Seeking, analysing and responding to student feedback is really important to West Lothian College.

One of the ways we do this is through three student surveys at key points in the academic year:

• In the first few weeks after students start new courses in the autumn

• In winter at the end of the first teaching block, and

• In spring as students go into their final teaching block.

The percentage completing these surveys is high which gives us a confidence that the feedback is representative of our student population at all levels and modes of study.

Excellent and easy to use data analytics tools means that faculties can act quickly in-year on any concerns or suggestions.

I pay close attention to survey feedback and expect and encourage all colleagues to use it to continually improve the college experience for our students. This means we live our core values of always striving for better and having students at the centre of everything we do.

In the November 2023 survey, one construction student described his experience in a surprising way:

“I’ve never been happier, I skip into college like Mary Poppins. Coming in to see Raymond and Frank is the highlight of my week, its clear to see they have the best working relationship and this absolutely helps create a great environment.

Raymond and Frank were the student’s lecturers. The student was a second year adult apprentice.

In the April 2024 survey, the same student said:

“Where do I start? A lot has changed since the last survey. You may remember my previous feedback when I told you all how I skipped into college like Mary Poppins. Things couldn’t get any better? Well, you would be wrong. If you give me a moment of your time I’ll get you up to speed.

You may remember that my previous feedback focused on the competitive behaviour between Raymond and Frank. You’ll agree that competition drives performance, and those boys perform out their steel toe cap boots week on week. The thing is that consistent competition becomes stagnant and can create a zone of comfort, groundhog day I suppose. Same thing day in day out.

Well, let me tell you they have turned a fabulous piece of competitive drive into an absolute masterpiece of collaboration. How do we remain consistent, how are we asking the same from our students, sharing teaching methods, learning from each other, listening to student feedback and most importantly acting on it.

I’ve seen this behaviour personally, it absolutely warms my heart to see the effort these guys put in. They do this solely for the benefit of us students. Where else do you find that level of team work where there is no personal reward?

It doesn’t stop there, they regularly take on recommendations from the likes of Stevie and Hugh, working together as a team with the only byproduct to make things clear and fair for their students.

You would think that two lecturers at the top of their game would be out solely to drive their own personal development. All I have ever seen from these guys is improvement and growth. I tip my umbrella to them, well done team!”

What can I say?

If you want a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious learning experience, come to West Lothian College!