Overview

1. It is acknowledged that student teachers and demonstrators may undertake other duties (e.g. marking or organising events) as part of their responsibilities. In each case, they should be provided with a programme of induction from the academic discipline about what is expected of them.
2. Student teachers and demonstrators should not be expected to develop all their own materials and should work closely with the Course Leader, who will be responsible for the standard and quality of provision.

Support

3. Support for student teachers and demonstrators should be provided by the Teaching and Learning Team as outlined in the next section below.

Academic Contact for Student Teachers and Demonstrators

4. Each Discipline/Faculty must identify a faculty member (named contact point) who will be responsible for supporting and overseeing the work of the student teachers and demonstrators. This faculty member should be a permanent member of faculty and will be responsible for:
   1. Meeting with student teachers and demonstrators at least once per semester to provide briefings, feedback and discuss any issues arising;
   2. Ensuring that arrangements are made to provide student teachers and demonstrators with an introduction to any relevant administration procedures (e.g. taking registers, the process of marking and moderating etc);
   3. Ensuring that arrangements are made to provide student teachers and demonstrators with a health and safety induction (in the case of laboratory subjects);
   4. Arranging for student teachers and demonstrators to receive a factsheet containing practical information and any subject-specific guidelines on learning and teaching practice;
   5. Liaising with the Head of Discipline and Faculty Director to monitor the workload of student teachers and demonstrators to ensure that they do not work more than the hours stated in their contracts of employment;
   6. Ensuring that all student teachers and demonstrators have their teaching reviewed within the first five weeks of the commencement of their teaching/ demonstrating duties. The work of student teachers and demonstrators will also be evaluated through programme evaluation. In line with University observation processes, the designated academic contact should ensure that the student undergoes a teaching observation to receive feedback, along with the provision of any advice or training required as a result of this;
   7. Teachers and demonstrators will also be evaluated through course evaluation. The Teaching and Learning team leads the process of evaluation with support from Faculty Affairs. This ensures that there is a clear mechanism through which all student teachers and demonstrators can receive feedback on their teaching/ demonstrating practice along with the provision of any advice or training required as a result of this;
   8. Discussing all feedback gathered via programme evaluations with student teachers and demonstrators so that this feedback can inform their training and development.

Course Leaders

5. Course Leaders are responsible for:
   1. Providing a course induction for student teachers and demonstrators outlining their teaching/ demonstrating duties;
   2. Providing student teachers and demonstrators with teaching materials and suitable guidance on how teaching sessions should be delivered. Student teachers and demonstrators should not be expected to develop all their own materials;
   3. Providing students who are teaching or demonstrating on their courses with regular and adequate opportunities to meet to discuss their progress and any concerns which arise during the academic year.

Institutional Support

6. All new student teachers and demonstrators are required to attend an ‘Introduction to University Teaching’ session arranged by the Doctoral School.

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