Foundation
The Wales Foundation School offers a variety of training opportunities across great locations, and we're friendly too! We work alongside teams in our hospitals to provide an enriching and fulfilling experience of the Foundation Programme to aid the transition from medical student to doctor, through high quality training and support.
The Foundation Programme is a two year generic training programme for medical school graduates, designed to bridge the gap between undergraduate study and postgraduate medical specialty training. We aim to provide a solid knowledge and experience base for new doctors before they choose an area of medicine in which to specialise.
The Foundation School manages the allocation processes to Foundation Year 1 and Foundation Year 2, and supports the delivery of Foundation Training and the development of Foundation Doctors.
From 2023, Wales has adopted a paired Foundation Programme. This means that Foundation Doctors will be allocated to their 2 year placements from the start of their training.
The Wales Foundation Programme is coordinated by the Wales Foundation School (based within Health Education Improvement Wales) from Nantgarw, South Wales.
You can contact the Foundation School by emailing HEIW.FoundationSchool@wales.nhs.uk
All of our Programmes deliver sufficient training to achieve the clinical competencies required by the Foundation Programme Curriculum, have been designed in line with the General Medical Council (GMC) national standards for training, and can result in full registration with the GMC, as well as providing a range of other skills and experiences. You can find the full list of Programmes on the Programmes tab.
You can find further information on the national Foundation Programme on the UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) website. Further information specific to Wales is included on this website.
Reflections on Your First Rotation: Tips for Foundation Doctors 12/12/2025
Bore Da! Welcome to what I hope will become a regular blog about the Welsh Foundation Programme.
Looking Back on Your First Rotation
You’re now approaching the end of your first rotation for this academic year as a resident doctor. For many of you, this period will have been a steep learning curve: some of you may be eager to move on. Others are starting to feel more comfortable with the day-to-day aspects of your role.
The transition from student to resident doctor is never easy. It’s a challenge which I hope you have embraced, or at the very least, survived!
Moving Forward
As you step into the second year of your foundation training, you may face new challenges: Working in unfamiliar areas of medicine. Supporting the latest cohort of graduates.
Regardless of how these past four months have felt for you, remember: Be kind to yourself and those around you, not just your patients.
One thing my time in Emergency Medicine has taught me is the importance of prioritising your own wellbeing and remembering: “It’s okay not to be okay.”
Wellbeing Resources
If you or a colleague is struggling, please make use of these excellent resources:
Colleague health and wellbeing - HEIW
Professional Support Unit (PSU) - HEIW
Sources of support for your wellbeing
Next Steps in Your Training
Now is the time to: Ensure you’ve had your end-of-placement meeting with your educational supervisor and logged it on your TURAS account. Book your next meeting with them. Start working on your summary narratives to demonstrate your progression.
Plan your learning carefully so you can achieve what you will need to demonstrate the foundation competencies.
If you’re unsure about anything, ask for help. Your local Foundation Programme Director and Foundation Administrator are there to support you.
Final Thoughts
Most importantly, enjoy being a doctor. Even after 22 years, I still wouldn’t want to work in any other profession.
Kind regards,
Izzy Watson
Deputy Foundation School Director