Internal Quality Assurance Policy

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Title   ACL Internal Quality Assurance Policy 
Responsible Group   Curriculum and Quality Improvement Group 
Author   Quality Assurance Manager 
Intended Audience   All staff  
Status    Live / Archived  
Version   V1 
Last Review and Approval   Full rewrite September 2025 
Approved By   ACL SLT 
Next Review    September 2026 
Original Date of Acceptance   September 2025 
Changes Made    
Stored Location    Master Copy on ACL Teams/ACL Essex/Line Managers   

ACL Website (service users) 

ACL Staff Portal (staff) 

 

ACL Essex – Internal Quality Assurance Handbook  For Assessed Qualifications (2025 – 2026) 

Supporting quality of assessment where no final exam is required.   

For qualifications in scope see Qualifications In Scope –  2025-26 Qualifications and Awarding Organisations.xlsx 

  • Current qualifications 
  • The most up-to-date register of regulated qualifications by Awarding Organisation (AO). This will include relevant qualifications for Skills Bootcamps, Apprenticeships, Functional Skills, Diplomas, Certificates, Awards. 
  • Legacy qualifications 
  • The qualifications still being delivered to existing learners but no longer open for new registrations.  

 

Purpose

Ensure assessment processes maintain the credibility of ACL Essex qualifications and meet AO standards. 

 

Key IQA Responsibilities

  • Uphold quality and integrity of teaching, learning and assessment. 
  • Monitor assessor practice, ensure consistency of assessment decisions. 
  • Identify and manage risk; track trends. 
  • Support assessors’ professional development (CPD). 
  • Ensure compliance with ACL Essex policies and awarding-body requirements. 

 

Staffing & Competence

  • ACL will allocate assessment to both Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) and coaches/assessors depending on the requirements of the AO. 
  • ACL will require IQAs to keep their vocational competence up to date and continuous professional development (CPD) relevant and current.  
  • Unqualified IQAs and coaches/assessors require countersignature of all decisions where required. 

 

Assessor Management

  • Curriculum Leads recruit and induct IQAs and coaches/assessors and advise appropriate leaders to notify awarding bodies of new staff. 
  • Leaders will ensure there is ongoing support via team meetings, standardisation sessions and recorded CPD. 
  • Leaders should ensure a list of current IQAs and coaches/assessors is maintained and up to date.  

 

Sampling Strategy

Leaders must ensure this strategy covers timeframes, risk and all assessment methods/sites. For example it should:  

  • Ensure IQAs and coaches/assessors have a sampling plan in place to meet the requirements of the AO 
  • Follows ACL’s Quality Assurance of Teaching, Training and Learning policy and processes  
  • Observation of assessors/coaches at least annually. 
  • Learner/Witness discussions to confirm fair, inclusive assessment. 
  • Portfolio sampling (paper or e-portfolio) for validity, authenticity, currency, sufficiency. 
  • Interim and summative checks completed within two weeks of final unit assessment. 
  • Feedback to assessors must be factual, constructive and action-focused (SMART). 

 

Standardisation activities and CPD

At least one meeting per term to review evidence, compare decisions, share best practice and record outcomes. 

 

Managing Quality

  • External Quality Assurers’ (EQA) actions shared at Curriculum Quality Improvement Group; follow ACL Quality Handbook. 
  • Leaders allocate candidates to IQAs/assessors/coaches, considering location, workload and resources as appropriate. 
  • Frequency of quality assurance should be agreed depending on course duration and risk analysis. 

 

Awarding Organisation Liaison

Quality Assurance Manager notifies Aos of staff or centre changes. 

  • Leaders ensure that Exams Team register learners in a timely manner in accordance with AO’s requirements. 
  • No assessment should take place before registration. 
  • IQA authenticates all certification claims; keep records for three years or in accordance with AO requirements.  
  • In order to ensure good financial management, leaders should ensure staff comply with AO’s requirements and ACL’s processes to ensure claims are made in a timely way.  

 

Data & Policies

  • Follow GDPR and ACL Data Protection Policy. 
  • Ensure Diversity & Equality policies are observed in all assessments. 
  • Inform learners of the Appeals Procedure at induction and when informing them of assessment decisions. (See Staff Portal/website for Appeals procedure)