Assessment Procedure
Responsibility
Responsibility for assessment lies with each vocational tutor and the Internal Verifier who ensures that the correct standards are being met.
Procedure
- During induction the tutor identifies any prior learning or achievement the candidate may have and how those competencies can be claimed.
- Tutors must ensure that all candidates working towards an NVQ or a VRQ are entered into awarding bodies registration system for a minimum of 10 weeks before a claim for certification can be made.
- A training programme will be developed which will identify naturally occurring opportunities for learning.
- The tutor assesses the candidate by judging the candidate’s performance against the laid down standards.
- Assessment should, wherever possible, be carried out in the candidate’s normal workplace over a period of time.
- The Assessment Plan must be completed with each candidate to identify the evidence to be produced by the candidate in order to achieve the identified/elements with suggested target dates for assessment. The assessor must ensure that:
- Best use is made of naturally occurring evidence and related questioning
- Opportunities are selected which provide access to fair and reliable assessment
- The proposed assessment plan is discussed and agreed with the candidate and others who may be affected.
- If there is a disagreement with the proposed plan, options open to the candidate are explained clearly and constructively.
- Prior to Assessment taking place all candidates must be informed that they have the right to Appeal the Assessment decision and Assessors must ensure that they have been issued with BCW Training Ltd’s Candidate Appeals Procedure during induction.
- Assessment decisions of unqualified assessors must be checked, authenticated and countersigned by an assessor or internal verifier who has the appropriate experience and assessor qualifications. New assessors must complete their Assessor Awards within one year of commencement in the post.
- Assessors should use a variety of assessment procedures to ensure a high level of reliability in their judgements. Suitable procedures include:
- Observation of normal work activities
- Checking evidence produced by the candidate
- Checking authenticated statements presented by the candidate from employers or appropriate authorities
- Oral questioning of the candidate
- Written questioning of the candidate
- Case studies/assignments/projects
- Simulations
- Candidate report
- When making a decision as to the sufficiency of evidence the following points need to be taken into consideration:
- The assessment is about judging candidates competence to perform in whole work roles
- All elements and units must be assessed across the entire required range of contexts and conditions
- Evidence can be gathered which covers more than one element or unit
- Some elements or activities will require considerable more evidence than others before
it is clear that competence has been achieved.
- The assessor must continuously give feedback to the candidates as to their progress.
- The assessor must carry out regular reviews of progress with all candidates to identify if candidate is on target to achieve the qualification, if amendments need to be made to the assessment plan and to check their understanding of features discussed in induction e.g. Appeals Procedure, Health & Safety etc.
- The achievement of each element of competence should be recorded in the Cumulative Assessment record and be confirmed by the Assessor. The Assessor then signs the CAR which indicates that he/she has judged the evidence to be valid. The assessor must also record successful achievement on the qualification candidate matrix.
- The Internal Verifier will then sample assessment made by each Assessor to ensure consistency within the Approved Centre.
- The Internal Verifier should meet with the assessor at least once every month to authenticate and verify all Learner documentation. In the event of an assessor being unqualified a qualified assessor must also attend this meeting.
- All records relating to Learner assessments must be held for a minimum of three years.
- Assessors must ensure that all candidates have equal access to assessment and will follow appropriate procedures should alternative assessment arrangements be required.