Internal use only Hertfordshire Students’ Union National Student Survey 2016 School of Law In the 2015 National Student Survey, the School of Law saw positive results with improvements in nearly all areas, including increases of 10% in Assessment and Feedback, 17% in Organisation and Management and an improvement of 7% in their Question 1 – 21 average. The School will be disappointed to see a less positive result this year; no areas have seen improvements, with drops of 6% in Teaching and Learning and 10% in Academic Support of particular concern. The School’s overall score has remained constant at 84%, while the score for the Students’ Union has seen a drop of 8%. These drops now mean that Law is below the sector in all areas except Personal Development, which remains 1% above the sector, and Students’ Union, which remains 3% above the sector mean. Teaching
Assessmen t
Support
Organisatio n
Resource s
Developmen t
Overall
SU
School of Law
80% (-6%)
69% (0%)
72% (-10%)
76% (0%)
86% (-4%)
84% (-4%)
84% (-0%)
72% (-8%)
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)
At or above the sector mean Within 5% of the sector mean Over 5% below the sector mean
When analysing the open text comments, the negative themes that emerge primarily concern assessment and feedback. Students commented on the inconsistent marking, non-descriptive feedback and assessment clustering. Other comments lamented cancelled lectures and the short notice that was offered for these. Although some students found KBLs helpful, others commented that there was too much emphasis on online learning and resources. More positive comments discussed the co-curricular activities available to students, as well as enthusiastic lecturers.