The Conflict-of-Interest Policy enhances the Examination Policy by collating any perceived conflict of interest between assessment staff and learners and documents how this is managed and recorded.
Anyone involved in the development, delivery, assessment, or award of examined qualifications has an obligation to act in a way that does not lead to a conflict of interest.
The aim of this policy is to ensure that ACL can:
- provide a mechanism to protect individuals and ACL against criticism or compromise by ensuring that all reasonable steps are taken to avoid any conflict of interests.
- identify conflicts of interest and if necessary, take action to minimise or eliminate any adverse effects that they cause.
- comply with Ofqual’s regulatory requirements and those of any other relevant regulatory or industry bodies.
Contents
THE POLICY
All teaching staff who are responsible for internally assessment elements of external qualifications are contacted at the start of the course to declare any potential conflict of interest due to a personal relationship with a learner on their course. A conflict of interest may exist where a tutor has a close personal relationship with a learner which includes step/foster family or similar close relationships as well as close friends and their immediate family.
METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION
Where there is a conflict of interest the tutor completes the declaration of interest form (Appendix A) and returns it to the exams leads to be logged. Depending on the nature of the declaration, a statement of how the conflict will be managed is documented and the awarding body informed of the steps being taken.
For example, a GCSE English tutor delivering a course to a close personal friend would not be permitted to assess or verify NEA elements of the course, such as speaking and listening. An independent internal verifier would be put in place for this learner’s assessment.
If you require this document in any other format, please email Teresa.ablewhite@essex.gov.uk stating the document name in full and the format you need.
Appendix A
Declaration of Interest form 2024/25
To comply with the regulations, the centre is required to manage Conflicts of Interest and inform the relevant awarding body/bodies for any of their qualifications of:
- any members of centre staff who are taking qualifications at their own centre which include internally assessed components/units.
- any members of centre staff who are teaching and preparing members of their family (which includes stepfamily, foster family, and similar close relationships) or close friends and their immediate family (e.g., son/daughter) for qualifications which include internally assessed components/units; and
- maintains clear records of all instances where:
- exams office staff have members of their family (which includes stepfamily, foster family, and similar close relationships) or close friends and their immediate family (e.g., son/daughter) being entered for examinations and assessments either at the centre itself or other centres.
- centre staff are taking qualifications at their centre which do not include internally assessed components/units.
- centre staff are taking qualifications at other centres.