Primary schools

The competition is now closed, but take a look at what we asked KS2 students to do for the 2024/5 competition.

We’re asking pupils to choose up to three different NHS job roles that really stand out to them. We want them to creatively tell us what they’ve learnt about these jobs through a piece of artwork (painting, drawing or video, for example) or writing (a poem, story or song).

The brief:

Pupils should explore the range of NHS job roles using our resources. The resources will also help them choose the role(s) they want to focus on as part of their competition entry.

Within their creative entry, we want to see the following:

• What their chosen job role(s) do
• The key qualities or skills needed for the job role(s)
• Their favourite thing about the job role(s)

Whilst it is not part of the judging criteria, we are keen for pupils to choose NHS roles that they may not have heard of.

Pupils will not be disadvantaged if they showcase just one or two jobs in their entry.

For an extra challenge, pupils can explore our careers A-Z or careers mapper to discover a range of NHS roles in more detail.

Pupils can enter individually or as a pair.

• Overall national winner(s) will have their entry displayed publicly for their local community to see. They will also each receive an Amazon voucher worth £50, an NHS goody bag and a framed certificate. They will also receive a class prize which will be discussed with the school.
• Regional winners will each receive an Amazon voucher worth £25, an NHS goody bag and a certificate.
• Winners will have their entries showcased in our online gallery.
• One highly commended certificate per entry will be awarded to the top entries per region.
• A digital ‘well done’ certificate will be sent to those who weren’t chosen as a national or regional winner, or as highly commended.

Whether they enter individually or as a pair, each pupil will receive a prize if they have a national or regional winning entry.

Our expert panel of NHS judges are looking forward to seeing your pupils’ fantastic competition entries. They will be looking for evidence that pupils have learnt about NHS careers and want to see their creativity shine through.

They will be looking for the following:

50%: Understanding of NHS careers

• Are the pupils aware of what their chosen job role(s) do and the key qualities they have?

50%: Creativity

• Is the entry creative and inspiring?
• Anything that demonstrates that they have gone the extra mile with their work.

If your pupil(s)’ entry is chosen as a regional winner, they will have the opportunity to present their entries to NHS judges at our virtual Winners’ Day, where the overall national winner will be crowned!

Competition terms and conditions

1. The competition is open to pupils in years 3-6 in all primary schools, in England only.
2. Pupils can enter individually or in pairs.
3. Only one entry per pupil or pair will be accepted. There is no restriction on the number of entries received from schools.
4. All postal entries must clearly state pupil name(s), year group and school and be sent with a completed entry form. Please see the entry page for more information.
5. Postal entries must be sent to FREEPOST STEP INTO THE NHS COMPETITION. The competition name must always appear in caps as shown. No other addressing details such as road, town or postcode should be used.
6. Online submissions must be uploaded to the entry page. Each file must be named with the pupil(s)' names, year group and school. Please see the entry page for more information.
7. Additional material can accompany the entry should the pupil(s) and/or teacher feel it will enhance their submission.
8. Entries will only be accepted once all compulsory competition requirements have been included.
9. No responsibility will be accepted for entries lost or delayed in the post or incorrectly uploaded. Proof of posting will not be accepted as proof of delivery.
10. The panel of judges will include at least one member who is independent of the promoter. The decision of the judges is final, and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
11. The first prize will be awarded to the entry deemed by the judges to have shown up to three different NHS job roles in the most engaging way and that best meets the above judging criteria. This pupil or pair of pupils will be announced as the 'national winner'.
12. Seven regional winners will be selected, with one regional winner being chosen as the overall national winner. One regional winner will be chosen from each of the following regions: East of England, London, Midlands, North East and Yorkshire, North West, South East (excluding London) and South West.
13. The child – or pair – who submits the national winning entry, will receive a prize for their school, be offered the opportunity to see their entry displayed in public and will each receive a goody bag, a framed certificate and an Amazon voucher to the value of £50.
14. The children selected as regional winners will each receive a goody bag, a certificate and an Amazon voucher to the value of £25.
15. Highly commended certificates and are awarded per entry, not per pupil.
16. Digital certificates will be sent to the teachers for pupils who were not selected as national or regional winners or as highly commended.
17. There is no cash alternative for any prize in this competition.
18. Entries will not be returned to the school at the end of the competition.
19. Winners will be listed on the NHS Health Careers website and the Step into the NHS online gallery in July 2025.
20. NHS England reserves the right to reproduce and utilise in whole or in part the entries submitted by pupils for information, publicity and promotional purposes. This includes the entries being displayed in an online gallery on the Step into the NHS website. By entering, each school agrees to secure parental agreement and authorises the use of names and addresses of the establishment to which it belongs and the names of participating teachers and pupils in any information, publicity or promotional activity linked to this competition.
21. Entering this competition implies full and complete acceptance of these terms and conditions of which entry instructions form a part. Promoter: NHS England. Registered address: Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UGL. (Please DO NOT send entries to this address. Thank you.)