eGDCReviewing new programme submissions
In 2022-23, we received requests to consider six new programmes of education. As stated in section 1.4, we have approved three of these – a dental nurse diploma in Wales, an orthodontic therapy programme delivered by University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) and a BDSi programme also being delivered by UCLAN.
The dental nurse course was designed to specifically address workforce issues in Wales, and we have since approved a modification to the programme, that will allow an additional 20 more students to enrol. This means that approximately 40 additional places are now available for students.
There have been four further programme submissions in this academic year. Three of those who had submitted had not given assurance that the Standards for Education are likely to be met on completion of the programme by the first graduating cohort. We inspect the programme and examinations in the final year to ensure that the Standards for Education standards have been met. This is to ensure that students qualify with the right experience and training needed to register to practise in the UK.
The BDSi programme being delivered by UCLAN has been given provision approval, pending an inspection of the exams in quarter four of 2023.
The six new programme submissions are set out below:
Submissions | |||||
| Dentistry | Dental hygiene and therapy | Dental technology | Clinical dental technology | Dental nursing | Orthodontic therapy |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Name of programme | Outcome | Date of graduating cohort |
| NEBDN - dental nursing apprenticeship programme | Provisional approval | March 2025 |
| Turret Orthodontics - diploma in orthodontic therapy | Not approved | N/A |
| New College Lanarkshire - diploma in dental hygiene | Not approved | N/A |
| University of Central Lancashire - orthodontic therapy | Provisional approval | October 2024 |
| College Of Medicine and Dentistry - hygiene conversion | Not approved | N/A |
| University of Central Lancashire – BDSi | Provisional sufficiency | October 2023 |
Review of Education 2022-2023
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Standards of education
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Reviewing new programme submissions Open Drop
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Programme modifications Open Drop
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Monitoring dental education programmes
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Inspections
- Performance against individual standards and requirements Open Drop
- Performance against Standard 1 – Protecting patients (requirements 1-8) Open Drop
- Performance against Standard 2 – Quality evaluation and review of the programme (requirements 9-12) Open Drop
- Performance against Standard 3 – Student assessment (requirements 13-21) Open Drop
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Quality assurance of specialty education Open Drop
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Specialty curricula review Open Drop
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Student and new registrant engagement work Open Drop
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Learning outcomes review - safe practitioner Open Drop
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Development plans for 2023-24 and beyond Open Drop