Session Outline

How can pastoral care move beyond generic support to genuinely transform the student experience? This panel examines the evolution of an integrated, student-centred pastoral care model within the School of History, Politics and Philosophy at Manchester Metropolitan University. Established in 2018 and strengthened by the 2022 merger of three disciplines, the system has become a key driver of student continuation, progression, and belonging.

Our approach redefines pastoral care as holistic support—addressing personal, emotional, and social well-being alongside academic development. By embedding equity, inclusion, and staff–student partnership at its core, the model responds to the complexities of a diverse cohort and demonstrates measurable impact on engagement and success.

The session begins with a strategic overview from the former Head of School and current Deputy Head, tracing the rationale for intervention, structural decisions during and after the merger, and mechanisms for embedding pastoral care into programme delivery. This includes refining the team’s remit, clarifying escalation pathways, and aligning with central services to ensure timely, proportionate support.

The core discussion centres on the operational model, which involves a small, dedicated academic team making targeted interventions guided by multiple indicators, such as attendance, engagement, and patterns of academic participation. Rather than relying on a single metric, the team triangulates signals from various sources, including engagement monitoring, digital platforms, assessment timelines, and communications, to identify students who may benefit from proactive outreach. Interventions range from tailored check-ins and study skills workshops to referrals, coordinated case management, and structured support during transition points (e.g., entry into first year or progression to honours). This approach recognises the complex realities faced by students, including caring responsibilities, employment, commuting, disability and neurodiversity, and financial pressures.

Practice-based insights will be shared by the Head of Pastoral Care, a Programme Lead, and a First Year Tutor, illustrating how the model balances consistency with programme-level nuance. They will outline recent enhancements, including timetabled personal tutorials at Level 4, clearer communication protocols, and streamlined processes that reduce administrative burden. The panel will also reflect on collaboration with student services and feedback loops that capture student voice to refine support.

Throughout, the discussion situates the School’s approach within the wider HE context, making the case for targeted systems that are evidence-informed, proportionate, and responsive to diversity. The session concludes with an overview of measurable outcomes—most notably improved continuation rates—alongside reflections on progression, belonging, and sustainability. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for designing and scaling integrated pastoral care that combines strategic intent with day-to-day realities, supporting both staff and students through clear structures, compassionate practice, and timely action.

Keywords: pastoral care; student success; continuation and progression; targeted intervention; engagement; equity; higher education.

Panel:

Dr Marcus Morris - marcus.morris@mmu.ac.uk. Deputy head of the School of History, Politics and Philosophy at MMU. Led the development of the HPP pastoral care team.

Dr Keith Crome – Former head of the School of History, Politics and Philosophy

Dr Jo Smith – Head of the pastoral care team within the MMU School of History, Politics and Philosophy

Dr Andrew Crome - History Programme Leader

Dr Rebecca Ball – r.ball@mmu.ac.uk First Year Tutor and Deputy History Programme Leader

Learning Outcomes

Bibliography