Primary Education BA(Hons) with QTS courses YEAR 1

Primary Education (3–7 years) BA(Hons) with QTS
Primary Education (5–11 years) BA(Hons) with QTS
Primary English Education BA(Hons) with QTS
Primary Mathematics Education BA(Hons) with QTS

PERSONAL ACADEMIC TUTORING FRAMEWORK
WHO’S WHO?
PERSONAL ACADEMIC TUTORING SCHEDULE
PEBBLEPAD – YOUR E-PORTFOLIO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CONTACT DETAILS OF YEAR 1 SUPPORT TEAM

PERSONAL ACADEMIC TUTORING FRAMEWORK

The Personal Academic tutoring framework for the programme is shown in the figure below. You should refer to this when reading this section.

On the BA in Primary 3-7 and 5-11 programmes you will keep the same Personal Academic Tutor for the first year until you go on school-based training in the second year. On your return from school-based training you will have a new Personal Academic Tutor from your subject study team, who will remain with you until the end of your programme. If you are on the BA Primary Maths / English programme, you will keep the same Personal Academic Tutor (from either Maths or English) through all three years. Within the framework you will note a number of key personnel.

WHO’S WHO?

Personal Academic Tutor – your first point of contact
It is likely that you will have the most direct contact with your Personal Academic Tutor as you will be timetabled to meet them during the year. Your Personal Academic Tutor will not advise on individual module queries/questions (see Module Tutor) but rather offer broader study advice and/or where additional support could be sought.

Personal Academic Tutors will have the responsibility for monitoring students who have Learning Support Plans (LSPs) issued from the university’s disability and dyslexia team. Please address questions and ideas to your Personal Academic Tutor in the first instance.

Programme Leader
It is the Programme Leader’s responsibility to ensure the smooth running of your programme. Programme Leaders lead strategic developments for the programme and its associated content, structure and design.

The Programme Leader will usually meet with cohorts/year groups at key points in their progress.

Assistant Programme Leaders
It is the Assistant Programme Leaders’ responsibility to assist the Programme Leader in the smooth running of your programme.

One of the Assistant Programme Leaders will be responsible for the development of school-based and professional aspects of the programme and the other will review the academic aspects and overall coherence of modules.

Student Experience Lead BA Primary
A key responsibility for the Student Experience Lead BA Primary is to oversee the smooth operation of the personal academic tutoring process. They also review programme specific Student Support procedures in conjunction with other senior staff.

They will track student progress in each year and, in doing so, may also work with specific groups of students to offer targeted support. For example, this may include supporting students with learning agreements.

Year Leaders
Year Leaders meet with the cohort throughout the academic year to discuss key milestones in the programme e.g. school-based training preparation or applying for jobs.

The Year Leaders may also request individual meetings with you if they feel you are in need of additional support and/ or if we feel your profile of attendance/ commitment needs discussing. The Year Leaders will be responsible for issuing assignment extensions. If you wish to apply for an extension for any of your assignments then you will need to contact your Year Leader in writing (see handbook).

Student Support and Guidance Tutor (SSGT)
The School of Education SSGTs offer additional support/guidance to students who may be experiencing specific and/ or significant difficulties. The SSGT team support students studying in the School of Education across all courses.

Module Tutors/Module Leader
It may sound obvious, but the majority of questions from students relate to their modules. Therefore, your Module Tutor will form a critical part of your support network. Any specific modular questions relating to content, assessment, reading and/or study tasks etc should be directed to your Module Tutor.

Programme Administrator
The Programme Administrator will be able to deal with issues relating to your student profile. This may include ensuring your academic/student details are up to date.

Student Services
You will find a list of student support on the additional support and guidance page. Student Services can help you with a range of issues including finance, careers, housing, medical, part-time work, dyslexia and disability and personal counselling.

Students’ Union (SU)
As with Student Services, the SU offers a wide range of support and/or activities to help you get the most out of your time at university. This includes clubs, societies and volunteering schemes. You can find information at www.brightonsu.com and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Finally, it is worth stressing that in higher education there is an expectation that students become increasingly autonomous and self-directing. Therefore, before you send an email to your Support Tutor, double check that the information you are seeking does not already exist on Studentcentral, the university website or in your Unimail inbox.

Alternatively, checking with classmates can often be the swiftest way to resolve simple issues/questions.

PERSONAL ACADEMIC TUTORING SCHEDULE
Personal Academic Tutoring sessions can be found on your timetables. There are four scheduled support tutoring meetings throughout the year in:

September (during welcome week)
October
January
March

Your Personal Academic Tutor will email you prior to each meeting, as a reminder of your forthcoming meeting and to identify specific preparatory tasks to be undertaken.

You are expected to attend each of these meetings, which will be held in small groups of approximately 10-15 students. Each meeting will last 60 minutes, and will afford you the opportunity to:

discuss your progress
share aspects of your learning/ professional development
seek further guidance and/or support.

You will also have a one to one meeting with your support tutor during November/ December to share a piece of academic writing.

PEBBLEPAD – YOUR E-PORTFOLIO
You will be provided with access to an e-portfolio within a piece of software called Pebblepad. You will be required to use this to record, reflect upon and tell the story of your academic and professional progress.

Throughout the year, Personal Academic Tutors may ask you to share elements of your e-portfolio with them, in order to gain a clearer sense of academic and/or professional progress. You will be shown how to use Pebblepad and there will also be workshops that you can attend throughout the year. However, practice makes perfect! So, we strongly advise you use e-portfolio regularly in order to develop your confidence and skill in using it. For more information and advice, please visit our Pebblepad site.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I speak with my Personal Academic Tutor individually?
Yes. As stated, the personal academic tutoring sessions will be conducted in small groups. However, if you wish to meet with your Personal Academic Tutor individually, to discuss sensitive matters that you would not wish to share in the group, then please send your Personal Academic Tutor an email requesting to meet. Alternatively, you may wish to seek support from Student Services or from the School of Education SSGTs.

May I email Personal Academic Tutors?
Personal Academic Tutors will aim to respond promptly to requests during normal office hours, although Personal Academic Tutors are not always on campus and also have other commitments outside of the university. Personal Academic Tutors will place an automatic reply when they are on leave, notifying you of their return.

Will I be reminded of the personal academic tutoring sessions?
Yes. Your Personal Academic Tutor will send an email reminder two weeks prior to your group support tutoring session. However, we do expect all students to keep an updated diary of scheduled events and to check their Unimail daily.

Are support tutoring sessions optional or do I have to attend?
Attendance at your personal academic tutoring session is expected and monitored. This reflects the importance we attribute to these meetings. If you are unable to make the meeting your Personal Academic Tutor will expect an email apology in advance. They will also expect you to catch up on any of the tasks set.

Will I need to do anything for the personal academic tutoring session?
Normally, you will be asked to contribute to these group meetings by reflecting upon aspects of your learning and/or raising any issues/questions that will support your progress. Usually you will be asked to complete some professional and/or academic development task/reflections and share them with your Personal Academic Tutor .

If I speak to my Personal Academic Tutor about something personal, will they keep it confidential?
Generally, personal information you disclose to your Personal Academic Tutor will not be revealed to others without your express permission. Your Personal Academic Tutor might suggest that it is in your interest to share certain information with your Programme Leader (for example, information that could be used as evidence for mitigating circumstances).

However, as a general rule, it is your final decision as to whether this information is shared. Confidentiality will only be broken in exceptional circumstances; for example, where you are deemed to be a danger to yourself or to others, or if there is a legal duty.

Can I request a different Personal Academic Tutor?
Try to remember this is a professional rather than a personal relationship, so it is not essential for your Personal Academic Tutor to be your preferred lecturer. However, it is important that you feel comfortable to be able to raise issues that trouble you.

If that is not the case, for whatever reason, please discuss the problem with your Student Experience Lead or SSGTs. If necessary, you may be allocated a new Personal Academic Tutor. However, don’t make hasty decisions about your Personal Academic Tutor, especially in the first few months of your programme.

What if I’m having difficulty with particular aspects of a module?
Specific difficulties with modules should be discussed with your Module Tutor.
For general issues, such as managing deadlines or structuring essays, then your Personal Academic Tutor can offer advice, or help you find additional support.

I would like to be tested for dyslexia, who should I talk to?
Student Services (dyslexia and disability team) are equipped to assess any student’s disability or additional learning need. You may want to contact the SSGTs in the first instance to discuss your concern. They will then be able to help you book a meeting with the dyslexia and disability team.

Who do I speak to if I’m worried about other things like money, housing, health, stress or finding part-time work?
Health, housing, financial difficulties, or problems caused by taking on too much part-time work to make ends meet, are common causes of student stress. There is no magic answer to this, but talking it over may help put things in perspective, and there are practical sources of help and advice available from the school’s SSGTs, Student Services and the Students’ Union Welfare office.

What if an issue is too personal to discuss with my Personal Academic Tutor?
However well you get on with your Personal Academic Tutor , there may be issues that you would rather not discuss with them, especially if they involve health or personal relationships. The most important thing is that you find someone suitable to talk to. Your Student Experience Lead may refer you to the SSGTs or sources of specialist advice. Alternatively, you can go directly to Student Services or the Students’ Union, both of whom offer a support service.

Who do I talk to if I wish to apply for an extension or mitigating circumstances?
In the first instance you should talk with your Personal Academic Tutor and they will direct you on to the relevant staff. On this programme, it is your Year Leader who deals with extensions. A written form and accompanying evidence will need to be completed and emailed to them.

If you wish to discuss mitigating circumstances, then you will be directed to speak to the SSGTs and then the relevant key contact in the main school office.

CONTACT DETAILS OF YEAR 1 SUPPORT TEAM

Keith Triggs
Programme Leader
Based in Checkland A207
01273 643793
k.triggs@brighton.ac.uk

Faye Worthy Pauling
Assistant Programme Leader
Based in Checkland B114
01273 641478
f.worthy-pauling@brighton.ac.uk

Joanne Smith
Assistant Programme Leader
Based in Checkland A101
01273 641858
js172@brighton.ac.uk

Polly Herbert
Student Experience Lead and Personal Academic Tutor
Based in Checkland A102
01273 643793
P.Herbert2@brighton.ac.uk

Chloe Berrisford
Year 1 Leader
Based in Checkland A106
01273 643369
C.Berrisford@brighton.ac.uk

Jason Brooker
Personal Academic Tutor
Based in Checkland A207
01273 643434
J.Brooker2@brighton.ac.uk

Mel Bradford
Primary Mathematics Route Lead
Based in room B114
01273 641148
M.Bradford@brighton.ac.uk

Jess Baines-Holmes
Personal Academic Tutor
Based in Checkland A206
01273 643317
j.m.baines-holmes@brighton.ac.uk

Bhavna Prajapat
Personal Academic Tutor
Based in Checkland B114
01273 643432
B.Prajapat@brighton.ac.uk

Jacob Merrill
Personal Academic Tutor
J.J.Merrill@brighton.ac.uk

Cara Parkhurst
Personal Academic Tutor
Based in Checkland B114
01273 643421
C.Parkhurst@brighton.ac.uk