Feedback by Barker, Debra

2024-02-13 15:13:09 UTC

Why did it take until 4 days after the results deadline for it to be decided that format of the questions needs to be reviewed?Should the format of the questions not have been checked before we sat the exam? Why does that mean we cannot have results for the questions we answered?

2024-02-13 15:54:39 UTC

It’s caused a great deal of anxiety waiting for the results and the delay added to that, we’ve been told nothing, which has left us all worrying about whether we’re going to have to re-do the exam, which feels very unfair if so. There feels like a lack of communication which has caused us a lot of stress which came at a bad time in the build up for our OSCE.

c2080275_ — 2024-02-13 16:39:18 UTC

I feel like we all just really want to get to the bottom of what’s actually happening here. We want to know what’s happened and why? The NHS is desperate for new midwives, this course is renowned for being tough, yet we are faced with more hurdles. We all worked so hard on this exam, over the Christmas period, its our first exam so anxieties are probably even higher not knowing what to expect. We had further anxiety leading up to results day, especially with formative osce’s that week, some of us who had the OSCE on the same day the results were due, to then be told after the deadline that results weren’t coming that’s day with no explanation or apology, and then furthermore, being told its to do with the format on the next date we were told that we would get results. It’s just hugely disappointing. Again its hard to comment when we don’t actually know the issue that has arisen? It seems that if we were to submit an assignment etc after the deadline, we would be penalised for it, and it feels like we are being penalised now anyway. And to leave the discussion surrounding this a further 3 days later seems very unfair.

honest feelings

2024-02-13 20:05:30 UTC

Having taken my first semester exam on anatomy and physiology which is difficult to get your head round as it is, all the different systems etc, then to wait for the results, it has been very daunting, wishing for the best outcome after trying my best. I was looking forward to seeing how I had done, looking forward to some news as to see if all the information is sticking or not. I know I dont know the outcome or what to do since there are many outcomes to this particular problem but when you receive little feedback and now the worry that possibly re-sitting or the grade won't count is really just overall causing me unnecessary stress. I feel it would be beneficial to send out a written explanation prior to thursday, I am fully aware I may be making myself even more stressed than I should be, but having this looming over me as I prepare for my first OSCE in less than two weeks is huge pressure to be under, but extra pressure that really I didnt need to be under. I feel I am paying to study a degree, something I have wanted to do for so long, and my first set of results to see if i am capable of doing it, hasnt been delivered and I still dont really know why. The lack of communication around the issue has not made me feel like the meeting on thursday is good news, therefore all i can do and am doing is worrying.

2024-02-13 20:18:50 UTC

The main issues I'm finding is the lack of organisation throughout the course as a whole to be causing a lot of stress and anxiety and that the demands and expectations of the course are so high yet the university have failed to meet basic expectations in terms of communication and deadlines.

I also think it's very unfair that the email was sent nearly half an hour after we were meant to receive the results with no apology and no explanation, which has again led to a weekend of stress.

For the meeting to then be held a week after our organised result day without any reassurance or support from the university has caused a lot of frustration and anxiety all while trying to prepare for our first osce.

We have all worked very hard to be here and feel as though we are consistently being let down by the course due to a lack of organisation and communication.

2024-02-13 20:24:56 UTC

As the other have already said it being our first exam straight after Christmas was stressful enough, everyone worried so much leading up to it as to whether they had done enough and even after leaving the exam we were all still unsure and anxious! Having to wait 4 weeks for results was hard enough and I’m sure not only me checked the calendar regularly to count down the days! The 8th came and we were all beside ourselves wondering what was going to happen to be left until 20 past 4 with that worry we were all left wondering why email couldnt have been sent early that morning explaining the delay saving us all a day of further stress and worry! We were all so disappointed, hurt and upset and unable to enjoy the weekend when being told that we weren’t receiving them and started again counting down the days to receiving them again a whole day of waiting, worrying and checking for results to then receive the email we did at 6 o’clock with very little information and still at the moment no further forward with what is happening. We are now all stressing about a resit, grades not counting and lots of different ideas going round in our heads and we have to go through this until Thursday! Not to mention the fact that we all have another assessment which we should be preparing for and can’t due to the stress and worry. The communication we have received regarding this has been disappointing and I feel that it’s my future and I’m being kept in the dark about it… Even just what is going to happen with a further explanation on Thursday as to why would be appreciated!

2024-02-13 20:42:03 UTC

We all started this course with immense enthusiasm and unfortunately as time passes, with the lack of communication and organisation within the course I do feel like that through no fault of our own some enthusiasm is dwindling. We’re all so passionate about this degree and we all want to succeed. We work hard, attend lectures, study from home, do everything this expected of us and it’s all for the end goal to be midwives! But when we work so hard, we expect that to be reflected by receiving results in a timely manner and if this is not possible then a reasonable explanation should be given, before the deadline. Also when we have issues, we struggle to communicate via email with lecturers (we often don’t get a response) and it’s sometimes very difficult knowing who to turn too. It has been an extremely anxious time waiting for results and the disappointment I felt on both Thursday and Monday was so upsetting. Again mirroring as other student have said, we have an OSCE to prepare for and this stress has made focusing on that extremely difficult. I’m a fair person and understand that things happen, sometimes out of others control, however I do feel that communication and reassurance goes along way. Hopefully these issues can be resolved in the coming days and future assessments/results will not be dealt with in this way.

d3103180_ — 2024-02-13 21:29:56 UTC

The lack of communication and organisation that has been displayed has caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. I was so disappointed to learn, after the exam result deadline that we would not be receiving our results for a further 4 days. As if this wasn’t bad enough, to be then made to wait again and be told something was wrong with the questions we had been supplied.

When i look back at the effort and commitment I have put into this degree, it saddens me that I don’t feel like I or the cohort have had the same level back. A simple apology and a honest explanation in a timely manner before the deadline would have gone a long way.

Considering the NHS are crying out for midwives and we are paying over £9000 per year for this, something we will probably be paying off for the rest of our life’s, I thought it would be a lot better run.

I really hope this is just a bumpy patch we have experienced this last 5 months and not something we are expected to deal with for the remainder of the course.

2024-02-13 21:57:06 UTC

The course as a whole from day one has been very unorganised, communication has been terrible and haven't felt supported at all.

I don't honestly understand how an issue can be raised with the format of questions at this late stage, and would have expected the exam paper to have went through sufficient checks prior to us sitting it, not to have been left until after the deadline date to then be raised.

The exam was a big thing for us all as it was. A&P was a huge, complex topic to learn in such a short space of time and I don't feel there was any consideration or support for different peoples learning styles or much support in practice for the exam. We were encouraged to attend PASS sessions, promised we would have plenty of time in timetable to practice and go through exam style questions yet neither of these things happened.

It has caused a lot of anxiety and stress that hasn't stopped even after the exam.
From the weeks awaiting results to then receive the email that we did on Thursday was awful, and to then have another 4 days of waiting and worrying to receive the email that we did on Monday - neither of which have actually offered an apology never mind an explanation. We are made aware of the consequences of failing this exam which only adds to the stress and anxiety and now we are left in limbo as to what may happen through no fault of our own, all whilst having to prepare for our OSCE which is another huge part of this course that I feel I haven't been able to concentrate on for almost a week due to the issues we have now had with he exam results.

I feel from day one it has been one thing after another with the course, a course that everyone has worked so hard to get into, have given up jobs, changed their lives and are paying a lot of money to undertake. We are all so passionate and are working so hard, having been told from day one what is expected of us and how we will only get out of this what we put in.

I'm currently just feeling very deflated, upset and anxious. Considering the under staffing in midwifery currently, I understood the course would be hard however, I expected to be supported and valued a lot more than I feel that we have been so far.

Feedback

2024-02-14 17:11:58 UTC

I started this course extremely excited to be here but also knowing what was expected of me in terms of turning up on time, placement, working in my own time and that all comes at a price when you are on your own with kids. Happy to do all that however we need more back. It feels sometimes that its a case of ‘suck it up’ if you want to be here. The exam results were really just the tip of iceberg for me. As an adult learner I would like to be spoken to like an adult - 90% of the time that is the case however recently I have been in a lecture where one lecturer undermined the other by butting in un warranted and then continued to undermining a students comment. I personally taken a back with the comments being made ‘white privileged woman’. Again as adults we don’t need a good, bad cop mentality we just want an approachable lecturer.

I imagine the exam results were out of everyone’s control and i fully understand that sometimes these things will happen however to have a deadline and then a message after the deadline was disheartening and some clarification around it would have been appreciated. This may seem small however this is our 1st exam, the majority of people would have really needed that reassurance that they should and can be here - I know I did.

After speaking with others I don’t believe it’s necessarily a Midwifery degree issue but more a reoccurring issue within the health department as a whole. I sat through listening to Scott tell me what was expected of us and believe that energy needs matching from the department.

2024-02-14 19:12:57 UTC

I can’t help but agree with everything that has been said previously by my cohort. The amount of stress and anxiety the lack of communication and consistency has caused is evident within these comments.

By tomorrow’s meeting it will be a week since we were supposed to get our results, something that was supposed to give us a push and some confidence whilst preparing for our OSCE. It’s not just about the exam results, there’s been other things, like issues with placement allocations, that have added so much stress onto an already stressful course.

We are constantly reminded what is expected of us, to show communication, commitment, compassion and be on time and these things aren’t being reciprocated. We are paying a lot of money for this course and will be paying it off for the rest of our lives so we also expect these things in return.

2024-02-14 19:43:16 UTC

This meeting is something which should have happened the week of our results being due to be released not a week after, as many have said the university expects a lot from us and we as students do everything we can to meet expectations but these expectations are not being reciprocated. We understand there has been new staff coming in and staff leaving, and we’re told that the course is being done different to other years. We may come across as a cohort that worry and have a lot of questions or even complain about things but this is only because we are constantly being told different things by different lecturers, we all need to be singing off the same hym sheet. It will be nice to understand the reasons as to why the decision was made after the exam was sat that the format of the questions wasn’t suitable as this is something that should have been finalised before we sat the exam or even discussed in the weeks following it.

2024-02-15 09:05:49 UTC

I feel from day 1, the communication between staff and students has been very poor.

I feel like the way this course has been ran, it's like it's just begun with a lack of organisation.

Why we haven't received a email long before today's meeting is beyond me.

Effective communication, professionalism and compassion is what we desire to be like, however as a uni this has not been upheld.

We have worked so hard to study the vast amount of science in such a short period to be greeted with this hurdle a week after results were due.

I thought I came away from the exam with a sign of accomplishment and great achievement, however I feel like this weight is now back over my shoulders 2 weeks before our OCSE.

I really feel, if I knew how unorganised this course was, I genuinely would of applied for a different uni.

2024-02-15 09:08:15 UTC

Why did we not receive a message in so many words saying...

"This is what has happened, we are going to hold a meeting to discuss in further detail"

There would of been less stress and anxiety and we maybe could of focused on our OSCE instead of waisting out time with what if questions!!

Show some compassion please

2024-02-15 09:25:56 UTC

The biggest thing for me is how we are expected to be kind and compassionate as part of our role, yet we’ve not had any compassion shown to us and not a single apology for the stress and anxiety this has caused us all over this long, drawn out week. From the very first announcement, this situation could have been made so much better with a simple apology and explanation to lessen the blow and ease the disappointment of not getting our results. These results were a huge deal to us, especially with it being our first assessment. I personally have been worrying about this since November, and this is now running over into our OSCE prep time which is hugely affecting us all.

It’s unfortunate that Teesside has the reputation for poor organisation within the overall SHLS, and when speaking to others in other cohorts, we are simply told to ‘get used to it’. This is just not acceptable for a long established course that we are paying a lot of money for and making a lot of sacrifices to be a part of what should be an amazing journey to our dream careers.

2024-02-15 10:01:01 UTC

Please can we have the original feedback for our written part of the exam regardless of the outcome, many of us want to see if the revision we have done has paid off and set a basis for revision for next year