External Examiners induction session

1. External Examiners induction session For newly appointed External Examiners

2. Welcome • Megan Nichols – Head of HE Quality and Standards • Alan Fenton – Head of HE Registry

3. Outline of the day • About NCG • Taught Degree Awarding Powers • Assessment framework • The role of the External Examiner • External Examiner reports • Payment and expenses • Passport Check • Any questions? • Opportunity to meet with your Programme Leader

4. NCG One of the leading providers of education, training and employability across the UK 8 Divisions: • Newcastle College • West Lancashire College • Kidderminster College • Newcastle Sixth Form College • InTraining Ltd • Rathbone • Carlisle College • Lewisham Southwark College

5. NCG Structure NCG Group Executive, ICT, Finance, Business Assurance, HE Registry, Property, HR Comms and People Services InTraining Rathbone Newcastle Sixth Form College Newcastle College Carlisle College West Lancashire College Lewisham Southwark College Kidderminster College Curriculum Areas within Newcastle College Childcare Engineering Aviation Education Art and Design Business Construction Digital IT Hair & Beauty Digital Arts Key Health & Social Care Hospitality & Travel & Tourism Music and Performing Arts Sport and Uniformed Services Rail Science Training Providers 16-18 Provision FECs with HE

6. NCG HE Strategy Our aims align with the overall aims of NCG: • Provide a high-quality, flexible vocational curriculum offer • Widen participation and increase employability • Work in partnership with employers to support their future skills needs • Increase accessibility and flexibility through e-learning • Provide a distinctive HE offer which complements traditional University provision

7. NCG and Higher Education • FDAP awarded in 2011 • TDAP awarded in July 2016 • Providing opportunities for more autonomy • 90% of NCGs HE provision delivered at Newcastle College • Range of Foundation Degrees, 3 year Honours Degrees, One year Top up Hons Degree, Masters and PGCE awards

8. Strengths • High quality teaching and learning informed by research, scholarship and pedagogy within an HE in FE context • Robust and rigorous quality assurance framework mapped against UK Quality Code • Innovative vocational curriculum offer that supports employability and career aspirations • Use of RPL which values and recognises prior experience • Supportive learning environment • Industry standard facilities and resources

9. HE Management • HE Registry operates at group level (NCG) and has responsibility for institutional oversight of quality, academic standards and regulatory framework • Each Division has responsibility for operational management of HE and curriculum development

10. HE Assessment Framework

11. What is the HE Assessment Framework? • Provides a framework which offers guidance and documentation to ensure effective, appropriate and fair assessment • Implementation of college HE Qualityprocesses and procedures • Assures the quality and standards of HE assessment and feedback.

12. What does it involve? Three main areas are incorporated within the framework: • Assessment Design • Assessment Standards • Assessment Feedback

13. Assurance of Standards • Standard template for module guides • Contextualised grading • Internal moderation process • Double marking process for dissertations • Use and submission through Turnitin is mandatory for all programmes

14. The Credit Framework • NCG uses nationally recognised credit tariff: • 1 credit = 10 notional student learning hours • Modules based around units of 20 credits (200 notional student learning hours)

15. Foundation Degrees • NCG Foundation Degrees have 2 levels conforming to the UK Quality Code: FHEQ and the QAA Higher Education Credit Framework for England • 120 credits level 4 • 120 credits level 5

16. Foundation Degree Classification 70% + Distinction 60-69% Merit 40-59% Pass Up to 39% Fail

17. Honours Degrees • 3 year Honours Degree programme consists of: 120 credits level 4 120 credits level 5 120 credits level 6 • One year top-up Honours Degree programme consists of: 120 credits level 6

18. Level 7 programmes • Masters programmes currently in the following subject areas: • Business • Education • PGCE – 4 routes

19. NCG Academic Regulations • Reviewed regulations in 2017 (2011 FDAP) • Collected data from boards and committees • Guiding principles of equity and fairness to all students • Mainly reviewed the section C Academic Standards • Academic misconduct • Mid year Module Examination Committee

20. What did we change? Up to 5 working days capped at 40%/50% Eligible reassessment in all modules 30% in all components Profile for borderline Classification calculated on level 6 grades only 3 types of academic misconduct – negligence, malpractice and cheating • Penalties for late submission • Reassessment • Increased minimum % for compensation • Review foundation degree classification • Final level only for degree classification • Revised regulations for Academic Misconduct

21. Documentation and Regulations Academic Regulations (January 2018) Mitigation process Academic Misconduct Academic Appeals Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Alternative Assessment Plans • Programme Specification • Programme Handbook • HE Student Handbook (generic information in Moodle) • Statement of resources • Module Specification • Module delivery details • Module Guides

22. The Role of the External Examiner

23. Overall purpose of the External Examiner • To ensure that standards are maintained from a subject point of view • To ensure fairness and equity from a student point of view • To act as a critical friend with • Curriculum developments • Standards • Identifying good practice and provided advice for enhancement

24. At the start of the academic year • Check the programme documentation you need sight of (Induction Checklist EE7) • Review the Annual Checklist of docs/info (EE8) early September • Agree the basis for sampling assessments (see checklist and agenda EE14) • Agree the basis of visits to the college (EE14)

25. Sampling • Your right to see all scripts (Re-sits?) • Discretion to sample • Should see: • Assessments marked highest overall • Selection of passed assessments from each classification band • Problematic assessment • A sample of fails

26. Examiner’s role with assessment • Assessment aims and objectives are appropriate • Purposes and philosophy of assessment are articulated and understood • Assessment load is appropriate • Assessment is properly and impartially conducted

27. Outside of the Examination Boards • Meet students and discuss the standard of work in general • Advise on individual cases e.g. where there has been internal disagreement about a mark • Sample scripts and assessed material to enable judgements to be made as to the: - Overall suitability of assessment methods - Coherence of assessment strategy - Consistency of internal marking

28. Board of Examiners and Examination Committees • 2 Tiers • 1stModule Examination Committee and Programme Examination Committee (MEC/PEC) • 2nd Board of Examiners • Accountable for academic integrity of assessment in programmes • Responsible for conduct of assessment including determining module marks, progression and awards • A focus for quality assurance

29. Module Examination Committee (MEC) • Determine student module assessment outcomes • Consider amendment of cohort’s marks as appropriate • Organised by curriculum area, chaired by college nominee with HE Registry in attendance

30. Mid year Module Examination Committee (MEC) • To support our retention strategy mid year MEC has a different remit to end of year MEC • Considers and ratifies all completed 1st semester modules • Also considers on a module basis where programmes may make arrangements for students to retake assessment components in‐module before the result has been formally ratified by a Module Examination Committee (normally year long modules) • Determines ‘at risk’ students

31. Programme Examination Committee • Confirms progression • Determine student progression (Level 4 FdA and Level 4 and 5 for 3 year degrees) • Previews student profiles prior to presentation for Award at the Board of Examiners • Organised by curriculum area, chaired by college nominee with HE Registry in attendance

32. Board of Examiners • Formally confers awards and classifications for students • Chaired by NCG Director of Higher Education and co-ordinated by HE Registry

33. General Information about Exam Committees/Board of Examiners • External Examiners are not permitted to amend individual marks at Exam Committee/Board • Terminology: award, programme, discretion to compensate (C12), fail repeat, fail withdraw reassessment (C12 C13) • Academic Misconduct and other forms of Unfair Practice (C16) • Extenuating Circumstances and Mitigation (C15)

34. After the Examination Board • Complete annual report within 28 days of main assessment board • Return to HE Registry (along with expenses, annual fee claims)

35. External Examiner reports

36. Report headings • Standards • Student performance • Student engagement • Conduct of processes • Areas for commendation • Cause for concern

37. What happens to report • HE Registry will circulate to the relevant College/Programme • Head of HE Quality and Standards will track key themes and complete an annual report to be presented at HE Academic Board • Any cause for concern highlighted is reported to CEO of NCG • You will receive a response and improvement plan from the Programme Leader within 28 days of receipt of your report

38. Payments Process and useful contacts

39. Payments to External Examiners • NCG External Examiners payment is banded as such: • These fees are excluding expenses

40. Payments to External Examiners • To claim this you need to provide: • Evidence of your employment status in the form of a completed HMRC assessment and the outcome • Link to HMRC site • If self employed provide your HMRC self-employed registration number • A completed External Examiner Payment form • Proof of eligibility to work in the UK You will pay Tax and NI at source

41. Bookings and Expenses • Must have valid receipts (credit card receipts not accepted) • Can claim for accommodation, travel expenses or subsistence & postage (if incurred) NB Accommodation and train tickets can be booked on your behalf (at least 2 weeks notice please) or you can book and pay for your own and claim it back through expenses.

42. How to submit a Claim? • External Examiners annual fee • Submit a claim form within a month of June Board to the HE Registry (email option for fees only) externalexaminers@ncgrp.co.uk • Expenses for June Boards • Send a completed claim form with valid receipts attached (if applicable) to the HE Registry within 28 days • Expenses for Reconvened or Semester 1 Boards • Send a completed claim form with valid receipts attached to the HE Registry within 28 days

43. Who to Contact? • NCLs HE Development Manager Cecilia Holmes cecilia.holmes@ncl-coll.ac.ukwill liaise with you regarding: • dates/times for visits (expectation is one visit per year) • any mailing of module guides/ student work & deadlines • HE Registry (externalexaminers@ncgrp.co.uk) • Accommodation / train bookings / tickets • Submitting claim forms/receipts • Any other general queries

44. Useful Contacts • Email externalexaminers@ncgrp.co.uk • Debra Carr and Claire Dishman (HE Academic Co-ordinators) 0191 2004014 or 2004861 • College address: NCG HE Registry Rye Hill Campus Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7SA • External Examiners Web Page: http://www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/higher-education/externalexaminers • NCG Chief External Examiner – Mark CusiterMark.Cusiter@northampton.ac.uk