaps

Owing to the increasing administrative burden and complications caused in previous years swaps involving more than two Foundation doctors will not be approved this year.

Introduction

Pan London Foundation School

For the 2023 F1 cohort, whole programme swaps will be permitted across the whole of the Pan London Region. Swapping of individual placements will still only be allowed within the same Trust

Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation School

The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation School is no longer managed by us.

Please submit any swap queries to them to the following inbox:

england.kssfoundationyear2.se@nhs.net         

If you wish to move from a London Foundation programme to a KSS Foundation programme this needs to be done through the national IFST process. Guidance can be found on the UKFPO website: https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/faqs/stand-alone-faqs-ifst/

Swapping of Individual Placements (local swap)

If F1 doctors wish to swap a single placement in their F2 programme they must submit an application via the PGMDE Support Portal here.

This process permits foundation doctors to apply to swap a post with another foundation doctor within the same Trust.

The request must be received by the dates laid out in the key dates section below.

You do not need to be registered for Swap Shop in order to participate in a Local Swap.

Swaps between more than two foundation doctors are not permitted.

Late applications cannot be accepted and there is no opportunity to appeal.

Whole Programme Swaps (Swap Shop)

Sometimes doctors’ circumstances change and so they wish to change the location of their training or experience a different set of specialties.

To facilitate such changes, we offer a foundation doctor led swapping process. in which a doctor may swap their entire F2 programme with another doctor.  

F1 doctors will be asked to notify us if they wish to put forward their entire F2 programme for swapping with other F1 doctors and agree to their details being shared with others in the same position. The Foundation admin team will manage this data securely.

It is then the foundation doctor’s responsibility to find a swapping partner and complete the appropriate paperwork.

Swaps between more than two foundation doctors are not permitted.

Both foundation doctors must be registered for swap shop by the dates laid out in the key dates section below.

The swap application must be received by the dates laid out in the key dates section below.

Late applications cannot be accepted and there is no opportunity to appeal.

Eligibility

Eligibility for Whole Programme Swaps (Swap Shop)

• Must be a full time Foundation Doctor
• Must not be out of sync
• Must not be on the specialised foundation programme

Eligibility for Local Swaps

• Foundation doctors on the specialised foundation programme may not swap their academic placement. They may only swap their clinical placements
• LTFT or other out of sync foundation doctors must submit a ticket ahead of applying for a local swap to be reviewed and approved by the Foundation School Director on a case by case basis

Ensuring Education Balance

All programmes are designed to be educationally balanced and provide exposure to a range of specialties during the two years of the programme. All 2-year programmes should include a community placement.

London and KSS guidance for maintaining educational balance is set out below.

Your two-year programme should contain no more than:

• 8 months in a surgical specialty
• 8 months in a community specialty
• 4 months in a psychiatry placement

You cannot repeat a community specialty (e.g. GP, community paediatrics) but it may be possible to repeat one medical, surgical, or other sub-specialty, depending on availability of posts.

Key Dates – 2025 dates TBC

• 5^th February 2024 - Whole programme swap registration opens and local swap application window opens.
• 12^th February 2024 - Whole programme swap registration closes.
• 14^th February 2024 - Swap registrant details shared with other applicants via secure data sharing method and window opens.
• 15th March 2024 - Swap window closes – ALL swap applications (both local and whole programme) must be received by 5pm on this date.
• 18th March 2024 - Applications to FSDs.
• 25th March 2024 - FSDs to inform HET of swap decisions.
• 4^th April 2024 - Applicants notified of outcome.
• May 2024 - Trusts notified of change via TROG (May vary from Early Snapshot).

FAQs

Why can I not swap my F1 placements?

It is felt that it is important for an F1 doctor to settle into their training before deciding to swap the content of their programme. In addition, as we are only running one window to facilitate swapping we are only able to offer this when you are halfway through your F1 year.
 

If my application to swap is rejected can I appeal?

No, the Foundation School Director’s decision is final and you will be given a reason for their decision.
 

Do both applicants needs to apply to swap?

No, you can identify a lead applicant and we will notify both of you of the outcome. It is however essential that both of you have registered.
 

What is the difference between Local Swap and Swap Shop

Local swaps are for trainees who wish to swap one or more F2 placements with another trainee within the same FY2 Trust. You do not need to register for Swap Shop to submit a local swap, just complete a Local Swap form and submit it via the support portal.

Swap Shop is for trainees who wish to swap their whole F2 programme with another trainee. The programme swapped doesn’t necessarily need to be within the same Trust but needs to remain within the same region. You must register for Swap shop AND submit an application.
 

Can Academic Doctors apply for Local Swaps or Swap Shop?

If you have been allocated to an academic programme you are you are not eligible to enter into Swap shop but may apply for a Local Swap. Should you apply for a local swap you may only swap your clinical placements.
 

Can Military Doctors apply for Local Swaps or Swap Shop?

No. Military placements have specific requirements managed by the Defence Deanery which means they cannot be included in the Swap process.
 

I have registered but my fellow trainee has not; can we apply to swap?

All trainees wishing to take part in the Swap Shop must be registered. If one trainee is registered and the other isn’t then the swap application will be declined.
 

I want to request at least two rotation swaps with the same trainee via the Local Swap process; how do I do this?

If you wish to swap more than one rotation with the same trainee via the Local Swap process, you are required to submit separate forms for each rotation you wish to swap. (For example, if you wish to swap your first placement and your second you would need to submit two separate forms, one for each placement).

I missed the window for swap shop, can I submit a late application?

No, swap requests outside the formal swap shop window will not be permitted.

Please contact the admin team on 020 7866 3216 or by visiting the support portal: https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/

STEP (Supporting Trainees Entering Practice) which was previously known as Transfer of Information (TOI) is a supportive process that takes place between Medical School to F1 and between F1 to F2. All foundation doctors are encouraged to engage with the process fully to enable the Foundation School and trusts to provide support.

Medical school students will be supported by their local medical school administrative team after allocation to their Foundation School.

Foundation doctors progressing between F1 - F2  will be advised of the TOI process as part of their ARCP.

The UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) provides a central information point for medical schools, foundation schools, foundation doctors and the faculty involved in foundation training. The aim of the UKFPO is to develop and promote innovative training methods, such as e-learning and the electronic portfolio, as well as to develop and administer the recruitment and programme allocation system throughout England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

Information relating to the national recruitment process for Academic, Standard, Priority Programmes, Psychiatry Fellow and Standalone Foundation programmes can all be found on the UKFPO website

For more information visit: www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk