Internal use only Hertfordshire Students’ Union National Student Survey 2016 School of Education The School of Education made some gain in the National Student Survey 2016, with improvements of 9% in Assessment and Feedback, 5% in Organisation and Management and 5% in Personal Development. On the other hand, they saw a drop of 6% in Academic Support, an area where they have seen improvements over the previous two years. Similarly, a decrease of 3% in Learning and Teaching comes in an area where they have improved in the last two years. Overall satisfaction in the School has improved by 4% and satisfaction with the Students’ Union by 2%. The School of Education fares well when compared to the sector mean, sitting at or above the sector mean in all areas but one. After the 6% decline, Academic Support is now 3% below the sector mean and 1% behind the University overall. Teaching
Assessment
Support
Organisation
Resources
Development
Overall
SU
School of Education
89% (-3%)
79% (9%)
79% (-6%)
79% (5%)
94% (0%)
90% (5%)
92% (4%)
73% (2%)
UH
85% (-1%)
70% (1%)
80% (-1%)
73% (1%)
88% (-2%)
83% (-2%)
82% (-2%)
74% (0%)
Sector (all HEIs)
87% (0%)
73% (0%)
82% (0%)
79% (0%)
87% (0%)
83% (0%)
86% (0%)
69% (-1%)
Positive and Negative Themes (Open Comments) Students in the School of Education praised enthusiastic and knowledgeable lecturers, as well as a variety of teaching techniques and interesting course content. Comments also discussed supportive staff who were able to deal with issues.
At or above the sector mean Within 5% of the sector mean Over 5% below the sector mean
More specific issues regarded students studying Early Years at Pen Green Centre, who found constant tutor changes detrimental to their studies. Students on the Education Studies course found that support for assignments came too close to the deadline.
Internal use only NSS Department ID Data Teaching
Assessment
Support
Organisation
Resources
Developmen t
Overall
SU
Education Studies
82% (-3%)
69% (-12%)
66% (-16%)
75% (-1%)
91% (-6%)
84% (0%)
85% (-1%)
67% (-6%)
BEd
96% (+2%)
88% (+21%)
90% (+4%)
83% (+9%)
97% (+4%)
96% (+10%)
99% (+9%)
79% (+9%)
School of Education
81% (+1%)
72% (-1%)
78% (+3%)
70% (+2%)
84% (-2%)
76% (-3%)
73% (-2%)
69% (+1%)
UH
85% (-1%)
70% (1%)
80% (-1%)
73% (1%)
88% (-2%)
83% (-2%)
82% (-2%)
74% (0%)
Sector (all HEIs)
87% (0%)
73% (0%)
82% (0%)
79% (0%)
87% (0%)
83% (0%)
86% (0%)
69% (-1%)
At or above the sector mean Within 5% of the sector mean Over 5% below the sector mean
Students studying for a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree can expect an excellent experience, with all areas for the BEd coming in above the sector mean. An overall satisfaction of 99%, as well as high scores in Teaching and Learning, Learning Resources and Personal Development are all to be praised. In Education Studies, declines of 12% in Assessment and Feedback and 16% in Academic Support are of particular concern; this is largely in line with open-text comments, which discuss insufficient feedback on assignments (Assessment and Feedback) and an inability to contact lecturers (Academic Support).