Student Voice Forum fourth meeting update

The forum is a listening space for colleagues to hear from reps on the key issues affecting students in their school, work together action any issues, as well as to gather feedback on new initiatives and important changes.

At the June forum, those in attendance heard an update on changes to the personal tutor system, which aims to enable a culture of support and change. Some of the key points on personal tutoring include a new policy to ensure support at all levels, including an increased number of personal tutoring sessions for all students, empowering tutors to connect with students.

In addition, the representative system was discussed, including:

• Ideas on how to increase student representation at College Teaching Committees
• A focus on how to encourage more students to get involved in the rep system, especially those who may not feel so confident in putting themselves forward to become a rep
• Feedback and ideas on enabling more communication between reps and the students on their course.

School representatives have also been meeting with the Development Lead in the Library for discussions on how the space could be improved. Suggestions included the possibility of adding small ‘pods’ or isolated rooms, where online calls could be taken and an improvement to the toilets in the Harrow library is planned.

Colleagues in attendance at the forum have taken away other actions to look into, including:

• Looking into further supporting course leaders with understanding ‘self-certification’ mitigating circumstances claims for assignments, due to confusion about different deadlines
• Further conversations about AI and ChatGPT and how to discourage any negative use of the platform, while acknowledging and teaching legitimate ways to use AI
• Continuing to work on issues with recording online attendance and swiping ID cards

The Student Voice Forum will continue to meet next academic year, with all members invited to meet informally in person in October, before the first forum in November. 

Everyone at the forum would also like to express thanks to all the school reps in attendance this year for their valuable contribution and wish any graduating school reps all the best for the future! 

If you are a current course rep interested in becoming a school rep and attending the Student Voice Forum next year to represent your school, please email [email protected] for further information.