News
All consultation responses can be found on the Publications and Guidance page
Joint letter regarding HEE mandate
10 June 2013
In a joint letter responding to the Health Education England (HEE) Mandate, the Association of UK University Hospitals, Council of Healthcare Science in Higher Education, Dental Schools Council, Medical Schools Council and Pharmacy Schools Council have today outlined areas in which they hope to assist HEE.
These organisations are committed to the development of excellent and caring professionals and look forward to working with HEE to deliver on our shared aims.
The joint letter can be accessed here:
Joint letter regarding HEE Mandate 10 June 2013
2012 Clinical Academic Staff Survey published
23 May 2013
The latest DSC data reveals the highest clinical academic staffing level since 2000, with a total of 566 FTE (947 individuals) employed by the 18 UK dental schools. This reflects an increase of 20% since 2007, entirely derived from the increase in Clinical Teachers to a total of 178 FTE since first reported in 2007. At the same time, there has been a 20% reduction in the number of REF-returnable staff since 2000, and a 10% reduction since 2006, to a total of 388 FTE Professors, Readers/ Senior Lecturers and Lecturers.
The full survey is available to download:
Survey of Staffing Levels of Clinical Academic Dentists in UK Dental Schools
The press release is available to download:
You can also see all previous reports on the Clinical Academic Survey page.
DSC Responds to NHS Constitution
12 February 2013
The DSC submitted the following statement in response to the proposals to strengthen the NHS Constitution. The statement highlights the importance of education in achieving the aims of the NHS Constitution, as well as the role of dentists to support the wider health and wellbeing of patients.
The document can be downloaded here:
DSC NHS Constitution Statement
DSC Issues Three Consultation Responses
15 January 2013
Response to GDC Standards of Conduct Performance and Ethics Consultation
The DSC is broadly supportive of the suggestions contained in the consultation. The DSC suggests there are several areas that require clarification, including the need to incorporate guidance on interprofessional relations that affect relations within the dental team. There is also a need for these standards to be viewed through the wider benefits they provide for the reputation of the profession.
The document can be downloaded here:
GDC Standards of Conduct Performance and Ethics Consultation Response
Response to DSC Direct Access Consultation
The introduction of direct access will allow dental care professionals to assert the skills they have developed to their full potential, however, patient safety needs to be at the forefront of any decisions regarding direct access. Those dental care professionals trained to undertake a role should be given the opportunity to perform it within their scope of practice and competency, recognising at all times the need to seek advice or refer when necessary.
The document can be downloaded here:
DSC Direct Access Consultation
Response to GDC Continuing Professional Development Consultation
The DSC believes a new scheme of CPD based only on verifiable activity could be more effective if the GDC approves providers of CPD who could then validate the events or episodes of activity. The DSC suggests that core topics of CPD should be retained and that the topics making up this core should be kept under regular review to ensure they remain relevant. CPD must always be learner-focused and should offer a statement of learning outcomes.
The document can be downloaded here:
GDC Continuing Professional Development Consultation
Finding Your Responsible Officer
31 October 2012
This document demonstrates the hierarchy of Responsible Officer connections in the new English NHS architecture.
The document can be downloaded here:
Finding Your Responsible Officer
Clinical Academic Staff Appraisal Scheme - Guidance Notes
31 October 2012
This guide has been produced by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association in order to raise awareness of Vice-Chancellors/Principals and senior clinical academics of their responsibilities for the clinical academic appraisal process.
It sets out to recommend a national model appraisal scheme for consultant clinical academic staff and senior academic GPs.
The guide can be downloaded here:
The NHS revalidation and appraisal form can be accessed via the Medical Schools Council website here.
Dental Schools Encouraged by Highest Reported Staffing Levels of Clinical Academic Dentists
23 October 2012
Published today, the most recent data can reveal a 1% increase in total academic staffing since 2010, making a fourth consecutive year of increase in clinical academic staffing levels. Numbers are now at their hightest since the first survey in 2000, representing a 15% increase in ten years.
There are now 547 Full-Time Equivalents, 375 of which are Lecturers, Senior Lecturers and Professors.
The Dental Schools Council press release is available to download:
Clinical Academic Staff Survey Press Release 2012
The full survey is available to download:
Survey of Staffing Levels of Clinical Academics in UK Dental Schools
You can also see all previous reports on the Publications and Guidance page
DSC publishes response to Law Commission consultation on regulation of health professions
11 June 2012
The Dental Schools Council response to the Law Commission consultation on the regulation of the health professions offers a dental school view with reference to the structure of reform and accountability; the function, governance and role of the regulator; registration of students and practitioners; regulation of quality of pre- and post- qualification education and training; and fitness to practise.
The consultation response can be found here:
DSC Response to the Law Commission Consultation on the Regulation of the Health Professions
DSC publishes response to second stage of HEFCE Teaching consultation
11 June 2012
The Dental Schools Council has responded to the HEFCE consultation on student number controls and teaching funding and is supportive of the proposed principles. Dental schools support the use of reliable and accurate data to confirm the actual cost of teaching for high-cost subjects, and believe that currently TRAC(T) is the best available mechanism for this purpose. There is also support for the funding for institutions to support widening participation and student retention, and agrees that the funding method for Student Opportunity allocations encourages a broad spectrum of activity. We support the use of reliable and accurate data to confirm the actual cost of teaching for high-cost subjects, and believe that currently TRAC(T) is the best available mechanism for this purpose.
The consultation response can be found here:
HEFCE Student Numbers Consultation
DSC publishes response to DH consultation on new GDC constitution
18 May 2012
The Dental Schools Council has responded to the Department of Health’s consultation on the General Dental Council’s constitution.
Whilst welcoming the proposed move to a system of appointed chairs as a professional approach which will require a transparent appointment process, the response expressed concern with the proposal for smaller Councils. With only four professionals on each Council, it would be difficult to represent the diversity of registered dental professions including dentists, nurses, technicians, therapists and academics with the requisite knowledge and expertise. This composition will also limit the ability to be responsive to developments in health, dentistry and dental education.
The Guiding Principles can be found here:
DSC response to DH consultation on GDC constitution
MSC and DSC joint response to the Qualifications Information Review
28 April 2012
The Medical and Dental Schools Councils have jointly responded to the UCAS consultation on the Qualifications Information Review, endorsing the proposals to develop Qualification Information Profiles, and a broader move to grade-based rather than tariff points based entry criteria. We believe that these changes can help support fairness and transparency in HE, provided that there are clear and consistent communications with applicants.
The consultation response can be found here:
MSC DSC response to Qualifications Information Review
DSC publishes Principles of Admissions of Dental Students
28 February 2012
The Dental Schools Council has published its principles for the selection and admission of students to dental school. The Guiding Principles for the Admission of Dental Students have been agreed by all UK undergraduate dental schools, and relate to the selection and admission of students to dental school.
The Guiding Principles can be found here:
DSC Admissions Principles Feb 2012
You can also see all DSC reports on the Publications and Guidance page
DSC responds to the UCAS consultation on admissions
20 January 2012
The Dental Schools Council has responded to the UCAS consultation on the admissions process.
The response recommends that to improve fairness for applicants, adaptation of the current system rather than a move to post-qualification admissions, is more appropriate. Selection to medical and dental school implies selection to the medical and dental professions, and selecting those with the greatest aptitude for dental training from those with high academic ability. We would also suggest that by reducing the time available for institutions consider and assess applicants on the full range of attributes beyond the academic ability demonstrated by attainment at A-level and equivalent assessments, APR would be inherently unfair to applicants in general and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds in particular. Moving to a common October start date would have implications for graduate entry courses, many of which start earlier in order to meet legislative requirements on the duration of training. Overall we welcome the proposals for 2013-2014, in particular the improvements to the applications platform.
DSC Response to UCAS consultation
DSC responds to the Inquiry into Education Training and Workforce Planning
20 December 2011
The Dental Schools Council response to the Inquiry into Education Training and Workforce Planning advocates that dental schools, together with their partner university medical schools and associated Trusts, should be working collaboratively within LETBs in order to achieve excellent and innovative education and training and thus improved patient care. The responses also advocates the close alignment between postgraduate dental deaneries and HEIs, and recommends that HEE should be established as a matter of urgency.
The consultation response can be found here:
DSC response - Inquiry into Education Training and Workforce planning
DSC publishes response to HEFCE Teaching consultation
8 September 2011
The Dental Schools Council has responded to HEFCE's 'Teaching Funding and Student Number Controls: Consultation on Changes to be Implemented in 2012-13'.
The response welcomes HEFCE’s commitment to supporting the additional costs of teaching of subjects in Bands A and B. Dentistry is small but unique amongst the clinical professions, in that the primary role of the dental school is to teach and educate the future clinical workforce. It is essential that efforts to support the development of clinical professions consider dentistry as a professional group in its own entity.
The consultation response can be found here:
DSC response to HEFCE T September 2011
You can also see all previous reports on the Publications and Guidance page
Small increase in clinical academic staffing numbers
4 July 2011
Data published today by the Dental Schools Council reveal a 4% increase in the number of clinical professors, senior lecturers and lecturers in dentistry during the 2009-10 academic year, to a total of 390 Full Time Equivalents (FTE), and a 20% increase in the number of senior clinical teachers and clinical teachers to a total of 135 FTE.
Whilst dental schools are positive about the increase in total number of clinical academic staff for the fourth consecutive year, the number of research-active clinical academic dentists (Professors, Senior Lecturers, Readers and Lecturers) remain 28% lower than in 2000.
The Dental Schools Council press release is available to download:
Clinical Academic Staff Survey Press Release 2011
The full survey is available to download:
Survey of Staffing Levels of Clinical Academics in UK Dental Schools
You can also see all previous reports on the Publications and Guidance page
Dental Schools encouraged by increase in clinical academic staffing levels
26 May 2010
Data published today by the Dental Schools Council reveal a 2% increase in the number of clinical academics in UK Dental Schools during the 2008-09 academic year, to a total of 478 Full Time Equivalents (FTE), the highest number since 2000. The 2009 data reveal a return to total staffing levels higher than in 2000. However, this disguises a 21% decline (101 FTE) in the number of research active clinical academics - Professors, Senior Lecturers and Lecturers - in the same time period.
The Dental Schools Council press release is available to download:
Clinical Academic Staffing Survey Press Release 2010
The full survey is available to download. You can also see all previous reports on the Publications and Guidance page.
Survey of Staffing Levels of Dental Clinical Academics in UK Dental Schools
Dental Schools Council welcomes the report 'Unleashing Aspiration' from the Panel for Fair Access to the Professions
21 July 2009
The Dental Schools Council welcomes the report ‘Unleashing Aspiration’ from the Panel for Fair Access to the Professions. UK Dental Schools are firmly committed to the widening participation agenda and the Dental Schools Council recognises the value of targeted initiatives to enable aspiring dentists to achieve their full potential, irrespective of socio-economic background.
The Dental Schools Council press release is available to download:
Unleashing Aspiration Press Release 2009
The Dental Schools Council submission of evidence to the Panel is available to download:
Evidence for the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions
Survey of Staffing Levels of Dental Clinical Academics and Teachers published
18 May 2009
Data published today by the Dental Schools Council indicate a 2% increase over the past twelve months in the number of clinical academics and clinical teachers in post in UK Dental Schools, to a total of 469 FTE. The total number of Professors, Senior Lecturers and Lecturers in post has declined year on year, from 476 FTE in 2000 to 373 FTE in 2008. However, with the inclusion of Senior Clinical Teachers and Clinical Teachers, the 2008 staffing level is comparable with 2000.
The Dental Schools Council press release is available to download:
Clinical Academic Staffing Survey Press Release 2009
The full survey is available to download. You can also see all previous reports on the Publications and Guidance page.
Staffing Levels of Dental Clinical Academics and Dental Clinical Teachers in UK Dental Schools
