Quality Assurance

Appeals and Complaints

Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to:

Set out how to make and how we deal with complaints
Set out how to make and how we deal with appeals

At the end of each section are references to the documents you will need, the documents we will use andOfqual’s General Conditions of Recognition that apply. All related documents are available on our website.

Become an ATC

Although Mercurius Politicus has high standards and robust evaluation practices, the recognition process is streamlined to make it as straightforward as possible. Centres will need to have an appropriate number of staff to carry out the following job roles

Being a center

MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awarding Body Aspire to Inspire providers to Motivate learners to achieve. We have a portfolio of qualiﬁcations ranging from Entry 1 to Level 8 that are used by a score of colleges, schools, corporate houses, institutes, trusts, public sector units and training providers.

Conflict of Interest Change in Circumstances Form

Individuals remain under a continuing obligation to declare conflicts of interests as they arise. Therefore should circumstances change after completion of the initial declaration, or a new situation arises, all information must be promptly disclosed to ILAP Awarding Body.

Conflict of Interest Declaration Form

Actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest could arise from any of the following (the list is not exhaustive – please indicate any possible interest that you may have):

Conflict of interest

Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to:

Highlight and illustrate potential situations where conflicts of interest may arise
Identify the principles that MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awarding Body will adopt in the management of conflicts of interest
Set out what actions should be taken by individuals who encounter conflicts of interest
Set out how we will manage identified conflicts of interest

Course Amendment Form

Direct Claim Status

Direct Claim Status (DCS) is where we recognise named individuals at your centre as Approved Internal Verifiers (AIVs) authorised to sign the RAC instead of an EV for specific qualifications/courses. Where DCS is granted the AIV takes on the responsibility of the EV for those qualifications and therefore the AIV must only approve the RAC when they are satisfied with the standards of assessment and verification that have taken place.

Direct Claims Status Application Form

Awarding Body Direct Claims Status Application Form

Enquiries

Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to:

Set out how we deal with enquiries from centres
Establish the limits of what information we can provide

Higher Education Manual

A reference, information and guidance tool for those involved in the provision and quality assurance of Access to HE with MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awards AVA.

How we quality assure

Policy Statement

The purpose of this handbook is to ensure that the security and integrity of MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awarding Body qualifications are maintained by:

Ensuring that centres have and implement appropriate procedures for quality assurance of the qualifications delivered
Ensuring that MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awarding Body have and implement appropriate procedures for the quality assurance of centres, qualifications and standardisation of staff activity

Invoicing

Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to:

Specify how and when we will issue invoices for our services
Explain the content of our invoices

Malpractice

Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to:

Ensure that any potential malpractice and maladministration is identified, prevented, corrected and/or mitigated
Ensure that any event that could lead to an Adverse Effect is identified, prevented, corrected and/or mitigated

Marking & Grading

The Quality Mark Offer

Our Quality Marks allow organisations to achieve external recognition of their commitment to standards that lead them to offer high quality training activities. They allow delegates to choose training activities bearing the Quality Mark logos with confidence, safe in the knowledge that they have been well planned and externally quality assured.

MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awards Centre Agreement

Public information

Policy Statement

The purpose of this handbook is to ensure that information in the public domain about MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awarding Body s products and services is:

Appropriate
Accurate
Fair
Reasonable
Timely

Quality Assurance

The MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awards Quality team works with our Centres to develop their internal quality assurance systems to ensure compliance with both MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awards and Ofqual conditions. All MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awards policies and procedures, including guidance on quality assurance, are within the Centre Handbook in the Resource Bank.

Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations

Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to:

Explain how appropriate adjustments can be made to assessments for learners who have difficulties or disabilities that effect their ability to complete the proposed assessments
Explain how consideration can be given to learners who experience temporary events outside of their control that affect their performance in or ability to take an assessment
Ensure that the integrity of our qualifications and the skills, knowledge, understanding or competence being measured is not compromised

Reasonable Adjustments Application Form

Replacement Certificate Form

There is a fee payable to iLAP Awarding Body in advance for providing a replacement certificate. Please complete all information marked * and ensure that this form and the original certificate is returned to ILAP Awarding Body.

RPL and Credit Transfer Form

Credit Transfer allows for previously accredited achievement from within the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) to count towards another qualification, where it is allowed as an equivalency within the new qualification, or where the learner has already achieved unit(s) belonging to that qualification.

Sanctions

Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to:

Set out what actions we will take when issues of non-compliance arise at our recognised centres
Set out how we will enforce the terms of our centre agreement
Provide guidance about the meaning of sanctions and how to comply with them

Special Consideration Application Form

Standardisation

You must

Plan and undertake standardisation of internally set tasks and the outcomes of internal assessment
Contribute assessed material to MERCURIUS POLITICUS Awards standardisation activity

WhistleBlowing

Whistleblowing is a term used when an individual discloses information relating to malpractice or wrongdoing and/or the covering up of malpractice or wrongdoing.

This whistleblowing policy can be brought into effect should an individual become aware of information which they reasonably believe tends to show one or more of the following: