There are no specific guidelines, and we have not defined this yet because around the country we are aware that there are different effects and circumstances. Our guidance effectively allows for disruption – whatever that may be.

We encourage trainees to have this discussion with their educational supervisor and this can be considered when gathering ARCP evidence. 

In the 2015 curriculum, the minimum recommended numbers are per year of training – not per stage of training.

No, this is no longer available.

All trainees will be able to transfer content from the old LEPT platform to the new LEPT platform.

Training time is whole time equivalent – so all trainees will get the requisite extra time per training year as required in accordance with their working pattern.

Trainees undertaking maternity leave or working less than full time will not be disadvantaged.

The importance of the conversation with educational supervisors in advance is emphasised, so that everything can be reviewed together (what is done, what is still to do when transferring to the new curriculum and to plan ahead) to ensure that appropriate support is in place.

This is listed on the syllabus document on the College website: Histopathology-2021-Syllabus.pdf (rcpath.org)

ICPT is Integrated Cellular Pathology Training and is the first 2.5 years of training which combines all the cellular pathology specialties to provide broad based experience and exposure across all of cellular pathology.

HST is Higher Specialty Training is undertaken in either Histopathology, Diagnostic Neuropathology, Forensic Histopathology or Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology following completion of ICPT. Trainees undertaking Histopathology training in HST are not required to undertake a further interview but competitive interviews are required for entry to Diagnostic Neuropathology, Forensic Histopathology and Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology.

As trainees go through training, they will be expected to produce evidence to show that they have covered the capability in practice for each training year.

The new LEPT platform is mapped to the new curriculum and has all of the new SIPs built in – trainees will be able to automatically link everything they upload and it will be easy to demonstrate.

For trainees who are still on this curriculum, they must have a minimum of 6 months in Stage D, in accordance with the ARCP derogation guidance.

However, a trainee should not be forced to finish Stage D early if they are not ready – it is a question of safe practice. This is a decision for educational supervisor, trainee and Training Programme Director, perhaps with a dean oversight to make that decision (whether extended training time is necessary – however there is no obligation). The same principle applies to the new curriculum.

The new curriculum is based on the new GMC standards which all Colleges must meet. Instead of listing large numbers of competencies, the new curricula are broad-based, incorporating generic professional capabilities, as well as transferable skills.

The new curriculum is written from the practical viewpoint of preparing trainees for the job of a consultant.

There is also a curriculum webinar available on the College website, which was conducted last year, and this also included FAQs.

Finally, the workplace-based assessments are now in the form of supervised learning events. These are integrated into the new LEPT platform but copies are also available for reference on the College website

These are listed on the syllabus document on the College website: Histopathology-2021-Syllabus.pdf (rcpath.org) 

For those trainees part way through the ST year, you will be able to keep the assessments you have done, and these will be moved over to the new platform. You should then speak to your educational supervisor to map what you have already done and agree what assessments you need to do for the remainder of the ST year.  

Trainees should move to the new curriculum after their ARCP. Please see the answer above. 

The definition for 10.2 is ‘Progress is satisfactory but the acquisition of competences/capabilities by the trainee has been delayed by COVID-19 disruption. The trainee is at a critical progression point in their programme and additional training time is required.’ Trainees who are at a critical progression point (e.g. cannot proceed in training without passing an examination) and who have been affected by COVID-19 would receive a 10.2 outcome. It should be noted that none of the Histopathology examinations have been cancelled since Spring 2020 (the Spring 2020 examinations did not go ahead and the additional Autumn 2020 Histopathology Part 2 examination due to take place in January 2021 was moved to the Spring 2021 session). 

No, trainees are asked to meet with their educational supervisor to discuss whether or not they are required to transfer to the new curriculum.  For trainees with a provisional CCT date past the 31 July 2023, it is mandatory to transfer curriculum.

Please contact the Training Department ([email protected]) if there are any queries.

The curriculum has changed as the College wanted to give more emphasis to all the cellular pathology specialties having adequate coverage during the first part of training (e.g. neuropathology, forensic pathology and paediatric pathology as well as histopathology).

The transition from 2 years to 2.5 years is to provide extra exposure and opportunity across all cellular pathology specialties.

For trainees on maternity leave, there will not have an ARCP as such. However, the deanery will note the approximate time when the ARCP would have taken place, and transition onto the new curriculum accordingly.  There will need to be a discussion with educational supervisors to agree the best way to take things forward.

It is vital to plan ahead to come back from maternity leave to the new curriculum.

Yes.

Please contact the Training Department ([email protected]) regarding this as it depends on the length of extension.

The College is using ARCP as a sensible point to transfer from the old to the new curriculum because it is at the end of a training year, moving into the next training year.

The College is also bound by the GMC requirements to ensure that curriculum transition takes place within two years of a new curriculum being introduced.

The trainee will finish their ST2 year, provided they have passed their FRCPath Part 1 and they will transfer to Diagnostic Neuropathology in August at ST3 (if they have finished their ST2 year)

You would move to ST3 – however it is strongly advised to look at the curriculum for any gaps you may have not covered and how you would address those in the following year