Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Additional Qualifications
Accreditations
Timeline
Generic

Ryan Dunford

Wednesbury,West Midlands

Summary

A dedicated professional with extensive experience in higher education, providing tailored academic support to students with specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) and disabilities. Skilled in managing diverse teams, delivering impactful study skills programs, and creating inclusive environments that empower individuals to achieve their full potential

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work history

Senior Student Success Coach

University of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton, West Midlands
08.2025 - Current
  • Lead, line-manage, and coordinate a team of Student Success Coaches, ensuring delivery of high-quality academic and pastoral support across faculties.
  • Represent the Student Success function at committees, boards, and panels, presenting data, evaluating outcomes, and raising the profile of the service.
  • Act as the escalation point for student and staff issues, liaising with academic teams, professional services, HR, and external partners to resolve complex cases.
  • Organise and lead team meetings, set targets, review performance, and support staff development through appraisals, CPD, and training.
  • Provide academic and pastoral guidance to students, supporting progression, wellbeing, employability, and professional behaviour both in person and online.
  • Collaborate with colleagues across the University to enhance the student journey from induction through to graduation, intervening where necessary to support those at risk.
  • Deliver workshops, one-to-one reviews, and professional skills sessions, while maintaining accurate data and records in line with GDPR.
  • Deputise for the Head of Student Success where required, ensuring continuity of leadership and representation at institutional level.

Specialist Study Skills Tutor (SpLD)

Barry Bennett Ltd
Remote
03.2023 - Current
  • Providing specialist literacy intervention sessions for higher education students with identified specific learning difficulties (e.g., Dyslexia, ADHD) on degree courses nationwide.
  • Designing and delivering sessions developed towards improving academic study skills and overall outcomes of assigned students
  • Enabling students to identify strategies which complement their individual learning styles and requirements (e.g. multi-sensory memory techniques, mind mapping, general study preparation)

Academic Coach

University of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton, West Midlands
08.2022 - 08.2025
  • Provide academic and pastoral support to level 3, 4 and 5 students within the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing (FEWH), including advice in respect of assessment practice, and understanding and learning from assessment feedback
  • Lead on staff onboarding activities and inductions, including training of SITS, Microsoft Office, as well as further role responsibilities
  • Oversee the implementation of an academic coaching program for level 5 and 6 students within the faculty
  • Provide regular staff development sessions in relation to specific learning differences (SpLDs) and disabilities across the faculty
  • Work in partnership with students to develop structured pathways and actionable short- and long-term goals that are devised in order to enable them to maximise their personal and academic potentials
  • Support students towards understanding individual module requirements on their respective courses, including deconstructing specific tasks and having a full comprehension of desired learning outcomes
  • General administrative duties related to student data collection and monitoring in order to seek out trends and identify solutions, as well as to make used processes more effective and efficient

Specialist Support Tutor

University College Birmingham
Birmingham, West Midlands
10.2020 - 08.2022
  • Taught students appropriate independent learning strategies to overcome difficulties associated with their specific learning differences, including literacy skills, organisation and time management, study strategies, as well as critical thinking and academic writing abilities
  • Undertook initial dyslexia screening using specialised software and referring to appropriate services
  • Advised on reasonable adjustments and access arrangements appropriate to individual requirements
  • Interpreted diagnostic and medical reports in order to devise student support plans
  • Coordinated the day-to-day coordination of a large team of in-class support workers
  • Oversaw staffing operations for an Academic Skills Centre to ensure optimal resource allocation to meet service demand
  • Supporting students through Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) processes, including required documentation, stages of application and understanding of assessor recommendations
  • Working collaboratively with external agencies to coordinate implementation of students' DSA provided entitlements
  • Coordination of internally funded BSL interpreters and management of associated purchase order acquisition and invoicing

Lifeguard

Places for People Leisure
Wolverhampton, West Midlands
02.2013 - 10.2020
  • Supervised swimming pool environments to ensure the safety of all users.
  • Maintained constant vigilance to identify risks and prevent accidents.
  • Responded quickly to emergencies, carrying out rescues and administering first aid/CPR as required.
  • Enforced poolside safety rules and provided clear guidance to customers.
  • Checked and maintained equipment and facilities in line with health and safety procedures.


Education

Postgraduate Certificate - Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties with Accredited Tutor Status (ATS)

University of Birmingham
Birmingham
10.2022

Bachelor of Arts - Education Studies

University of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
07.2020

Skills

  • Multisensory Teaching
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Specialist Curriculum and Module Intervention
  • Assistive Technology Trained
  • Course resource management
  • Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Design and Moderation
  • Team-Leadership and Coordination
  • Organisation and Time-Management
  • Excellent Written and Oral Communication Ability

Additional Qualifications

Institute for Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 5 Certificate in Effective Coaching and Mentoring

Accreditations

  • British Dyslexia Association: Full Professional Membership
  • British Dyslexia Association: Accredited Tutor Status (ATS) (FE/HE)


Timeline

Senior Student Success Coach

University of Wolverhampton
08.2025 - Current

Specialist Study Skills Tutor (SpLD)

Barry Bennett Ltd
03.2023 - Current

Academic Coach

University of Wolverhampton
08.2022 - 08.2025

Specialist Support Tutor

University College Birmingham
10.2020 - 08.2022

Lifeguard

Places for People Leisure
02.2013 - 10.2020

Postgraduate Certificate - Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties with Accredited Tutor Status (ATS)

University of Birmingham

Bachelor of Arts - Education Studies

University of Wolverhampton

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Ryan Dunford