Malpractice and Appeal Policy & Procedures
Malpractice and Appeal
Purpose
We are committed to ensuring that all forms of malpractice in connection with any qualification are dealt with and are reported to the appropriate awarding body under their procedures for reporting such activity.
We require assessors to ask learners to declare that their work is their own, for instance:
For internally assessed units, assessors are responsible for checking the validity of the learner’s work.
Assessors and learners must provide a written declaration that the evidence is authentic and that the assessment was conducted under the requirements of the assessment specification.
We take positive steps to prevent or reduce the occurrence of learner malpractice. These steps include:
- Using the induction period to inform learners of our policy on malpractice and the penalties for attempted and actual incidents of malpractice.
- Showing learners, the appropriate formats to record cited text and other materials or information sources including website. Learners should not be discouraged from conducting research; indeed, evidence of relevant research often contributed to the achievement of higher grades. However, the submitted work must evidence that the learner has interpreted and synthesised appropriate information and has acknowledged any sources used.
- Introducing procedures for assessing work in a way that reduces or identifies malpractice, e.g., plagiarism, collusion, cheating, etc. these procedures may include:
- Periods of supervised sessions during which is evidence for assignments / tasks /coursework is produced by the learner.
- Altering assessments assignments/tasks/tools on a regular basis.
- The assessor assessing work for a single assignment/task in a single session for the complete cohort of learner.
- Using oral questions with learners to ascertain their understanding of the concepts, application, etc. within their work.
- Assessors getting to know their learners’ styles and abilities, etc.
- Ensuring access controls are installed to prevent learners from accessing and using other people’s work when using networked computers.
Learner Malpractice
Attempting to or actually carrying out any malpractice activity is deemed academic dishonesty. The following are examples of malpractice by learners; this is not exhaustive and other instances of malpractice may be considered by the awarding body at its discretion:
- Plagiarism by copying and passing off, as the learner’s own, the whole or part(s) of another person’s work, including artwork, images, words, computer generated work (including internet sources), thoughts, inventions and/or discoveries whether published or not, with or without the originator’s permission and without appropriately acknowledging the source.
- Collusion by working collaboratively with other learners to produce work that is submitted as individual learner work. Learners should not be discouraged from teamwork, as this is an essential key skill for many sectors and subject areas, but the use of minutes, allocating tasks, agreeing outcomes, etc are an essential part of team work and this must be made clear to the learners.
- Impersonation by pretending to be someone else in order to produce the work for another or arranging for another to take one’s place in an assessment/examination/test.
- Fabrication of result and for evidence.
- Failing to abide by the instructions or advice of an assessor, a supervisor, an invigilator, or awarding body conditions in relation to the assessment/examination/test rules, regulation and security.
- Misuse of assessment/examination material.
- Introduction and/or use of unauthorised material contra to the requirements of supervised
assessment/examination/test conditions, for example: notes, study guides, personal organisers, calculators, dictionaries (when prohibited), personal stereos, mobile phones or other similar electronic devices.
- Obtaining, receiving, exchanging or passing on information which could be assessment/ examination/test related (or the attempt to) by means of talking or written papers/ notes during supervised assessment/examination /test conditions.
- Behaving in such a way as to undermine the integrity of the assessment/examination/test.
- The alteration of any results document, including certificates.
Dealing with Malpractice
- The centre manager is responsible for carrying out investigations in to allegations of malpractice. Investigations in to alleged malpractice against the centre manager will normally be conducted by an appointed nominee.
- Where we discover or suspect anyone of malpractice, we will make the individual fully aware (in writing) at the earliest should malpractice be proven.
- Evidence required to prove that malpractice has occurred may include:
- Comparison of suspect piece with work previously presented by the learner;
- Comparison with a piece on a similar subject undertaken under controlled conditions;
- Comparison with others learners” writing where similarities have occurred;
- Comparison with the sources that the learner appears to have plagiarised;
- The learner’s performance when assessed orally;
- A witness statement from the person(s) that identified the issue.
- If malpractice is suspected, the learner will be given an opportunity to explain what has happened. Formal action will only be initiated where:
- There is evidence to support the allegation of malpractice; and
- The learner fails to provide a plausible explanation.
- In the event of any doubt arising, the centre manager should be consulted, before any decision is taken.
Investigating Malpractice
Any incidence of malpractice will be reported to the awarding body.
The awarding body has the right to carry out an independent investigation in full under any
circumstances of alleged malpractice.
- When dealing with alleged malpractice the awarding body has the right to:
Involve the learner and others in the investigation process.
Deal with the learner (if aged 18 or above) and/or the learner’s representative.
- This may occur, for example, when a learner’s account of events is at variance with that of the centre. Where learners younger than 18 are involved, they may wish to be assisted by centre personnel, parents or guardians.
During the investigation period the awarding body may:
Refuse learner registration/entries.
Withhold the release of result/certificate.
Withhold test/examination paper if the security of a test/examination is considered at risk.
Re-Assessment
Where there is evidence to support the allegation of malpractice the centre will re-assess all work submitted by the learner.
APPEALS
The awarding body has established procedures to appeal against penalties and sanctions arising from malpractice. Appeals against a decision made by the awarding body will normally be accepted only from the centre manager (on behalf of learners and/or employees) and from employees (in respect of a decision taken against them personally).
This policy is linked to and in conjunction with the following:
