WELCOME
External Examiners
March 2015
1
Introduction to the
University and to
External Examining at
Keele
Dorothea Ross-Simpson
Head of Governance and Quality Assurance
2
Contents
1. Overview of the University and its main courses
2. Curriculum Structures
3. Progression Rules
4. Reassessment
5. Extenuation and Appeals
6. How to find out more about our Regulations
7. Role of External Examiners at Keele
3
8. Reporting Arrangements
Keele University: Brief Introduction
The University
 Established in 1949
 about 10.000 students, with around 80% undergraduate
Most undergraduates are full-time and 18-21
Student Experience
• Joint 1st for overall student satisfaction (93%) in the NSS
(with Bath and St Andrews) (when excluding small specialist
institutions)
4
2014 REF
• In the most recent REF, 97% of our research was classified as
world leading, or of international importance.
• World leading research impact in 10 disciplines
• No.1 for research impact in Health
• No.1 for research impact in History, Politics and Philosophy
• In 2012/13 Keele’s research grant income was £13.4 million,
which has seen year-on-year growth.
5
Overview of Main Undergraduate Courses
BA/BSc Dual Honours
Taken by roughly 1/3rd of undergraduates.
Over 40 “principal subjects” & well over 500 combinations.
Major/minor specialisation possible at point of entry.
BA/BSc Single Honours
Now 32 programmes and growing demand.
Often shared modules with Dual Honours subjects.
Many professional programmes such as Social Work,
Physiotherapy, Nursing/Midwifery
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Overview of Main Undergraduate Courses (cont.)
Integrated Masters (4 year undergraduate programme)
Example: MPharm (non-modular) and MGeoscience
Classified award
Medical degree MBChB (5 year non-modular undergraduate
programme )
Year 1 at Level 4, Year 2 at Level 5 and Years 3-5 at Level 6
Unclassified award
7
Overview of Main Undergraduate Courses (cont.)
Intercalated Degrees
Undergraduates may suspend their medical degree for a period
of 12 months to undertake either a Bachelors degree after Year
2 or Bachelors/Masters degree after Year 4
Foundation Year (various modular programmes at Level 3)
External Verifyer – slightly different role to other external
examiners
Outcome: progression to named Keele degree programmes
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A word on module size
Typically, at undergraduate level, modules are 15 credits
and occasionally 30 credits.
Some undergraduate courses in Health subjects also use
120- credit modules (Medicine, Pharmacy , Midwifery).
Postgraduate level, modules are typically made up of 15or 30-credit taught modules plus a single 60-credit
dissertation module.
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Undergraduate Electives
Many programmes offer the opportunity to take free
standing electives at every level of study.
Language electives most popular: this year, 377
enrolments on an elective module in one of 8 languages
from ab initio to post-A-Level.
International students whose first language isn’t English
are automatically allocated an ‘English Language for
Academic Purposes’ module
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Main Postgraduate Programmes
Taught MA/MSc courses
 over 80 programmes [including some free-standing PG
Certs/Diplomas], many with professional accreditation
Typically 60-credit dissertation
MRes Programmes
Often share taught modules (ie research methods) with
MA/MScs in Schools.
Typically 90-credit dissertation
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MA/MSc Programmes (Level 7)
Key regulations
Standard awards / awards “with Merit” / awards “with Distinction”.
Awards based on number of modules passed with a “Distinction”
grade [70+],“Merit” grade [60+] or a Pass [50-59].
No formal progression from taught modules to dissertation.
12
Undergraduate ‘New Degree Structure’
Applies to most dual and single honours programmes in Humanities and
Social Sciences, and to some Natural Science programmes. Not
applicable to Faculty of Health programmes
Students normally take:
Four 15-credit modules per semester, 120 credits per year at every
level of study
Depending on the subject(s), between 60-120 credits per year will
be compulsory The rest can be taken from subject-specific or
freestanding electives.
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Dual Honours Examples:
English (45 credits) + History (45 credits)
= min. 90 credits subject-specific (core and options) per year
Biology (60 credits) + Forensic Science (60 credits)
= 120 credits compulsory core per year
Single Honours Examples:
Business Economics Single Honours = 90 credits compulsory core
Biomedical Sciences = 120 credits compulsory core
14
Re-assessment of Failed Modules
• a student who has failed one or more core module within a course
is entitled to one reassessment opportunity with marks capped at
40% (undergraduate) and 50% (postgraduate).
• a student who has failed any elective module on two occasions
shall not be permitted to be re-assessed in that module but may be
offered the facility of pursuing one or more alternative elective
modules
15
Condonement and Compensation
(applies only to students currently at Level 4 and 5)
• Condonement: the University allows condonement of a total of 30
credits of marginal fails (defined as module marks between 30 and
38) (with no more than 15 credits of marginal fails at Level 4 and 5).
Where a module is condoned, the Fail Mark stands but credit is
awarded for the module.
• Mathematics and Physiotherapy: also a special ‘Compensation’
rule introduced in 2013.
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Considering Extenuating Circumstances (ECs)
Short Term Assignment Extensions
•
EC for extensions up to 10 days (UG) and 28 days (PGT) managed by School
•
Discipline EC Panels review the ECs and feed decisions into Subject Exam
Boards
•
Currently, students can ‘self-certify’ short term illness (under discussion)
Examinations Absence and Long Term Assignment Extensions:
•
Currently all examination absences have to be approved by SCEACE*
•
All assignment extensions of more than 10 days counting for 50% or greater
to a module mark also have to be approved by SCEACE
•
Schools feed SCEACE decisions into their Subject Exam Boards
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* Sub-Committee for Examination Absences and Coursework Extensions
Appeals
Following the publication of results, a student may appeal
against :
(i) the mark awarded for any unit of assessment;
(ii) the overall outcome of a programme of study;
(iii) failure at any stage of the programme of study;
(iv) the decision of Exam Boards.
Appeals may only be made on the following grounds:
(i) procedural irregularity in the conduct of the assessment;
(ii) extenuating circumstances, providing that these
circumstances were not known by the Board of Examiners at
the time it made its decision.
18
Programme Regulations (currently held locally)
• Where programmes deviate from the University’s Regulations,
there will be approved additional course regulations which may
cover issues such as:
◊ how the courses are structured;
◊ additional progression requirements;
◊ what students must do in order to complete a course;
◊ whether, in addition to the main award, the programme leads
to accreditation by a PSRB.
Schools are asked to provide external examiners
with copies of course regulations
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University Regulations

Full regulations at http://www.keele.ac.uk/regulations/
including:
Reg 1A
Modular Bachelors Degrees
Reg 1F
Integrated Masters Programmes
Reg 1G
MBChB
Reg 2A
Modular Postgraduate Courses
Reg 8
General Examination and Assessment
Regulation, including anonymous
marking, double marking, extenuating
circumstances, disclosure of marks
Reg 9
Boards of Examiners
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External Examining
at Keele
External Examining at Keele
• Is based on the UK Quality Code Chapter on External
Examining (B7)
• Is set out in the Keele Code of Practice on External Examining
(2012)
Before you attend an
Examination Board
• You will normally be asked to approve draft coursework and
examination questions .
• You will be asked to review a broad sample of assessed student work
including coursework and examination scripts (sample size discussed but
usually 10% including top, middle and bottom )
• Note: External examiners must not be involved with the raising and
lowering of individual marks within the sample. However, where there
is a concern over the appropriateness of marks in the sample, the
external examiner may recommend that the marks of the entire
cohort are reviewed. The final decision rests with the Board.
• The sample should provide you with evidence of the internal marking
process, including double and second marking.
• The sample should cover all locations (i.e. where a programme is offered
at Keele and/or overseas).
Attending Discipline Examination Boards
• Dates agreed early (normally at the start of the ac.year)
and notified to you, usually by the School Manager or
the Examination Officer.
• External Examiners are required to attend the main
Examination Board for the programme(s). Attendance is
compulsory where results contribute to final awards
(Level 5, 6 and 7). Exception: Resit Boards
• In exceptional circumstances, should an external
examiner be unable to attend a Board meeting, the
School has to follow a formal procedure confirming how
the examiner has been able to carry out their role
without attending the board.
Your Role
at the Discipline Examination Boards
• Ensure that board procedures are followed and that the
agreed results (module, progression and classification
recommendations) are robust and defensible.
• Note: Keele does not conduct vivas for borderline candidates.
• Provide verbal feedback to the Board at the end of
proceedings about: overall standards, examples of good
practice, comparability of standards, how the provision and
its assessment procedures might be enhanced.
• If satisfied with the process, sign off the course results sheet.
If you are unsure
• First point of contact: School Examinations Officer
• For regulatory advice: Head of Governance and Quality
Assurance
• For academic / standards questions: Faculty Chief External
Examiner
• Administrative matters: QA Office (Jayne Bradley)
All external examiners are entitled to write directly to the Vice
Chancellor to raise matters of concern.
In extreme cases: QAA Cause for Concern Scheme
Faculty Chief External Examiners
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr. Garry Crawford, University of Salford
External Examiner for Sociology
Contact: g.crawford@salford.ac.uk
• Faculty of Natural Sciences
Professor John Greenman, University of Hull
External Examiner for Biomedical Science
Contact: j.greenman@hull.ac.uk
The report template asks for confirmation:

whether the academic provision is in good health;

Whether the programmes and principal subjects are achieving
appropriate standards which compare well with other
institutions across the sector;

whether any issues you identified previously have been
addressed;

whether the enhancement of quality is being pursued and
achieved.
Submitting Your Report
• Deadline: normally one month after examination
board (but for u/g no later than 30 August)
• Report submission electronically to the QA office at:
externalexaminers@keele.ac.uk
• This triggers your annual fee and expenses to be paid
Who will read your report?
•
•
•
•
•
Vice-Chancellor /Deputy Vice Chancellor
Dean
Subject Team and Head of School
Faculty Learning and Teaching Committees
Faculty Chief External Examiner (undergraduate
reports only. Not in the Health Faculty)
• Quality Assurance Office
• Students
What happens then…
The School will:

Consider your report

Draft a response to you

Submit their draft response for approval to their
School Learning and Teaching Committee outlining
action taken / planned in response to your report

Send you their response
What happens then…
Faculty Learning and Teaching Committees will:
 Discuss external examiner findings across the Faculty
University Learning and Teaching Committee, Quality Assurance
Committee and Senate will:

Receive an overview report over pan-University issues
identified by external examiners (u/g and p/g)
Head of Governance and Quality Assurance or the Dean will:

Respond to you directly if you highlight an issue outside
the School’s remit
What happens then…
The University publishes your report, the School’s
response and institutional overview reports on its
intranet
Schools are asked to share your reports and their
response with students
External Examining Overview Report
2014
Recommendations:
1.
2.
3.
that the samples of assessed work sent to external examiners
show more clearly the process and outcomes of the
moderation undertaken in the School;
that clearer guidance is given to discipline examination boards
on the use of discretion in decision making regarding
borderline candidates;
that Schools consider how they can provide external examiners
with an opportunity to meet with students at least once during
their tenure.
Staying in Touch
•
School: find contact details in your appointment letter
•
Centrally: externalexaminers@keele.ac.uk
•
Key administrative contact:
• Jayne Bradley (fees, expenses, contracts)
Telephone 01782 733037
•
Jo Hewitt (external examiner reports)
Telephone 01782 733085