Developing the academic and
personal tutor system
The value of a personal tutor system:
“It is necessary that staff be aware of the enormous
value that a well-organised personal tutorial system,
which gives attention to all students, can have. It can
provide a closer connection of staff with students,
support the student's personal and academic
development with an effect on improved retention
rates, give valuable feedback on the student's
experience of the course and institution, and provide
much needed evidence of reasons for withdrawal and
failure”
The personal tutor is key to ensuring that the
whole experience of the student is monitored
and supported.
Academic
Feedback
Academic
Personal
Tutor
Employment
Positive
destinations
Pastoral
care
The student journey
The Student Journey
Year 1
Year 2
Year
3/4
Engaging with the course
Transition
Transition
The role of the an APT in providing
academic feedback
• signpost sources of assistance, and make referrals in
confidence, for specific problems to other agencies (time
management and study skills, English Academy, Mathematics
Support Centre, Centre for Academic Writing, Student
Counselling, Accommodation Office, Student Funding, etc);
• take an overview of progress across all subjects and gives
accurate, objective advice;
• discuss the student’s personal development (PDP)
Source: Coventry University Student Academic
Support Framework
Graduate attributes – how do we help
students assess their development?
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Learning to Learn
Working with Others
Problem Solving and Innovation
Numeracy
IT and Online Learning
Communication
Career Management
Information Management
Personal Development Planning
Skills: practical, legal, transferable
Year 1
• Settling into University
• Feedback from first assessment
– Marks
– Academic writing issues
– Plagiarism
– Dyslexia
• Referral to appropriate academic
support student support
• Reflect on development of graduate
skills and attributes
• Review of academic progress
• Planning for year 2
Year 2
• Reviewing academic progress on
programme
• Discussion of feedback and marks
identifying overarching issues
• Reflecting upon graduate skills and
attributes
• Identification of skills gaps
• Academic planning:
• Course choices for level 3
• Placement/internship
application/preparation
• Linking to careers service support
Year
3/4
• Reviewing academic progress on
programme
• Supporting action planning for
transition
• Identifying referees
• Applying for jobs/ courses
• Linking to the careers service
support
• Discussion of feedback and marks
identifying overarching issues
• Reflecting upon graduate skills and
attributes
• Identification of skills gaps
Models from elsewhere
• Many institutions have a structured approach to
personal tutoring which incorporates personal
development planning:
– Leeds University: ‘Leeds for Life’
Leeds model....
Scoping the scheme for Law
• Defining the skills (Practical, Legal, transferable)
• Career linkages and employment
• Mapping to the levels.