Faculty of
Humanities Placement Year
Handbook
2015/16
Contents
1.
Introduction.................................................................................................................... 3
2.
Timetable....................................................................................................................... 4
3.
Starting Out ................................................................................................................... 5
3.1
Contact Details Form............................................................................................... 5
3.2
Induction Checklist .................................................................................................. 5
3.3
Log Book ................................................................................................................. 5
3.4
Placement Visit ....................................................................................................... 6
4.
Assessment ................................................................................................................... 6
5.
Money Matters ............................................................................................................... 7
5.1
Tuition Fee .............................................................................................................. 7
5.2
Student Loans ......................................................................................................... 7
Funding for students on paid placements ...................................................................... 7
Funding for students on unpaid placements .................................................................. 7
5.3
UK Placements ....................................................................................................... 8
Council Tax ................................................................................................................... 8
5.4
Overseas placements (outside the UK) ................................................................... 8
Paying tax abroad .......................................................................................................... 8
Erasmus funding for placements in the EU .................................................................... 9
6.
Health and Safety .......................................................................................................... 9
7.
Preparing to return to Stage 3 of your studies .............................................................. 10
Appendices ......................................................................................................................... 11
Appendix 1 .......................................................................................................................... 12
Student Contact Details Form ............................................................................................. 12
Appendix 2 .......................................................................................................................... 13
Induction Checklist .............................................................................................................. 13
Work Environment ........................................................................................................... 13
Procedures ...................................................................................................................... 13
Health & Safety Issues .................................................................................................... 13
Appendix 3 .......................................................................................................................... 14
Performance Evaluation Form ............................................................................................. 14
Appendix 4 .......................................................................................................................... 17
Placement Year Report ....................................................................................................... 17
Report Guidelines ............................................................................................................ 17
Marking Guidelines .......................................................................................................... 18
Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................ 19
Common Mistakes ........................................................................................................... 20
Appendix 5 .......................................................................................................................... 21
List of School Placement Year Coordinators ....................................................................... 21
2
1. Introduction
Dear Student,
This handbook has been produced to provide you with information about the arrangements
for your Humanities Faculty Placement Year. Although you are working for an external
organisation this year, you are still part of the University and your home School is still
concerned for your welfare and academic development. To this end you are registered for
this year and will pay some fees to the University.
If you have any queries or concerns at any time during your placement year, please do not
hesitate to contact your School Placement Year Coordinator for confidential advice (see
Appendix 5 for details) or either of us. No problem is too small - the only stupid questions are
the ones you don’t ask!
Good luck with your placement and have a fantastic year.
Kind regards
Melissa Gibson and James Corbin
Placement Year Coordinators – Faculty of Humanities
E-mail: humsplacements@kent.ac.uk
3
2. Timetable
The timetable below is intended to give you a general idea of ‘what happens when’ during
your placement year. Further details of these events are contained throughout this
handbook.
DATES
EVENT
FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE
July –
December
2015
Start placement
Start log book/blog
Submit contact details form
Submit induction checklist
Section 3. Starting Out
Section 4.
Assessment
Appendices
Appendix 1
Student Contact Details
Form
Appendix 2
Induction Checklist
Work Environment
Procedures
Health & Safety
Issues
Appendix 3
Performance Evaluation
Form
Appendix 4
Placement Year Report
Report Guidelines
Marking Guidelines
Frequently Asked
Questions
Common Mistakes
Appendix 5
List of School Placement
Year Coordinators
Appendix 1
July 2015 –
January 2016
First placement contact point
Appendix 2
Section 4. Assessment
April 2015
Start writing placement report
Appendix 4
April – June
2016
Second placement contact point (if
required)
Section 4.
Assessment
4
April – July
2016
31 July 2016
Finish placement
Final deadline placement report
Appendix 4
15 August
2016
Final deadline performance evaluation
Section 4.
Assessment
Appendix 3
September
2016
Commence Stage 3 studies
Page 10
5
3. Starting Out
3.1 Contact Details Form
During your placement year, it is imperative that you keep the School informed of your
contact details. You need to complete the Contact Details Form (Appendix 1) before you
start work and return it to the Placement Year Coordinator by mail or e-mail as soon as
possible.
Once you have returned the Contact Details Form the University will send the placement
provider a contract outlining the University’s expectation of the Organisation. The contract
will also set out the University’s responsibilities to you, the student. Once the contract has
been signed by authorised representatives from the University and Organisation you will be
required to counter sign the agreement and return it to the University before you commence
your placement.
If your address changes at any time during the placement year make sure you let us know
immediately – this is your responsibility!
3.2 Induction Checklist
On joining your placement organisation, it is your responsibility to make yourself familiar with
how the organisation is run. To assist you in this task and to ensure that you cover the
relevant safety issues, you are required to complete an Induction Checklist (Appendix 2)
during your first week. You must sign and return this to the Placement Year Coordinator
within two weeks of starting your placement.
If you are unsure of any of the points raised ask your work supervisor or human resources
contact. Please let the Placement Year Coordinator know if you have any further problems.
3.3 Log Book
During the course of your placement you are required to keep a logbook. This is a personal
document where you should keep an account of the work you are doing, training courses,
visits and any other key development events or observations about working life. Alongside
this you should retain a portfolio of internal reports that you have produced and other
material that you can use in support of the log.
The log is a multi-purpose document. In the shorter term, it will help to remind you of your
key achievements, which is useful when you have performance evaluations, and enable you
to complete the self-assessment part of this form more easily; in the slightly longer term, it
will provide evidence and inspiration for your final placement report; in the very long term it
will be something you can look back on to refresh your memory as you prepare for graduate
job interviews.
A log is also good practice in many arts organisations as they allow you to keep tabs on fast
moving creative processes and also allow you to evidence what you have achieved.
A copy of this log as an appendix to your final report is a good way to strengthen and
demonstrate the usefulness of the year to you, and good for preparing for job interviews.
This can take the form of a blog or emailed document that allows you to regularly send in to
help us monitor your progress; this can be weekly, fortnightly, or at the longest, monthly.
6
3.4 Placement Visit
You will have a minimum of one work-based visit during your placement. The purpose of this
contact point is:




To discuss your progress to date with both your supervisor and you, including
reviewing your log book
To ensure you and your manager are fully aware of the methods of assessment that
will be used for your placement year
To ascertain if there are any problems regarding confidentiality as you must be able
to compose a written report at the end of your placement
To remind you of report deadlines
We try to arrange the first placement visit within two to three months of your start date. If a
second visit is required this typically takes place between April and June, unless this needs
to be sooner.
When you receive an email from the Placement Year Coordinator asking you to arrange the
meeting, make sure you check if your manager is available to meet the Placement Year
Coordinator and coordinate timings and/or location of the meeting as appropriate.
For students on international placements the number of contact points and the timings will be
different. Where possible, video or telephone conferences will be used to compensate for
this.
4. Assessment
The total marks that may be awarded for the placement year are Pass/Fail within your
degree. Should you fail, then you will revert to the standard degree and the failed year will
remain on your transcript. There will be three different areas of assessment, although these
count together as a single written submission. These are:
1. Log Book (See page 5 for details) which can take the form of a blog or emailed
document that allows the School to monitor your progress. This can be weekly, fortnightly,
or at the longest, monthly but be realistic about how frequently you can complete the log.
The Log Book should be appended to your final Personal Development Report (see point
3 below).
This is worth 20% of the placement assessment
2. Performance Evaluation Form (See Appendix 3) to be filled in by your manager and to
be submitted during and at the end of your placement – this will assess both technical and
personal performance. Both you and your supervisor should complete the form
separately at the following milestones:
2.1 Two weeks into your placement
2.2 Half way through your placement
2.3 At the end of your placement
This is worth 20% of the placement assessment
3. Personal Development Report (See Appendix 4) to be submitted at the end of your
placement - the written report should be a detailed account of your work and personal
7
development during the placement year. It is never too soon to start thinking about your
report and you must check with your employer about any issues with confidentiality. If
necessary, they can send guidelines to the Placement Year Coordinator regarding the
extent of access they wish to permit to the project amongst University of Kent staff.
If the company is going to check through your report you should have it finished at least a
month before your end date to give them time to check through and advise you of any
amendments before you leave.
This is worth 60% of the placement assessment
When the Placement Year Coordinator reviews these three documents, notes from the
placements contact points will be taken into account as well. For instance, if the Placement
Coordinator found it impossible to get in touch with you to arrange a visit this will be taken
into consideration when the assessment is graded. Please keep this in mind and treat
placement contact points as part of the assessment.
Penalties for late submission
The deadlines for submission of the assessed activities are NOT flexible. You must submit all
documents on time. A mark of zero will be awarded for failure to submit by the deadline,
unless with prior special agreement or as per the University’s concessionary guidelines.
5. Money Matters
5.1 Tuition Fee
During your placement year, you will still be a student at the University of Kent. You are
therefore required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £865 for the 2015/16 academic year.
Please make sure you ensure that your Student Finance provider is aware of your placement
year status and that you pay your tuition fee on time – it is easy to forget this, as you will not
be on campus.
5.2 Student Loans
If you are taking a year in industry as part of your course, either in the UK or overseas, you
may still be entitled to some statutory support while you are away from the University,
providing that it is a recognised element of your degree programme.
Funding for students on paid placements
UK students will be able to apply for reduced rate Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans only.
The maximum reduced rate Maintenance Loan in 2015 is £2,425 (if living away from home)
or £1,819 (if living in the parental home). EU students will only be able to apply for a reduced
rate Tuition Fee Loan.
Funding for students on unpaid placements
There are some exceptions where students will continue to be eligible for the same funding
package as in previous years (which may include Maintenance or Special Support Grant,
Dependants' Allowances and Disabled Students' Allowances). Students will still be eligible
for their full funding package if they are undertaking "unpaid service" in one of the following:
8





Unpaid service in a hospital or in a public health service laboratory or with a primary
care trust
Unpaid service with a local authority relating to the care and or welfare of children /
young persons or similar activities with a voluntary organisation
Unpaid service in the prison or probation and aftercare service
Unpaid research in a UK institution or, in the case of a student attending an overseas
institution as a part of his course in an overseas institution
Unpaid service with a Health Authority in England or Wales or equivalent in Scotland
or Northern Ireland
Other types of unpaid work placements will receive the reduced rates of tuition fee
and maintenance loans as if it were a paid placement. It is a student's responsibility to
ensure that they can live on what is available before accepting an unpaid placement.
For further Student Finance information, please go to https://www.kent.ac.uk/financestudent/funding/sandwich.html
5.3 UK Placements
The UK tax year starts on 6th April each year. Everyone who is resident in the UK for tax
purposes has a 'personal allowance', which is an amount of income you are allowed to earn
or receive each year tax-free. For up-to-date information concerning your ‘tax-free personal
allowance’
please
consult
the
Revenue
and
Customs
website
at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/it.htm.
Council Tax
During your placement year, you still have student status. This means that you are exempt
from Council Tax. However, you will need a Council Tax Certificate from the University to
prove this.
The Student Records Office in the Registry provides Council Tax certificates. If your degree
includes a placement year in this country, certificates are available for collection prior to the
placement start date. To get the certificate, you can use a secure online service that the
university has implemented quite recently. For more information please visit the website
http://www.kent.ac.uk/student-records/students/counciltax.html
5.4 Overseas placements (outside the UK)
Paying tax abroad
The question of tax on earnings outside the UK is more complicated. The position regarding
the taxation of earnings abroad depends on the country visited and the length and purpose
of the visit. In any case two liabilities may be incurred:
a. Liability to tax in the country in which the money is earned.
b. Liability to UK taxes in respect of earnings abroad.
Each country has its own method of dealing with the earnings of non-residents. These vary
so widely that details should be obtained from the Revenue Authorities of the countries
involved. Other people in your department or the UK Inland Revenue Overseas Division may
also be able to offer advice. It is advisable to find out what documentation you will need to
complete your tax return before you go.
9
If you are already working in the UK, you will probably need to fill in Form P85 and send it to
the Tax Office. This is to let HMRC know that you are going to be out of the country, and it
may help in the future if you have any problems with foreign tax. If you are not already
working, there is no need to fill in this form.
Erasmus funding for placements in the EU
If you secure a placement in the EU you may be eligible for a non-means tested grant for the
duration of the placement and a course fee-waiver (placement year fee only), funded through
the Erasmus programme. The funding is only available to UK or EU citizens (but includes
citizens from EU candidate countries) and your placement must be over three months in
duration. The exact amount of the grant depends on a number of factors but could be
around 350-400 Euro per month. If you secure a placement in the UK but get posted to the
EU for three months or more you may also be eligible to receive some funding. In either
case please contact Erasmus@kent.ac.uk for further information.
6. Health and Safety
Ensure you register with a doctor local to your placement. Names and addresses are held at
main post offices or can be found on the Internet under on the NHS Direct pages,
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. Finding a doctor once you are ill is far more difficult, as some
surgeries require you to make one appointment to register, and then another one to actually
see a GP.
It is important that you follow company guidelines on illness and their procedures. This will
include reporting your absence to the relevant parties within a given period of the illness
starting, usually reporting it to someone in your department or directly to HR on the first day
of absence. Make sure you report your absence as early as possible on that day.
Wherever you are employed you should be briefed on the safety issues associated with your
role and the site you are based on. This should preferably happen on your first day, or at
least during your first week and is included as part of the induction checklist that you must
complete, sign and return to the university within this period.
All employees in the UK are covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA).
Under the terms of the Act the responsibility for the occupational health and safety of the
employed student(s) lies with the employer.
Nevertheless, as an employee, the student has duties to fulfil and failure to do so could result
in a loss of the protection afforded by the Act. Section 7 of HASAWA reads as follows:
It shall be the duty of every employee while at work
 To take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who
may be affected by his acts or omissions at work;
 As regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other person by
or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to co-operate with him so far as is
necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with.
NB. Where the reference is made to HASAWA, it should be noted that the information given
here is not an authoritative interpretation of the law, but is intended to give guidance to the
placement student's position vis-à-vis the Act.
10
Therefore for your own safety and that of others, ask detailed questions about using
equipment or carrying out procedures with which you are not familiar. If you are not sure, do
not proceed until instructions have been clarified.
7. Preparing to return to Stage 3 of your studies
In February 2016 you will receive information from the Humanities Undergraduate Office
concerning the online module registration process via your Kent email account. You should
keep in touch and give yourself plenty of time to contact tutors and decide which modules
you wish to pursue. If you have any questions concerning the process or the modules
available please contact the relevant Programme Administrator located in your home School.
There is a possibility that the University of Kent will be able to offer students returning from a
Year Abroad or a Placement Year the opportunity to apply for on-campus accommodation for
their final year in September 2016. The Accommodation Office should contact you in
January 2016 regarding how to apply for next year if this is possible. It is worth noting that
accommodation is not guaranteed and therefore it would be prudent of all students on
placements to consider alternatives.
If you have any queries about this, please contact the Accommodation Office on +44 (0)1227
766660. You can also keep an eye on their website for news on when to apply if there is
availability on https://www.kent.ac.uk/accommodation/index.html
11
Appendices
Appendix 1
Student Contact Details Form
Appendix 2
Induction Checklist
Work Environment
Procedures
Health & Safety Issues
Appendix 3
Performance Evaluation Form
Appendix 4
Placement Year Report
Report Guidelines
Marking Guidelines
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Mistakes
Appendix 5
List of School Placement Year Coordinators
12
Appendix 1
Student Contact Details Form
Name
Placement
Dates
Subject name
Company Name,
Address &
Telephone
Personal
Contact details
Supervisor
Daytime Tel
Mobile
Kent email
Work email
Telephone
Email
Additional
contacts
Accommodation
Address
Additional
information
13
Appendix 2
Induction Checklist
Name
Company
The following is a list of the essential information that should be included in your induction.
This has been put together as a prompt for you to ensure you have the necessary
information to settle into your placement quickly.
Work Environment
1. Introduction to key staff members and explanation of roles and what goes on in your
team so you start to learn who to go to for information (Don’t worry if you can’t remember
all their names - nobody expects you to, they won’t mind you asking at a later date!)
2. Location of toilets, break areas and other facilities plus lunch and drinks arrangements
3. Dress code
4. Car parking (permits etc)
Procedures
 Misuse of e-mail policy
Many firms have stringent disciplinary procedures (some result in immediate
dismissal) for the misuse of email. Make sure you are clear about what you can and
can’t use the company system for. It is there for business purposes, so don’t assume
it is generally okay to contact friends, family or other personal contacts using this.
 Use of web resources
Again, many firms have very strong views on this. For example, all firms will take
strong action for downloading porn. Also find out about Facebook and similar sites.
 Telephone procedures
Some departments will have a “correct” answering procedure for the telephone
(particularly where the department has a customer facing role). It is generally the
practice to answer with either your name or that of the department. You will need to
know how to make calls internally and externally, how to transfer calls and record
your own voicemail message.
 Post arrangements
Where post is collected from and when and how your post is delivered to you.
 Holiday arrangements
How to book and mark annual leave.
Health & Safety Issues
 Emergency procedures
 Safety policy received and location known (usually every company/department will
have one and it’s your job to know where it is and what’s in it)
 Location of First Aid box and First Aiders
 Fire procedures and location of extinguishers
 Accident reporting and location of accident book
 All technical regulations/requirements
 Display Screen Equipment regulations/procedures
 Manual handling procedures (if any lifting required)
If any of these aren’t covered in the first week, ASK! Then return this form to School
Placement Year Coordinator.
Checklist complete (to be signed by the student)
Signed _____________________Date______________
14
Appendix 3
Performance Evaluation Form
Guidance notes
The form is a mixture of written feedback and a marked scale. At the appropriate milestones
you and your placement supervisor should complete this form with the comments you wish to
raise on each of the assessed sections and appropriate marks.
The following guidelines to the scale should be used:
5
Exceptional performance: Performance always exceeds expectations, adds unique
value to the organisation, demonstrating excellence and exceptional ability.
4
Excellent performance: Performance consistently exceeds expectations, adds value
to the organisation and demonstrates excellent ability in field.
3
Good performance: Consistently meets expectations and is doing a fully competent
job.
2
Satisfactory performance: Performance generally meets expectations, however
improvements can be made.
1
Poor performance: Not meeting the minimum expectations.
If you have any further queries regarding the use of this form please do not hesitate to
contact the School Placement Year Coordinator.
Completed copies of the Performance Evaluation Form should be returned to the Placement
Officer or appended to the Placement Year Report.
Summary of student’s main job duties and assignment during review period:
15
Supervisor’s overall comments on performance:
GRADE: 1 = Poor
2 = Satisfactory
3 = Good
4 = Excellent 5 = Exceptional
Management capability and decision making
Having a clear sense of priorities, logically analysing situations, exercising sound judgement
and being able to display initiative in problem solving.
Judgement, evaluation of options and management capability
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Depth of task evaluation and suggestions for improved working
methods
Ability to work unsupervised and obtain advice when necessary.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Time management and prioritisation
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Level of self-organisation
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Resourcefulness and Creativity
Tasks maybe highly technical and complex or straightforward and predictable, however
resourcefulness and creativity is still crucial.
Inquisitiveness and display of initiative
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Recognises and analyses practical constraints to problems
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Systematic approach to the solution of problems
Knowledge applied to providing solutions to problems
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
N/A
N/A
16
Functional/Technical skills and knowledge
Development of functional and technical skills is an important facet of this programme.
Competence in application of methods, policy and procedures specific 1
to the area, including the adoption of appropriate professional, ethical
and legal practices
2
3
4
5
N/A
Development of practical skills in specific projects and ability to develop
theory in use
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Manages their own learning and development, grasps at all available 1
opportunities to do so
Understanding of how the department contributes to the business as a 1
whole
2
3
4
5
N/A
2
3
4
5
N/A
Communication
For a business to work effectively there must be exchange of ideas, information and
instructions making the ability to communicate in writing and verbally essential.
Ability to communicate with colleagues and senior management
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Written communication and ability to convey information clearly and 1
concisely
Ability to listen, retain and appropriately use information
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
2
3
4
5
N/A
Presentation skills
2
3
4
5
N/A
1
Teamwork
Teamwork reflects interaction with others to achieve mutual objectives.
Ability to work as a team member
Contribution to team objectives and department as a whole
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
N/A
N/A
Support of supervisors/seniors
Display of professional attitude and adaptability
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
N/A
N/A
Reliability
Refers to “being there” and coming through time after time, project after project, completing
tasks in a timely manner.
Level to which objectives have been completed by deadlines
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
Time management and organisational skills including timely completion 1
of “routine” tasks
Punctuality
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
2
3
4
5
N/A
Drive and self-motivation
2
3
4
5
N/A
1
17
Appendix 4
Placement Year Report
We anticipate several questions about the placement report, so here are further guidelines
including details of marking scheme and criteria, answers to FAQs and some common
mistakes.
Reports should be sent to your School Placement Year Coordinator by 31 July 2016.
Late reports will NOT be accepted. Early reports will be welcomed and gratefully received.
Most companies have strict privacy policies, it is imperative that you therefore allow
them plenty of time to vet your report before you submit it. This might take up to four
weeks in some companies, so find this out as soon as possible.
Report Guidelines
Although each report will vary depending on your placement, the Board of Studies
recommends that the report should, wherever possible, follow the following guidelines and
include the sections listed below:
1.
Abstract – short summary of your work (e.g. aims, key results, significance)
2.
Placement details – The name of the host institution and the relevant
address, the name of your supervisor and the period you worked
3.
Contents Page – an index of the whole report
4.
Introduction – background to your role and its place in the organisation
5.
Main body will be structured appropriately for the kind of work you have
undertaken in your placement and should include the following:
5.1 A description of the various tasks you undertook during the placement
5.2 The training, both formal (courses) and informal (on the job), undertaken in
the period plus any other learning experiences
5.3 Any changes to the supervision or nature of the placement
5.4 Discussion about the outcomes of your work, or other influential impacts on
your placement
5.5 Analysis of your thoughts, feelings and personal developments through the
year
6.
Summary – A final round up about the key successes or otherwise of the
placement and of the benefits you have gained from your placement year
7.
Appendices – Optional additions to illustrate details of the work and training
undertaken. These must be properly referenced within the report. This can
include a printed log/blog
8.
Illustrations – May be used within the main body or in the appendices.
Remember to give to legends to figures and tables.
18
Marking Guidelines
Grade
Pass/ Fail
Comments
Report Organisation
Report contains abstract, placement details,
contents page, introduction, logically structured
main body, summary and appropriately
referenced appendices and illustrations
Scene Setting
Background to company, department and
student role
Demonstrates
organisation
a
good
understanding
of
Intro to the report structure
Comments on Learning
Analysis of work undertaken in terms of
personal development and knowledge gained
Description of training, both formal and informal
(on the job)
Analysis of thoughts, feelings and personal
developments through the year
Work Description
Description of work undertaken
discussion of outcomes
including
Awareness of business environment
Description of other impacts on the placement
Analysis
of
thoughts,
feelings
achievements through the year
Presentation
Spelling/proof reading
and
Professional layout including appropriate
headings and numbering system in line with
contents page
Appropriate use of diagrams and illustrations
Has the document been accurately proof read?
Additional Comments
19
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long should the report be?
There is no minimum length for the report, and it should be written as concisely as
possible. The actual length of the report will depend on your placement. However, there
is an upper limit and reports should not exceed 4000 words. It is worth noting that
appendices are not included in this count.
2. Who is the audience?
Your report should be aimed at a general group who have no prior knowledge of your
placement. You are not aiming it at a specific person or persons.
3. How should the report be presented?
Reports should be typed, single line spaced in a size 12 font. Look at reports in your
workplace, see how they are laid-out and maybe use a similar style. Whatever the style,
the report should be appropriately sectioned and numbered, and there should be a
contents page with all the section and page numbers on it.
4. Where do I submit the report?
Reports should be submitted directly to your School’s Placement Year Coordinator in
person, by post or by email. You will be sent a receipt. If you wish to hand in your report
and the Placement Coordinator is off campus, please leave it with the School reception
with a submission sheet. Receipt of all reports will be confirmed, so please chase if you
do not hear anything!
5. What format should my report be in?
Reports will only be accepted as a printed copy or electronically as a PDF or Word file.
No other formats will be accepted.
6. When will I get my mark?
The reports are marked and moderated; the grade is combined with those for the
Performance Evaluation and Log Book to give an overall Placement Year pass/fail mark
and submitted to the next available Exam Board which may take place after your final
year work dependent on when you complete your placement. Due to the possible large
numbers of reports, the marking and moderating process takes time and the marks are
not officially published until this is all complete.
7. What is the distribution of marks between the Performance Evaluation and the
Placement Report?
The Placement Year Report mark is worth 60% of your final grade, the Performance
Evaluation and Log Book as each worth 20%. The three are compared and combined to
give one overall Pass/Fail mark for the year.
8. Will someone check a draft of my report before I submit?
You can only submit your final report to the University for marking. If you want your
report checked then we strongly suggest you ask someone in your workplace for his or
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her advice. If you want to discuss whether you are on the right lines, we can do this at
your second placement visit or by email followed by arranging a telephone meeting.
Common Mistakes
1. NOT READING THE GUIDELINES: Students don’t always read the provided guidelines
and as a result, they don’t include an abstract, contents page or other required sections
as instructed. This does lose them marks and makes a poor impression from the start of
the report. NB. An abstract is a paragraph or two that outlines what is contained in the
report. It is not an introduction, but a brief overview and is commonly the last thing that
you write before submission.
2. LAYOUT: This should be a professional report, so number the pages, have numbered
sections and sub-sections and title them appropriately. Use this information to present a
full contents page.
3. ANALYSING: In previous years, some students have just described what they have
done during the year. Remember this is an analytical and reflective report, so you need
to draw conclusions about what you have got out of the year as well as comment on
activities you have participated in.
4. PLANNING: Some students start writing their report without drafting a plan first. Their
reports tend to be disjointed and difficult to follow. You have a whole year to present this
piece so take some time to think through what your main parts are and write up a plan
before you start. You will not include everything you have done, so planning will help you
to select the most relevant and/or interesting points.
5. PROOF READING: Quite a few reports are full of spelling mistakes and garbled, longwinded sentences that make no sense. Get a third party to read your report for you
highlighting any errors or areas they don’t understand. Your supervisor may do this for
you, or a parent or even a friend from the course for whom you could reciprocate the
favour.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact your School
Placement Year Coordinator.
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Appendix 5
List of School Placement Year Coordinators
School of Arts
Melissa Gibson, Student Experience Manager (arts@kent.ac.uk)
Will Wollen, Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies and Academic Employability Lead
(W.Wollen@kent.ac.uk)
School of English
Ryan Perry, Deputy Director of the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies and
Employability and Placement Officer (R.Perry@kent.ac.uk)
School of European Culture and Languages
Coralie Norwood, Student Office Manager (C.Norwood@kent.ac.uk)
School of History
Jon Beer, Student Office Manager (J.Beer@kent.ac.uk)
School of Music and Fine Art
Brigid Carroll, Student Office Manager (B.R.L.Carroll@kent.ac.uk)
Peter Hatton, Programme Director Creative Events (P.Hatton@kent.ac.uk)
Centre for American Studies
Claire Taylor, Centre Administrator (C.L.Taylor@kent.ac.uk)
School of Architecture
Please note that this School operates an independent Placement Year scheme. For more
information please contact the School directly.
If you have any generic questions regarding the Faculty of Humanities Placement Year
please email: Humsplacements@kent.ac.uk
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