Academic Personal Tutoring Training and Development

Shaped by feedback from APTs and the 2025 APT design Sprints, this pathway contains an initial two modules, with a third available in 2027/28. Both modules are designed with built-in pause points for reflection and opportunities to apply learning directly to your own practice. Together they represent the core baseline for the APT role at Leeds, the essential foundation that every APT is expected to engage with.

Module 1 — Introduction to the Academic Personal Tutoring (APT) Role at Leeds

Provides a grounding in the role itself: its purpose, scope, and place within the wider Leeds student-centred education approach. It covers core responsibilities and boundaries, the key systems and tools APTs use, and the main referral and support pathways available to students.

Module 2 — Developing Positive Connections with Your Tutees

Focuses on the heart of the role: building meaningful, proactive relationships with students. It explores what makes APT relationships effective, how to set a positive tone early in the year, and how to structure purposeful tutoring conversations. The module also features a series of short videos in which students from across Leeds share their perspectives on APT, covering themes including academic support, independence, trust, pastoral care, belonging and signposting.

• 8 September, 10am-12noon

The University of Leeds is proud to have signed the GTRSB into HE Pledge, reaffirming our commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater staff and students. As part of our work, Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange are delivering a session to support UoL staff in better understanding Gypsy and Traveller history, culture and experiences.

This in-person session will:

• Help colleagues understand the history of Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities including origins, culture, racism, marginalisation and discrimination
• Provide a current picture of the Gypsy and Traveller communities in the UK and West Yorkshire
• Challenge stereotypes and bias
• Explore attitudes and barriers to education and allow colleagues to examine how and where they can support Gypsy and Traveller students in their roles.

• Wednesday 30th September 1-3pm (Online) – Please note the deadline for applications is 16th September.

This session is open to all APTs and is part of the APT Champion Programme.

The APT Black Student Inclusivity Champions (BSIC) Network is designed to support Academic Personal Tutors (APTs) in developing and embedding culturally responsive approaches to student support, with the aim of tackling degree awarding gaps for Black students.

Through ongoing development, collaboration and the sharing of effective practice, members will be equipped to embed culturally responsive approaches within their work and act as advocates for inclusive student support.

By increasing awareness of the barriers and experiences that can contribute to differential outcomes, the network will champion Black students by promoting their success, amplifying their experiences, and helping to ensure that institutional policies, practices and culture enable all students to thrive. In doing so, the network will support improvements in belonging, engagement, progression and academic outcomes, contributing to the University's wider commitment to equity and inclusion.

Champions will receive:

• A 2 hour online training session covering examples of best practice, strategies for challenging biases, how to influence others, objection handling
• Access to additional resources and support to refresh update on progress and tackle any issues you're having
• Two online action planning sessions to support the development of action plans, resource sharing and implementation

Any questions?

If you have any questions in the meantime about the network, please contact Antonia in the Student Success team: [email protected]

This session takes place online on Wednesday 21 October 10-11.30am

This session is designed for all academic personal tutors to consider ways of supporting disabled tutees positively and effectively. Over 10,000 students have shared they are disabled with the University of Leeds. Disability Services supports students with a range of conditions including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, mental health conditions, hearing loss, visual impairment, mobility issues and many others.

In the session we will consider a range of topics including: what ‘disabled’ means, how to identify disabled tutees, reasonable adjustments, inclusive practices, signposting, and how Disability Services works with staff and students.

This session takes place on Tuesday 3 November, 1–4pm (On campus).

As part of an AHC Strategic APT Allocation Pilot, we are running a  session focused on supporting Mature Students . While the pilot is based within AHC, the session is open to all APTs, as the content may be of interest to Academic Personal Tutors across the University.

Key outcomes include:

• Hearing directly from mature students about their experiences.
• Exploring the unique needs and motivations of mature undergraduate students compared to school leavers.
• Gaining insights into the success rates and continuation data of mature students.
• Reflecting on the challenges mature students face and reconsidering any preconceptions.
• Considering ways to further develop inclusive teaching and support strategies.
• Learning about activities and projects taking place across campus for mature undergraduates.

Colleagues can register using the following form. Room details will be confirmed following registration. Please contact Leah Patel [email protected] with any queries.

This session will take place on 5 November, from 10am to 12noon.

The session will help colleagues to:

• Understand the Plus Programme and who is eligible for support
• Discuss the offer with students and refer them where appropriate
• Recognise challenges experienced by Plus Programme-eligible students and how best to support them
• Understand how the Plus Programme and wider Student Success initiatives can support your role

This session takes place online on 18 November 10-11.30am.

The session will explore some of the barriers for international students at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, such as how to communicate with you and ask for help. We will share feedback from research with international students on what makes an effective APT, alongside recommendations and resources to support you in your role. The presenters will also introduce new staff guides created by students.

A key part of the session will involve reflecting on the barriers for international students, exploring good practice, and considering how these barriers might be overcome.

By the end of the workshop, you will be able to:

• Identify what makes an effective APT-international tutee relationship;
• State some of the barriers for international students;
• Locate resources for APTs;
• Reflect on your own practice as an APT and set goals for the year ahead.

This session will take place on Thursday 26 November 1-2.30pm (on MS Teams).

Experiences of students at University vary widely depending on their backgrounds and personal circumstances.  One often overlooked factor is accent bias, which can negatively affect students’ confidence, participation, sense of belonging, and overall wellbeing.

In this session we will focus on how we can use Academic Personal Tutor (APT) relationships to support all students in ways that recognise their diversity of backgrounds and identities, and the potential impact of biases and inequalities on their academic life. There will be time to reflect on our own practices as APTs and share good practice with colleagues.

The focus on accent bias within this session will enable participants to develop a mindset for anticipating difference without judgement.