Key Student Support Services
Fitness to Study
The School’s Attendance and Welfare, and Fitness to Study Processes provide a proactive and integrated approach to student support, helping ensure that issues are anticipated and mitigated before they develop. These processes support students to be able to engage fruitfully in learning as well as supporting their wellbeing. The Fitness to Study Panel includes members of the Pastoral Team, Faculty, Learning Support and Disability Support, alongside members of Registry Team. See the Fitness to Study Policy.
Pastoral Team
The Pastoral Team supports students spiritually and practically through listening, prayer and signposting to other services as necessary. The Chaplain and pastoral team can also refer students to an external counselling service. LST funds a short course of counselling which the student may then choose to extend on a self-funded basis.
Dan Davison
Chaplain
Annette Glaw
Student Pastoral Support Worker
Tutor Groups
Tutor Groups meet weekly through term-time, either in person or online. They aim to build community and connectedness, through peer fellowship and support, and to provide a Christ-centred space of encouragement and growth.
Disability Support
The School’s full-time Disability, Inclusion and Learning Support (DILS) Manager onboards, supports and promotes the interests of students with disabilities, managing the Learning Support Team and securing DSA funding for eligible students. At the same time, the DILS leads, informs and trains colleagues on key areas of policy and process development in support of the equality, diversityand disability agenda of the School, and in fulfilment of its external regulatory obligations, including those articulated in its Access & Participation Plan.
Learning Support Team
Foundations Course
Study Skills
Managed by the DILS, our Learning Support Team is available in person or online for 1:1 meetings with students needing additional support with assessment planning, structuring and formatting of their academic work, as well as with time management. It includes a qualified teacher of English as a Second Language.
New students are offered the opportunity to attend a 3-day pre-induction course called the Foundations Course, which focuses on study skills, preparation for study and holistic support shortly before Freshers’ Week.
Our Study Skills programme supports students at every level, covering a wide range of topics including essay writing, using the library and other learning resources, creating and delivering presentations, avoiding academic misconduct, the use and abuse of AI, referencing, self-care in study, time-management, exam revision and technique, diversity in learning, and making the most of IT tools, educational programmes and apps.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter
The School is a signatory to the Association of Colleges’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter and Commitment of Support, and annually reviews an Action Plan formulated to ensure its effective implementation. The Charter includes pledges to maintain and apply a Wellbeing Policy, to provide appropriate mental health awareness training for employees and mental health support for students, to foster links with local health and voluntary sector mental health groups, and to promote the mental health benefits of physical activity and sport.
