Home › Policies › IQA Policy

IQA Policy

Centre: ACLAS Global International Education Group

Effective: 2025-07-05 | Review Date: 2026-07-05

Policy Owner: Lead IQA

1. Purpose

This policy establishes how ACLAS Global International Education Group internally quality-assures all assessment decisions for OTHM qualifications. Effective IQA serves two purposes: assuring that assessment decisions are valid, reliable, and consistent; and driving continuous improvement in assessment practice.

2. Role of the Lead IQA

The Centre appoints a Lead IQA who holds (or is working towards) a recognised Level 4 IQA qualification. The Lead IQA is responsible for:

  • Developing and maintaining the IQA strategy and sampling plan
  • Sampling Assessor judgements across all units, learners, and grade levels
  • Providing written developmental feedback to Assessors after each sampling activity
  • Leading and documenting standardisation meetings
  • Maintaining an IQA log of all activity
  • Liaising with OTHM's External Quality Assurer (EQA)
  • Ensuring EQA recommendations and action points are addressed promptly
  • Producing a termly IQA summary report for the Centre Quality Lead

The Lead IQA reports functionally to the Centre Director and operates independently of the assessment function. The Lead IQA does not assess any unit they later quality-assure.

3. IQA Sampling Strategy

The Centre uses a risk-based sampling approach:

| Risk Level | Criteria | Sampling Rate |

|:----------:|----------|:------------:|

| Low | Experienced, qualified Assessor; consistently positive IQA and EQA feedback | 10–20% |

| Medium | New Assessor or new qualification; some IQA/EQA action points | 25–50% |

| High | Unqualified Assessor; previous grade overturns; significant IQA concerns | 75–100% |

As a new centre, the initial risk level is set at Medium for all Assessors. This is reviewed after each EQA activity.

The sample for each unit covers:

  • At least one learner from each Assessor
  • A range of grades (Pass and Refer)
  • A range of assessment methods
  • All assessment sites (the Centre currently operates from a single site)

The full IQA strategy and sampling plan is documented separately and reviewed at least annually.

4. IQA Process

Step 1 — Sample Selection

The Lead IQA selects the sample according to the sampling plan and records the selection in the IQA log.

Step 2 — Review

The Lead IQA reviews:

  • The sampled learner work against the unit's learning outcomes and assessment criteria
  • The Assessor's feedback to the learner — is it constructive, specific, and developmental?
  • The Assessor's marksheet — does it accurately reflect the evidence?
  • Whether the assessment decision is valid

Step 3 — IQA Report

The Lead IQA completes an IQA report for each sampling activity. The report records:

  • Unit, Assessor, and learners sampled
  • Whether the assessment decisions are confirmed or require amendment
  • Specific feedback to the Assessor — strengths and areas for improvement
  • Any action points with deadlines
  • A copy is provided to the Assessor and the Centre Quality Lead.

Step 4 — Follow-Up

  • The Assessor addresses any action points within the agreed timeframe.
  • The Lead IQA verifies that actions have been completed and records this in the IQA log.
  • Where a grade is overturned, the Lead IQA records the rationale and discusses it with the Assessor.

Step 5 — EQA Submission

IQA is completed for a unit before that unit is submitted for EQA. The IQA report and relevant records accompany the EQA submission.

5. IQA Log

The Centre maintains a live IQA log recording every sampling activity:

  • Date, unit, Assessor, learners sampled
  • Type (interim or summative)
  • Key findings
  • Actions required and completion status

The IQA log is available for EQA review at any time.

6. Standardisation

  • Standardisation meetings are held at least quarterly.
  • Activities include cross-marking, reviewing EQA feedback, discussing borderline cases, and sharing best practice.
  • Minutes are recorded and retained.

7. Escalation

If the Lead IQA identifies serious or persistent issues (e.g., consistently poor assessment decisions, failure to act on IQA feedback, suspected malpractice), they escalate to the Centre Quality Lead and/or Centre Director. Serious concerns are reported to OTHM in accordance with the Malpractice and Plagiarism Policy.

8. Record Keeping

All IQA records—sampling plans, IQA reports, the IQA log, and standardisation minutes—are retained for a minimum of 3 years.

9. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually.

Approved by: ______________________ (Centre Director)

Date: ______________________