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Congratulations to Level 1 Health and Science student, Leila, who has qualified for the NATIONAL FINALS in Wales this November.

Leila is one of only 8 students nationally to be competing.

SO PROUD!

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Celebrating the end of 2024/25 with 100% success for our Level 3 applied science and T level Health students.

Here's Jess who achieved a Merit in the T level Health and is off to the University of Hertfordshire to study Midwifery

"Because a T Level is equivalent to 3 A Levels, it was a better qualification for me to get. It was hard work – the mix of theory work and industry placement is demanding, but rewarding! The industry place is 45 days and it’s really prepared me for university. I’m so excited, I really didn’t think I’d get a Merit! After I graduate, I want to be a midwife. For anyone thinking of going into healthcare, the T Level is great because your industry placement will give you a valuable insight into the work involved."

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We thoroughly enjoyed meeting our new level 1, 2, 3 and T level students who will join us in September.

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Rotational Assistant Technical Officer - Pharmacy

NHS AfC: Band 2

Job overview

The Pharmacy department is looking for an Assistant Technical Officer to become part of our friendly, patient centred team based within the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex. You will support various pharmacy teams including the dispensary, pharmacy stores, and aseptic unit.

This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the pharmaceutical care of hospital patients through the supply of medicines, and is suitable for qualified Pharmacy Assistants or those new to the field looking to start their career in pharmacy.

You will also have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills if required through our Level 2 Pharmacy Pharmacy Services Programme which will give a fantastic foundation to your work and could be the launch pad to progress.

Main duties of the job

Your main duties will be centred around the pharmacy stores, ensuring wards are fully stocked with the medicines they require to treat their patients. You will also get the opportunity to work in our dispensary supplying medicines for in-patients and on discharge and there may be further opportunities in our aseptic unit.

Our Pharmacy team is a notoriously friendly and diverse team who work together in a mixture of behind-the-scenes and patient-facing roles to deliver safe and effective medicines.

Working for our organisation

Our Organisation

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop's Stortford, and St Margaret's Hospital in Epping.

We employ 3,500 staff and serve a local population of around 350,000 people living in west Essex and east Hertfordshire, centred on the M11 corridor and the towns of Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Epping. Our extended catchment area incorporates a population of up to 500,000 and includes the areas of Hoddesdon, Cheshunt and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire.

The Princess Alexandra Promise to our patients as identified by our 3 values which will contribute to improving our patient experiences:

Patient at heart - Always holding the patient and their wellbeing at the centre of our thoughts and efforts

Everyday excellence - Sharing and celebrating our successes, being honest when we get it wrong, giving us the ability to learn from both

Creative collaboration - Knowing strength comes from diversity, we combine our experiences, skills and talents, working together to find new and better ways to care

The Trust believes in investing in all our staff and rewarding high standards of care whilst building for excellence and in return we expect our staff to uphold the Trust values to the highest level.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further details, please refer to the attached job description and person specification, which is available to download at any time.

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Job vacancy: Rotational Assistant Technical Officer - Pharmacy, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow | trac.jobs

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The Pharmacy department is looking for an Assistant Technical Officer to become part of our friendly, patient centred team based within the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex. You will support various pharmacy teams including the dispensary, pharmacy stores, and aseptic unit.

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Congratulations to Level 3 applied science student, Erin, who won the Jack Petchey award. She was presented with her certificate in college and then attended the awards ceremony at Harlow Playhouse.

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The Health and Science team are very proud to announce that we had three winners at the College Annual Awards.

Melisa Boon (Applied Science) won the Department Student Award.

Gabrielle Clegg (T level Health) won the Work Experience Award

Erin Kelly (Applied Science) won the Governor's Award.

CONGRATULATIONS.

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Gabby Clegg - Harlow College awards - 2025

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The students gave us some great feedback about their day at ARU.

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ARU Feedback - Health and Social Care Taster 13.6.25 Harlow College

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5 other Health and Science students were nominated for a Jack Petchey award, including level 1 Health and Science student, Kacper Bieniek.

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The inaugaral group of level 1 health and science learners completed their course today. They have worked hard and we are so pleased that so many of them will join level 2 health and social care or level 2 science next year. Well done!

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T level health students and Level 2 students who will move to the T level in September visited Anglia Ruskin University Health Skills Hub in Chelmsford. Learners were able to experience four departments; nursing, midwifery, operating department practice and social work. The students were complimented for their behaviour and attitude to learning.

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We are delighted to have been appointed as an ambassador centre and will shortly host the first in several CPD days for other colleges and schools to attend.

This will also give us the opportunity to share good practice with other centres to further develop our teaching, learning and assessment.

Well done to all the Hsc teachers who have contributed to us being recognised in this way.

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Thank you to Katie and Karin for taking some level 3 applied science students and A level biology students to this museum.

Here's an account from Katie.

We spent an hour first, looking around the upper floor museum, consisting of thousands of carefully dissected human and animal specimens by John Hunter (2/3 having been destroyed in the second world war). Students were taken on a historical journey of surgery, right up to cutting edge technology currently in use today.  They then had an one and a half hour Surgical skills workshop, with a retired ENT consultant surgeon. They learnt how to gown and glove up with sterile procedures (med students normally spend a whole day practicing this), and use surgical equipment to suture wounds. They learnt about the timeline for a medical student to reach consultant surgeon and had the opportunity to question him.  Following this, they were given the privileged opportunity to visit the anatomy and physiology restricted section, and really get hands on with the specimens. Here they met and were taught by Pathologists, who questioned them and allowed then to deepen their understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathologies. This area is only normally open to Medical students/doctors and all the students behaved with the utmost respect, and were a credit to Harlow College. The museums Learning Coordinator Anouk, is looking into expanding the opportunities at the museum for younger students and whether it would be a suitable option for this age group.  Hopefully this will be a continuing opportunity for our students to engage with.

‘John Hunter (1728-1793) was a renowned surgeon and anatomist who significantly contributed to the field of medicine through his dissection and anatomical studies. He is celebrated for his extensive collection of anatomical specimens, which are now housed in the Hunterian Museum, which is part of the Royal College of Surgeons in London. His work and the museum that bears his name are important for understanding the history of anatomy and surgery’

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We have just heard that three of our students have progressed to the National Qualifiers of the Worldskills UK Health & Social Care Competition. T level students Lily-Rae and Chloe will join level 1 student Leila in the next round!. Well done.

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Our Manager, Philippa led year 11 assembly at Forest Hall School, all about T levels!

Philippa said "It was a privilege to be invited to lead a Year 11 assembly at Forest Hall on T levels. As a T level Ambassador, I enjoy sharing information, answering questions and hopefully recruiting some new students. I was impressed with the attitude and behaviour of the pupils and there were great questions. I look forward to talking to Year 10 pupils in the Autumn."

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Six of our Level 3 applied science students and one of our level 3 lab science apprentices travelled to Middlesex University to take part in the Worldskills UK National Qualifiers. The magnificent 7 all qualified after an online entry stage. We look forward to hearing their results in June! If they are successful, the next round is the National Finals in Swansea in November.

The students are:

Erin, Fathia, Cindy, Ana, Phoebe, Taygan and Toyan.

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Philippa Bennett has won the Emerging STEM educator award in the inaugural She Can Code Awards. Philippa said 'Thank you to everyone who has supported me including the health and science team here at Harlow College who work hard to produce an aspirational curriculum!

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So proud of our first year T level Health students who helped at the Dementia Fair at Harlow Council today. They gave out leaflets, served refreshments and directed visitors in the building. They demonstrated professional behaviour and were superb communicators. Thank you to all the stall holders and Rainbow Services for sharing the Alzheimer's Society Bookcase analogy video. What a great day!

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Thank you to Timesha and Jael, Radiographers from PAHT for talking to Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and T level Health students about their roles and careers in radiography. Over 70 students attended!

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The Hunterian Museum is developing a new Biology programme for Sixth Form schools and colleges with the aim to support A-level and BTEC curricula of biology, science, health and anatomy courses. Two of our science teachers, Karin and Katharine were invited to attend a Teachers’ focus group which included a visit to the Museum, The Anatomy and Pathology Museum and the Library all within The Royal College of Surgeons of England Their participation and feedback will help in how the Museums and Library can support teaching and students’ learning. It is well worth a visit.

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Thank you to Robin Atherlay (Assistant Principal) and Wahida Ahmed (Head of Health & Social Care) from Nottingham College for visiting us to discuss Health & Social Care qualifications, including T level Health and how we can support each other to develop exciting curricula embedding employability and digital technology. As part of the visit, we watched our level 2 applied science learners using Bodyswaps for Interview practice as they prepare for their next steps in college, apprenticeships or work.

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We were delighted to welcome representatives from several colleges to see how we embed digital skills into learning at Harlow College. Our learner representatives showed them around our realistic working environment, including the immersive room. The highlight was a demonstration of Alex and CPR.

The feedback on LinkedIn was great. Here's some from Bolton College:

Had an absolutely fantastic day at Harlow College today! The level of innovation and engagement in teaching and learning was incredible. The use of Apple iPads along with platforms such as Showbie, Padlet, Kahoot!, and Nearpod truly enhances the students experience and brings their lessons to life.

What stood out most was the enthusiasm and passion demonstrated by the teaching staff – it was infectious! The way technology is seamlessly embedded into everything the students do, both inside and outside the classroom, is a testament to the college's commitment to modern and dynamic learning.

It was great to network with other passionate educators and fantastic companies such as Bodyswaps, Japeto, Showbie, Jisc and Apple.

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We are so proud of Louise for achieveing her boxing tutor certificate. Louise coaches boxing in enrichment on Wednesday afternoons.

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Two of our students won medals at the Regional Finals hosted by Harlow College. Level 1 Health & Science learners, Kacper and Angela came 1st and 2nd in their respective categories. They were presented with certificates and medals, hand-crafted by students in our engineering department.

7 colleges and over 100 students attended to compete and we are delighted with their success. CONGRATULATIONS.

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Dr Marie Parsons is a frequent visitor and a superb supporter of Harlow College. This time Marie spoke to Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 and T level learners about healthcare science roles and how healthcare scientists work together with other departments in the hospital and the community.

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Philippa conducted interviews with Year 10 students as part of their career planning. The students were articulate and very well prepared. We look forward to seeing some of them in 2026!

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All of our Level 3 Applied Science learners attended the University and Apprenticeship Fair at The Emirates Stadium. There were over 100 providers there with information, prospectuses and some free gifts. The students had a great morning and now feel more prepared when they start their UCAS applications. Thank you to Karin, Catherine and Faye for taking them.

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Wonderful to find photos of Heather and Jess enjoying art activities with the residents. What a difference they are making to their lives.

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Seven T level Health first year students visited Princess Alexandra Hospital for their induction. They start their T level Industry Placements tomorrow.

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Josh won a £100 amazon voucher for demonstrating commitment to enrichment. He attends gaming club every week and this prize was for attending 5 sessions in a row! Well done Josh.

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Delighted that three of our Level 2 health and social care students took part in this workshop listening to the plan and sharing their views. Matthew, Lucy and Julia volunteered for this important consultation and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Chris Hossack posted on Linkedin "A really impressive group of articulate students who gave some great insight and opinion into the growth of London Stansted"