Guidance by Educational Delivery Tier
As part of the University’s Covid contingency plans, we have defined how we will respond based on the DfE’s 4 tier system. The following table shows the key changes as we move between tiers for teaching delivery. While expressed as discrete tiers, in practice they are more of a continuum with moves between tiers requiring changes to some elements of delivery while others are unaffected.
The university is currently operating in TIER 3.
| Tier 1 → | ← Tier 2 → | ← Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Ensure delivery is consistent with the Course Delivery Principles. | The Course Delivery Principles continue to apply, but the stipulation in the Consolidated Guidance that students should receive at least four hours on campus delivery is suspended. | Continues as for Tier 2 with the recognition that some courses may move to online teaching where on campus delivery is not required to enable students to complete their course as planned and on time. |
| The on-campus experience will be augmented by a range of activities including tutor directed/independent student learning and bookable face-to-face tutorials, in addition to the extra-curricular offer. | All courses should continue to include an on-campus course delivery component for all students at all levels. Where appropriate this can include supervised practical/laboratory/studio sessions, placements, field trips and supervised project work. |
Courses should continue to include an on-campus course delivery component for students at all levels where:
|
| All courses should adhere to the principle that at least six hours teaching per week should be delivered synchronously. It is noted that in some areas 6 hours synchronous delivery is not possible due to lectures being delivered asynchronously. Course teams should work to achieve more synchronous delivery (including lectures) in semester 2. | Continues as for Tier 1. | Continues as for Tier 1. |
| All synchronous, ‘live’ on-campus and online learning activities will be timetabled to provide a guide for learning for students. Students who are not able to attend campus sessions should have the opportunity to engage with the learning opportunities, and resources where possible, remotely. | When on-campus sessions are transferred to online delivery they should be delivered synchronously and as timetabled. | Continues as for Tier 2 with timetabled sessions transferred online delivered synchronously as timetabled, providing structured learning throughout the period of lockdown restrictions. It is recognised there may be benefits to consolidation smaller on campus groups into a larger online group and simplifying timetables. |
| Achieving a credible on-campus experience. This would not be achieved for example if students had to attend for only 1 hr on campus. | If a reduction in on-campus hours would result in a non-credible or disjointed on-campus experience for students (thus impacting attendance), then courses can maintain their original on-campus plans. | If a further reduction in on-campus hours would result in non-credible or disjointed on-campus experience for students (thus impacting attendance) efforts should be taken to communicate the importance of attending on-campus course related/non-course related activity, especially where this will enable students to complete their course as planned and on time. |