1 Annual Quality Review July 2014

2 Agenda Welcome and introduction Qualification and Development Update Quality Assurance Update - changes Malpractice CPD Update Assessment tasks and pre-issue verification Direct Claim Status Feedback from Centres Lunch and Networking

3 Quality Assurance - changes Changes from Ofqual: Ofqual to visit some Centres –Purpose: to check that Awarding Organisation (AO) procedures being followed –Focus: AO practice - whether AOs dealing with Centres that don’t follow procedures –Ofqual website will list AOs with good practice – and those with poor practice –We will tell you if you’re selected Duty to tell Ofqual about Centre malpractice

4 Quality Assurance -changes Changes from Certa: Malpractice policy to be clarified: –Briefings (including this one) –Website pages –Certa Newsletter Small change in Sanctions policy

5 Centre Malpractice Examples not teaching learners to avoid plagiarism using assessment tasks that are not valid or have not been pre-issue verified allowing plagiarised work to be assessed allowing learners to achieve credit for work that does not meet required standard non-compliance

6 Centre Maladministration Examples inaccurate assessment records incorrect completion of RACs negligent destruction of assessment records failure to keep unseen papers secure failure to maintain assessment or IV records failure to keep learner computer files secure

7 General Procedures All Malpractice recorded in Incident Log Use Investigation Policy if appropriate –Individuals supported by person of choice –Whistle-blowing rights upheld –Safeguarding requirements met –Right to appeal Certa to prevent or mitigate any Adverse Effect, eg, by Conditions, Sanctions

8 Definition of Adverse Effect Anything that: (A) gives rise to prejudice to Learners, or (B) adversely affects: (i) ability of Certa to comply with Ofqual Conditions (ii) standards of qualifications (iii) public confidence in qualifications NB. Plagiarism can have an Adverse Effect because it can confer an advantage, thereby giving rise to prejudice to learners whose work is all their own.

9 Response to potential Adv Effects Adverse Effects include Certa or AIV signing off achievement where: –an assessment task is not fit-for-purpose –an assessment decision is not accurate –there has been no verification (IV and/or EV) AOs to report to Ofqual, including preventative action, eg, Conditions, Sanctions etc No report if corrective action taken quickly

10 Sources of information Authenticating Coursework: teacher’s guide (QCA) Digital technologies and dishonesty in examinations and tests (OFQUAL 2008) Plagiarism guides for students, parents and teachers (Ofqual) Authenticity: guide for teachers (Ofqual 2009) plagiarism-teachers.pdf?Itemid=143 Plagiarism Advice (JISC)

11 Malpractice Exercise In groups or pairs: Discuss the case study, starting with the first scenario What would you do at the Centre? Should you report to Certa? Should Certa report to Ofqual?

12 Pre-issue Verification All assessment tasks must be fit-for-purpose To ensure this, all tasks must be internally verified before being used with learners Person devising a task can not verify it If IV doesn’t think a task is fit for purpose, it must be amended before being used Tasks only need verifying once, unless they are altered

13 Pre-issue Verification Exercises Sort the verification cards into a Diamond Nine, most important at the top Match each card to a category Match cards to verification methods Evaluate the assessment tasks provided

14 Direct Claims Status (DCS) DCS awarded to a Centre for a qualification or course DCS criteria must be met: –Qual/course trouble-free for a year –Centre risk rating 1 or 2 –No issues from monitoring visits –Centre has an Approved IV (AIV)

15 DCS Quiz Decide which of the statements about DCS are True and which are False Use the extract from the Centre Handbook to help you decide

16 Please share your views Qualification Specification Survey Next year’s provision – indications Quals or Units you wish we provided Training or briefings you’d appreciate Ways we make life difficult for you Next year’s Annual Quality Review Thank you for your help with these

17 Thank you – and safe journey home!