ASSESSMENT APPEALSPROCEDURE

for

FURTHER EDUCATION (FE)

and

HIGHER EDUCATION(HE)

2017 /2018

ACADEMICASSESSMENTAPPEALS PROCEDURE

1.Introduction

Aim

The aim of the procedure is to enable students who believe they have a grievanceconcerninganassessment(includingadecisionwheretheresultof theassessmentmayrequirethestudent’swithdrawalfromtheprogramme)to requestareviewofthatdecision. Thisproceduredoesnotdealwithdisciplinary mattersforwhichthereisaseparatedisciplinaryprocedure.

ThisprocedureappliesonlytothosestudentswhoseAssessment/Examinations areconstitutedundertheinternalauthority ofSandwellCollege. Where examinationsaresetandassessedexternally,the Collegehasno powersto reconsiderassessmentdecisionsbutwilladvisestudentshowtomakeanappeal totheexternal bodiesconcerned.

Theterms“examination”and“assessment”aresynonymousand refertoallformsofstudentassessmentincludingassessmentsofcompetency requiredbyNational Vocational Qualifications.

Thisprocedureapplieswherethereisnoapprovedappealsprocedurecontained withinanapprovedsubmissiontoanexternalbodyorwheretheCollegehas,a condition ofapproval,to adheretotheprocedures ofan external body.

AcademicJudgement

Thereisnoformalappealagainsttheacademicjudgementofassessors/verifiers

i.e.inrelationto marksorgradesawarded. disappointedwithan assessment grade/mark Programme Tutor concerned, to request an

However, astudent who is awarded may approach the independent re-assessment.

RefusalbytheCollegetoundertakere-assessmentbyasecondexaminerwould constitutegroundsforanappeal.

2.Groundsofwhich anAppealcan bemade

Thereareonlytwosetsofcircumstancesinwhichthedecisionofaconstituted ProgrammeTeammaybechangedbyahigherauthority withintheCollege. Namely:-

Material errororirregularity:

There hasbeenan administrative error,or

Thattheassessmentwasnotconductedinaccordancewiththeprogramme regulations,or

The College failed or refused to undertake re-assessment by a second examiner,or

Thatsomeothermaterialirregularityhasoccurred.

Personalcircumstancesnot knowntothe assessors/programme team:

If astudentestablishestothesatisfactionoftheProgrammeTeamthathis/her performanceintheexaminationorotherformofassessmentwasadverselyaffected byillness,orotherfactors,whichhe/shewasunableorforvalidreasonsunwillingto divulgepriortoassessment. Thestudent’srequestmustbesupportedbymedical certificatesorotherappropriate documentary evidence.

3.Procedure

Inthefirstinstance,anystudentwith agrievanceshould:-

DiscussthiswiththeProgrammeTutorandTeamLeader.

Ifthestudentisnotsatisfiedhe/sheshouldbeadvisedoftheAcademic

Appeals Procedure.

If the student decides to appeal, he/she should write to the Assistant Directorof thedepartmentstatingthegroundsforappeal. Thisshouldbedoneassoonas possibleandnormallywithinfourweeksofthenotificationoftheassessmentresults tothestudent.

The Assistant Directorof theDepartment will investigate the grievance and determine whetherthestudenthasvalidgroundsforanappeal. Ifhe/sherulesthatvalidgroundsforanappealexist,he/shewillattempttoresolvethecaseto the student’ssatisfactionwithoutre-programmeto anappeal hearing.

Details of action taken will be communicated to all parties concerned, includingthePrincipal.

Ifthegrievanceisnotresolvedwithin one calendarmonthoftheappeal being lodged, the Assistant Director of the Department shall convene an Assessment Appeals Committee and where appropriate for HE Provision, a member of the Universityand prepareareportaboutthecase.

4.AssessmentAppeals CommitteeComposition

Whereitisnecessaryformallytohearanappeal,anAssessmentAppeals

Committeeshall be convened. The Committee shall consistofthefollowing:

Chair -TheVice-Principal (TeachingLearning)

Curriculum Assistant Director

Atleastone othermemberofCollege/Universitystaff

Atleastonestudent

Secretary

No members of the Assessment Appeals Committee shall be from the Section directlyinvolvedintheappeal. Aquorumfora meeting of the AcademicAppealsCommitteeshouldbefour.

5.AssessmentAppeals Committee:TermsofReference and Procedures

AnAssessmentAppealsCommitteeactingonbehalfoftheAcademicBoard shall consider and determine requests for a review of a decision of a

Programme Team.An Assessment Appeals Committee shall not powers to deal with appeals arising from disciplinary matters or

allegationsofcheatingorplagiarism.

havefrom

Unlesshe/sheagreestoashorterperiod,theappellantmustbegivenwritten notice,atleastfiveCollegeworkingdayspriortothe hearing,thatthe hearing will take place,and ofhis/herrightsunderthisprocedure.

NormallyatleastfiveCollegeworkingdaysbeforethehearing,membersof an Assessment Appeals Committee shall be provided with the following documents,togetherwithanyadditionaldocumentsthoughtrelevantbythe ChairmanoftheAssessmentAppeals Committee:-

A copyofthe programme’sassessmentprocedure

Acopyoftheappellant’sletterofapplicationforahearing,togetherwith supportingdocumentaryevidence.

A copyofthe currentAssessmentAppealsProcedure.

AcopyoftheAssessmentAppealsProcedureshallbesenttotheappellant withthe notice ofahearing.

Thestudentandanyotherperson(s)citedintheappeal,each accompaniedif sodesiredbyafriend,hastherighttoappearbeforeandbeheardbythe AssessmentAppeals Committee.

Whiletheappealremainsunresolved,thestudentshallhavetherightto proceedtothe nextpartorstageofthe programme,provided the programme regulationspermitit.

TherelevantProgrammeTeamsshallhavetherighttoberepresentedatthe hearingofanAssessmentAppealsCommittee.

The procedure to be followed at a hearing shall be determined by the Chairmaninconsultationwithothermembers oftheAssessmentAppeals Committeeatthecommencementofthe hearing. Accordingtothe circumstances,thepartiestotheappeal maybeseen separately(inwhatever orderisdeemedappropriate)ortogether.

An Assessment Appeals Committee shall have thepower torequirethe attendanceofanymemberofstaffandshallbe givenaccesstoanyrecords and documentswhich itregardsasrelevant.

In cases of withdrawal from the programme of study, the Assessment AppealsCommitteeshallhavetheauthoritytorevokeorconfirmthedecision towithdrawthestudentfromaprogramme. Sucharevocationshallentitle the studenteither:-

 toproceedonthe programmeforthe remainderofthe session,or

 to repeatthefailedpartoftheprogrammeatthe earliestopportunity whichever the Assessment Appeals Committee judgesto be in the best

interestsofthe student.

In cases of appeals against an assessment decision, if theAssessment AppealsCommitteedecidesinfavouroftheappellant,theProgrammeTeam responsiblefortheoriginaldecisionmustmeetattheearliestopportunityto reconsiderthestudent’sresultsi.e.reassessthestudent’sworkandregrade theworkorrepeattheassessmentprocessforthestudent. TheProgramme Team,inundertakingsuchreconsideration,shouldtakeaccountofthereportoftheAssessmentAppealsCommitteeandtherecommendationscontained therein.

WheretheAssessmentAppealsCommitteeupholdsanappealagainstan assessmentdecision,thestudentwillbepermittedre-assessmentonthe first practicableoccasion.

Ifafterreconsideration,incasesofappealsagainstanassessmentdecision, theProgrammeTeamconfirmsitsoriginaldecision,theAssessmentAppeals Committee may be re-convened at the request of the student or the Chairman of the Assessment Appeals Committee to consider further the positionoftheappellant. ThefinaldecisionshallrestwiththeAssessmentAppeals Committee;therewill be nofurtherappeal.

ThedecisionoftheAssessmentAppealsCommitteewillbecommunicatedto the student and the Programme Leader/Curriculum Team Leader,Assistant Director, Vice Principal ofTeaching & Learning and the University,inwriting,withinfive Collegeworkingdaysofthe Appeal.

The Assessment Appeals Committee shall have the right to make recommendationsandobservationstotheQuality andCurriculumReview Board concerninganymattersofdetail orprinciple arisingfroma hearing.

AreportofthedecisionshallbecommunicatedtotheQualityandCurriculum

ReviewBoard.

TheSecretaryshallprepareareportofthehearingwhichshallbemade availabletothe membersoftheAssessmentAppealsCommittee.

RecordsofthedecisionsoftheCommitteeshall bekeptforaminimumofsix yearsfollowingthedateoftheappeal.