Tutorials and day schools

Provision of suitable arrangements at tutorials or day schools ensures that students can make the most of this important study time

Tutorials are an optional but valuable part of many of our courses (modules). Tutorial support can include face-to-face group meetings or tutorials by phone or online. Face-to-face tutorials usually last about two hours and are held in premises such as a local adult education centre, a university or a further education college.

Some faculties hold day schools that deal with topics rather than with individual courses (modules). You might then be working with students and tutors you haven't met before, and you might be moving from one group to another. In this way, day schools can be similar to residential schools.

Access to buildings

Access to the buildings we use for tutorials and day schools varies considerably, and although we do try to book buildings with suitable facilities, it isn’t always possible. If we know what your needs are, we can tell you if there’s likely to be a problem and try to do something about it. Please give us details of your access requirements when you complete your Facility Request Form 1 on request general equipment and services. If your tutorial room isn’t convenient, we may be able to book another, change you to another group, or offer other arrangements as explained briefly below.

The tutorial environment

Tutorials are informal occasions where, with your tutor and other students, you explore aspects of the subject you’re studying. This can mean quite a lot of talking, listening, note taking and group activities. The nature of tutorials varies according to the subject matter, but the tutor always spends some time talking to the whole group and answering questions. Ideas or issues are often discussed in small groups, perhaps with a report made to the tutor and the rest of the students. Tutors may use equipment such as whiteboards, overhead or slide projectors, audio or video players, microscopes and computers.

Alternatives to face-to-face tutorials

We strongly recommend that you take advantage of the tutorials we offer, but we do understand that it might not be possible, so there are alternatives.

• It may be possible to arrange some individual tutor sessions over the phone, by email or, in exceptional circumstances, by visiting you at home.
• It may be more convenient for you to have extended correspondence tuition.