GUIDANCE FOR ASSESSMENT & INTERNAL VERIFICATION

1 GUIDANCE FOR ASSESSMENT & INTERNAL VERIFICATION As at July 2012 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1 Introduction .. 2 Section 2 Who s who in quality assurance? .. 3 Section 3 INTERNAL VERIFICATION procedure .. 5 Section 4 INTERNAL VERIFICATION activity plan .. 10 Section 5 Appendices .. 13 2 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION What is Quality Assurance? Home Learning College s quality strategy is centred on the needs of its customers. We see continuous improvement as key to that overall strategy. INTERNAL quality assurance VERIFICATION is at the heart of quality assurance at Home Learning College. The role, in terms of managing ASSESSMENT so that it consistently meets national standards, is central to maintaining public confidence in the AAT Skills qualification.

2 The INTERNAL VERIFICATION process is a key feature of this quality initiative and is defined as: A process by which ASSESSMENT decisions and practices are sampled and evaluated, and findings are acted upon, to ensure consistency and fairness . This handbook has been designed to provide GUIDANCE on ASSESSMENT and INTERNAL VERIFICATION of our academic courses. To meet the requirements of statutory and awarding bodies it has been agreed that all INTERNAL VERIFICATION at Home Learning College follows the procedures in this Handbook and uses the standard documentation as a guide for recording purposes. The structure of these procedures has been firmly based on the principles and good practice outlined in: The Code of Practice of our Accrediting Bodies The QCF Framework The Common Inspection Framework Requirements of the new Assessor and Verifier awards NB: This handbook will be reviewed on an annual basis in accordance with Home Learning College and Accrediting Bodies policies and procedures.

3 3 SECTION 2: WHO S WHO IN QUALITY ASSURANCE? The aim of the INTERNAL Verifier (IV) is to provide an important link between the ASSESSMENT processes of Home Learning College (HLC) and the quality assurance of the Accrediting Body. Who are they: Their role is to: Learners Individuals seeking credit for their achievements and competence. Show they can perform to national standards in order to be awarded a qualification or demonstrate the specified knowledge, understanding and skills, against the set ASSESSMENT Criteria. Take some responsibility for the quality of evidence provided to Assessors. Assessors Appointed HLC to tutor and assess learners work and evidence, in contact with learners.

4 Assess learner s work and evidence against specifications. Provide support appropriate to learners. Decide whether the learner has demonstrated competence. Apply equal opportunities and free access to the ASSESSMENT process. Ensure that their ASSESSMENT practice meets QCF GUIDANCE . Keep up to date with training on ASSESSMENT . IVs Organise the IV of ASSESSMENT decisions. Sampling assessments. Monitoring ASSESSMENT practice. Standardising ASSESSMENT judgements. Liaise with the External Verifier. Develop and support Assessors. Induction and mentoring of new Assessors. Ensure Assessors are fully informed of the QCA standards. Provide feedback to Assessors on their ASSESSMENT decisions.

5 Provide feedback from External VERIFICATION visits. Co-ordinate meetings with assessors within their school to disseminate information on a regular basis. Manage the Appeals procedure in the first instance. 4 Who are they: Their role is to: Chief Assessor May take on some of the IV s functions, Attend relevant meetings and disseminate information or issues as and when appropriate. Ensure that all assessors are supplied with up-to-date GUIDANCE and documentation relating to procedures. To co-ordinate meetings with the IV to disseminate information on a regular basis. To manage the Appeals procedure. Ensure that Actions identified by the External Verifier are acted upon within the time limit specified in consultation with the Head of School.

6 Approved Centres Organisations approved by awarding bodies to assess and quality assure qualifications. Manage ASSESSMENT and VERIFICATION on a day-to-day basis. Have effective ASSESSMENT practices and INTERNAL quality assurance procedures. Meet awarding body requirements for qualification delivery. Have sufficient competent Assessors and INTERNAL Verifiers with enough time and authority to carry out their roles effectively. External Verifiers Appointed by Awarding Bodies to monitor the work of approved Centres. They are the key link between the Awarding Body and the Centre. Hold the appropriate qualifications. Make sure that decisions on competence are consistent across Centres.

7 Make sure that the quality of ASSESSMENT and VERIFICATION meets awarding body standards. Sample learner assessments and monitor ASSESSMENT and VERIFICATION practice in Centres. Provide feedback to Centres. Make regular visits to Centres and ASSESSMENT locations. Support Assessors, and the INTERNAL Verifiers 5 SECTION 3: INTERNAL VERIFICATION Aims The aim of monitoring standards is to ensure that the ASSESSMENT decisions and portfolio requirements are consistent across Home Learning College. For standardisation to be effective there must be sufficient ASSESSMENT of evidence at various levels. What is INTERNAL VERIFICATION ? The INTERNAL VERIFICATION is a system for checking the quality of ASSESSMENT to make sure that it is valid, consistent, fair and reliable across assessors and programme areas.

8 Who carries out INTERNAL VERIFICATION ? An INTERNAL Verifier is usually, but not necessarily, a member of the tutoring team who is familiar with the specification and the ASSESSMENT requirements. Tutor Level Tutors will be responsible for: Keeping up to date with training on ASSESSMENT related to the relevant Accrediting Body Assessing learner work in accordance with the specifications using standard documentation, Providing support appropriate to learners Chief Assessor Chief Assessor will be responsible for: The allocation of assessments to the assessors to allow for IV to take place. Implementing appropriate action where inconsistencies are identified. 6 The role of the IV It is the aim of the IV to confirm the validity, consistency and quality of ASSESSMENT in the centre across assessors and programmes.

9 They: Advise on interpretation of the standards Co-ordinate ASSESSMENT practice Provide advice and support to assessors Sample assessments to confirm assessors judgements Maintain ASSESSMENT documentation Take part in the appeals procedure Liase with the external moderator Organising three standardisation events for the relevant faculty How often does INTERNAL VERIFICATION take place? INTERNAL VERIFICATION is an ongoing process and feedback is provided to assessors to allow for comments to be made on ASSESSMENT outcomes. What do IV s sample? (IV Activity Plan) When deciding what evidence to sample, IVs will endeavour to ensure that: A regular sample of induction arrangements is undertaken (Appendix 1) A regular sample of ASSESSMENT plans is undertaken (Appendix 2) Sampling of formative evidence (ICAS) is undertaken on a reasonable basis (Appendix 3) Observation of assessor at least once every 3 years for every learning area assessed, per experienced assessor Appendix 4) Regular ASSESSMENT of CPD/training needs of assessor is undertaken (Appendix 5) A regular sample of candidate interviews/surveys is undertaken (Appendix 6) Regular team meetings take place as far as is possible in the role of IV (Appendix 7) Regular Standardisation/Assessor/IV meetings take place.

10 (Appendix 8) A regular sample of evidence on LearnPlus* (Appendix 9) * IV s cannot check ASSESSMENT decisions for every piece of student work. Instead, they sample 20% of the ASSESSMENT decisions taken by each assessor and undertake the following: They check some work towards each unit specification They confirm the decisions of all assessors at some stage They ensure that the evidence is valid, sufficient and reliable 7 The IV shall check that samples over time should take account of the mix of students, such as gender, ethnic origin, need for special arrangements. The IV will check the ASSESSMENT evidence for validity, authenticity, sufficiency and that the assessor has made the correct judgements.