Assessment malpractice policy

Procedure

Minimising the risks

All InspireU staff will seek to avoid potential malpractice at all times by:

  • using the induction session and learner Handbook or learning agreement to inform learners of:
    • the policy on malpractice
    • the penalties for attempted and actual incidence
  • showing learners the appropriate formats to record cited texts and other materials or information sources
  • declaring the learners’ work as their own
  •  being mindful of the potential malpractice instances (see appendix two)that are not part of awarding body regulations. Sanctions will be dealt with accordingly through InspireU staff disciplinary policy

Procedure

Allegations of malpractice may be dealt with by a:

  • summary procedure, or
  • full investigatory procedure

Summary procedure

The summary procedure is available to all learners, except where:

  • the allegation relates to misconduct in an exam, or
  • the learner has previously had an allegation against them upheld
  1. where a member of staff suspects a learner of having committed malpractice they will:
    1. notify their senior lead for exams
    2. provide evidence of the grounds for the suspicion
  2. senior lead for exams to notify head of centre
  3. where the senior lead considers there is enough evidence to proceed, theywill have a minuted meeting with the learner. The learner will:
    1. be advised of their right to have the matter dealt with under the summary or the full investigatory procedure
    2. be invited to an interview under the summary procedure
  4. if the learner elects to attend the interview, the senior lead will explain the nature of the allegation to the learner
  5. if the learner provides a satisfactory explanation, the senior lead will dismiss the case
  6. if the learner admits the allegation,  the senior lead may impose any of the sanctions detailed in section 5 as they deem appropriate
  7. if the learner denies the allegation but does not offer a satisfactory explanation, the case will proceed to the full investigatory procedure

Full investigatory procedure

 The senior lead, in liaison with the head of the centre, will appoint an investigating officer if:

  • the learner elects not to attend the interview under the summary procedure, or
  • they do not provide a satisfactory explanation

The investigating officer:

  • will look into the facts if the case as soon as is reasonably practicablecould be the provision manager or a different senior lead
  • may decide that:
    • there is no need to proceed with the full investigatory procedure
    • it is sufficient to talk the matter over with the learner or simply issue a reprimand
  • will determine whether the allegations potentially constitute academic irregularity. If they do, an investigatory meeting chaired by the senior lead will be established

The investigatory meeting should be arranged within 14 working days of the appointment of the investigating officer. The learner will be given at least three working days’ notice of the meeting. They will have the right to attend, be heard and to be accompanied or represented by a tutor within their site.

The senior lead will have the right to impose any of the sanctions detailed in section 5 as they deem appropriate. The decision of the senior lead will:

  • be made in writing to the learner within seven working days of the meeting
  • be confirmed in person to ensure the learner is understanding of the situation

Right to appeal

The learner will have the right to appeal against the outcome of the full investigatory procedure. Appeals must be:

  • made to the InspireU principal
  • received within five working days of the date of the letter advising the learner of the decision resulting from the investigatory meeting

The appeal hearing will be arranged within 10 working days of the receipt of the appeal. The learner will be given at least three working days’ notice. The learner will have the right to attend and be heard and to be accompanied or represented by a tutor within their site. The decision will be confirmed to the learner within four working days.

Sanctions

If a minor case is identified (examples are listed in appendix one), one or more of the following sanctions may be applied:

  • warn the learner about future conduct and make a note on the learner’s file
  • deduct marks from the learner's work or return work to be re-done and resubmitted for marking
  • notify the examining body, in line with their procedures
  • inform external examiners or verifiers in line with examining body’s procedures

If a moderate case is identified (examples are listed in appendix one), one or more of the following sanctions may be applied:

  • award a mark on a scale between a minimum pass mark and zero for the exam or assessed piece of work, and make a note on the learner's file
  • withdraw the right of the learner to re-sit the examination or test, or withdraw the right to re-submit the assessed piece of work
  • notify the examining body, in line with their procedures
  • inform external examiners or verifiers in line with examining body’s procedures

If a serious case is identified (examples are listed in appendix one), one or more of the following sanctions may be applied:

  • award a mark of zero for the exam or assessed piece of work and make a note on the learner’s file
  • withdraw the right of the learner to re-sit the examination or test, or withdraw the right to resubmit the assessed piece of work
  • disqualify the learner from the course
  • recommend suspension
  • notify the examining body, in line with their procedures
  • inform external examiners or verifiers in line with examining body’s procedures