Published on: 10/09/2025 · Last updated on: 11/09/2025
Introduction
The following guidance has been produced for staff carrying out oral assessments. The University has a legal duty to anticipate and support the needs of students with disabilities, long-term health conditions and specific learning difficulties and this guidance outlines our institutional approach to help ensure oral assessments are designed and delivered in a way that considers the diverse needs of students and provides equitable opportunities. This guidance recommends the following three level approach:
- Anticipatory support strategies for the whole cohort
- Anticipatory reasonable adjustments for individual students
- Escalation of cases for students with more complex support needs
1. Anticipatory support strategies for the whole cohort
The following support strategies will help support the needs of all students, in addition to being particularly beneficial for students who may have a disability, long-term health condition or specific learning difficulty, following the principles of Universal Design for Learning.
2. Anticipatory reasonable adjustments for individual students
Various adjustments can be be offered to individual students where we are/become aware of a disability, long-term health condition, or specific learning difficulty which means they experience a substantial disadvantage in oral presentations. This may be formally via a DAP where group work is identified as a suggested reasonable adjustment or via a student indicating that they experience disability related difficulties with oral presentations. These are adjustments we can plan in advance for individual students and do not require escalation or approval beyond the department.
3. Escalation of cases for students with more complex support needs
In the small number of cases where there is a concern (from the student or staff) that even with individual adjustments such as those listed above, the student would still experience a substantial disadvantage in the oral assessment, their individual case may need to be escalated for consideration of more substantial adjustment (e.g. an alternative approach to assessment may be required, specialist advice sought, or measures requiring Board of Studies approval considered).
Where this is the case, you must follow the relevant faculty/School procedure and speak with the Director of Studies/Teaching and Faculty Assistant Registrar in the first instance. Please note that any change of assessment must be approved by a Board of Studies.
Find out more
The University is committed to supporting the diverse needs of all learners, including students with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and specific learning difficulties. If you’re interested in finding out more, read our support for students with disabilities page to help you as you plan and delivery your teaching.
For further guidance on supporting specific needs of students with DAPs, staff are encouraged to contact Disability Services.
The University’s Inclusive Education Project sharepoint site contains up to date information on the future development of inclusive approaches at Bath and contains answers to frequently asked questions.