Diploma exam and assessment policies in Brighton and Hove 14-19 Learning
Partnership
Date generated: 9th September 2011
Version: 2011-2012 academic year for Diploma cohorts September 2011-July 2013
Contents

Policy introduction

Policy scope

Consortium authority and policy implementation

Consortium timescales and deadlines

Consortium exam and assessment policies
1
1 Policy introduction
This consortium exam policy covers many management functions that will affect learners’ progress in Diploma achievements. In order for
all staff to understand and participate effectively, we have designated exam-related policies to be common across the consortium. We
have also indicated within this document areas where policies are delegated to centres – often with guidelines on what those policies
should cover and how they should operate.
An up-to-date copy of the consortium policy is available at Brighton and Hove 14-19 Learning Partnership website.
It is the responsibility of everyone involved in the consortium exam processes to read, understand and implement this policy.
2 Policy scope
This section describes the scope of the policy in terms of centres, lines of learning and timescale.
2.1 Details of centres
This policy covers the following centres:
Centre
Type
Centre number
Alternative Centre for Education
11–16
56175
Blatchington Mill
11–18
56805
Brighton Aldridge Community Academy
11–18
56140
Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College
Sixth form college
56120
Cardinal Newman
11–18
56810
City College Brighton
Further education
56130
2
college
Cedar Centre
11–16
56205
Dorothy Stringer
11–16
56135
Downs Park Special School
11–16
56834
Downs View Link College
Sixth form college
65535
Hillside Special School
11–16
56804
Hove Park
11–18
56830
Longhill
11–16
56150
Patcham High
11–16
56165
Patcham House School
11–16
56170
Plumpton College
Further education
college
56475
Portslade Aldridge Community Academy
11–18
56835
Varndean College
Sixth form college
56215
Varndean School
11–16
56210
3
2.2 Lines of learning covered by this policy
This policy covers the following Diploma lines of learning at the levels indicated at the following centres:
Diploma line of learning
Level
Lead centre
Hair and Beauty
Higher
City College Brighton
Society, health and development
Higher
Cardinal Newman
2.3 Duration of this policy
This exam policy is effective from September 2011.
This exam policy will be reviewed in July 2012.
3 Policy maintenance
3.1 Policy implementation
The overall authority for implementing this policy rests with:
Centre
Name
Position
Telephone
Email
Not applicable
Lindi Galloway
14-19 Development Consultant
01273 294925
lindi.galloway@brighton-hove.gov.uk
3.2 Policy maintenance
The overall authority for maintaining and amending this policy rests with:
Centre
Name
Position
Telephone
Email
Consortium-wide
Lindi Galloway
14-19 Development Consultant
01273 294925
lindi.galloway@brighton-hove.gov.uk
4
3.3 Authorities within centres
The individuals responsible for policy matters, by centre, are (the curriculum deputies):
Centre
Name
Position
Telephone
Email
Alternative Centre for
Education
Simon
Dawson
Deputy Head
01273 604472
Simon.Dawson@ace.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Blatchington Mill
Ruth King
Deputy Head
01273 736 244
ex 226
rking@blatchingtonmill.org.uk
Brighton Aldridge
Community Academy
Michael
Brett
Vice Principal Teaching
Learning and Experiences
01273 691191
Michael.Brett@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Brighton Hove and Sussex
Sixth Form College
Sally
Bromley
Assistant Principal
01273 552200
s.bromley@bhasvic.ac.uk
Cardinal Newman
James
Kilmartin
Deputy Head
01273 558551
j.kilmartin@cncs.co.uk
City College Brighton
Rebecca
Conroy
14-19 Partnerships and
Provision Manager
667788 ex 368
RC1@ccb.ac.uk
Cedar Centre
Tony
Hammick
Deputy Head
01273 558622
tony.hammick@cedarcentre.brightonhove.sch.uk
Dorothy Stringer
Richard
Baker
Deputy Head
01273 508778
TBC
rb@stringer.brighton-hove.sch.uk
TBC
Downs Park Special School
Hazel Grice
Deputy Head
01273
417448
hazel.grice@downspark.brightonhove.sch.uk
Downs View Link College
Lalli Howell
Deputy Head
01273 507719
lalli.howell@downsview.brightonhove.sch.uk
5
Hillside Special School
Pippa
Hughes
Deputy Head
01273 416979
pippa_hillside@hotmail.co.uk
Hove Park
Ken
Leonard
Deputy Head
01273 294969
kleonard@hovepark.org.uk
Longhill High
Allan Duffy
Assistant Head
01273 304086
aduffy@longhill.org.uk
Patcham High
Mike
Newman
Deputy Head
01273 543483
mnewman@patchamhigh.org.uk
Patcham House School
Louise Cook
Deputy Head
01273 551028
louise.cook@patchamhouse.brightonhove.sch.uk
Plumpton College
Maurice
Shorten
14-19 Diploma Co-ordinator
01273 890454
Maurice.shorten@plumpton.ac.uk
Portslade Community
College
Johnie
Davies
Assist Principal
01273 410711
TBC
j.davies@pcc-web.com
TBC
Varndean College
Simon Hinks Curriculum Director
01273 508011
sjh@varndean.ac.uk
Varndean School
Gareth
Hughes
01273 561281
garethhughes@varndean.co.uk
Deputy Head
Except where specified in a specific policy section, these individuals are responsible for implementation of the policy within their centre.
6
3.4 Responsibilities for lines of learning
The individuals responsible for policy matters, by line of learning are (the domain assessors):
Line of learning
Centre
Name
Position
Telephone
Email
Business
Administration and
Finance
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Matt Peake
Domain
assessor
01273
552200
Ext.237
m.peake@bhasvic.ac.uk
Construction and the
built environment
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Tom Dowds
Domain
assessor
01273
667788 ex
548
tjd@ccb.ac.uk
Creative and media
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Jacqui Fawcett
and Rebecca
Ewbank
Shared
Domain
assessor
01273
736244 Extn
TBC@blatchingtonmill.org.uk
Engineering
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Gary Humphrey
NEW Name req
Domain
assessor
01273
667788 ex
479
gdh@ccb.ac.uk
Hair and beauty
studies
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Melanie Jane
Dove
Domain
assessor
(Beauty
units)
01273
667788 ex
564
MJD2@ccb.ac.uk
Hair and beauty
studies
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Martin White
Domain
assessor
(Hair units)
required
MXW@ccb.ac.uk
7
Hospitality
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Michael Buckman
Domain
assessor
01273
667747
MB4@ccb.ac.uk
Information
technology
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Darren Kelly
Domain
assessor
01273
736244
dkelly@blatchingtonmill.org.uk
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Gary Humphrey
NEW Name req
Joint Domain
assessor
01273
667788 ex
479
gdh@ccb.ac.uk
Public Service
(from 2011)
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Barbara Holroyd
Domain
assessor
01273
508011
bah@varndean.ac.uk
Retail Business
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Barbara Walman
Domain
assessor
01273
558551 ex
233
barb_walman@hotmail.com
Society, health and
development
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Anne Antonio
Domain
assessor
01273
558551 ex
321
Anne.antonio@newman.brightonhove.sch.uk
Sport and active
leisure
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Paul Watson
Domain
assessor
01273
852222
paul.watson@dorothy-stringer.co.uk
Travel and tourism
Brighton and Hove
14-19 Learning
Partnership
Mark Halliwell
Domain
assessor
Data required
mrh@varndean.ac.uk
Manufacturing
(from 2011)
8
All queries about policies or their implementation should be referred to centre or domain assessor representatives as listed in sections 3.3
and 3.4. They will determine whether the matter should be referred to the lead assessor / the 14-19 Development Consultant Lindi
Galloway lindi.galloway@brighton-hove.gov.uk and whether the policy should be reviewed locally or escalated to a higher level.
Except where specified in a specific policy section, these individuals are responsible for implementation of the policy within their line of
learning.
3.5 Communication and data sharing
The individuals responsible for communication and data sharing, by centre, are (the examination officers):
Centre
Name
Position
Telephone
Email
Alternative Centre for
Education
Lucy Gordon
Examination
Officer
01273 604472
Lucy.Gordon@ace.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Blatchington Mill
Heather Sava
Examination
Officer
01273 736244
hsava@blatchingtonmill.org.uk
Brighton Aldridge Community
Academy
Nicole
Gonzalez
Examination
Officer
01273 665455
nicole@falmer.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Brighton Hove and Sussex
Sixth Form College
Melissa
Gibbon
Examination
Officer
01273 552200
m.gibbon@bhasvic.ac.uk
Cardinal Newman
Graham
Goldup
Examination
officer
01273 558551
graham.goldup@newman.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Cedar Centre
Susie
Gaudiere
Examination
Officer
01273 558622
susie.gaudiere@cedarcentre.brighton-hove.sch.uk
City College Brighton
Chelsea
Franklin
Examination
Officer
01273 667788 ex
321
chf@ccb.ac.uk
Dorothy Stringer
Caroline
Examination
01273 852220
caroline.norman@dorothy-stringer.co.uk
9
Norman
Officer
Downs Park Special School
Hazel Grice
Deputy Head
01273 417448
hazel.grice@downspark.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Downs View Link College
Lalli Howell
Deputy Head
01273 601680
lalli.howell@downsview.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Hillside Special School
Pippa Hughes
Senior teacher
01273 416979
pippa_hillside@hotmail.co.uk
Hove Park
John Gaston
Examination
officer
01273 295000
Longhill
Judith
Woolcott
Examination
officer
01273 304086
exams@longhill.org.uk
Patcham High
Aline
Bloomfield
Examination
officer
01273 543483
abloomfield@patchamhigh.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Patcham House School
Barbara
Mulhern
Examination
Officer
01273 551028
barbara.mulhern@patchamhouse.brightonhove.sch.uk
Plumpton College
Michelle
Garvey
Examination
Officer
01273 892058
michelle.garvey@plumpton.ac.uk
Portslade Aldridge Community
Academy
Jackie
Seager
Examination
Officer
01273 410711
J.Seager@pcc-web.com
Varndean College
Alan Ball
Examination
Officer
01273 508011
adb@varndean.ac.uk
Varndean School
Solvi Stafford
Examination
Officer
01273 545213
solvistafford@varndean.co.uk
jgaston@hovepark.org.uk
The consortium will uphold the terms of the current Data Protection Act in order to ensure that data processing and sharing can take
place in a way that helps deliver objectives as regards education and training, furthers the interests of the individuals involved and the
public more generally, while still respecting people’s legitimate expectations and rights in relation to the privacy and confidentiality of
their personal information.
10
4 Consortium timescales and deadlines
4.1 Line of Learning delivery plans
Delivery plans are developed for each line of learning as part of a consortium’s Gateway application. Once line of learning approvals have
been received, the consortium line of learning leads will communicate their plans to the consortium. These will include the specifications
to be followed for principal learning, the centres that will lead teaching and assessments and the likely volumes of learners at each level
that can be accommodated. They will also lead any awarding body approvals that must take place.
The timetable for the consortium delivery centres for all lines of learning is as follows:
Task
Date task must be completed
Identification of consortium delivery centres for all lines of learning
September 2011
Consortium agreements on specifications and delivery
1st October 2011
4.2 Learner participation decisions
Home centres (the school/college at which the learner is on the roll) will determine whether they will offer participation in the Diploma
lines of learning to their learners. Those that do so will provide details of learners by line and level to all consortium centres and will
maintain accurate Diploma learner group details.
The timetable for learner participation decisions is as follows:
Task
Date task must be completed
Learner forecasts
April of year ready for September start
Preliminary Diploma learner groups
May of year ready for September start
11
Complete Diploma learner groups
June of year ready for September start
5 Consortium exam and assessment policies
5.1 Learner contracts
Approach
Each home centre is expected to require Diploma learners to sign a contract.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ for clarification of who maintains this policy area. Additional information
The individual(s) that all Diploma learners are required to inform regarding changes in their Diploma learning plans is/are:
Centre
Name
Position
Consortium-wide
Home Centre
see list under 3.3
Curriculum Deputies
Telephone
Email
Learners may be responsible for fees for assessments for which they are entered but which they do not take.
Learners are required to agree to and sign an information-sharing agreement.
The learner contract policy can be found at the Brighton and Hove 14-19 Learning Partnership website
http://www.bhlp.org.uk/sites/bhlp.org.uk/files/2-%20Partnership%20Agreement(V5).doc
5.2 Specification and awarding body selections, Diploma awarding bodies and component awarding
bodies
12
Approach

Principal learning specifications are determined by the Assessment centre in agreement with the lead and domain assessor

Functional skills specifications are determined by HOME SCHOOL

Project and/or extended project specifications are determined by Assessment centre

Additional and specialist learning choices are determined by the HOME SCHOOL

Diploma awarding bodies will be determined by Home centre

Learners will be advised of the choice available by the Home centre.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
Choices of Diploma components on offer to learners will be published in school prospectus/on school websites
The individual(s) with whom learners should review the choices available is/are:
Centre
Name
Consortium-wide
refer to list 3.3
(Curriculum Deputies)
Position
Telephone
Email
Position
Telephone
Email
The individual(s) whom learners should inform of their choices is/are:
Centre
Name
Consortium-wide
refer to list 3.3
(Curriculum Deputies)
13
All qualifications that are delivered collaboratively will have a single individual (for example, domain assessor) responsible for advising
learners, teachers and administrators on the characteristics of the specification and in particular the nature of assessments.
All home centres are expected to maintain an up-to-date record of choices available to learners and learners’ choices and to provide
access to this information to their exams office.
It is strongly advised that this be recorded on the Diploma Learner Study Plan and that each learner and their personal tutor be provided
with a copy.
5.3 Prior achievement
Approach
The consortium policy for prior achievement is to encourage centres and lines of learning leaders to develop their own policies and for
centres to administer their own procedures.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body prior achievement guidelines.
The learner should be advised of the information they must supply (for example learner name and identifier, qualification, level, reference
code, awarding body, date of achievement, centre where achieved). The exams office should process claims for valid prior achievement
and monitor whether these achievements are credited to the correct learner account in the Diploma aggregation service. It is advisable to
set deadlines for these processes to take place.
The individual(s) responsible for advising learners that they might have valid prior achievement when they select a Diploma line and level
for study is/are:
14
Centre
Name
Position
Consortium-wide
refer to list 3.3
(Curriculum Deputies)
Telephone
Email
The individual(s) responsible for confirming that qualifications already achieved are in fact valid is/are:
Centre
Consortium-wide
Name
Position
Telephone
Email
Home school examination officers
The consortium policy for prior achievement can be found at Home Centre.
5.4 Information sharing and use of the unique learner number
Approach
The consortium policy for information sharing and use of the unique learner number is to encourage centres and lines of learning leaders
to develop their own policies.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body information sharing and use of the unique learner number guidelines.
The consortium policy on information sharing and use of the unique learner number is that each participating centre has signed the
necessary Learning Records Service (previously known as MIAP) and QCA agreements. It covers all centres as indicated in section 2.1.
All Diploma learners will be allocated a unique learner number.
15
5.5 Registrations and entries
Approach
The consortium policy for registrations and entries is enforced across all centres and lines of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
All entries for all Diploma learners must be made using the unique learner number.
The centres should adhere to awarding body registration and entry guidelines.
All qualifications that are delivered collaboratively will have a single individual (for example, head of department) responsible for advising
learners, teachers and administrators on the characteristics of the qualification and in particular the nature of assessments. This is clearly
true for principal learning but is also necessary for ‘conventional’ qualifications where learners may move centres.
Learner plans for all Diploma learners will be distributed to other centres involved before half term in the first autumn term by the
diploma venue.
Delivery, Registration and Series entry of learners aged 14 for Principal Learning and Project will be by the Diploma Venue.
BUT Series entry for the externally assessed (written) examination (ONE UNIT of Principal Learning) will be by the Home Centre, advised
by the Diploma venue.
Delivery, registration and series entry for all other component parts, will be by the HOME SCHOOL which will also be responsible for
Personal Learning and Thinking Skills and Work Experience.
5.6 Access arrangements
16
Approach
The consortium policy for access arrangements is enforced across all centres and lines of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies) for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body access arrangement guidelines.
Where the arrangement is substantial, unless otherwise agreed it is the home centre’s responsibility to provide the arrangement.
Where modified papers may be required, unless otherwise agreed it is the home centre’s responsibility to inform the centre where the
assessment will be carried out ahead of any deadlines.
All evidence needed to support the provision of access arrangements is the responsibility of the home centre.
Home centres are responsible for informing other relevant centres of any access arrangement granted. They require the learner’s
permission to share this information.
The consortium policy for the information-sharing agreement can be found at 3.5.
5.7 Internal assessment and record keeping
Approach
The consortium policy for internal assessment and record keeping is enforced across all centres and lines of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies) for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
17
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body internal assessment and record keeping guidelines.
Centres where local assessments are made are responsible for all marking, standardisation and moderation processes.
Centres are advised that after enquiries about results are complete work must be kept to satisfactory award of certificates.
The arrangements for communicating relevant marks to exams offices in learner’s home centres are: Electronically to head of
examinations followed by hard copy of official paperwork.
The consortium policy for internal assessment and record keeping can be found on the BHLP website under Quality Assurance..
5.8 Personal, learning and thinking skills and work experience confirmations
Approach
The consortium policy for personal, learning and thinking skills and work experience confirmations is enforced across all centres and lines
of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies) for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS) and work experience confirmations guidelines.
Confirmation of personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS) achievement and appropriate record keeping is the responsibility of the
home centre.
Confirmation of work experience achievement and appropriate record keeping is the responsibility of the home centre.
5.9 Timetabled exams in principal learning
18
Approach
The consortium policy for timetabled exams in principal learning is enforced across all centres and lines of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies) for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body guidelines.
Timetabled externally set written exams will take place at Home centre.
Agreements to the contrary will be taken by line of learning leads (see 3.4 Domain assessor list) with approval of lead assessor. The line
of learning lead will communicate these to the exams office in learners’ home centres.
5.10 Finance: awarding body fees
Approach
The consortium policy for awarding body fees is enforced across all centres and lines of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies) for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body guidelines.
Awarding body charges, where applicable, will follow where the entry has been made.
More information regarding awarding body fees can be found at Home Centre.
19
The individual(s) responsible for managing transactions between centres is/are:
Centre
Name
Position
Telephone
Email
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies)
5.11 Special consideration
Approach
The consortium policy for special consideration is enforced across all centres and lines of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies) for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body special consideration guidelines.
Where special consideration claims are required for a single assessment on behalf of a number of learners, the centre where the
assessment takes place would need to inform the centres where the entry was made.
5.12 Results
Approach
The consortium policy for results is enforced across all centres and lines of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies) for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
20
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body results guidelines.
Results for all qualifications achieved by all learners studying for the Diploma will be credited to their home centre.
Where results for qualifications and units are of interest to centres other than those that receive them, they will be communicated to the
other centre.
The individual(s) responsible for communicating these results to other centres is/are:
Centre
Name
Position
Consortium-wide
Exams Officer as listed in 3.5 or Data Manager
Telephone
The other arrangements for results are N\A
The results will be communicated to other centres by Electronically and/or followed by hard copy.
5.13 Enquiries about results
Approach
The consortium policy for enquiries about results is enforced across all centres and lines of learning.
Ownership
See section 3.3 ‘Authorities within centres’ (Curriculum Deputies) for clarification of who maintains this policy area.
Additional information
The centres should adhere to awarding body guidelines.
The policy for enquires about results can be found at Home Centre and where fees are payable then the Home Centre will pay.
21
Email
All enquiries with awarding bodies concerning learners’ results for assessments are to be made via the home centre.
The individual, responsible for coordinating enquiries about results to all parties, by line of learning are:
Line of learning
Centre
Name
Position
Consortium-wide
Consortium-wide
Examination Officer of Home Centre as listed in 3.5
22
Telephone
Email
Signatures (provided in alphabetical order by name of deputy head)
Michael Brett, Vice Principal, Brighton Aldridge Community
Academy
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Sally Bromley, Assistant Principal, BHASVIC
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Rebecca Conroy, 14-19 Manager, City College Brighton
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Louise Cook, Deputy Head, Patcham House
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Richard Baker, Dorothy Stringer
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Simon Dawson, Deputy Head, Alternative Centre for Education
[Sign Here]
Date signed
23
Johnie Davies, Vice Principal, Portslade Aldridge Community
Academy
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Allan Duffy, Deputy Head Longhill
[Sign Here]
Hazel Grice Deputy Head, Downs Park Special
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Tony Hammick, Deputy Head, Cedar Centre
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Simon Hinks, Curriculum Director, Varndean College
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Lalli Howell, Deputy Head, Downs View Link College
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Gareth Hughes, Deputy Head, Varndean School
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
24
Pippa Hughes, Senior Teacher, Hillside Special
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
James Kilmartin, Deputy Head, Cardinal Newman School
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Ruth King, Deputy Head, Blatchington Mill
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Ken Leonard, Deputy Head, Hove Park
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Mike Newman, Deputy Head, Patcham High
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
Maurice Shorten, 14-19 Diploma Co-ordinator, Plumpton College
[Sign Here]
Date Signed
25