Education and training in paediatrics and child health in the UK: a century of development

The past century has seen a transformation of education and training in paediatrics and child health, against a background of remarkable developments and scientific progress within the specialty. Many of the changes reflect the wider evolution of medical training, from an apprenticeship model to a time-based model to the current capability-focused approach embodied within Progress+, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health training curriculum introduced in 2023. Wave upon wave of Reports have, to varying degrees, left their mark, each in some way seeking to improve the experience of students and trainees, patient care and the overall health system. In the UK, paediatrics and child health has gradually established itself as a major specialty, growing from its early roots as the British Paediatric Association to becoming a thriving and innovative specialty and Royal College in 1996 and onwards. Tracing these developments, both in undergraduate education and in postgraduate education and training, helps us to understand our current identity and challenges and gives perspective on future direction. We have come a long way, but we are not there yet.