abp iqa presentation sh24 09 12 pptx

Internal Quality Assurance

ABP Approved Centres must ensure they provide high quality teaching and assessment.

Procedures and activities used to assure this quality are collectively referred to as Internal Quality Assurance (IQA).

Centres must have nominated people (IQAs) who are responsible for Internal Quality Assurance.

Association of Business Practitioners www.abp.org.uk

What is IQA?

Centres, in partnership with ABP and

OFQUAL are responsible for upholding the

quality of qualifications. If Centres do not

fulfil their part, ABP will take action…


Why is IQA Important?

Action Points SanctionsCentre Closure


Centre IQA Policy

ABP centres should have a formal IQA Policy, which

confirms:

IQA role and responsibilities

Assessor role and responsibilities

How Assessment will be monitored

How Assessors will be supported

How records will be managed

Centre appeals processes


The IQA Role

Checking assessment tasks are appropriate

Checking assignment briefs

Monitoring teaching and assessment

Maintaining IQA & assessment

records

Checking that assessment is fair

Checking that assessment is

accurate

Checking that assessment is

consistent

Devising policy and processes

Liaising with ABP and the ABP

EQA

Giving feedback to assessors

Leading Assessor meetings

CPD

Capable: good understanding of the subject

and qualification requirements.

Qualified: gain the IQA Award (Understanding

the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment

Processes and Practice) within 18 months.

Time and Authority to do the job fully

NB: IQA CVs must be approved by ABP


Who can IQA?

IQA in Detail

There are two main aspects of

Internal Quality Assurance:

• Monitoring: checking that

assessment is accurate and

fair and taking action if not.

• Supporting: helping

assessors to stay up to date

and develop their competence.


Monitoring & Supporting

Monitoring Assessment

Assignment briefs must be fit-for-purpose:

strictly based on the level, learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the unit

clearly mapped to the relevant learning outcomes and assessment criteria

clearly explaining the tasks to be completed.

The IQA must ensure this is the case, and agree any assignments before they are issued to learners.

(see example checklist in IQA Guide Appendix)


Monitoring:

Checking Assignment Briefs

IQAs must check a sample of assessment

decisions to ensure:

Assessment is accurate

Assessment is fair across different learners

Assessment by different assessors is

consistent

Feedback is accurate and constructive

Assessment decisions are correctly recorded


Monitoring:

Sampling Assessment Decisions

It is not necessary for IQAs to check every decision – just a meaningful sample:

all assessors involved must have some of their decisions sampled

examples from each unit of the qualification should be included

sampling should cover all the assignments/ assessment methods in use

ideally, every learner should have some aspect of their work sampled

The IQA must provide a formal report confirming the

quality of assessment before ABP will issue certificates.(see example plan in IQA Guide (p.12) and Appendix)


Monitoring:

How many to Sample?

IQAs must provide a record of their

sampling, particularly:

what was sampled

whether or not the IQA agrees the decision

any further action required

confirmation that any action has been completed

The IQA must provide a formal report confirming the

quality of assessment before ABP will issue certificates.(see example report in IQA Guide Appendix)


Monitoring:

Recording Sampling Findings


Monitoring:

Other IQA Monitoring Methods

Observing

• Is teaching content appropriate?

• Are assessment tasks clearly set?

• Is assessment feedback constructive?

Talking to Learners

• Do learners understand requirements?

• Are they well prepared for assessment?

• Is assessment accurate and fair?

Supporting Assessors


Supporting Assessor Competence

Update meetings

and comms.

Standardisation activities

1-1 advice feedback &

support

A typical meeting agenda might be:

1. Updates from IQA

re any changes to ABP requirements or to the qualification – and any

feedback from ABP EQA visits.

2. Updates from Assessors

on their recent assessment activity and issues or challenges - for

general discussion with the team.

3. Standardisation Activity (see next slide)

based on specific development needs or challenging assessments

identified by the IQA, and leading to agreements re further actions or

changes to assessment practice.


Assessor Meetings

A typical standardisation activity:


Standardisation

All assessors and quality assurance professionals are issued with the same piece of learners

work, for them to assess individually. Individual decisions are then shared and discussed,ideally in a group meeting, but could be remotely.

Ultimately, the whole team, led by the IQA(s), agree the best approach to the assessment, which then

informs everyone’s on-going practice.

Other IQA Responsibilties

IQAs play a part in ensuring that the centre

maintains up to date records of assessment.

Assessment and IQA reports should be held by

the centre, for a minimum period of 3 years

… and all reports made available to ABP and

the ABP EQA as required.

Also, a number of portfolios of learner work

should be kept for the same period.


Record Keeping


Contributing to Appeals

Learners undertaking ABP programmes must have access to a centre appeals process which allows them to challenge any assessments they regard as unfair. ABP therefore requires all its centres to have an Appeals Policy and to ensure that all learners are made aware of it. ABP will ask for a copy of the centre’s Appeals Policy during centre and qualification approval processes and also the ABP EQA may ask to see it at EQA visits to the centre.

IQAs play a major part in EQA visits, which are,

typically twice a year, and involve:

a review of systems (centre agreement)

a review of learners work, assessment

reports and IQA reports.

meetings with staff and learners.

EQA completes a CQAR Report


Liaison with ABP and the EQA

Finally, don’t forget…..

IQAs, like Assessors, must maintain their own

continued professional development.

The IQA and CPD


Any Questions?

The End – Thank You

abp iqa presentation sh24 09 12 pptx

Documents

internal quality assurance

iqa processes

iqa systems

iqa important

iqa activities

centre iqa policyabp

iqa rolejust

centre agreement abp