Overview
This guidance outlines the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) process for doctors in Foundation Year 1 (F1) and Foundation Year 2 (F2) within the South West Foundation Schools. It will be updated when national requirements change.
The ARCP is the formal mechanism by which foundation doctors are assessed against curriculum requirements to progress to the next stage of training. A satisfactory outcome (Outcome 1 for F1; Outcome 6 for F2) confirms that the required competences have been achieved.
ARCP Checklists for Foundation Doctors
The South West Foundation Schools ARCP checklists are aligned to the UKFPO published checklist. These outline the evidence required for a satisfactory ARCP outcome.
Separate checklists for F1 and F2 are available below. Each details the evidence reviewed by the ARCP panel when determining progression.
The UKFPOs Foundation Programme Curriculum Resource Guide provides links to online learning resources that may be used as supplementary evidence where formal teaching has been missed.
Guidance for Curriculum Linking
Aide-Memoire for Portfolio Checks
The following aide-memoire supports preparation for ARCP panels and ensures portfolios are complete and meet curriculum expectations.
Curriculum Assessment Requirements
- ALS (ILS if unable to do ALS) certificate or equivalent evidence linked to FPC2 (see curriculum page 93 for requirements).
- Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA)
PSA certificate must be linked to FPC 4 (F1 only). - FPC 9 – Quality Improvement
Evidence of QI activity F1s (e.g., data collection) and a full QIP F2s (e.g. upload presentation given of QIP)(see the Curriculum Page 101 for requirements) - FPC 10 – Teaching Activity
Evidence of delivering a teaching session during both F1 and F2 (e.g., DCT or LEADER assessment). - FPC 11 – Quality Assurance Activity
Evidence may include participation in the GMC survey, end-of-post surveys, or involvement in a Foundation Quality Panel.
Other Required Portfolio Evidence
- Teaching Log – Minimum:
- 30 hours core teaching
- 60 hours total teaching
Note: No e-learning is approved for core teaching by the South West Foundation Schools. Non-core teaching should show a variety of educational opportunities. (please see the UKFP guidance on what counts as Core and Non-Core)
- Simulation Training (SIM)
The Curriculum page 83 recommends three simulation sessions across F1 and F2. One session may include life support training (ALS/ILS). - Three Summary Narratives
- Regular Reflections
- Evidence of contemporaneous portfolio activity, demonstrating competence across physical and mental health in acute, non-acute, and community settings.
- Form R
All Time Out of Training (TOOT)—including compassionate leave, parental leave, sickness, jury service, industrial action, and other statutory absences—must be recorded.
Professional Practice (Recommended but not mandatory)
Although no longer required by the curriculum (pending updates in HORUS), the following remain good professional practice:
- Initial Clinical Supervisor (CS) and Educational Supervisor (ES) meeting records
- Personal Development Plans (PDPs)
Note: PDPs remain required for study leave requests. - Study Leave Record Form
Detailed curriculum linking guidance is available for all Foundation Doctors.
Guidance on Curriculum Linking
Enhanced Form R for Revalidation
All licensed doctors with full registration (including F2 doctors and specialty residents) are required to revalidate, usually every five years. The Postgraduate Dean, acting as the Responsible Officer, uses ARCP outcomes to inform revalidation recommendations to the GMC.
Foundation Doctors must:
- Collect supporting evidence that demonstrates adherence to GMC professional standards. The Postgraduate Dean, as your Responsible Officer, will use the outcomes of your ARCP process to inform their recommendation to the GMC.
- Complete an Enhanced Form R, declaring scope of practice and any involvement in conduct, capability, or serious incident processes. The Responsible Officer will use the information that you submit on your Form R, in conjunction with that declared to us by your employer, in the revalidation decision.
The Enhanced Form R is available within the Horus e-portfolio under the “Forms” section.
For more information on Revalidation please see the GMC website.
ARCP Panels
ARCP panels will be set up locally by your employing trust in accordance with published guidance contained in the Gold Guide for Postgraduate Training.
- Doctors who receive an adverse outcome, and
- A minimum 10% random sample of the cohort
will be invited to attend a face-to-face post‑ARCP feedback meeting.
2026 ARCP Timeline
| Date | |
| Portfolio completion deadline | 5pm (BST), Thursday 28 May 2026 |
| ARCP panel dates | Monday 1 – Friday 12 June 2026 |
| Final ARCP outcomes issued by | 26 June 2026 |
| Appeals deadline | 5pm (BST), Friday 10 July 2026 |
ARCP Outcomes
You will receive one of the following outcomes in your e‑portfolio:
| F1 ARCP Outcome | F2 ARCP Outcome |
| Outcome 1 – Satisfactory completion of F1 | Outcome 6 – Satisfactory completion of F2 and recommendation for the Foundation Achievement of Competence Document (FACD) |
| Outcome 3 – Inadequate progress; additional training time required (applies to both) | |
| Outcome 4 – Released from training programme (applies to both) | |
| Outcome 5 – Incomplete evidence presented; additional training time may be required (applies to both) | |
ARCP Appeals
Please refer to the Gold Guide for ARCP appeals information (Appeals of ARCP outcomes 4.158)
Guidance for Less Than Full Time (LTFT) / Out‑of‑Sync Foundation Doctors
Whilst the checklist and curriculum requirements for out of synch/LTFT Foundation Doctors still applies in all respects, the timeline contained within it will not apply.
- Training requirements apply across the entire duration of your F1 or F2 year, up to your individual portfolio closure date.
- If your indicative completion date is more than 12 months from your last ARCP—or if you have not yet had an ARCP (e.g., F1 LTFT)—you will have:
- an annual ARCP review, and
- a further ARCP panel at your next critical progression point (end of F1 or F2).
Your trust will confirm your ARCP date and portfolio closure date separately and individually, in accordance with published guidance contained in the Gold Guide for Postgraduate Training.
For Example: Completion of Foundation year in November
- You will undergo an ARCP in June.
- This will result in an ‘Other Outcome’, indicating whether you are on track.
- Do not request an End of Year Supervisor Report for the June ARCP. This must be completed at the end of your August–November placement.
- You must still provide End of Placement reports for the April–August placement.
- Continue adding portfolio evidence between August and November, completing SLEs, attending teaching, and updating summary narratives.
Further Information
The Foundation Programme is both time‑based and competence‑based. Foundation Doctors must complete:
- 12 months in approved F1 placements,
- 12 months in approved F2 placements, and
- meet all other curriculum requirements in each training year.
The GMC guidance for absence states that if Foundation Doctors miss any time they were due to be on duty this will count as an absence whether it was a weekday, weekend or night shift. The maximum number of days a Foundation Doctor can be absent when they were due to be on duty is 20.