How Brockley Business Education Partnership records the results of assessment and how these results are used by the college in quality assurance procedures.

University Degree Education and Teaching

Assessment and learning NEW

Task 1

The following is an analysis that focuses on how Brockley Business Education Partnership records the results of assessment and how these results are used by the college in quality assurance procedures.

Summative assessments such as coursework and mock exam papers are marked by the teacher and recorded on tracking sheets. Tracking sheets store information about the student e.g. name, course code, level, tutor etc. Tracking sheets are useful as they are used to record student progress within each unit or module. Marks or grades awarded at this point by the issuing teacher are provisional and can change depending on the judgment of a second marker.

Moderations occurs every six weeks, and this is a process where tutors from the same department e.g. IT department exchange and mark each other’s work. The teacher who takes responsibility for marking the assignments of their colleague’s students is referred to as the second marker. It is important and beneficial to have a second marker as it ensures that submitted assignments are fairly assessed and marks are awarded appropriately. During this period teachers are also expected to obtain and compile student grades for each individual module. Teachers on their performance give feedback to students, and targets established at the beginning of the academic year with the use of Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) are reviewed and new targets are set.

Quality Review cycles are conducted at the college and this is a nonstop process where the learning institutions efforts to improving the quality of teaching and learning are assessed. The main aim of a quality review cycle is to assist the College in improving on the quality of education, through inspections and self-assessment.

Quality assurance procedures are carried out internally by the Quality assurance Department of the College and are performed every six weeks or each semester. Internal quality procedures involve the observation of lessons, interviews, self-assessment, inspections of lesson plans, scheme of work, exam and coursework results. The aim of internal inspections is to ensure that the College maintains a high standard of teaching and to monitor the progress of the College in meeting the criteria and objectives set by external inspections performed by the Office for Standards in education (OFSTED). Depending on the outcome of these internal inspections changes may occur within the college such as hiring new staff, training current staff, and amending syllabus.

OFSTED perform external inspections of the college and these occur once every three years according to the (national audit office 2006). The inspections performed by OFSTED are similar to that carried out by the QA department of the college, and they typically last between four to five days. Reports are done on a daily basis and provide feedback to teachers along with a grade; this is useful as it gives teachers an idea of their strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the inspection a final report is produced, that highlights findings, and recommendations for areas to improve upon.

This final report is then published and uploaded onto OFSTEDs website where it can then be accessed by the general public. Poor reviews affect the ranking of the college, and colleges who receive low standards are more likely to have frequent inspections by OFSTED.