Senior Tutors in Action: Sharing Good Practice and Creating Supportive Communities
Monday, April 13, 2026 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
ADVISING IN A TIME OF CHANGE
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Session Outline
The role of the Senior Tutor has become increasingly prevalent in UK universities over the past decade, reflecting sector-wide efforts to strengthen personal tutoring structures and address growing student support needs (Alberts, 2025; UKAT, 2024; Walker, 2022). Senior tutors now play a pivotal role in leading tutor teams, embedding consistent practices, and acting as strategic change agents within institutions (Lochtie et al., 2018; Alberts, 2025). However, research highlights significant challenges, including managing complex wellbeing cases, balancing pastoral and academic responsibilities, and coping with unclear role expectations; all while experiencing emotional strain and receiving limited formal training (Alberts, 2025; UKAT, 2024; Walker, 2022).
This collaborative workshop provides a dedicated space for senior tutors and those overseeing tutoring practice to share experiences, explore common challenges, and co-create practical solutions. Central to the session is the opportunity to exchange good practice and develop support mechanisms that strengthen tutoring systems within institutions (McFarlane, 2016). Through interactive activities, participants will identify sector-wide issues, design frameworks for building supportive communities for tutors, and develop actionable strategies to enhance consistency and inclusivity. Attendees will leave with ideas to embed sustainable, student-focused tutoring practices within their own contexts. This workshop is supported by UKAT's Senior Tutor Network Special Interest Group.
Learning Outcomes
LO2 Co design practical approaches for strengthening tutoring systems and explore mechanisms for sustaining ongoing peer networks and supportive communities of practice beyond the workshop.
Bibliography
Lochtie, D., McIntosh, E., Stork, A. and Walker, B.W. (2018) Effective Personal Tutoring in Higher Education. St Albans: Critical Publishing.
McFarlane, K.J. (2016) ‘Tutoring the tutors: Supporting effective personal tutoring’, Active Learning in Higher Education, 17(1), pp. 77–88. doi: 10.1177/1469787415616720.
Walker, B.W. (2020) ‘Professional Standards and Recognition for UK Personal Tutoring and Advising’, Frontiers in Education, 5:531451. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2020.531451.
Competencies
This session addresses the following competencies of the UKAT Professional Framework for Advising and TutoringC3 - Academic advising and tutoring approaches and strategies
C5 - How equitable and inclusive environments are created and maintained
R1 - Build advising and tutoring relationships through empathetic listening and compassion for students, and be accessible in ways that challenge, support, nurture, and teach
R4 - Plan and conduct successful advising and tutoring interactions