Paramedic Insight for Pupils

Pupils at Kirkwall Grammar School were given an insight into a career as a Paramedic earlier this week, thanks to staff from the Scottish Ambulance Service in Orkney.

​Pippa, Clinical Team Leader, and newly qualified Paramedic, Catherine, visited the school and spoke to pupils who are interested in a career as a paramedic, giving them information about the routes into the role, advice about the university application and interview process, and talking about their day-to-day duties as paramedics.

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A former pupil of Kirkwall Grammar School, Catherine spoke about her career journey, which initially saw her training to become a Dance Teacher and teaching around the world for six years.  During the pandemic, she returned to Scotland and worked as a carer in a hospital, which helped her to identify an interest in the work of paramedics.

Some of the pupils have applied to study Paramedic Science, so they were given information on volunteering or work placement opportunities that can help them stand out from the crowd, information about the interview process and the content and structure of the university course, which will hopefully be useful for them in the future.

Finally, pupils were given the chance to see around an ambulance, seeing some of the kit and learning when it might be used.  They were also able to ask questions, gaining a useful insight into the role of a Paramedic.

Thank you so much to the Scottish Ambulance Service for supporting this insight session, and to the pupils who took part.