The Thames Valley School of Paediatrics offers a highly competitive and comprehensive 7-year run-through training programme, with entry points at Specialty Training Year 1 (ST1) and occasionally at ST3.
Trainees rotate between the following hospitals:
- Oxford University Hospitals (John Radcliffe Hospital/ Children’s Hospital Oxford)
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Milton Keynes University Hospital
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe Hospitals)
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (Wexham Park Hospital, Slough)
The John Radcliffe Hospital (JRH) serves as the tertiary centre and offers placements in:
- – Level 3 NICU
- – PICU
- – Tertiary subspecialties including:
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Respiratory
- Neurology
- Haematology/Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Rheumatology
- Allocation Process (ST1–ST3)
- Allocations for ST1 to ST3 are made in national recruitment rank order. Candidates with higher scores will have their first choice of rotations.
- For allocation purposes, the deanery is divided into two geographical areas:
- Thames Valley North
- Milton Keynes University Hospital
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare (Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Wycombe Hospital)
- Thames Valley South
- Royal Berkshire Hospital (Reading)
- Frimley Health (Wexham Park Hospital, Slough)
- Trainees will be allocated to either North or South for their ST1 and ST3/4 rotations. All trainees will be based at Oxford University Hospitals for ST2.
- Before starting the programme, trainees will be asked to choose their preferred region (North or South), allowing them to know their likely placements for ST1–ST3.
- Once allocated to North or South:
- ST1 Will be at one District General Hospital (DGH)
- ST3 will be at the other DGH within the same region
- Trainees are usually kept at the same DGH for ST4, so choices should be made with this in mind (you may spend two years there)
- Due to changes in trainee numbers (e.g. parental leave, OOP), there may be opportunities to change placement following discussion with the Training Programme Director (TPD), particularly between ST3 and ST4.
Post Structure
Lower School
ST1
- Location: District General Hospital
- Clinical exposure:
- General paediatrics
- Level 2 neonates
- Community paediatrics
- Structure varies by site:
- Some DGHs offer 6 months Paediatrics + 6 months neonates
- Others provide an integrated year-long mix
- Training posts:
- 4 ST1 posts per DGH
- Total of 16 ST1 posts across Thames Valley
ST2
- Location: Oxford (all trainees)
- Structure:
- 6 months Level 3 neonates
- 4 months speciality paediatrics
- 2 months community paediatrics
- Allocations occur around April of ST1 year. Trainees will be asked to indicate preferred timing of neonates block, specialty preferences and timing of community paediatrics.
- Available specialty groupings (4 options):
- Gastroenterology/Endocrinology
- Haematology – Oncology
- Cardiology/Respiratory
- Neurology
- Cross-cover between specialties is required.
- There will be residents who are allocated two different specialties due to numbers, and some will have the four-month block split into two, with community paediatrics in the middle.
- Posts are allocated as fairly as possible, balancing trainee priorities.
- Additional opportunity:
- 1–2 trainees may undertake a 6-month Public Health Fellowship.
ST3
- Location: District General Hospital (opposite DGH within your North/South allocation)
- Clinical exposure:
- General Paediatrics
- Level 2 neonates
- Additional opportunity:
- Two 6-month PHDU/PICU posts in Oxford – Appointed via competitive application and interview
Upper School (ST4–ST7)
Trainees typically remain at their ST3 DGH for ST4.
- Training from ST4–ST7 consists of a mixture of:
- General Paediatrics
- Level 2 Neonates (DGHs)
- Subspecialty placements at John Radcliffe Hospital
- Placements are allocated every 6 months. Trainees will be asked for preferences before each rotation; however, first choices cannot be guaranteed.
- Number of training posts as of December 2025 are as follows:
| Oxford Specialty | Number of posts |
| Haematology | 2 + 1 (GRID) |
| Endocrinology | 1 + 1 (GRID) |
| Respiratory | 1 + 1 (GRID) |
| Neurology | 2 + 1 (GRID) |
| Community | 2 + 2 (GRID) |
| Cardiology | 0 |
| PICU | 6 |
| Neonates | 9 (includes 2–3 GRID trainees) |
| General (Oxford) | 4 |
| Infectious Disease | 1 (GRID) |
| ID Clinical Lecturers | Separate pathway |
| PEM GRID (via ED pathway) | 1 |
| District General Hospital | Training posts |
| Wrexham Park Hospital (WPH) | 10 (includes community GRID) |
| Stoke Mandeville Hospital (SMH) | 9 |
| Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) | 10 (includes community GRID) |
| Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) | 6 |
- SPIN Paediatric training:
SPIN Supervisors (only applies to supervisors and NOT posts at any given time) – compiled January 2026
| Specialty | Location | Supervisors | Notes |
| Endocrine | Oxford | Dr Taffy Makaya | N = 6 |
| Cardiology | Oxford | Dr Satish Adwani | N = 1; requires trainee to sort out placement in a cardiac surgical unit |
| Neurology | Oxford | Dr Nadine McCrea | N = 6 |
| Allergy | Reading | Dr Elspeth Brooker | Requires trainee to arrange placement in a tertiary Allergy unit (Oxford not a tertiary unit) |
| Allergy | Oxford | Dr Sunthar | Looking to facilitate; not in place yet |
| Palliative care | Helen House | Dr Emily Harrop | N = 1 Through OOPE |
| Rheumatology | Oxford – Nuffield/JRH | Dr Akhila Kavirayeni | N = 1 Through OOPE/or through available JRH posts |
| ID/Immunology | Oxford | Dr Simon Drysdale | Through OOPE/or through available JRH posts. This SPIN needs part placement in a tertiary centre. |
| PICU/HDU | Oxford | Dr Avishay Sarfetti | N = 5 |
| NICU | Oxford | Dr Vinod Oomen | N = 5 |
| Gastroenterology | Oxford | Lucy Howarth/Astor Rodrigues | N = 2 |
| Respiratory | Oxford | Sarah-Jane Bowen | N = 2 |
Return After OOP or Parental Leave
Trainees returning after maternity leave or time out of programme will normally return to the post they left, unless they have progressed to the next training level during their absence (e.g. transition points between ST1–ST2 or ST2–ST3).
Frequently Asked Questions
- How are North vs South rotations allocated?
Allocations are made in national recruitment rank order. Higher-ranked candidates have their first choice of rotations.
- Can I change my North/South allocation later?
Changes are sometimes possible following discussion with the TPD, particularly around the ST3–ST4 transition, but cannot be guaranteed.
- Will I definitely stay at the same hospital for ST4?
The programme aims to keep trainees at their ST3 DGH for ST4 where possible, so you should choose your initial region with this in mind.
- Do I get my preferred ST2 specialty?
Preferences are strongly considered, but final allocations depend on overall demand, service needs and fairness across the cohort.
- Can the ST2 specialty block be split?
Yes. Some trainees may have split specialty placements or two specialties depending on numbers.
- How often do jobs change in upper school?
Every 6 months. Preferences are requested each time but cannot always be met.
LESS THAN FULL TIME (LTFT):
We understand that flexible working arrangements can make a huge difference to resident doctors and we will strive to support LTFT training where possible. The aims of LTFT training are to:
- Promote career and personal development, as well as work/life balance for doctors training in the NHS
- Retain in the workforce doctors who are unable or do not wish to continue their training on a full-time basis
Application Process
- If you are considering working LTFT, please discuss this with your Educational Supervisor (ES) and Training Programme Director (TPD) early; they can guide you on the process and the TPD will also take this into account for your future rotations (they may change).
- We generally prefer residents to work at 60% or 80% but will consider other rates if required for a specific reason.
- There is a minimum four month notice period to change to LTFT working (or change your WTE further if already LTFT.) This can sometimes happen faster if your application is processed and your employer/trust are able to accommodate – your TPDs are key.
- For more information about LTFT in Thames Valley: Less Than Full Time Training (LTFT) – Working across Thames Valley
Who can apply for LTFT?
- The HEE website states: “From August 2022, all doctors in training across England in any specialty have the right to apply to train LTFT for any well-founded reason, including for their wellbeing or through personal choice.”
- Section 3.123 of the Gold Guide provides a list of illustrative examples for requesting LTFT training: –
- 1. Trainees with a disability or ill health – This may include ongoing medical procedures such as fertility treatment.
- 2. Trainees (men and women) with caring responsibilities (e.g. for children, or for an ill/disabled partner, relative or other dependent)
- 3. Welfare and wellbeing – there may be reasons NOT directly related to disability or ill health where trainees may benefit from a reduced working pattern. This could have a beneficial effect on their health and wellbeing (e.g. reducing potential burnout).
(NB HoS/TPDs/ES should ensure that any trainees with potential health issues are assessed and reviewed by OH to ensure appropriate support and oversight is in place to support their training. Trainees with health issues would not usually apply under the health and wellbeing criteria
- 4. Unique opportunities – a trainee is offered a unique opportunity for their own personal/professional development, and this will affect their ability to train full time (e.g. training for national/international sporting events, or a short-term extraordinary responsibility such as membership of a national committee or continuing medical research as a bridge to progression in integrated academic training).
- 5. Religious commitment – a trainee has a religious commitment that involves training for a particular role and requires a specific time commitment resulting in the need to work less than full time.
- 6. Non-medical development – a trainee is offered non-medical professional development (e.g. management courses, law courses or fine arts courses) that requires a specific time commitment resulting in the need to work less than full time.
- 7. Flexibility for training and career development with the option to train less than full time with flexibility that might enable development of a broad career portfolio
- Ultimately, all well-founded reasons will be considered by TV. Support to progress the application will be dependent on the capacity of the programme and the effect the request may have on the training available to other doctors in training on the programme.
- It is expected that all those applying due to disability or ill health and caring responsibilities (1/2 above) will be accommodated.
Fast Tracking Training in Paediatrics:
- Progression within paediatrics is competency based, and it may be possible to shorten training if competencies are completed at greater than the expected rate. However, this is not automatic and should not occur simply because a doctor works LTFT – it should not be assumed, for instance, that a doctor training at 80% will progress at the same rate as a full time doctor.
- Following the introduction of Progress Plus, fast tracking would only be considered in exceptional cases. The expectation is therefore that you will progress at your training percentage, and your CCT date will be extended pro rata.
- To fast-track, you must prospectively agree this with your educational supervisor and TPD and prove at ARCP that you have met competencies early to progress. Discuss this early with your ES and TPD as it needs planning.
- Applications for an earlier CCT must be planned well in advance – please discuss this with your educational supervisor.
- Please see RCPCH guidance on this: capability based progression.
Paediatric Doctors’ LTFT Progression in Thames Valley:
LTFT doctors shall continue to rotate into / continue training placements in March and September in line with their full-time peers. You might therefore spend slightly longer / shorter WTE in a particular department. However, all ST2s shall receive a minimum of 6 months WTE in NICU. Likewise, all residents shall spend a minimum of 4 months WTE in community during training.
The expectation is that you will progress pro-rata. This means that to progress the equivalent of 2 years WTE, residents will generally take:
- 2.5 years at 0.8
- 3-3.5 years at 0.6
- 4 years at 0.5
Academic Paediatrics
In Collaboration with the Oxford University Department of Paediatrics and the Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School (OUCAGS) there is a successful programme for those who wish to pursue a career in academic paediatrics. The Department of Paediatrics hosts internationally world renowned research programs in gastroenterology, haematology, HIV, immunology, neuroimaging and vaccinology; with work ranging from fundamental concepts to clinical application.