Updated for 2024 Applicants

Previously, the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex (KSS) training programmes were coupled with South Thames Foundation Foundation School.

However, for 2024 applicants, KSS has been broken out to establish its own Foundation School.

The Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) Foundation School contains 11 acute trusts, 3 mental health trusts, and 250 General Practices across the South East of England.

It covers a large geographic area and therefore uses a 2-step preferencing process where applicants first choose a group (KSS Central, KSS West, and KSS East), and then a specific training programme. You can read more about the groups here.

1. KSS Central – St Richard’s, Worthing, Royal Sussex, Princess Royal – Hayward’s Heath, Eastbourne, Conquest
2. KSS East – Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Darrent Valley, Medway Maritime, William Harvey, Kent and Canterbury, Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother
3. KSS West – Ashford, St Peter’s, Frimley Park, Royal Surrey County, East Surrey

Due to the recent restructuring of the Foundation School, a few applicants will not know their full F1 and F2 rotations by the time they start training but the majority will have all the details of both years by the time of starting. The majority of KSS programmes are in the same Trust for 2 years but not all, as some are split across the region with 1 year in a teaching hospital and 1 year in a DGH.

There is a diverse mix of geography in the KSS regions including miles of coastline, beautiful countryside such as the Surrey Hills, and quaint and historic market towns. The bohemian city of Brighton also offers theatre, art galleries, and museums.

Most of the KSS sites have good rail and motorway links to London, and there are also channel ferries from Folkestone, Dover, and Newhaven, as well as a direct link to the Eurostar train from Ashford International. However, if you are planning to explore, a car is probably necessary.

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Foundation School Statistics

2023 F1 Places: 581
2023 F1 Applicants: 290
2023 Competition Ratio: 0.50

South Thames

2022 F1 Places: 837
2022 F1 Applicants: 850
2022 Competition Ratio: 0.92

2021 F1 Places: 742
2021 F1 Applicants: 679
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.92

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How Does KSS Compare To Other Foundation Schools?

Check out our article "What are the most competitive foundations schools?" for a full breakdown.

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Hospitals, Rotation Scores, CQC Ratings

In the chart below you'll find a list of hospitals attached to the South Thames Foundation School, and an average of their Rotation Scores from Messly’s Training Navigator. Each rotation is given a score out of 100, which is based on a weighted average of ratings given by Foundation Trainees in the 2023 GMC NTS. The national average Rotation Score is 57 for reference.

Colours correspond to the latest CQC rating of that hospital.

Disclaimer: Please note that hospitals are unscored when there are insufficient responses by Foundation Trainees to the GMC’s NTS survey.

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Need Help Ranking Your Foundation Programmes?

Rank your Foundation Programme rotations with confidence with Messly’s Training Navigator. See how rotations are rated by last year’s foundation trainees to make smarter decisions about where you’ll spend your Foundation Training.

You can use it to answer questions like:‍

👉  Which are the best-rated and worst-rated rotations in my Foundation School?
👉  How do the rotations compare for Workload, Learning and Satisfaction?
👉  Which is the best hospital for my favourite specialties?
👉  Within a hospital, which rotations are best-rated?

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