1. External Examiners induction session
For newly appointed External Examiners

2. Welcome Megan Nichols – Head of HE Quality and Standards
Alan Fenton – Head of HE Registry

3. Outline of the day About NCG Taught Degree Awarding Powers
Assessment framework
The role of the External Examiner
External Examiner reports
Payment and expenses
Passport Check
Any questions?
Opportunity to meet with your Programme Leader

4. NCG
One of the leading providers of education, training and employability across the UK
8 Divisions:
Newcastle College
West Lancashire College
Kidderminster College
Newcastle Sixth Form College
InTraining Ltd
Rathbone
Carlisle College
Lewisham Southwark College

5. NCG Structure NCG Group Key InTraining Rathbone
Executive, ICT, Finance, Business Assurance, HE Registry, Property, HR Comms and People Services
InTraining
Rathbone
Newcastle Sixth Form College
Newcastle
College
Carlisle College
Kidderminster College
West Lancashire College
Lewisham Southwark College
Schools within Newcastle College
Construction Leisure and Sport
Health Childcare Business Science
Creative and Digital Industries
Education Services
Engineering
Key
Training Providers
16-18 Provision
FECs with HE

6. NCG HE Strategy Our aims align with the overall aims of NCG:
Provide a high-quality, flexible vocational curriculum offer
Widen participation and increase employability
Work in partnership with employers to support their future skills needs
Increase accessibility and flexibility through e-learning
Provide a distinctive HE offer which complements traditional University provision

7. NCG and Higher Education
FDAP awarded in 2011
TDAP awarded in July 2016
Providing opportunities for more autonomy
95% of NCGs HE provision delivered at Newcastle College
Range of Foundation Degrees, 3 year Honours Degrees, One year Top up Hons Degree, Masters and PGCE awards

8. Strengths
High quality teaching and learning informed by research, scholarship and pedagogy within an HE in FE context
Robust and rigorous quality assurance framework mapped against UK Quality Code
Innovative vocational curriculum offer that supports employability and career aspirations
Use of RPL which values and recognises prior experience
Supportive learning environment
Industry standard facilities and resources

9. HE Management
HE Registry operates at group level (NCG) and has responsibility for institutional oversight of quality, academic standards and regulatory framework
Each Division has responsibility for operational management of HE and curriculum development

10. HE Assessment Framework

11. What is the HE Assessment Framework?
Provides a framework which offers guidance and documentation to ensure effective, appropriate and fair assessment
Implementation of college HE Quality processes and procedures
Assures the quality and standards of HE assessment and feedback.

12. What does it involve?
Three main areas are incorporated within the framework:
Assessment Design
Assessment Standards
Assessment Feedback
Assessment Design
Information and guidance on assessment is clear, accurate and accessible to all staff, students, placement or practice providers, assessors and external examiners
The module guide is aligned to the principles of assessment and is used appropriately in linking the learning outcomes, assessment criteria and academic level for the course/award
The range and type of assessment encourage and promote learning to ensure possible bias towards an individual assessment method is avoided
Strategies for assessment encourage good academic practice (Turnitin software is used as part of the submission process for all written assignments)
Learners are made aware at the start of their course of the number and frequency of assessments, with planned dates
Assessment design is regularly reviewed to ensure that the amount and timing of assessment enables effective and appropriate measurement of students' achievement of intended learning outcomes
Assessment Standards
Assessment processes are transparent and clearly communicated to relevant stakeholders
Clear and appropriate contextualised assessment criteria is provided for all assessment tasks
Moderation of module guides/assessment briefs takes place prior to publication to students
Module guides and examinations for level 5, 6 and 7 are externally verified, before submission to students by the external examiner for the course
The procedure and documentation for setting examination papers and the conduct of examinations conforms to the requirements within the academic regulations
Appropriate guidance is available for the organisation of group assessments
Academic assessment practices are inclusive, ensuring all students have equality of opportunity to demonstrate the achievement of the learning outcomes and competence standards’
Marking and moderation practices promote consistency, reliability and objectivity, follow the protocols and processes set out in the marking and moderation guidelines
Assessment of students work is undertaken by appropriately qualified staff competent to carry out this role
Assessment Feedback
Appropriate and timely feedback is provided to students on assessed work in a way that promotes learning and facilitates improvement (normally within 20 working days)
Formative feedback will be provided to students to indicate strengths and weaknesses and provide clear information about what the learner needs to do to improve their performance
The format of feedback, formative and summative complies to the standards set out in the Assessment Policy. Individual formal feedback is provided electronically, where possible, to students on all summative assessed work
Students are provided with opportunity to discuss their feedback with a module tutor as appropriate
Students will be informed about the position regarding the reading of draft work for a module or course prior to submission

13. The Credit Framework NCG uses nationally recognised credit tariff:
1 credit = 10 notional student learning hours
Modules based around units of 20 credits
(200 notional student learning hours)

14. Foundation Degrees
NCG Foundation Degrees have 2 levels conforming to Part A of the Quality Code: FHEQ and the QAA Higher Education Credit Framework for England
120 credits level 4
120 credits level 5

15. Foundation Degree Classification
70% + Distinction
60-69% Merit
40-59% Pass
Up to 39% Fail

16. Honours Degrees 3 year Honours Degree programme consists of:
120 credits level 4
120 credits level 5
120 credits level 6
One year top-up Honours Degree programme consists of:

17. Level 7 programmes
Masters programmes currently in the following subject areas:
Business
Education
PGCE – 4 routes

18. NCG Academic Regulations
6 years since the regulations were first approved (2011 FDAP)
Collected data from boards and committees
Guiding principles of equity and fairness to all students
Mainly reviewed the section C Academic Standards
Academic misconduct

19. What’s new? Penalties for late submission Reassessment
Increased minimum % for compensation
Review foundation degree classification
Final level only for degree classification
Revised regulations for Academic Misconduct
Up to 5 working days capped at 40%/50%
Eligible reassessment in all modules
30% in all components
Profile for borderline
Classification calculated on level 6 grades only
3 types of academic misconduct – negligence, malpractice and cheating

20. Programme documentation
Use of standard templates
Programme Specification
Programme Handbook
Student Handbook (generic information)
Statement of resources
Module Specification
Module delivery details
Module Guides
Regulations (January 2017)
External examining and assessment guidelines
Marking and classification criteria
Learning, teaching and assessment strategies

21. The Role of the External Examiner

22. Overall purpose of the External Examiner
To ensure that standards are maintained from a subject point of view
To ensure fairness and equity from a student point of view
To act as a critical friend with
Curriculum developments
Standards

23. At the start of the academic year
Check the programme documentation you need sight of (Induction Checklist EE7)
Review the Annual Checklist of docs/info (EE8) early September
Agree the basis for sampling assessments (see checklist and agenda EE14)
Agree the basis of visits to the college (EE14)

24. Sampling Your right to see all scripts (Re-sits?) Discretion to sample
Should see:
Assessments marked highest overall
Selection of passed assessments from each classification band
Problematic assessment
A sample of fails

25. Examiner’s role with assessment
Assessment aims and objectives are appropriate
Purposes and philosophy of assessment are articulated and understood
Assessment load is appropriate
Assessment is properly and impartially conducted

26. Outside of the Examination Boards
Meet students and discuss the standard of work in general
Advise on individual cases e.g. where there has been internal disagreement about a mark
Sample scripts and assessed material to enable judgements to be made as to the:
- Overall suitability of assessment methods
- Coherence of assessment strategy
- Consistency of internal marking

27. Examination Boards
2 Tiers (1st module / programme examination committees, 2nd Board of Examiners
Accountable for academic integrity of assessment in programmes
Responsible for conduct of assessment including determining module marks, progression and awards
A focus for quality assurance

28. Board of Examiners
Confer awards and classifications for existing students

29. Module Examination Committee
Determine student module assessment outcomes
Consider amendment of cohort’s marks as appropriate

30. Programme Examination Committee
Confirms progression
Determine student progression (Level 4 FdA and Level 4 and 5 for 3 year degrees)
Previews student profile prior to presentation for Award at the Board of Examiners

31. General Information about Exam Committees/Board of Examiners
External Examiners are not permitted to amend individual marks at Exam Committee/Board
Terminology: award, programme, discretion to compensate (C12), fail repeat, fail withdraw reassessment (C15, C12)
Academic Misconduct and other forms of Unfair Practice (C16)
Extenuating Circumstances and Mitigation (C15)

32. After the Examination Board
Complete annual report within 28 days of main assessment board
Return to HE Registry (along with expenses, annual fee claims)

33. External Examiner reports

34. Report headings Standards Student performance Student engagement
Conduct of processes
Areas for commendation

35. What happens to report
HE Registry will circulate to the relevant School/Programme
Head of HE Quality and Standards will track key themes and complete an annual report to be presented at HE Academic Board
Any cause for concern highlighted is reported to CEO of NCG
You will receive a response and improvement plan from the Programme Leader within 28 days of receipt of your report

36. Payments to External Examiners
NCG External Examiners payment is banded as such:
These fees are excluding expenses
Fee
Description
Band A
£350
Module and Award Examiner with between 6-12 modules
Band B
£500
Module and Award Examiner with 12+ modules (this may include duties covering FdA and Top Up awards)
Chief External Examiner for all NCG awards
£100
Lead Examiner for a group of Examiners within a section
£120
External Mentor – supporting a newly appointed External Examiner

37. Payments to External Examiners
To claim this you need to provide:
Evidence of your employment status in the form of a completed HMRC assessment and the outcome
Link to HMRC site
If self employed provide your HMRC self-employed registration number
A completed External Examiner Payment form
Proof of eligibility to work in the UK
You will pay Tax and NI at source

38. Bookings and Expenses
Must have valid receipts (credit card receipts not accepted)
Can claim for accommodation, travel expenses or subsistence & postage (if incurred)
NB Accommodation and train tickets can be booked on your behalf (at least 2 weeks notice please) or you can book and pay for your own and claim it back through expenses.

39. How to submit a Claim? External Examiners annual fee
Submit a claim form within a month of June Board to the HE Registry ( option for fees only)
Expenses for June Boards
Send a completed claim form with valid receipts attached (if applicable) to the HE Registry within 28 days
Expenses for Reconvened or Semester 1 Boards
Send a completed claim form with valid receipts attached to the HE Registry within 28 days

40. Who to Contact?
NCLs HE Development Manager Cecilia Holmes will liaise with you regarding:
dates/times for visits (expectation is one visit per year)
any mailing of module guides/ student work & deadlines
HE Registry
Accommodation / train bookings / tickets
Submitting claim forms/receipts
Any other general queries

41. Useful Contacts Email externalexaminers@ncgrp.co.uk
Debra Carr and Claire Dishman (HE Academic Co-ordinators) or
College address:
NCG
HE Registry
Rye Hill Campus
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7SA
External Examiners Web Page:
NCG Chief External Examiner – Alan Willis