Unit information: Local Authority and School Systems in 2023/24

Unit name	Local Authority and School Systems
Unit code	ACHSD0008
Credit points	20
Level of study	D/8
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Jak Lee
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

This unit builds upon trainees' present knowledge of local authority and school systems. It will develop knowledge and understanding of: a) the influence of school ethos and culture, educational curricula, communication systems, management and leadership styles; b) structures and systems within local authorities.

This unit is important because it will develop competence relating to the educational contexts within which EP work is undertaken to develop effective psychological interventions to raise educational standards by working at individual, group or whole school level.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study

This unit prepares students for professional educational psychology practice by reflecting upon the practices of an educational setting.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

A critical examination of the importance of context such as;

Education legislation and guidance documents; National curriculum documentation; Implications for education establishments of the SEN, Disability and Race relations Codes of Practice; Policy development, implementation, review and monitoring.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

Students will have experienced a different type of educational setting than they have previously experienced. They will have a greater understanding of this context and a greater confidence of working with children and young people of the age range of this educational setting.

Learning outcomes

1. To be able to work effectively and with appropriate knowledge and understanding in a full range of educational contexts.
2. To develop personal and professional skills to work collaboratively with children, young people, their carers and education staff.
3. To have knowledge, understanding and awareness of the impact of difference and diversity on educational opportunities, and the implications for promoting equal opportunities in education settings.
4. To have a knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and guidance documents and policy requirements, as they apply to education settings, and to develop an awareness of their implications for EPs' work

How you will learn

Blended learning will include guided reading, lectures, seminars, group / pair work and presentations supported by supervised practice in the field. Placement and links to educational settings will be organised so that trainees are involved in the work of educational settings and EP services and can apply their learning to a range of contexts. Depending on the circumstances these could be in person or online as the situation allows.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Frequent and regular workshops and feedback.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

Professional Practice Portfolio (4000-words) (100%)

This assessment covers all of the ILOs.

When assessment does not go to plan

Subject to university regulations for taught programmes unsuccessful students may be offered a further opportunity to undertake placement experiences within the educational psychology service placement. The reassessment will comprise the same task as the original assessment (professional practice portfolio).

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ACHSD0008).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.