V3 November 2022 - S Henderson
Thomas Tallis School – BTEC Programmes
Assessment Policy
Aims of this policy are:
In order to do this, Thomas Tallis will:
BTEC General Procedures for
Can be found here and school procedures should not undermine the guidance from BTEC
Links
Roles & Responsibilities
Thomas Tallis School – BTEC Programmes
Assessment Policy
Aims of this policy are:
- To ensure that assessment methodology is valid, reliable and does not disadvantage or advantage any group of learners or individuals
- To ensure that the assessment procedure is open, fair and free from bias and to national standards
- To ensure that there is accurate and detailed recording of assessment decisions
In order to do this, Thomas Tallis will:
- Ensure that learners are provided with assignments that are fit for purpose, to enable them to produce appropriate evidence for assessment
- All assignments will be internally verified before issue to learners, including Authorised Assignment Brief and use of the Assignment Checking Service is actively encouraged
- The Lead Internal Verifier is responsible for overseeing the IV process (e.g. assignment and assessment decisions) for the relevant programme area
- The Quality Nominee is responsible for overseeing quality throughout the centre, e.g. by providing advice on IV
- Produce a clear and accurate assessment plan at the start of the programme/academic year
- Programme Leaders (LIVs) will produce a clear and accurate assessment plan at the start of September and update this as required, with any updates being shared with learners and the BTEC QN
- BTEC Forms and Guides
- Provide clear, published dates for handout of assignments and deadlines for assessment
- Clear dates are published by the Programme Leader on the assignment brief, using Insight (school internal homework system available to parents and students), as well as providing a summary of issue and submission dates which are published on the school website
- Assess learner’s evidence using only the published assessment and grading criteria
- BTEC assessors are trained in how to assess work by using the published assessment and grading criteria, with work assessed being sampled by the Internal Verifier and the Standards Verifier as appropriate
- Guide to Internal Verification 2022 - 23
- Ensure assessment practices meet current BTEC assessment requirements and guidance
- BTEC assessors receive training to ensure that they are competent in assessment requirements
- BTEC Centre guide to Internal Assessment
- Ensure that assessment decisions are impartial, valid and reliable
- BTEC assessors are trained in how to assess work to ensure that decisions are impartial, valid and reliable, with work assessed being sampled by the Internal Verifier and the Standards Verifier as appropriate
- Guide to Internal Verification 2022 - 23
- Not limit or ‘cap’ learner achievement if work is submitted late
- BTEC assessors are clear about the procedure if work is late to ensure that learners are not penalised for late work
- Learners should complete a request for extension using the form here (school login required) which is then sent to the LIV for that programme
- Develop assessment procedures that will minimise the opportunity for Malpractice
- Assessment procedures are well developed to minimise any opportunity for malpractice by training assessors in how to spot this, developing assignments which allow learners to use different examples in their work which are more difficult to plagiarise, learners are required to sign that work is their own, and all staff and learners are clear about the impact to their qualification of any malpractice
- What is plagiarism?
- Maintain accurate and detailed records of assessment decisions
- Assessment decisions are recorded on a central tracking sheet for each programme area, and copies of assessment decisions provided to students and retained for 3 years after certification by each programme area (copies of assessment decisions are encouraged to be provided electronically to maintain COVID secure environment in 2020 – 21)
- Maintain a robust and rigorous internal verification procedure
- All BTEC staff are trained in the importance and procedure of internal verification, with internally verified work being sampled by the relevant Standards Verifier and a sample of internally verified work audited by the QN each year
- Guide to Internal Verification 2022 - 23
- Provide samples for standards verification/external examination as required by the awarding organisation
- Samples are provided annually to the standards verifier by the programme leader
- Samples retained each year for training and quality purposes
- Monitor standards verification/external examination reports and undertake any remedial action required
- SV reports are discussed with the programme leader and, if these differ, the curriculum leader with clear actions moving forward discussed
- Actions are reviewed at the start of each academic year so that the BTEC team is aware of the issues that were raised in the previous year so that the centre can build on the quality issues identified
- Share good assessment practice between all BTEC programme teams
- Assessment practice, together with other practice, is shared between BTEC programme teams in BTEC programme meetings (on Teams) and using the shared BTEC folder (internally online)
- Ensure that BTEC assessment methodology and the role of the assessor are understood by all BTEC staff
- BTEC assessors are trained in how to assess work, including the assessment methodology, their role and how their role fits in with the roles of other BTEC staff
- BTEC assessors receive training to ensure that they are competent in assessment requirements
- BTEC Centre guide to Internal Assessment
- Provide resources to ensure that assessment can be performed accurately and appropriately.
- BTEC assessors are provided with training, time and space to ensure that assessment can be performed accurately and appropriately, which is reviewed on an annual basis by the Deputy Head Teacher, Curriculum & Standards
- BTEC Centre guide to Internal Assessment
- Maintain and store securely all assessment and internal verification records in accordance with Pearson Approval Centre Agreement
- All assessment and IV records are retained for inspection and training purposes, securely by each curriculum area
BTEC General Procedures for
- Assessment
- Resubmission/ retakes (as appropriate)
- Assignment design / assignment brief
- Assessment plans
- Assessment recording/ tracking for learners
Can be found here and school procedures should not undermine the guidance from BTEC
Links
- Pearson Qualification Subject pages
- BTEC Centre Guide to Internal Assessment
- Assessment and verification templates
- BTEC guide to Standards Verification
Roles & Responsibilities
- LIV/Programme Leader – responsible for each programme area (assignment design, assignment briefs, assessment plans, recording and tracking, resubmission and/or retakes, where appropriate, and assessment decisions)
- Quality Nominee – overseeing quality of BTEC programmes across the centre, providing advice about BTEC procedures, policies, IV, etc.
- BTEC Staff – responsible for delivery of BTEC programmes, assessment of learner work and internal verification under the guidance of the relevant LIV
- Standards Verifier – externally appointed by the awarding body to ensure national standards are being applied