The School is committed to maintaining high academic standards through rigorous monitoring and evaluation, emphasising student engagement. This regulation mandates annual reviews of course content, teaching methods, and assessments, incorporating student feedback from surveys, sessions, and committees. This collaborative approach ensures continuous improvement, responsiveness, and accountability, upholding the quality of education and fostering a culture of mutual respect and enhancement.
This Policy has been developed in line with the applicable laws, regulations, regulatory advice, and sector best practices, including the following:
Modules are distinct units used within programmes to help students earn necessary credits. Module leaders oversee content, learning, teaching, and assessment. They evaluate performance, adjust teaching methods, recommend materials, set assessments, and oversee marking. Module leaders are accessible to students via the VLE and attend Student Experience Committee meetings once a semester.
This ensures modules are effectively managed, maintaining academic standards and enhancing student engagement.
After all summative assessments, refers, and defers are completed and reviewed by the Module Examination Board, module leaders must complete an Annual Module Review Form, covering:
The report should be sent to relevant programme leaders and the Director of Education.
This ensures a thorough review and continuous improvement of each module, maintaining high educational standards and addressing areas for enhancement.
A 'programme' is a structured course of learning in a subject, approved by the School, leading to an OfS-recognised qualification upon earning the required credits. It consists of related modules and may have multiple levels. Programme leaders must regularly meet with module leaders to discuss student engagement and ensure coherence. Programme leaders must attend the Student Experience Committee meeting once a semester.
Regular meetings between programme and module leaders and students ensure alignment, coherence, and enhanced student engagement across the programme.
After all summative assessments, refers, and defers are completed and the Programme Examination Boards have concluded, programme leaders must complete an Annual Programme Review form. This form requires comments on:
This report should be sent to the Director of Education.
This ensures a comprehensive and reflective review of the programme, identifying areas for improvement and maintaining high standards.
The School gathers student feedback through:
These mechanisms ensure continuous student input, enhancing the School's ability to improve the academic experience.
Students and staff collaborate to ensure student input shapes the academic experience. Mechanisms include:
This fosters a collaborative environment where student feedback is valued and acted upon, enhancing their academic experience.
Each programme and level contribute 2 representatives to the Student Experience Committee. Elections are conducted by the Student Wellbeing Team at the start of the academic year. Chaired and coordinated by the Director of Education, the Student Experience Committee includes all module and programme leaders. It meets once a semester, with 75% of representatives and the Chair needed for quorum. Meetings can be in person, hybrid, or virtual. The Chair prepares the agenda, sends invitations, records minutes, and notes actions. Decisions are made by consensus or majority vote, with the Chair having a casting vote if needed. After meetings, the Chair sends action lists to relevant staff and students and tracks progress. The Director of Education reports Student Experience Committee outcomes to the Executive Committee and Academic Board.
This structure ensures effective student representation and continuous improvement of the student experience.
Students will be invited to join relevant committees, particularly those affecting the academic experience.
This ensures student voices are heard in decision-making processes, enhancing the academic environment.
Under the New Programme and Module Approval and Modification Regulations and Academic Regulations and Policies Policy, students must be consulted on proposed major and minor changes to programmes, modules, regulations, and policies. Proposers must consult students before seeking approval from governing bodies, which must ensure student engagement.
This ensures that student perspectives are considered in decision-making, fostering a collaborative and responsive academic environment.
The School does not plan to host an independent Students’ Union until it reaches a scale of 500 students or is feasible. It will provide a budget (up to 5% of net surplus) for an independent Students’ Union once this threshold is met. Until then, it will offer access to independent advice through the National Union of Students and other bodies.
This ensures students have access to democratic representation and independent advice, proportional to the School's size and resources.
The Director of Education oversees the Module and Programme Teams:
The Director holds regular meetings with module and programme teams to discuss learning, teaching, and assessments. The Director reports to the Executive Committee and Academic Board based on these meetings and other evidence, such as module and programme leaders’ reports.
Regular oversight and communication ensure academic quality, coherence, and continuous improvement across modules and programmes.
The Director of Education, along with all module and programme leaders, meets with programme and level representatives once a semester as the Student Experience Committee Chair. The Director, as a member of the Executive Committee, raises student matters at weekly meetings and may invite other members as needed. The Director's annual report to School bodies must address student meetings and Student Experience Committeeactivities.
Regular meetings with student representatives ensure continuous engagement, addressing student concerns and improving their experience.
The Director of Education, a member of the Executive Committee (EC), reports weekly on departmental operations, learning, and teaching to the EC. They also submit reports to the Academic Board, which then reports to the Board of Governors. After completing summative assessments, referrals, deferrals, and Examination Boards, and receiving reports from module and programme leaders, the Director must prepare an Annual Report for the EC and Academic Board. This report should:
This comprehensive report ensures thorough evaluation and continuous improvement of the School's academic operations and strategies.
The Academic Board, as the senior academic authority, operates under powers delegated by the Board of Governors. It collaborates with the Executive Committee, particularly the Director of Education, and oversees the examination boards. The Director of Education submits an annual report to the Academic Board and presents it orally for discussion and clarification. This report becomes part of the Chair's submission to the Board of Governors on programme performance, standards, and regulatory compliance.
This process ensures comprehensive oversight and accountability, maintaining high academic standards and regulatory compliance.
The Academic Board's report to the Board of Governors will include an analysis of the Director of Education's report, focusing on:
This ensures comprehensive oversight, continuous improvement, and strategic planning aligned with the School's mission.
Under the Governance Structure, the Board of Governors meets at least three times per calendar year, either in-person or virtually. The Board's responsibilities include:
Strategy
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The Board receives reports from various bodies, including the Academic Board and Executive Committee, on academic quality and standards, incorporating module and programme leader reports and the Director of Education's report. This ensures accountability, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
This ensures a structured approach to governance, aligning strategy and operations with the School's mission and regulatory standards.
Stakeholders will be updated on how their feedback has been acted on through committee minutes and actions. The School will produce an annual report following the Board of Governors’ strategic review, detailing actions taken. Updates will also be provided via the news and broadcast sections on the website and AGS when appropriate.
This ensures stakeholders are informed of how their feedback influences decisions, fostering transparency and engagement.
The following metrics will be measured and regularly reviewed as performance indicators for the School to ensure the effectiveness of this policy and associated operations.