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Assessment and feedback “top priority” for schools

Schools should address assessment and feedback as their “very top priority” according to a new report by a senior manager at Sussex.

Professor Clare Mackie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), has sent to every member of teaching faculty this week a breakdown of the results of the 2011 National Student Survey (NSS)

Students completing the survey praised the standards of teaching at Sussex, putting  the University in the UK’s top 10 for teaching satisfaction. However, they also highlighted assessment and feedback as an area where improvements are needed. 

Professor Mackie said: “The data collected via the NSS this year – and over the past five years - gives us a robust picture of students’ levels of satisfaction with their experience at Sussex. 

“I have asked Heads of School to include the NSS results as an agenda item at this autumn term’s School Student Experience Group, or at an additional meeting, and generate an action plan. 

“If teaching staff have any ideas about improving practice in their area, I would urge them to discuss these with their Head of School or raise them in person at the meeting.” 

Student reps are also receiving the report and are being asked for their views.

Central teams are looking at ‘learning resources’ and ‘personal development’, areas that also scored poorly. 

In fact, work has already begun on these improvements, with a £1.3m IT fund, announced last week, to improve access to computers and wireless internet on campus. 

For more information, go to the web pages about the NSS at Sussex (www.sussex.ac.uk/nss).