2015-16 Programme
Plan Template
2015-16
Programme Plan
Overview
The Programme Plan evaluates the current health of a programme, or by exception, a
cluster of programmes (with agreement from the AGC-SELE) and proposes actions for
development based on evidence of significant issues/good practice and situational factors.
For on-campus programmes, the author of the programme plan is normally the Programme
Leader. For off-campus programmes, it is normally the Link Tutor together with the partner
Course Manager will complete the document.
In the case of a cluster of programmes, the plan’s author is required to work with the cluster
Programme Leaders to agree and update the plan.
Where the programme is delivered On Campus and at Off Campus locations, the Link Tutor
will produce individual Programme Plans. The On Campus Programme Leader is expected
to review the suite of Programme Plans prior to publishing to identify common items. The
common items should either be addressed within all the Programme Plans or be escalated
for attention at Subject level through the SASER (Subject Annual Self Evaluation Report).
The purpose of the Programme Plan is to evaluate the effectiveness of the management of
academic standards and quality at programme and module level. It should identify good
practice and opportunities for development at module and programme level. It should
identify areas for improvement and identify key priorities with specific timeframes.
The Programme Plan provides:

A review of the previous year’s programme management (issues, good practice,
enhancement activity) – Completed in October 2015.

A narrative comprising an analysis of programme monitoring data (including
statistics about applicants, enrolment, progression and achievement, employability,
demographics, exit velocity) over a three year period. As data follows the student life
cycle, respective sets of statistics become available at different points in the
academic cycle. The programme plan should be refreshed and updated prior to
presentation at each of the 3 SSLCs that occur throughout the academic year. The
plan is updated by inclusion of additional data/ information as it becomes available,
as follows. Examples include the DHLE data and information about recruitment. It is
expected that the data will be available as per the following schedule:
Data Type
Recruitment
Profile
Progression
Attainment
MEQ
NSS
UPSS
DLHE

Expected release date
Early – Mid October
Early – Mid October
Early – Mid October
Early – Mid October
February and July
Mid October
Mid October
June
Updated PP presented to SSLC
November
November
November
November
May and following November
February
February
Following November
Identification of Significant Action Points in tabular format taken from
Qualtrack/a PQEP (evidence will include programme monitoring data analysis,
External Examiner Reports, minutes from committees/boards, Module Reports,
1
Module Reports, School Quality Enhancement Plans/Local Academic Plans and the
University Quality Enhancement Plan). The Programme Plan is a ‘live’ document
which enables consideration of the data along with other information throughout the
academic year. Action points can be identified on a cyclical basis as the evaluation of
data occurs.

A table containing Significant Action Points for the current academic year and
beyond

Significant Action points that have resource implications must first be formally agreed
with your Head of School/Division prior to publication and dissemination of the
Programme Plan. The procedure is as follows:
If resources are required for implementation, agreement and comment from the Head
of School to indicate support for the plan and investment is required prior to
dissemination. If the Head of School/Division is not able to support the
implementation only due to budget constraints, note should be made that the Head of
School will include the request will be considered for inclusion in the local planning
process for the next academic session. If the Head of School/Division is not able to
support the investment for the foreseeable future, the item should be reconsidered
and if necessary the proposed action changed to one that requires less or no
investment;
Publication and dissemination of the Programme Plan
Once the Programme Plan has been written, it should be published and disseminated, as
follows:
1. The Programme Plan should be forwarded to Head of School/Division and the
Academic Group Coordinator, SELE;
2. The agreed Programme Plan should be uploaded by the author onto the Quality
Portal on Moodle 2 following consideration at each SSLC (for advice about the
location and access to the relevant Quality Portal please see the AVC SELE for your
School/Division).
3. The programme plan should be presented to each Student Staff Liaison Committee
for discussion/consultation/progress report/approval, as follows.
a. October 2015 in draft - following EE Report and before first Student-Staff
Liaison Committee (SSLC)
b. January 2016 - at end of Semester 1 with updates for second SSLC
c. June 2016 - at end of Semester 2 with updates for summer SSLC if held
4. The Programme Plan is then received by the School/OCD Board via the School/OCD
Quality Standing Panel.
2
PROGRAMME PLAN 2015-16
PROGRAMME TITLE OR LIST OF PROGRAMMES IF CLUSTERED
Date and Version of this document
1
Review of previous year
Consider key strengths and issues of programme management and delivery. Provide an
audit trail to sources of evidence (approx. 300 words). Append to the Programme Plan the
PQEP items from QualTrack which detail the External Examiner comments and also append
your letter of response to the External Examiner’s comments.
The external examiner reports are available on line at the following location
http://www.bolton.ac.uk/Quality/EEE/ExternalExaminersReports/Home201415.aspx A PDF
of the External Examiner Report and a copy of the Programme Leaders formal letter of
response to the External Examiner should both be appended to this Programme Plan.
2
Data Analysis
What important messages are coming from your data reports? Are there any trends over
time that require your attention? Provide an overview here and incorporate actions where
appropriate into Section 3 either to promote good practice, maximize on opportunities or
address issues of concern. Provide a short evaluative overview of between 500-1000 words
3. 2015-16 Programme Significant Actions Points
Relating to Programme(s) – (insert Title(s))
UK Quality
Code
Chapter
(see
below1)
B4 Enabling
student
development
and
achievement
Evidence sources
Matters
identified
Intended
outcomes
Action to
be taken to
achieve
intended
outcomes
Target
Date
2015-16
2016-17
Action by
(role)
Reported
to
Evaluation Progress
(process or report (Traffic
evidence)
light system Red, Amber
Green and Blue
for complete)2
Improved
attendance,
retention and
progression of
foundation
year students.
Strengthen
personal tutor
interventions.
Evaluate
teaching,
learning and
assessment
strategies and
support via
Foundation
Programme
Network.
2015-16
Programme
Leader,
Personal
Tutors
SSLC Nov
2015
School
Board xXX
2016.
Evidence:
% attendance
and % pass
rate
increasing
- Good practice
(GP)
- Area for
improvement
(AFI)
Foundation module
registers
Module statistics (July
2015 Assessment
Board)
Programme monitoring
data (2014-15)
SSLC Minutes May
2015
AFI: Foundation
year retention
and progression
needs to be
improved
Amber – Personal
tutoring
interventions
applied (Nov 2015)
UK Quality Code Chapter: B1 Programme design, development and approval, B2 Recruitment, selection and admission to HE, B3 Learning and teaching, B4 Enabling student
development and achievement, B5 Student engagement, B6 Assessment of students and the recognition of higher learning, B7 External examining, B8 Programme monitoring
and review, B9 Academic appeals and student complaints, B10 Managing higher education provision with others, B11 Research degrees, Part C Information.
2
Red = not going to achieve intended outcome within stated timeline/Amber = problems identified and additional action needed to bring back on track/Green = on track to achieve
intended outcomes within planned timeframe/Blue = Actions completed and intended outcomes achieved.
5
4
Overview of future plans for the programme
Looking further to the future than the current academic session, provide an overview
(approximately 500 – 1000 words) of future opportunities that will influence the Programme
Plan and help to determine the direction of the programme. What are the opportunities to be
exploited or the threats that need to be mitigated and how does the Programme Team plan
to deal with these issues?
.
5
Details of any resource implications*.
*If any resource implications for actions are presented on a version of the Programme Plan
then these should be first discussed and agreed by the Head of School before
publication/dissemination.
To be signed by:
Head of School/Division Signature of Support
……………………………………………………… Date …………………………………
Comment(s) by Head of School/Division
To be signed by:
AVC SELE
……………………………………………………… Date …………………………………
To be appended to the Programme Plan:


External Examiner Report for the relevant year of delivery;
Formal Letter of Response from the Programme Leader to the External Examiner.