A History of Occupational Therapy Education in York

We asked Emeritus Professor, Chris Mayers to outline the history of OT at York St John. Here’s what she had to say…

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My task: to summarise 53 years of occupational therapy education in about 400 words for this blog … here goes!

1963: the York School came into being at the Military Hospital in Fulford. Fees were £90 a year! After much discussion and consultations following the proposed closure of the Military Hospital, the programme moved to the College of Ripon & York St John (now York St John University)

1977: York was the first occupational therapy programme to move into Higher Education. At this time the content of the programme and assessments were governed by the College of Occupational Therapists (COT) and the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM). On successful completion of the programme, students received the British Diploma of Occupational Therapy and eligibility for state registration with CPSM. There was no problem in finding work on qualification in those days!

1981: A HUGE change occurred in OT education. COT and CPSM agreed that colleges could develop their own curricula and assessments with external moderation. Models of practice, evidence-based practice, research and the theory of ‘occupation’ began to be emphasised as the development of a Hons degree programme commenced. I arrived in 1984, it was an exciting time.

1988-1990: An Honours degree programme for occupational therapists and physiotherapists holding a Diploma (‘Top-up degree’) was developed. This heralded the start of the undergraduate degree programme for occupational therapists. By 1995 the student intake had increased to 95 – it became so difficult to remember all the names now! The first graduates were awarded a BHSc Hons degree of the University of Leeds at York Minster.  In 2006, York St John received degree awarding powers and since then students have graduated with a degree from York St John University.

1993: Part-time degrees, taking 4 years, started for occupational therapy assistants working mainly in the Northern and Yorkshire Region.  This was followed by an Accelerated occupational therapy programme (2 years for mature students already having a degree).

and then on to Post-graduate developments:

• 2000: A Masters’ degree for health professionals, including occupational therapists, was validated;
• Supervision of PhD students began;
• Continuing Professional Development programmes were initiated;
• Research activity increased and, in 2009, I became one of the first Professors in Occupational Therapy in the UK.

The programme has grown in size; educational, research and professional experience and knowledge have deepened since 1963 BUT ‘occupation’, problem-solving  and person-centred practice is still key to all we do.

The on-going success of our programme at York St John University is underpinned by the quality of the curricula, its reputation and the achievements of staff, professional practice educators and our students.

Emeritus Professor Chris Mayers

March 2016

(with thanks to Anne Candelin and Carol Walker who wrote ‘The History of Occupational Therapy Education in York’, 2007)