This page signposts to resources related to your role, and we'll continue to update to ensure it's relevant to you.
If you have any questions about your College Tutor role in relation to RCPCH, or would like to add a resource to this page, get in touch! Our email address is qualityandtrainingprojects@rcpch.ac.uk.
Your role and the handbook
The role of the RCPCH College Tutor is a vital position at health board / trust level to support trainees and trainers and can be both rewarding but equally challenging. In this role, you are in a unique position to positively influence the quality of education and training for our paediatric trainees.
Whether you are thinking of taking on the role of College Tutor or you are already established in the role, this handbook provides you with helpful information. The aim of this handbook is to provide you with the information that you need to make the most of what is locally available and help enable you to support the development of a rich and safe training environment for your trainees.
Keeping us up to date
The appointment of a College Tutor varies in different organisations. The National Association for Clinical Tutors (NACT) recommends the College Tutor be jointly appointed by the Clinical/Specialty Director, the Head of Specialty School and the Health Board / Trust (Medical Director or DME). The interview panel should represent all parties with a legitimate interest, and this might include a RCPCH representative.
Occasionally, College Tutors are are appointed in their first consultant post, but most apply later in their careers. The details of working arrangements within the Trust, including liaison across Trust boundaries, need to be appropriate to the local situation and agreed with colleagues.
We at RCPCH need to be informed when new College Tutors are appointed. We'll ensure current Tutors only are on our mailing list, so we can inform you of events and updates relating to your role.
Online events
We host two free, online events each year (on MS Teams), with updates to support your role. 4-6 weeks before the event, we will send out a registration link in order to attend the session. Session attendance link will be sent 2 weeks before the event, based on the registrations. After the event, we'll share meeting resources, housed within RCPCH Learning, with those who registered for the event.
Event dates for 2026
- 5 March 2026 - 14:00-16:00
- Autumn 2026 - date TBC
Guidance to support doctors in training
Assessments and exams
- Assessment guide
- Assessment review
- Exams for MRCPCH (three theory and one clinical)
- START assessment for specialty trainees
Curriculum and progression
- Progress+ curriculum and syllabi for core and specialty levels
- Capability-based progression
- Educational supervisor training report (ESTR) exemplars (PDF)
Charter and toolkit
- Training Charter - outlines what the College expects from every training unit in the UK, across key domains
- Trainee toolkit - for trainees (and their trainers) on the essential elements on what to expect from a training post
Supporting trainees
- Embracing neurodiversity and supporting neurodivergent paediatricians
- Supporting less than full time trainees
- Pregnancy and parenthood (including going back to work, breastfeeding, support for those experiencing pregnancy loss and fertility issues
- Trainees in difficulty (PDF presentation)
Wellbeing
External resources
- Enhancing the working lives of doctors in training (NHS England)
- Safe learning environment charter - from NHS England, supports the development of positive safety cultures and continuous learning across all learning environments in the NHS