Use of Language and
Bilingual Assessment
Policy
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
Contents
Document Change History
2
Scope
3
Definition
4
Regulatory requirements
5
Principles, process and scenarios
6
Outcome
8
Appeal
8
Continuous Improvement
9
Document Change History
As part of an ILM branding review the appearance of this policy was amended in May
2016. The content of this policy shall be subject to a three year review cycle or as
necessary as outlined under continuous improvement.
2 of 10
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
Scope
ILM is the UK’s leading provider of leadership, management and coaching
qualifications, and a City & Guilds Group Business. ILM offers a specialist suite of
qualifications ranging from Level 2 to Level 7, which are awarded by The City and
Guilds of London Institute. ILM also specialise in assessment, learning content, and
the accreditation of high quality training in the fields of leadership, management and
coaching.
This policy applies to prospective and existing ILM Centres and ILM Providers
offering ILM qualifications, endorsed programmes and other non-regulated products
who are looking to use a language other than English, Welsh or Irish.
This ILM policy provides:
•
•
The requirements that you must meet to work with ILM the requirements
An example of how you might develop and structure your own policy statement.
This policy supersedes and replaces the ILM Use of Language Policy Version
January 2012.
3 of 10
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
Definitions
A learner taking an ILM qualification or programme may be taught and/or assessed
in a local language where it is to support a role in the workplace, providing that
proficiency in another language is not required for the role. This allows you to give
your learners a fair and equal chance of demonstrating their knowledge, skills and
understanding to achieve the assessment standards.
In particular, the Welsh language Act 1993 established the principle that in the conduct
of public business in Wales, the English and Welsh languages should be treated on a
basis of equality. ILM applies the same principle to the Irish language.
ILM supports the delivery and/or assessment in a language other than English, Welsh
or Irish and this is subject to a supplementary approval process to ensure full compliance
with both the Regulatory and ILM requirements.
An ILM Centre or Provider is not able to assess in a language other than English, without
the prior written consent from ILM. This written consent will be provided within the
approval letter.
4 of 10
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
Regulatory requirements
As a City & Guilds Group Business, ILM must demonstrate to the external
Regulators:
(a) That a learner taking a qualification may be assessed in any other language
where it is one of the primary objectives of the qualification to support a role in
the workplace, providing that proficiency in English is not required for the role
(b) That a learner assessed in a different language has met the same requirements
as those learners assessed in English
(c) That the language of the assessment is clearly identifiable on the certificate.
For non-regulated provisions ILM applies the same standards.
In order to meet these requirements and to uphold the ILM standard, customers are
required, prior to submitting for Qualification or Programme Approval to work with
their local business development manager to consider the following principles, and
ensure that they can meet and evidence each statement.
5 of 10
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
Principles, process and scenarios
Principles
Customers seeking to deliver and/or assess ILM programmes or qualifications in a
language other than English, Welsh or Irish must be able to meet and evidence the
following principles before seeking approval –
(a) Internal Policy: to have in place an internal policy on the use of language
that includes arrangements for bilingual assessment and translation
arrangements
(b) Demand: to evidence to the ILM Business Development Manager (BDM)
the additional registrations that will be purchased if bilingual assessment
is offered. (The BDM must agree the rationale to ensure that the time and
cost of building bespoke products on the system is viable). (In some cases
the product may have already been built for another customer and this will
be confirmed at the pre-approval discussion with the Business
Development manager)
(c) Bilingual External Verifiers: Where relevant, to commit to working with ILM
and/or the local in-country office to identify prospective bilingual external
verifiers. Subject to the usual recruitment, selection and assessment
criteria, ILM will appoint a minimum of two ILM approved bilingual external
verifiers in the relevant language with English as the other language (the
conflict of interest policy would also apply to ensure the integrity of the
EQA process). Should bilingual external verifiers not be appointed then the
customer’s bilingual provision will not be approved
(d) Bilingual Internal Verifier: to have in place an appointed bilingual
internal verifier with English as the other language, who can oversee the
bilingual provision and ensure that the ILM standard is maintained
(e) Application: with the exception of personal CVs, to submit the ILM
approval documentation and associated policies, processes and
documentation in English. ILM will only review approval
applications that are submitted in English. Thereafter schemes of work,
session plans, and learning materials can be provided in another
language subject to independent internal review to ensure that the
technical content of the assessment task and assessments have been
translated (and reverse translated) accurately and to ensure a consistent
level of demand for learners comparable to that offered in English
(f) Marketing and Support Materials: to submit any ILM owned materials that
have been translated from English into a local language, to ILM for
approval prior to use. This includes any translations of ILM Qualification
specifications, ILM brochures, and ILM documentation. The ILM team
will check that the ‘look and feel’ of the translated materials is still ‘on
brand’
(g) Translation arrangement: to demonstrate that there are sufficient funds to
meet any translation requirements of the qualification or programme. For
example:
i. On request, supply to ILM samples of translated leaner’s
assessment and/or course materials in English for ILM product
standardisation activities. The customer must cover the cost of
this requirement
ii. In the event of an appeal, incident or investigation, supply to
6 of 10
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
ILM the translated learner’s assessment and/or course
materials in English, for ILM to undertake the review process.
The customer must cover the cost of this requirement
iii. On request, supply to ILM samples of translated leaner’s
assessment and/or course materials in English for ILM internal
audit activities. The customer must cover the cost of this
requirement.
The Approval Stage
Once the Business Development Manager has accepted the rationale for
additional product builds, the ILM approval forms and associated documents
must be completed in English and submitted to the Quality and Compliance
Manager (QCM). It must be clearly stated on the approval application form if
assessment is to be conducted in a language other than English.
Thereafter schemes of work, session plans, and learning materials can be
provided in another language subject to the bilingual internal verifier ensuring
that the that the technical content of the assessment task and assessments has
been translated (and reverse translated) accurately. The internal verifier holds
this accountability.
The personal CVs for Trainers, Assessors and Internal Verifiers who are involved
in the delivery of the programme can be supplied in a language other than
English, Welsh or Irish, if approved, by the bilingual internal verifier.
The External Quality Assurance process
The bilingual external verifier will monitor the Centre in accordance with the ILM
External Quality Assurance Policy using the local language. However the
external verifier report will be completed in English.
The external verifier will always cover a sample which is higher than ILM’s
minimum sample. They will always cover all special cases and borderline marks
to ensure quality is being maintained.
In the event of the external verifier escalating the sample to ILM for second
review, the customer must be prepared to translate the learners’ work into
English.
Certification
Certificates will be provided by ILM in English only but the certificate will carry a
strapline that states the language used for assessment.
The Standardisation Process
Bilingual external verifiers will be required to participate in ILM standardisation
events to ensure a consistent approach to safeguarding the ILM Standard.
7 of 10
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
Outcome
The Quality and Compliance Manager will confirm in writing any arrangement for
bilingual assessment. Any ILM learner taught and/or assessed in a language
other than English, Welsh or Irish will have this clearly stated on their QCF
qualification certificate or ILM Endorsed certificate. The External Verifier will
confirm this requirement when signing off the results that confirms that the
learner is ready for certification.
ILM Certificates are in English.
Appeal
If you want to appeal against a decline of a request for use of language that is not
English, please refer to the Appeals Policy.
8 of 10
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
Continuous Improvement
Quality and Compliance Managers review all requests for the use of a language other
than English. The ILM Quality and Regulatory Group monitor this policy and any
associated feedback and ensure that the ILM Standard is maintained to ensure our
qualifications and programmes are accessible to all whilst maintaining quality in
implementation.
This policy shall be the subject of a three year review cycle or as necessary.
9 of 10
V March 2014
ILM Use of Language and Bilingual Assessment Policy
Copyright
ILM is a City & Guilds Group business.
This content in this document is copyright © The City and Guilds of London Institute
[2016].
The content in this document, may not be copied, reproduced or distributed without
the prior written consent of The City and Guilds of London Institute, except that:
1. candidates studying for an ILM or City & Guilds qualification may photocopy
this document free of charge, for the purposes of personal study, when
working towards an ILM or City & Guilds qualification
2. approved City & Guilds and/or ILM centres and providers may include a PDF
version of this document on their internal intranets, provided that centre staff
may only make copies of the document for the purpose of teaching candidates
working towards an ILM branded or City & Guilds qualification
The Standard Copying Conditions also apply and can be found on The City and
Guilds of London Institute website http://www.cityandguilds.com/help/copyright
ILM
1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD
T +44 (0) 1543 266867
customer@i-l-m.com
www.i-l-m.com
10 of 10
V March 2014