Quality & satisfaction
Lead: Dr Helen Graham (School Head of Quality; Teaching & Learning Co-ordinator)
The quality assurance of medical education is overseen by the School Head of Quality, who chairs both the School Quality Group and the School Examinations Board for quality assurance of assessment. Both groups are involved with preparations for external reviews by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for the College and the General Medical Council (GMC) . There is cross-school representation for quality assurance purposes between the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. Head of School and Head of Quality represent the School on the College Education Committee. The School Learning & Teaching co-ordinator oversees the Peer Support of Teaching process across all Academic Divisions, supported by the School’s Training and Development Manager.
All School committees, apart from the Examination Boards, have student representation from the Medical Students Association (MSA), who raise student issues. The MSA President and Student Quality Lead sit on the Quality Group and are encouraged to undertake a range of educational research surveys, which have led to improvements in student experience, satisfaction and support.
GMC review 2012
During 2012, the GMC undertook a regional review of London undergraduate and postgraduate education provision using a risk based approach. Based on submission of extensive documentation on the MBBS programme, and visits to the medical school in November 2012 to seek evidence from a range of staff representatives on school committees and student groups across all five MBBS years, the GMC sent their final report in March 2013.
They concluded that the School delivers a good standard of medical education, has good learning resources, and offers a variety of learning opportunities available to students, especially through Student Selected Components. The School was complimented on its remedial support for Phase 5 students, the widening access initiatives across London and the South-East through the Extended Medical Degree programme, and the close working relationship with the South Thames Foundation School.
GMC requirements include: ongoing improvements in the quality control and quality management of all assessments; curriculum outcomes to be mapped to all teaching and blueprinted to assessments; students to have access to comprehensive and consistent guidance and support on the curriculum and assessment, and the provision of regular, constructive and timely benchmarked feedback on their performance.