Faculty-embedded coaching is elevating the student experience — building confidence, independence, and achievement across the University of Leeds.
Even students with strong academic potential can face moments of uncertainty, particularly when balancing academic demands with personal and financial pressures. These challenges are often more pronounced for students from underrepresented backgrounds, priority groups, or those with lower levels of engagement—factors that contribute to disparities in continuation, completion, and attainment outcomes.
At Leeds, data revealed persistent disparities in student success metrics—particularly in continuation and degree awarding rates—between students from the most and least deprived areas (IMD Quintile 1 vs. Quintile 5), mature and younger learners, and international versus home students.
Above all, these disparities pointed to a need for more proactive, targeted, and holistic support that not only addressed academic challenges but also fostered personal growth, confidence, and self-efficacy. Our goal was to empower students to meet their individual academic and personal goals, while also improving institutional outcomes aligned with the Access and Student Success Strategy (A&SSS) and Access and Participation Plan (APP) objectives. This includes enhancing continuation rates, closing awarding gaps, and increasing students’ sense of belonging—particularly for those who may not naturally engage with existing support services.
Student Development Coaches
Between October 2024 and January 2025, the University recruited nine Student Development Coaches (SDCs) across four faculties:
- Arts, Humanities & Cultures
- Social Sciences
- Engineering & Physical Sciences
- Medicine & Health (School of Healthcare)
Embedded within schools, SDCs collaborate with local support teams and Academic Personal Tutors while remaining independent from teaching and assessment. This independence encourages open, honest discussion of challenges and ambitions.
Alex Chelegeer and Amanda Spawforth-Jones are both Student Development Coaches at the University of Leeds who bring rich academic experience and a deep commitment to student wellbeing. Alex, formerly a teaching-focused lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy, transitioned into coaching to continue supporting students in a more personalised and inclusive way. Amanda, with over 15 years as a lecturer in feminist and art practice, sought a role that allowed her to reconnect with students beyond data and metrics.
Our proactive outreach is a key difference from other student support roles. Most services wait for students to come to them, which often means the most disengaged students miss out. We focus on reaching those who lack the confidence to seek help themselves.
Students are referred through proactive data-led outreach and trusted services or meet coaches via pop-up Student Success Stands. A typical journey begins with a 60-minute session, followed by up to five 45-minute meetings, co-creating goals and actionable steps across motivation, achievement, independence, and confidence. Typically, students have around six meetings in total, though this can be fewer depending on individual needs. While the aim is to meet every two weeks, the schedule is flexible and can be adapted to fit around each student’s commitments.
The initial one-hour session uses [the Wheel of Life] to get to know the student, set goals, and identify action steps. It also helps track changes in confidence or motivation between the first and last sessions. It’s both a conversation opener and a way to measure impact.
We often see overlapping issues—organisation with independence, or motivation with confidence. Coaching gives students space to unpack these challenges and build strategies that work for them. It’s not just about academic success; it’s about helping them feel capable and connected.
The impact so far
Students frequently report improvements in confidence, organisation, and academic performance, with many checking in after sessions to share their achievements.
Hearing from students after they’ve achieved their goals—telling me their grades and next steps—is incredibly powerful. It shows that the work we’re doing is helping them move forward.
The continuity of working with one trusted coach fosters accountability and momentum.
Students are often dealing with multiple barriers at once, not just a single issue. We help them consider what their ideal higher education experience would look like if all barriers were removed. That vision becomes the foundation for real, lasting change.
One student’s feedback captured the emotional depth of the relationship:
A student emailed me saying I was the most trustworthy person at the university. That kind of connection shows how powerful coaching can be—not just academically, but personally.
Get in touch
If you’d like to find out more about Student Development Coaches at the University of Leeds, please email the Student Success team at studentsuccess@leeds.ac.uk.