The Centre is responsible for the administration and delivery of both internal and external assessments and examinations. Both assessment types must be conducted in line with the principles outlined in the tutor guidance manual.

Assessments

Assessments will be internally verified or moderated according to the Centre’s Internal Quality Assurance Procedure. Oral feedback must be given to learners as soon as possible after a practical assessment. In the case of written or other product work submitted, the feedback must be given within 10 working days of the official submission date. Feedback should be as helpful as possible to the learner, i.e. confirming what has gone well and giving clear guidance on what the learner needs to do to improve on their performance. Learners are permitted continual re-assessment; however, these must be re-booked for a separate occasion and comply with the booking procedure.

Arrangements for Learners with Special Assessment Requirements

Assessment must be available to all those who have the potential to achieve the standards required for a particular qualification. However, some learners may need access to alternative means of providing evidence and/or additional support. Care must be taken that any proposed assessment methods are of equal quality and rigour to those for mainstream learners and demonstrate that the learner has achieved the standard.

Learners may be identified as having a particular assessment requirement in relation to, for example, learning difficulties, a visual or hearing impairment, a mental illness, or English as an additional language. This means that they will need appropriate support in their development to help them meet the required standards such as:

• Help with communication and number skills.
• Adapted equipment and physical environment.
• Special information technology.
• Confidence-building.

Awarding body guidance in relation to special assessment requirements must be strictly adhered to. For external examinations OriGym’s Quality Assurance Team must be notified in order to ensure that appropriate arrangements are approved by the relevant awarding body.

For internally assessed work, which is subject to external verification/moderation, queries should be directed to the Director of Learner Services or the Quality Manager.

Assessment Appeals

All learners must be informed of the Centre’s Appeals Procedure at the start of their course. The Appeals Procedure is the only recourse open to a learner who disagrees with the outcome of an assessment. However, the right of appeal against a decision involving academic judgement is limited. Academic appeals will only be considered on matters of procedure, competency and/or prejudice.

A learner may be able to appeal the result of an external examination depending on the regulations of individual awarding bodies. Where an appeal is allowed, it may be originated either by the student or the Centre, again depending on the awarding body. Learners should seek advice from the Centre’s Quality Team, who, if appropriate will appeal on their behalf.