Cross-sector group to tackle barriers faced by Black pharmacy students
A cross-sector group aiming to tackle systemic barriers faced by Black or Black British African student pharmacists and foundation trainees has held its first meeting.
The Differential Attainment Oversight Group – led by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) was set up to tackle differential attainment among Black student and trainee pharmacists.
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It brings together pharmacy educators, professional bodies, NHS organisations and regulators and was established following the publication of an RPS report which found a 23% attainment gap between Black or Black British African trainees and White British trainees.
According to the RPS report published last year, 67% of Black or Black British African trainees passed the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration on their first sitting in 2023. This was compared to 90% of White British trainees passing on a first sitting.
At its first meeting on 10 June, it agreed actions to address the structural barriers faced by Black or Black British African student pharmacists and foundation trainees, including limited access to work experience, financial support and visible role models in education and training.
The RPS said that four dedicated task and finish groups will also now be formed to ‘focus on improving access to data; increasing inspiration, aspiration and visibility of role models; enhancing tutor training; and better support for the transition from university into foundation training.’
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Amandeep Doll, RPS head of engagement and professional belonging, said: ‘The disparities we continue to see in pharmacy education are not only unjust, but they’re holding back talent and limiting the potential for our profession. This work is about dismantling systemic barriers and creating meaningful, lasting change.
‘We’re committed to working collaboratively across the sector to support Black pharmacy students and trainees and create more equitable opportunities. Equity in education is essential to building a truly inclusive profession, and that ultimately leads to better care for patients.’
The group is also developing surveys to capture the lived experiences of students and trainees alongside academic outcomes, and added that work was ‘underway to improve inclusivity in teaching and to review recruitment processes to ensure fairness for Black candidates.’
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Other organisations in the group include
- School of Pharmacy, UCL
- School of Pharmacy, Nottingham
- School of Pharmacy, Kingston University
- NHS England
- General Pharmaceutical Council
- Health Education and Improvement Wales
- British Pharmaceutical Students' Association
- NHS Education for Scotland
- Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK
- UK Black Pharmacist Association
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