Access to Higher
Education
Quality & Moderation
Handbook
2015/16
Final Version 2 15/16
Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
Contents
Section
Title
Page
(click on link to go to
section)
Section 1
Introduction to external moderation
3
Section 2
Guidelines for Access moderation
4
Section 3
Access Diploma moderation
4
Section 4
The sampling of Access academic
standards
7
Section 5
10
Section 6
Retention of samples of student
achievement by centres
The final moderation report
Section 7
Access subject moderation
11
Section 8
LASER’s role in assuring the
quality of the external moderation
process
12
Appendix 1
Moderation Process
14
Appendix 2
Access Moderator annual checklist
15
Appendix 3
Access centre annual checklist
16
Appendix 4
Key quality and moderation
Documents
17
Appendix 5
Summary of the external
moderation process
18
2
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
1. Introduction to External Moderation
The purpose of moderation
Laser Awards is licensed as an Access Validating Agency (AVA) by the QAA. The requirements
of the licence with reference to moderation are summarised in Section D of the QAA Grading
Scheme Handbook. The moderation of LASER’s Diplomas therefore has the following
purposes:
a) to assure, through a process which is external to the providing centre, the consistency and
sufficiency of standards of student achievements leading to the award of credit and to the
award of Access to HE Diplomas according to the specifications set out by the QAA;
b) to ensure that equivalent standards and requirements for achievement apply on different
Access to HE courses which lead to Diplomas, within the AVA and across different student
cohorts
c) to ensure consistency in the award of credit and grades to learners and that learners are
receiving fair and equitable treatment;
d) to ensure that, where Access to HE Diplomas or common units are available on more than
one course, consistent standards are applied across providers/centres in relation to
assessment requirements and judgements about achievement (including graded
achievement)
e) to ensure that where Access to HE Diplomas or units are available in cognate subject areas
on different courses, opportunities are provided for those involved in Access to HE
assessment and moderation to define and compare specific standards of required
achievement for the award of credits and grades, and its moderation systems take account
of the outcomes of this process
f)
to monitor and report on assessment arrangements of approved programmes;
g) to be an ongoing and accessible source of critical advice for centres and their staff in order
to support the continuous improvement of AVA validated Access Diplomas;
h) to ensure Access Diplomas are delivered in accordance with the specifications agreed at the
Validation Panel;
i)
to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of the quality and fitness for purpose of
Access to HE Diplomas.
A summary of the AVA’s moderation processes may be seen in Appendix 1
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
2. Guidelines for Access Moderation
2.1 Outline of the approach to moderation and standardisation
The appointment of an individual moderator to each Access to HE Diploma offered at LASER
approved centres remains at the heart of our approach to assuring the quality of Access
courses. We are of the view that this one-to-one relationship ensures the best support for staff
and students in centres whilst enabling each moderator to develop a proper understanding of
the functioning of each Access course. However we have augmented this model by setting up
additional Subject Specialist examination of identified work which operates across all LASER
approved Access centres.
This twin approach of Access Diploma Moderation combined with Access Subject Specialist
Examination of student work underpins LASER’s quality assurance model for Access to HE.
2.2 Overview of the Access External Moderator’s role
Spring Term
Complete initial visit
(Jan / Feb and
complete and return
EMA1/2 Report (initial
visit sections) to
LASER. On-going
contact with course
team re: awards board
issues, remote
sampling of work
questions and queries,
representations and
referrals etc.
Autumn Term
Agree contract &
schedule, make initial
contact with course
team, and plan initial
visit.
Summer Term
Final moderation visit
and Final Awards
Board. Complete Final
sections of EMA1/ 2
Moderation Report and
return to LASER
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
2.3 Essential information for moderators to acquire before starting
moderation.
Moderators should familiarise themselves with the location of relevant AVA information on the
LASER Access web pages.
If there are any queries contact the LASER Access Customer Support team by either calling
01227 811827 or emailing e.milton@laser-awards.org.uk. The Access Moderation &
Standardisation Officer (Emma Milton) will be able to deal with most enquiries and will request a
response from other AVA staff if necessary.
For curriculum related and more detailed quality assurance issues please contact the Access
Quality Manager (Ken Duckett) at k.duckett@laser-awards.org.uk or call 07900 265802
3. Access Diploma Moderation
Main responsibilities
The key focus is on Access Diploma delivery and assessment and this is carried out by Access
Diploma External Moderators (EMs), appointed by LASER as the AVA, who check for
a.
b.
c.
d.
robust quality systems and processes,
consistent appropriate documentation and record keeping,
consistent and high quality assessment practice and
student satisfaction with the course experience.
Each Diploma offered by a centre is assigned an Access External Diploma Moderator (EM). As
a part of this process EMs will conduct two visits - an initial visit in the early part of the spring
term and a final moderation visit just prior to the Awards Board. EMs will select a sample of
portfolios at their final visit and provide specific feedback on any quality improvements required
during the year and also any recommendations or conditions for the following year. The EM is
also responsible for the sign-off of the Recommendation for the Award of Credit forms (RACs) at
the Final Awards Board.
Important documentation
The following documents in addition to this Moderation Handbook are provided by the AVA, and
should be reviewed by moderators before contacting a centre.
Policy and Guidance Documents

LASER Access Assessment Guidelines (aimed at Access Tutors)

LASER Access Diploma Framework 2014-15 (essential info about the 14-15 rules)

The QAA Access to Higher Education Diploma specification (2013)

QAA Access to HE Diploma 2013 specification FAQ (Version 2)

QAA AVA licensing criteria, 2011 (updated July 2014)

QAA Grading scheme handbook Section C: Using the grade descriptors in assessment
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16

QAA Grading scheme handbook Section D: Moderation and standardisation

QAA Grading scheme handbook Section E: Student results and awards boards
Documentation related to the Access Diplomas that you are moderating
The items listed below will be provided for you on appointment. Please contact Emma Milton in
the Access office if you require further copies.

Validation documentation relating to the specific Access to HE Diploma Course(s) being
moderated including;



Access Diploma Recognition Document
Rules of Combination
Unit list.

Copies of previous external moderator reports, which should be provided for you on
appointment if you are new. It is essential that if you are a new moderator, you have
familiarised yourself with the previous moderator reports for your centre.

Copies of Annual Centre Reports submitted by LASER approved providers of Access to
HE Diploma courses
Template documents for use in the role


Access External Moderation Report Proforma (EMA 1) template (available from the Access
downloads section on the website)
Access External Moderation Final Report/Risk Assessment (EMA 2) template (available
from the Access downloads section on the website)
3.1 Overview of moderation visits
The external moderator should contact the Access Co-ordinator at the Access provider centre to
arrange their initial visit as soon as they receive confirmation of their contract and the
information in 2.2 and 3 above.
Moderators can arrange for on-going contact between themselves and the Access centre via
phone, email, video online conferencing etc. as necessary. If an additional visit is required
before the Awards Board (Final Exam/Assessment Board), then a moderator MUST contact the
Access Moderation & Standardisation Officer for approval if additional expenses are to be
claimed.
The final visit must include attendance at the Awards Board (Final Exam/Assessment Board) for
the Access Diploma titles being moderated. These usually take place towards the end of the
course. This is a mandatory role for the moderator and is examined in more detail below. The
key information and evidence of the external moderation process is recorded within the Access
Moderation Report template (EMA1). This document provides a single template or proforma for
recording all information gained as a part of the external moderation process and has sections
which relate to both the initial visit and the final moderation visit and subsequent Awards Board.
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
3.2 The Initial Visit (Form EMA1 ‘Initial Visit Sections’)
It is expected that the first visit will normally take place in the first part of the second term of an
Access Course. However, this does not preclude EMs visiting earlier if it is appropriate to do so.
It should be noted though that a significant part of the first visit should be examination of both
completed (and graded) assessments and also the functioning of the Internal Moderation
system. It may be difficult to undertake this at an earlier point in the year. However, an earlier
visit might be appropriate if this was deemed necessary and sampling was possible or the
sampling could be undertaken remotely subsequent to the visit (but prior to the submission of
the Initial Visit Report).
The purpose of this initial visit will be to:
 Ensure that the programme is set to run as validated, and that any problems that may
prevent the confirmation of the award of credit/Access to HE Diploma are resolved before
the final external moderation/awards board visit.
 Check that recommendations from the previous external moderation report have been
addressed.
 Review the arrangements for internal verification / moderation and recording of
achievement and confirm that these are being implemented appropriately with reference
to sampled work.
 Provide guidance to the centre as to how to enhance the quality of their programme.
Authorisation of any special circumstances can take place at this visit (please see the AVA's
Access Assessment Policy). External moderators are not expected to confirm the award of any
credit at this stage or to gather information about learner retention. However, they should be
guided by the EMA 1 form and in particular the sections marked ‘Initial Visit’ in terms of the
information required.
 MODERATOR ACTION POINT – the initial moderation visit
An External Moderator Report (EMA1) must be completed after the first/initial visit.
The sections of this document which relate to the initial visit must be completed within 10
working days of the visit and emailed to the Access Moderation & Standardisation Officer.
The Moderation Visit Report and guidance notes can be found on the LASER Access
downloads page.
Where issues of concern are identified, which the tutor/provider can rectify before the
programme ends without detriment to the learners; the External Moderator should agree an
action plan for improvement with the programme tutor. A template for an Action Plan in relation
to any recommendations / conditions set is included in the Initial Visit Report and guidance
notes are provided. The external moderator will follow up on any actions identified on an ongoing basis.
If there are serious problems with a programme then the Initial Visit Report should identify the
nature of the problem and be sent to the AVA as soon as possible.
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
3.4 On-going contact with the centre
In support of the moderation process there could be a substantial amount of ongoing contact
between the centre and the external moderator. In some cases an external moderator may need
to make an additional visit but must contact the Access Quality & Moderation Officer at the AVA
before doing so.
 MODERATOR ACTION POINT – On-going contact with the course team
An external moderator will usually make other forms of contact with a centre between the
initial and final visits. Such contact may take the form of written/electronic requests for
specific information, telephone discussions etc. Programme leaders may wish to send
samples of learner achievement to an external moderator, or assignment/exam questions, in
addition to referrals and student representations to the external moderator for their approval.
3.5 The Access Awards Board (formerly known as Examination/Assessment Board)
Awards Board ‘in-year’
Each Access Diploma course has an ‘Awards Board’ which comes into existence as soon as the
course begins and culminates in the Final Awards Board as outlined below.
Membership of the Awards Board includes:




The external moderator
The internal moderator
The Access Coordinator/Manager at the centre
Access course tutors/lecturers
The Awards Board will not meet formally until the Final Awards Board towards the end of the
course but will have a virtual existence throughout the duration of the course. The Awards
Board will monitor and approve decisions in relation to referrals and representations1 made in
year by course teams. The external moderator‘s role is to act as the AVA’s representative and
on behalf of LASER is able to exercise a final veto of any actions that are deemed to be
incompatible with LASER/QAA rules and regulations. In the event that such a veto needs to be
used, please contact the LASER Access Quality Manager as matter of urgency. The relevant
Access course leader/co-ordinator is expected to retain copies of notes of decisions and related
emails etc. in relation to the ‘in-year‘ operation of the Awards Board.
Final Awards Board
Each Access centre is required to hold a Final Awards Board at the end of the course. This is
the meeting at which the award of the QAA Access to HE Diploma to learners is confirmed on
behalf of the AVA. It is the external moderator who acts on behalf of the AVA to confirm the
award of the Access to HE Diploma to students at this meeting.
1
See Grading scheme handbook Section C: Using the grade descriptors in assessment (4f and Annex C2)
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
 MODERATOR ACTION POINT – the Final Awards Board
The external moderator must therefore attend the final Access Awards Board. It is important
to agree the dates for the Final Awards Board at an early stage in the academic year with
your Access centre. It is AVA policy to hold only one Award Board per centre covering all of
the Diplomas offered wherever possible.
Centres must notify LASER of the dates of their Awards Board by the end of March (see
relevant LASER Circular for precise date each year). Awards Board Minutes must be sent to the
AVA as soon as possible after the meeting has taken place.
This must be a formally recorded meeting. LASER provides a standard agenda for Final Awards
Boards which must be used. Further guidance and templates are available from the LASER
Access downloads page
3.6 Conduct during visits
During a visit the external moderator will be meeting with tutors/course teams; and familiarising
themselves with the programme; sampling assessed work etc. With the permission of the centre
moderators may ask to meet learners. However please note that it is NOT part of the external
moderator’s required duties to observe teaching. An external moderator cannot insist on being
present during a teaching session although a tutor may invite her/him to attend.
An external moderator should try to arrange a visit when it is possible (if the centre has given
approval) to talk to the learners as well as the tutor. Where circumstances allow, at least some
time should be spent with learners without any tutor present or in immediate earshot.
Moderators should also look for evidence of the centre’s engagement with the students and
their opinions through student questionnaires and reviews.
Moderators are representatives of the AVA and should conduct themselves to the highest
standards of behaviour whilst on the premises of LASER approved centres.
4. The Sampling of Access Academic Standards
4.1 Context and Overview
The Centre is responsible for ensuring that a programme meets the quality standards and
academic standards agreed at the Validation Panel and in the rules of combination. External
moderators need to ascertain how and whether consistent standards are achieved. This is
particularly important where there are a number of different tutors involved in delivery.
Centres must have in place an internal moderation (IM) process which will ensure that there is a
consistency in the standards of achievement asked of students across the Diploma(s).
Moderators should specifically request details of the IM process and look to see that it has been
carried out properly and that adequate records have been kept.
4.2 When should sampling of student work take place?
The standard of work produced should usually be sampled once there is sufficient assessed
work available so that the moderator can be assured that the final award of the Diploma is
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
robust. Opportunities for unit standardisation will take place during the course of the year and it
is anticipated that reports from subject specialist examiners will be available for Diploma
moderators prior to their final inspection of work prior to the final Awards Board. Earlier sampling
at the initial visit stage should be used to support the process and centres may find this a useful
opportunity to discuss assessment and internal moderation issues with moderators.
Sampling might take place via a ‘virtual’ environment using an electronic forum, or by
posted/emailed copies of student work at this stage.
4.3 How should sampling be conducted?
It is important that the external moderator agrees with the responsible tutor what information
and samples of assessed work will be seen for moderation. If there are a number of different
tutors delivering the programme the external moderator may wish to meet the tutors during
his/her visits, or see the minutes of their internal team meetings.
The external moderator, not the tutor, specifies the student sample of assessed work that is to
be seen. A list of students on each course being moderated is sent by the AVA to moderators
prior to the final moderation visit. It is important that sufficient evidence is sampled for the
external moderator to feel confident about the consistent and valid award of credit.

If more than 50 learners are registered to receive credit for an individual Diploma title
then the minimum sample size is 20% (or 10 portfolios).

For programmes that register fewer than 50 learners it is usually necessary to sample at
least 5 portfolios.
A basic formula that many external moderators use for selecting the range of portfolios within a
sample is an example of achievement at each level (top, middle, lowest of the range) plus any
problems or borderline cases. In order to select a sample it is necessary for the tutor’s records
of assessment to be available so that moderators are able to see learners’ provisional grade
profiles.
The sample moderated should:
 include sufficient evidence to ensure that the learning outcomes are demonstrably
achieved by learners gaining credit;
 ensure that assessment criteria at different levels are applied appropriately and
consistently;
 ensure that different methods of assessment are applied appropriately and consistently;
 ensure that assessment criteria are interpreted consistently in ‘borderline’ cases;
 ensure different tutors are applying assessment criteria consistently;
 ensure that grading decisions are made consistently
The sample of evidence of assessed work will therefore include, as appropriate:





examples of work assessed by different tutors;
examples of different methods of assessment;
examples of all the different levels of achievement;
a range of learners across ability levels and different grades;
all ‘borderline’ cases.
4.4 Grading: The Moderator’s role
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
Access external moderators also play a role in assuring the quality and consistency of grading
decisions made by tutors in relation to Access student achievement.
In general, moderators should look at grade decisions made for Units and assure themselves
that a proper grading process was undertaken and that tutors decisions across the Diploma(s)
they are moderating, are consistent in accordance with the QAA grading Scheme Handbook.
In particular this will mean that moderators should look at:






Assessment plans for units (although this maybe in the context of an overall Diploma
Assessment plan)
Student assignment briefs prepared by the centre
Evidence of internal moderation which covers grading decisions
Samples of marked student work showing the grade indicators awarded by the assessor
Individual student grade profiles and class tracking sheets which show how the unit
grades were arrived at
Grading decisions agreeing the grades awarded and the credit level achieved at the final
Awards Board
Supporting Information on grading
Please see the LASER Access Assessment & Grading web page for available downloads
4.5 What happens if the moderator does not agree with the centre’s
marking?
If the external moderator does not agree with the recommendations for the award of credit
within the sample then a further 10% random sample must be selected (or at least 2 samples of
the contested assignment for smaller courses). When a second sample is taken by the external
moderator, and whatever the outcome of a second sample, the reason(s) for taking an
additional sample and for the decision reached must be recorded and fed into the internal
quality process and reported to LASER by the external moderator (usually via the final External
Moderation Report)
Following the second sample the following action(s) may be appropriate:
 assessed levels/credits/grades are agreed;
 assessed levels/credits/grades are adjusted at the request of the External Moderator
 recommendations are made to improve the assessment/internal verification processes;
 Where agreement cannot be reached the award of credit is not approved by the external
moderator and the matter is urgently referred to LASER as a ‘Moderation Problem’
4.6 Some Important Points to Remember

All learning outcomes in the unit must be achieved for the credit to be awarded.

All assessment criteria in the unit must be met for the credit to be awarded.

Learning outcomes must be achieved to the standard described by the assessment criteria.
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16

The evidence presented to the external moderator must demonstrate achievement of all
learning outcomes in all units for which credit is being claimed.

The assessed work must provide reliable evidence of achievement in line with the Grading
Descriptor Components allocated within the assignment brief.
 MODERATOR ACTION POINT – the final moderation visit
The moderator should agree a final moderation visit date which would normally be in the
morning of and prior to the Final Awards Board. Centres are required to confirm the dates of
their Final Awards Boards with LASER by the end of March in an academic year and
moderators must ensure that they have liaised with centres to agree these dates prior to
LASER being notified. Sampling of some assessed student work could have taken place
remotely via email etc. prior to the final visit.
5. Retention of samples of student achievement by
Centres
Moderators should ensure that centres retain a representative sample of learner achievement
for each run of each Access Qualification Award per year. These samples will be retained for a
period of 3 years to enable the monitoring of standards over time, centres and Diploma titles.
Providers must retain one whole student portfolio of assessed evidence per Access Diploma
title per year. Where retention of the assessed portfolio is impractical, e.g. for Art and Design
courses, suitable photographic or equivalent records should be retained.
The portfolio, either as a photocopy of originals or in electronic format must clearly:

show marking with the level of achievement clearly indicated. Where the achievement is
other than written or paper based evidence (e.g. audio/visual, photographic evidence),
there must be a clearly labelled tutor assessment or recording sheet of some kind to
indicate the Level and where relevant, grade achieved.

be representative of the overall type of assessment used on the programme.

be the final summative evidence and must be clearly mapped to the unit offered within
the Access Diploma.

must be accompanied by evidence of internal moderation relating to the representative
portfolios. In most cases this will be an LASER Internal Moderation Report or a centre’s
own paperwork records for internal standardisation which directly relates to the relevant
Diploma.
6. The Final Moderation Report (Form EMA2)
The final moderation report must be made on the most recent version of the LASER Access to
HE Final Moderation Report template EMA1/2 (available from the LASER Access download
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Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
web pages). This report template contains guidelines for its completion, and Moderators will be
notified, via an email or a Briefing sheet, if a new version is available. In effect the EM will be
updating the version of the form which they completed at their initial visit (EMA1). They will be
asked to complete information in relation to retention and achievement alongside a
consideration of key areas such as organization, administration and course management;
assessment practice and internal moderation. They will also be asked to refer to any
recommendations and conditions set at the previous visit and feedback on the progress made in
relation to these. Finally, EMs will be asked to provide a numerical score for the centre in
relation to key aspects of centre practice (on the EMA 2). This may be shared with the centre
but this is not a requirement. The information is used as part of an on-going research project
the AVA is running in relation to identification of factors underpinning centres which exceed the
QAA ABB+ benchmark upper tolerance.
It is always worth remembering at all stages of the external moderation process that at the end
of the year the External Moderator will need to be able to respond to each of the headings in the
EMA 1/2 and the visits should be seen as a means to gather the evidence required. Obviously
the focus of the visits varies as Initial visits also provide the ideal opportunity to meet with
learners to find out if they have any concerns whilst the final moderation visit will be more
focussed upon sampling. Nevertheless the QAA requires that the EM processes have as their
focus the key requirements of moderation as outline in the QAA perceptual framework 5.5. (a-l)..
 MODERATOR ACTION POINT – the final moderation visit
The final updated external moderation report should be submitted to the AVA as an email
attachment as soon as is reasonably possible after the Awards Board has been completed.
The document is an update of information provided at the initial visit and as such should
address all the information required at final visit . The report should be submitted to the AVA
no later than July 31st, i.e. the end of the academic year in which the course ran. Where
Access courses are run outside the traditional academic year, the report should be
submitted to the AVA within 4 weeks of the Awards Board taking place. Send the emails to
e.milton@laser-awards.org.uk
7. Access Subject Specialist Examination
The key focus is to:
a. develop standardisation materials and processes
b. enhance the accuracy of assessment and grading decisions
c. support assessors via shared curriculum and assessment expertise.
Samples of student assignments, with a particular focus on common units, have been identified
and requested from centres’. These assessments / assignments will be anonymized and
LASER Subject Specialist Examiners will then evaluate the samples focussing on both the
assessment design and the quality of assessment decisions. Their evaluations will be posted as
commentaries together with the exemplars, onto the secure area of LASER’s website and
feedback will be provided to centres as necessary / appropriate.
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During the year there will be physical standardisation meetings which will run concurrently with
the Access Practitioner Group meetings in the Spring term, where tutors will be invited to attend
to share good practice within and across subject areas. Colleagues from Access centres will
participate in the consensus moderation process and commentary from this will be available as
a common resource via the secure area of the LASER website.
8. LASER’s role in assuring the quality of the external
moderation process
8.1 Moderation Standardisation
The AVA provides, induction and refresher moderator up-date training to enhance the
consistency of moderation practice and in turn assessment practice across its diplomas.
8.2 Monitoring of Access Moderation Reports and Moderators
The AVA compiles an annual overall Access Moderation Report which identifies key issues and
actions which will be presented to the Access to HE Quality & Development Committee for
approval and subsequent implementation.
Access Moderation reports will be copied to the Access Quality Manager and to each LASER
officer with responsibility for individual LASER Access centres for follow up any
recommendations and conditions identified in the report. The Access Quality Manager will
provide further support and guidance to centres where appropriate.
The LASER Access Quality & Moderation Officer keeps a tracking system to include; the receipt
of moderation reports, providers’ and responses to moderation reports.
The Access Quality Manager will also provide feedback to moderators on an annual basis in
relation to the reports they have submitted. Where an individual moderator’s work falls short of
the required Access moderation standards then the Access Quality Manager initially seeks to
work with the moderator to provide support (where appropriate) and should this not be
successful or should the issues be too serious then he will prepare a report for the Access to HE
Quality & Development Committee with a recommendation to suspend or terminate the contract
for that moderator. The potential for the contract to be ended under these conditions is set out
within the moderator contract.
8.3 Moderator Clusters
Where a centre has more than one external moderator appointed by the AVA, each moderator
will be supplied with the contact details of the other moderators.
8.4 Procedures re sanctions and withdrawal of approval from centres
In the event of non-compliance by a centre with the external quality assurance procedures of
the AVA (including external moderation, centre approval, non-payment of fees or actions which
undermine the integrity of the award of Access to HE Diplomas), the Access to HE Quality and
Development Committee shall have the right to:



Notify the centre of the intention to suspend approval unless remedial action is taken
Temporarily suspend approval until remedial action is taken
Permanently remove approval
14
Appendix 1
LASER Moderation Process
Diploma moderation
Internal
Verification of Diploma
Delivery of the Diploma
matches the validated
document.
Assessment process
conforms to AVA
requirements
The internal moderator for the Access Diploma:

approves delivery and assessment
plans and assignment documentation.

validates the recording of results.
Standardisation
Portfolios reach the standards of
the award (learning outcomes
are achieved and grading
decisions are appropriate)
The internal moderator for the Access Diploma:

samples work from each student and
each unit, to ensure that standards of
decisions and feedback are consistent
and appropriate.


External
Outputs
The external moderator for the Access
Diploma:

checks the processes for internal
verification of delivery and assessment
of the Diploma via inspection of
documentation and discussion with
students and staff

validates the award of credit, award of
the Diploma and the grade profiles.
External

External moderator writes Final
Moderation Report; copy to Access
centre and to AVA.
The external moderator checks portfolio
evidence for the award
Internal

Centre retains at least one copy of a
completed student portfolio, per Diploma
per year to allow comparison of
standards over time.


Subject moderation
Internal
External
Verification of units
Assignment documentation will
produce assessment that is valid
Internal moderator approves assignments to be
used by subject assessors.
Electronic sampling of assessment plans and
assignment briefs are approved by a subject
moderator via the subject clusters.
Standardisation of units
Marking of unit assignments is
reliable (fair, accurate and
consistent)
Second marking of unit assignments by centre
assessors via systematic sampling to confirm
consistency and accuracy in the assessment of
evidence for the award of credit and indication of
grades.
Electronic sampling of marked assignments
by a subject moderator; commentary written
by a subject moderator via the subject
clusters. Physical standardisation meetings
for subject clusters on the basis of annual
rotation
AVA produces final summary report on
all Final Moderation Reports across all
Access centres. Copy to QAA and copy
to all centres.
Centre responds to Final Moderation
Report for next year’s cycle (or sooner if
required)
Outputs
External
Exemplars uploaded to secure area on
LASER web site:

Assignment briefs

Assignment feedback to students

Marked completed assignments with a
range of grade indicators
Internal
Retained at the centre:

Internal moderation reports and copies
of second marked assignments

Bank of assignment briefs
Final Version 2 15/16
Appendix 2
Access Moderator Annual Checklist
When2
What
Sept –
Dec
Receive contract and
schedule information
Sept –
Dec
Contact centre(s) and
arrange first visit
Arrange initial and
subsequent visit
dates. Inform AVA
of date(s)
Jan - Feb
First Visit
Complete Initial Visit and
agree in year action
plan/points as required
Send completed
Initial Visit Report
to Access Quality &
Moderation Officer
at AVA
Jan –
May
Ongoing contact with
centre by email etc. as
required
Agree Awards
Board and second
visit date plus your
requirements for
that day…
Participate in
administration of
representations and
referrals
June –
July
Second visit & Access
Awards Board
July –
August
Write moderation report
and submit travel
claim/fee invoice
Sample evidence,
attend awards
board and sign
RACs
Send completed
report and invoice
to AVA via email
August
LASER payment for
moderation activity
Key
Action/Outcome
sign and return
copy of contract
and schedule(s) to
AVA
Date Achieved
Payment received!
2
This checklist assumes September to July start and end dates, for courses with other start dates adjust the
timescales accordingly.
Final Version 2 15/16
Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
Appendix 3
Access Centre Annual Quality & Moderation Checklist
When3
Sept –
Dec
What
Receive notification of
appointed moderators
from AVA
Key Action/Outcome
Contact moderator to
arrange visit if you have
not heard from him/her by
mid to late November
Sept –
Dec
Liaise with moderator to
provide information as
required
Initial Visit takes place
Identify point of contact for
moderator
Sept March
Date Achieved
Agree action plan as
appropriate with EM and
date for Awards Board
Agree awards board date
with Centre and notify AVA
of Awards Board date.
Jan – May
Ongoing contact with
EM by email etc. as
required
Send any queries to EM as
necessary (e.g. special
arrangements for
individual students,
referrals, representations
etc.)
June –
July
Awards Board takes
place
Use AVA
procedures/agendas etc
and submit formal notes of
meeting to AVA ASAP
Send completed RACs to
AVA
July –
August
Receive Diploma
certificates from AVA
Distribute certificates to
students and inform HEIs
of successful students
Complete Annual Report Submit Annual Report to
for AVA
AVA
August Complete Survey
September Monkey ‘Response to
Moderation Survey’
Complete ‘Response to
Moderation Survey’
3
This checklist assumes September to July start and end dates, for courses with other start dates adjust the
timescales accordingly.
17
Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
Appendix 4
Key Access Quality & Moderation Documents
All of these documents can be downloaded from our Access Moderation web pages at:
Title of Document
Guidance on Internal
Moderation
Access Moderation
Report (EMA1)
Access)
Access Final
Moderation Risk
Assessment Template
(EMA2)
Access Moderation
Report Guidelines
Access Moderation
Claim Form (EMA3)
Access Awards Board
Guidelines & Agenda
Provider Response to
Moderation Survey
(via
SurveyMonkey.com)
Quality in Access
Assessment
Guidelines
Access Moderator
Appointment
Guidelines
Access
Representation Form
(AQ7)
Access Student (InYear) Referral (AQ8)
Description
Detailed definitions and guidelines on how to
conduct an internal moderation process
Template for recording information from the first
and final visits and key information in respect of
the Awards Board. This forms an on-going
record of annual external moderation activities
This form should be completed at the conclusion
of both the initial and final moderation visits. It is
an on-going document which attributes a score in
respect of key areas of practice. It may be
shared with centres but this is not a requirement
as it is in effect an internal record of EM
judgements in respect of centre activitiesGuidelines for EMs in relation to all aspects of
the EMA reporting process
Claim form for sending to AVA to claim travel and
expenses
Regulations on how to conduct the awards board
A survey for centres offering Access courses to
comment on the AVA, indicate whether they are
able to respond to the moderation report and to
give feedback on the moderation process
A statement of the principles of, and a guide to
the best practice in, assessment as
recommended by the AVA
Details of how LASER appoints new moderators,
fees payable etc.
Details the key factors necessary to record in
terms of Representations made in line with QAA
Regulations
Details the key factors necessary to record in
terms of ‘in-year’ referrals.
Access Report of
Details the key processes which must be
Suspected Malpractice adhered to in reporting occurences of academic
(AQ9)
malpractice (e.g. plagiarism)
Access Student
Appeal / Complaint
Form (AQ10)
Details the protocols to follow in the case of
students wishing to make a formal complaint or
appeal.
18
Access Quality & Moderation Handbook 15/16
Appendix 5: SUMMARY OF THE EXTERNAL MODERATION PROCESS
Confirmed by
LASER Access
Quality &
Development
Committee
Checks on Internal
Moderation
Evidence


External moderator
appointment process
undertaken by LASER
relevant paperwork sent out

External moderator Contract
& Schedule returned by
External moderator to
LASER

External moderator
Appointed by LASER

Providing Centre notifies
LASER that course is
running

LASER notifies External
moderator that course is
running

External moderator contacts
centre to initiate the
moderation process

First and further Moderation
visits and contact takes place
as specified in Moderation
Schedule


As required receives
External moderator
induction training from
LASER
Completes Initial Visit
Sections of Report
(EMA1)
Alerts LASER if urgent
issues arise

Final Visit to Access Awards
Board
Final Version of
Moderation Report
sent to head of
provider organisation


External moderator confirms
the award the Access
Diploma & countersigns RAC
Form

Final Moderation Report
(EMA1/2) sent to LASER for
approval with Claim for Fee
Form (EMA3) & coversheet

LASER pays External
moderator Fee

External Moderator invited to
attend (with payment) a
follow up Moderation
Standardisation Meeting
19

This is subject to
Moderation Report
meeting the specified
criteria