Monitoring and Evaluation Regulations

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.

After all summative assessments, refers, and defers are completed and reviewed by the Module Examination Board, module leaders must complete a Module Review Form, covering:

• Module performance compared to the previous cycle, including metrics, teaching quality, student participation, and assessment outcomes
• Student engagement, committee meetings, and satisfaction surveys
• Collaboration with programme leaders
• Analysis of summative assessments, both quantitative (mark breakdown) and qualitative (achievement of learning outcomes)
• Comments on standards and rigour
• Analysis of external examiner reports and responses, included as an appendix
• Progression
• Recommendations for improving quality and standards
• Updates needed for the next delivery of the module, consultations with stakeholders like employers or professional bodies

The report should be sent to relevant programme leaders and the Director of Education.

The Director of Education oversees the Module and Programme Leaders Team, and Teaching and Assessment Team. In particular, the

• Module Leaders Team:
  • Ensure updated content, learning, and teaching
  • Oversee teaching on modules with the Teaching and Assessment Team 
  • Act as module contacts
  • Oversee summative assessments, marking, and scrutiny
  • Work with external experts
  • Submit marks to the Module Examination Boards
  • Write module reports
  • Recommend changes
• Programme Leaders Team:
  • Oversee programme recruitment
  • Ensure overall coherence
  • Act as central programme contacts
  • Submit award and classification profiles to the Programme Examination Boards
  • Work with external experts
  • Write programme reports
  • Oversee programme changes

The Director of Education holds regular meetings with module and programme teams to discuss learning, teaching, and assessments. The Director reports to the Executive Committee and Academic Board on academic matters based on these meetings and other evidence, such as module and programme leaders’ reports.

The Director of Education regularly attends meetings of the Student Experience Committee, which is chaired by the Director of Student Services. In these meetings, the Director of Education engages in discussions with representatives from various programmes and levels of study. The purpose of these discussions is to address a range of matters related to academic services, with a focus on ensuring that students receive the necessary support throughout their educational journey.

The Director of Education, a member of the Executive Committee (EC), reports weekly on education department operations to the EC. They also submit reports to the Academic Board on academic matters, such as assessments, 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 a Report for the EC and Academic Board. This report should:

• Reflect on the Education department’s performance, comparing it to previous cycles
• Comment on key metrics like recruitment, admissions, quality, standards, and student satisfaction
• Analyse EDI initiatives
• Assess the quality and standards of programmes and modules
• Explain efforts to promote graduate attributes
• Discuss student engagement and meetings, informing strategic decision-making
• Provide quantitative and qualitative analysis of retention, assessments, progression, and KPIs
• Advise on staff training and development
• Evaluate School standards against sector-recognised standards, the FHEQ, and subject benchmarks
• Comment on programme development, learning and teaching, and overall academic experience
• Analyse external and stakeholder reports
• Comment on the risk register
• Provide information on graduates and alumni
• Suggest improvements for quality and standards
• Include appendices on student agendas and minutes, and module and programme review forms

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.

After all summative assessments, refers, and defers are completed and the Programme Examination Boards have concluded, programme leaders must complete a Programme Review form. This form requires comments on:

• Marketing, recruitment, and admissions
• Programme performance, including satisfaction surveys, feedback from student representatives, meetings with module leaders, and comparison to previous cycles
• Views on learning, teaching, and summative assessments
• Quantitative and qualitative analysis of marks, including passes, fails, and awards
• Retention and progression
• External examiner reports, responses, and discussions
• Needed changes to the programme specification
• Other improvements for quality and standards

This report should be sent to the Director of Education.

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

• Setting the School's strategic vision, mission, and values.
• Setting and evaluating the School's academic orientation and long-term business and academic plans.
• Identify criteria or key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess and secure the outcomes specified above, ensuring that these align with the needs and expectations of internal and external stakeholders and relevant regulatory bodies.
• Transparently report to stakeholders and regulators in relation to the areas described above.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Monitor and evaluate consistency and the performance and effectiveness of the School against its vision and values, regulations and policies, key performance indicators (KPIs), and academic, business, and other plans.
• Resolve differences, especially on decision making, between School bodies, acting as final interpreter and arbiter of terms of reference.
• Monitor the effectiveness and performance of the School's executive team (including the President) for the academic, corporate, financial, estate, and human resource management of the institution.
• Ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including risk register and appetite, financial and operational controls, appointment of auditors, risk assessment, and procedures for managing conflicts of interest.

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 Directors of Student Services and Education reports. This ensures accountability, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.

Stakeholders will be updated on how their feedback has been acted on through committee minutes and actions.

The School will also produce a report following the Board of Governors’ strategic review, detailing how reports and feedback have been considered, and actions taken. Updates will also be provided via the news and broadcast sections on the website and AGS when appropriate.

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 Directors of Education and Student Services, and oversees the examination boards. The Directors of Education and Student Services submit their reports to the Academic Board and also present them orally for discussion and clarification. These reports becomes part of the Academic Board Chair's submission to the Board of Governors on the student experience, programme performance, 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:

• Compliance with sector-recognised standards
• Quality of the academic experience for all students
• Insights on recruitment, admissions, and inclusive growth
• Assessments, marks, progression, and retention
• Comparisons with previous data
• Efforts to encourage participation and progression, and student support
• Financial and resource needs
• Staffing requirements
• Risk register updates
• Strategic growth and mission alignment, including course portfolio expansion
• Necessary changes in regulations and policies
• Relevant information for strategic and operational planning

The School gathers student feedback through:

1. Internal surveys: module, programme, and School experience
2. External surveys: National Student Survey (NSS), Graduate Outcomes Survey, and Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES).
3. The School’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) hosts programme and module content with a 'comment' link for student feedback on activities and a discussion board for feedback on learning, enabling module leader engagement
4. School feedback via MyLSI

Students and staff collaborate to ensure student input shapes the academic experience. Mechanisms include:

• Assignment of a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) for feedback and action
• Meetings with module and programme leaders during office hours
• Meetings with the President and School directors. 
• Programme and module handbooks with staff email addresses
• Access to the Student Success Team

Each programme and level provides two representatives to the Student Experience Committee. Elections are managed by the Student Success Team at the start of the academic year. Chaired by the Director of Student Services, it enables students to feedback on all of the School's services. The Committee includes the Directors of Education and Operations, and all module and programme leaders, and meets once per semester. A quorum requires 75% of representatives and the Chair. Meetings can be in person, hybrid, or virtual. The Chair prepares the agenda, sends invitations, records minutes, and tracks actions. Decisions are made by consensus or majority vote, with the Chair having a casting vote if necessary. Post-meeting, the Chair distributes action lists to relevant staff and students and monitors progress. The Director of Student Services reports outcomes to the Executive Committee and Academic Board.

Students will be invited to join relevant committees, particularly those affecting the academic experience. 

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.

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.