Orvanta Open College
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all assessment decisions made at Orvanta Open College are valid, reliable, fair, and consistent. The Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) process provides a structured approach to monitoring assessment practice and maintaining the integrity of qualifications delivered via distance and blended learning.
Scope
This policy applies to:
All qualifications and programmes delivered by the College.
All assessors, tutors, and internal quality assurers (IQAs).
All learners enrolled at the College.
Policy Statement
Orvanta Open College is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic and vocational assessment. Internal Quality Assurance will:
Ensure assessments are conducted in line with awarding body and regulatory requirements.
Standardise assessment practice across all staff and subject areas.
Provide support, guidance, and training to assessors.
Identify and address risks, inconsistencies, and areas for improvement.
Responsibilities
Centre Director – has overall accountability for quality assurance.
Lead Internal Quality Assurer (Lead IQA) – responsible for overseeing the College’s IQA strategy, ensuring compliance with awarding body requirements.
IQAs – responsible for sampling assessments, monitoring assessor practice, and providing constructive feedback.
Assessors – responsible for accurate, fair, and consistent assessment decisions and maintaining assessment records.
Learners – responsible for submitting authentic work and engaging with the assessment process.
Principles of Internal Quality Assurance
IQA processes at Orvanta Open College will be:
Planned – IQA activities will be scheduled in advance and documented.
Systematic – a structured sampling strategy will be followed.
Consistent – assessment decisions will be checked against awarding body standards.
Supportive – assessors will be supported through feedback and CPD.
Transparent – records of IQA activities will be maintained for audit purposes.
Procedures
Sampling Strategy IQAs will sample assessments from each assessor, covering different learners, units, and assessment methods.
Sampling will take place both during and after assessment.
Standardisation Regular standardisation meetings will be held to ensure consistent application of assessment criteria.
Examples of learner work will be reviewed to align assessor judgements.
Assessor Support Feedback will be provided to assessors in a constructive and developmental manner.
CPD opportunities will be offered to address identified needs.
Record-Keeping IQA activity will be fully documented, including sampling records, feedback reports, and standardisation minutes.
Records will be retained for inspection by awarding bodies.
Escalation and Corrective Action Where issues are identified, corrective actions will be agreed with assessors.
Persistent non-compliance may result in reassignment of duties or referral to the Centre Director.
Monitoring and Review
IQA activity will be monitored by the Lead IQA and reported to the Centre Director.
Trends and outcomes will be reviewed annually to inform staff training and development.
This policy will be reviewed annually or earlier if required by awarding body or regulatory changes.
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