Student Retention & Engagement

Progress Report & Strategic Response

Response to AACSB Committee Review

Academic Year 2024/25 Analysis

Executive Summary

Key Achievements & Findings

-2.3pp
Withdrawal Reduction
From 11.1% to 8.8%
73%
Top 3 Drivers
Academic, Transfers, Personal
2.2%
Apprenticeships
vs 17.6% Taught Masters
  • 📊 School-level withdrawal improved from 11.1% (2023/4) to 8.8% (2024/5)
  • 🎯 Major drivers identified: Academic Failure (35.6%), Transfers (20.5%), Personal (16.4%)
  • ⚡ Assessment non-engagement dropped from 12 to 0 students
  • ✅ 2025/6 YTD: 0.9% withdrawal rate (6 students) - provisional but positive

10-Year Historical Trend

Understanding Our Journey

14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20 20/21 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 3.8% Best 11.8% Worst 8.8% Current

10-Year Historical Trend

Understanding Our Journey

Key Benchmarks

Period Rate
Best Year (2020/1) 3.8%
Worst Year (2022/3) 11.8%
3-Year Average 10.6%
5-Year Average 9.4%
10-Year Average 8.2%
Current (2024/5) 8.8%

Context & Analysis

  • 🔍 2024/5 performance is better than recent "normal"
  • 📈 Pandemic year (2020/1) showed artificially low withdrawals
  • ⚠️ Post-pandemic peak (2022/3) marked highest risk period
  • ✅ Current trend shows sustained recovery
  • 🎯 Now below 3-year and 5-year averages

Why Students Leave

Concentration Analysis: 2024/25

Academic Failure 35.6% (26 students)
35.6%
Transferred to Another Institution 20.5% (15 students)
20.5%
Personal Reasons 16.4% (12 students)
16.4%
UKVI Refusal / Non-compliance 6.8% (5 students)
6.8%
Health 5.5% (4 students)
5.5%

73% of withdrawals concentrated in top 3 categories → Focused intervention opportunity

Major Success Story

Assessment Non-Engagement Elimination

12

2023/24

Required to Withdraw

0

2024/25

Required to Withdraw

SERL Initiatives That Made the Difference:

  • 📊 Continuous monitoring of engagement dashboard
  • 🤝 Frequent reach-out to students at contact stages
  • 💼 Comprehensive approach to engagement and retention
  • 🔔 Frequent reminders to academic mentors and students
  • ✅ Proactive intervention before assessment deadlines

Apprenticeships: A Model of Success

Comparing Performance Across Programme Types

20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 4.9% 11.3% 12.1% 12.7% 2.2% 17.6% 2022/3 2023/4 2024/5 Apprenticeships Taught Masters

Apprenticeships: A Model of Success

Comparing Performance Across Programme Types

2.2%
Apprenticeships Avg
2024/25
17.6%
Taught Masters Avg
2024/25
0.0%
Senior Leader MBA
Best Performance

✓ Success Stories

Programme Rate
Senior Leader MBA 0.0%
Apprentice HRM 4.3%
Apprenticeships Avg 2.2%

⚠ High-Risk Programmes (>15%)

Programme Rate
MBA 30.3%
Mgmt with Project Mgmt 30.0%
Mgmt with Sustainability 21.8%
Healthcare Management 17.6%
Mgmt with Data Analytics 17.5%

Student Voice: What We Learned

Feb-Mar 2025 Reach-out Survey (n=31)

Top Barriers to Engagement

15
Physical Health / Long-term Conditions
8
IT / Check-in Friction
7
Mental Health / Motivation
6
Settling Back / Late Arrival

⚠️ Urgent Attention

8 students

reported still struggling

🤝 Meeting Requests

8 students

requested support meetings

When Decisions Happen

Seasonality & Planning Opportunities

Monthly Pattern

July (Peak) 31.8%
31.8%
April 14.1%
14.1%
October 12.9%
12.9%

Weekly Pattern

66%

of all withdrawal decisions occur on
Mondays & Tuesdays

Peak Decision Day:
2nd April = 11 decisions

Strategic Implications

  • 📅 Schedule pre-emptive communications before July peak
  • 🎯 Allocate mentor intervention resources for Monday/Tuesday
  • ⏰ Align B8 regulation deadlines with decision patterns

Programme Turnarounds

Evidence That Targeted Intervention Works

Programme 2023/24 2024/25 Change Status
International Business & Marketing 57.1% 0.0% -57.1pp Exceptional
Business Mgmt & Accounting 21.4% 6.5% -14.9pp Major Improvement
Economics & Finance 16.4% 5.5% -10.9pp Significant Improvement
Business Management 17.2% 10.6% -6.6pp Good Progress

✓ What Might Have Worked

  • 🎯 Gateway module redesign
  • 📚 Assessment de-bunching
  • 💡 Early formative feedback
  • 🤝 Proactive advising
  • 📚 SERL interventions

Key Insight

These turnarounds demonstrate that targeted intervention can swiftly reverse risk, even in programmes with historically high withdrawal rates.

Forward Projection

Scenario Modelling for 2025/26

Projected Reduction
17.7%
~13 fewer withdrawals

Baseline (2024/25)

73
Total Withdrawals

Projected (2025/26)

60
Target Withdrawals

Intervention Targets (Pareto Approach)

-26%
Academic Failure
-15%
Transfers
-12%
Personal
-5%
UKVI

Strategic Intervention Plan

Lever 1: Academic Failure (-26% target)

🎯 Addressing Academic Failure (35.6% of withdrawals)

Target: Prevent 7 additional withdrawals through early academic support

Initiatives

  • 📚 Gateway Module Redesign
    Simplify first assessments to build confidence
  • 👥 Supplemental Instruction
    Peer-assisted study sessions
  • 📝 Early Formative Tasks
    Low-stakes practice before summatives
  • 🔢 Maths/Writing Bootcamps
    Foundation skills refresher
  • ⚡ Early Warning System
    Flag at-risk students by Week 3

Success Metrics

Gateway Pass Rate
Target: >85% first-attempt pass
Bootcamp Attendance
Target: 75% of identified students
Academic Failures
Target: Reduce from 26 to 19

Strategic Intervention Plan

Levers 2 & 3: Transfers and Personal Reasons

🔄 Transfers (-15% target)

Target: Retain 2 students through better fit

  • Pre-Entry Expectations
    Clear programme information
  • Week 4 Internal Transfer
    Frictionless switching process
  • Career Mapping Sessions
    Align goals with programme
  • Monitor Transfer Offers
    Track internal mobility as KPI

❤️ Personal/Health (-12% target)

Target: Support 2 students to continue

  • Fast-Track Adjustments
    Rapid response to DASS requests
  • Wellbeing Triage
    Connect students to support services
  • Planned Interruption
    Clear re-entry pathway
  • Commuting Support
    Flexible attendance options

🔍 UKVI Compliance (-5% target)

📋
CAS/Visa Clinics
📊
Attendance Monitoring
⏰
Expiry Reminders
🚨
Early Escalation

Mature Learner Playbook

Responding to Student Voice (n=31)

Key Findings

8
Still Struggling
8
Requested Meetings
15
Health Barriers

Recommended Actions

  • 🎉 Enhanced Welcome Week for returning students
  • 💰 Hardship Relief Plans clearly communicated
  • 💻 IT Support Fast-Track for tech issues
  • 🧠 Mental Health Resources proactively shared
  • 🚗 Commuting Flexibility hybrid options

Support Priorities

Support Type Students
Disability Inclusion Tutor 4
Academic Mentors 2
Student Services 2

Programmes Requiring Sustained Attention

Persistent High-Risk Programmes (≥15%)

Programme 2023/24 2024/25 YoY Change Priority Actions
Management (Masters) 0.0% 33.3% +33.3pp Urgent Review
Business Mgmt & Finance 14.8% 17.5% +2.7pp Gateway modules + advising
Business Mgmt & HR 17.6% 17.4% -0.2pp Work-integrated learning
Int'l Business & Marketing 18.2% 16.7% -1.5pp Continue assessment de-bunching

🚨 Urgent

Management (Masters)
Small cohort + supervision review

⚠️ High Priority

Business Mgmt & Finance
Persistent high rate

👀 Monitor

Business Mgmt & HR
Flat performance

National Context

Understanding the Broader Picture

Our Performance vs National Trends

Period National Picture Our School
Pre-Pandemic Non-continuation ≥6.5% Comparable levels
Pandemic (2020/21) 5.3% (artificially low) 3.8% (Best year)
Post-Pandemic Peak (2022/23) Non-continuation rose to 10.5% 11.8% (Worst year)
Current (2024/25) Sector: 10.5% average 8.8% (Improving)

National Drivers

  • 🧠 Increased mental health needs
  • 💰 Financial strain post-pandemic
  • 😔 Student isolation challenges
  • 📊 OfS numerical thresholds

Our Position

Below national average and demonstrating sustained recovery from post-pandemic peak.

Pattern consistent with broader UK sector but outperforming in recovery.

Implementation Timeline

2025/26 Action Plan

Summer 2025

Pre-Entry & Planning Phase

  • ✓ Gateway module redesign
  • ✓ Pre-entry expectations materials
  • ✓ Staff training on new procedures

September-October

Welcome & Early Intervention

  • ✓ Enhanced welcome week for mature learners
  • ✓ Maths/writing bootcamps launch
  • ✓ Week 4 internal transfer window
  • ✓ Early warning system activation

November-January

Assessment & Support Phase

  • ✓ Gateway assessment monitoring
  • ✓ Supplemental instruction sessions
  • ✓ UKVI compliance clinics
  • ✓ Wellbeing triage for struggling students

February-April

Mid-Year Review & Support

  • ✓ Student voice survey (repeat)
  • ✓ Academic mentor check-ins
  • ✓ Pre-April peak interventions
  • ✓ Mid-year performance review

May-July

Assessment Period & Planning

  • ✓ Pre-July peak communications
  • ✓ B8 regulation monitoring
  • ✓ Re-sit support preparation
  • ✓ Annual impact assessment

Key Performance Indicators

Measuring Success in 2025/26

Primary Metrics

Metric 2024/25 Baseline 2025/26 Target Measurement
Overall Withdrawal Rate 8.8% ≤7.2% Quarterly
Academic Failure Withdrawals 26 students (35.6%) ≤19 students Per semester
Transfer Withdrawals 15 students (20.5%) ≤13 students Monthly
Assessment Non-Engagement 0 students Maintain 0 Weekly
Gateway Module Pass Rate TBD ≥85% Per assessment
High-Risk Programme Average >15% ≤12% Annual

Process KPIs

  • ✓ Bootcamp attendance
  • ✓ Mentor meeting rate
  • ✓ Early warning flags
  • ✓ Support service referrals

Student Experience

  • ✓ Survey response rate
  • ✓ Engagement scores
  • ✓ Support satisfaction
  • ✓ Wellbeing indicators

Programme Level

  • ✓ Individual programme rates
  • ✓ Cohort size analysis
  • ✓ Internal transfers accepted
  • ✓ Programme satisfaction

Summary & Recommendations

Response to AACSB Committee

Current Position

8.8%
2024/25 Withdrawal Rate
-2.3pp improvement
0
Assessment Non-Engagement
Down from 12 students
73%
Top 3 Causes
Focused intervention opportunity

✓ Strengths

  • Below national average and improving
  • Apprenticeships performing exceptionally (2.2%)
  • Zero assessment non-engagement
  • Clear understanding of root causes
  • Proven programme turnarounds

⚠ Areas for Action

  • Several programmes still >15%
  • Academic failure remains largest driver
  • Mature learner support needs enhancement
  • Transfer pathway needs streamlining
  • UKVI compliance requires vigilance

Strategic Recommendations

Priority Actions for School Leadership

🎯 Immediate Priorities (Next 3 Months)

  • 1. Gateway Module Redesign: Complete redesign by Summer 2025 for September implementation
  • 2. High-Risk Programme Review: Urgent turnaround plan for Management (Masters) - 33.3% rate
  • 3. Mature Learner Welcome Programme: Develop enhanced welcome week materials and support pathway
  • 4. Week 4 Transfer Process: Establish clear internal transfer mechanism to reduce withdrawal via transfer

Short-Term (6 months)

  • Launch maths/writing bootcamps
  • Implement supplemental instruction
  • Establish early warning system
  • UKVI compliance clinics
  • Wellbeing triage protocol
  • Enhanced IT support for check-in

Medium-Term (12 months)

  • Assessment de-bunching across all programmes
  • Programme-specific turnaround plans
  • Career mapping integration
  • Planned interruption/re-entry pathway
  • Quarterly student voice surveys
  • KPI dashboard implementation

Resource Requirements

Staff Development

Mentor training, bootcamp facilitators

Technology

Early warning system, KPI dashboard

Student Support

Wellbeing services, academic support

Questions & Discussion

Key Takeaways

  • ✓ 8.8% withdrawal rate - improving trend
  • ✓ 73% concentrated in 3 addressable causes
  • ✓ 17.7% projected reduction achievable
  • ✓ Clear action plan with defined interventions

Thank you for your attention

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