FETAC

FETAC Further Education and Training Awards Council FETAC East Point Plaza, East Point Business Park, Dublin 3, Ireland. Tel: 01 8659500 Email: information@fetac.ie www.fetac.ie

 

FETAC courses offered by CMSE:

• Health and Safety Certificate (FETAC Level 5)
• Manual Handling Instructor Course (FETAC Level 6) 
• Building Energy Rating (BER) of New and Existing Dwellings (FETAC Level 6)
• Occupational First Aid Certificate (FETAC Level 5)
• Solar Installer Special Award (FETAC Level 6)
• Biomass Installer Special Award (FETAC Level 6)

FETAC (www.fetac.ie) has been encouraging the registration of private course providers as one of its main objectives. Chris Mee Safety Engineering now has access to the National Framework of Qualifications. This means that we can offer our learners existing FETAC Awards aligned to our course areas, where learners will be able to get recognition for training completed.

a - Learner assessment responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Learner to do the assessment as per the instructions given.

b - Assessment deadlines
CMSE’s instructions on assessment deadlines will make it clear to the learner his/her responsibility to present evidence for the assessment activity within the deadline specified and the resulting consequences should a learner fail to do this.

CMSE will facilitate and give due consideration to a learner who provides evidence of extenuating circumstances. See below on compassionate consideration.

Any consequences for late submission of evidence will not however interfere with the marks awarded. Once learner evidence is accepted by CMSE it will be marked and graded in accordance with the standards for the award. The actual marks and grade awarded are determined solely on the basis of the evidence submitted in accordance with the standards for the award.

c - Assessment malpractice
CMSE will investigate and deal with any form of assessment malpractice which could impact on the validity of the assessment. Learners must sign that work submitted by them is their own work. If any evidence of plagiarism/assessment dishonesty is found, it will result in the disqualification of the learner.

d - Reasonable accommodation
The Equal Status Acts, 2000 to 2004, requires CMSE to provide reasonable accommodation to meet the needs of a learner who has a disability.

In the context of assessment, reasonable accommodation is the term for the adaptation of assessment as necessary to cater for the needs of learners whose personal situation means that the assessment would otherwise be unfair e.g. learners with a disability, and/or other learners covered by equality legislation.

Any adaptation of the assessment by the tutor will facilitate the learner to demonstrate their achievement of the standards without significantly altering the standard.

Special assessment arrangements/adaptations are not intended to and will not reduce the validity and reliability of the assessment or compromise the standard.

The adaptation will seek to amend the aspects of the assessment technique or instrument which prevent a learner’s participation in the assessment. It will be used where the particular assessment technique(s) or instruments disadvantages the learner in assessment.

These adaptations may include the following and/or other reasonable adaptation:

• modified presentation of assignments/examination papers e.g. enlargements
• scribes/readers
• use of sign language
• practical assistants
• rest periods
• adaptive equipment/software
• use of assistive technology
• extra time.

The implementation of these adaptations will ensure that all learners are assessed on an equitable basis. CMSE is responsible for their implementation and any associated costs incurred.

e - Compassionate consideration
CMSE will enable learners to apply for compassionate consideration in relation to their assessment. CMSE will enable learners who have been prevented from undertaking a specific assessment activity or who feel their performance is seriously impaired because of exceptional circumstances to apply to defer the assessment i.e. to be allowed to complete the assessment activity on another occasion.

The following are examples of circumstances under which CMSE may consider giving compassionate consideration to the learner:

• a physical injury or emotional trauma during a period four to six weeks previously
• a physical disability or chronic or disabling condition such as epilepsy, glandular fever, or other incapacitating illness of the learner.
• recent bereavement of close family member or friend
• severe accident
• domestic crisis
• terminal illness of a close family member
• other extenuating circumstances.

CMSE requires the learner to provide appropriate evidence/documentation e.g. statement from a medical practitioner.

CMSE will consider the severity of the circumstances, the nature of the assessment activity and the quality of past achievement of the learner where appropriate in making the decision to grant compassionate consideration.

f - Policy on repeats
Where a learner is unsuccessful, on a first attempt in an assessment activity, CMSE will provide learners with an opportunity to repeat the assessment activity to achieve a higher grade. Opportunities to repeat an assessment activity are dependent on the nature of the activity and the practical and/or operational issues involved. It is acknowledge that there may be specific constraints on CMSE which prevent us from offering repeat assessment opportunities to learners.

CMSE will inform learners of whether opportunities are available or not to repeat assessment opportunities and the associated procedures if applicable.

g - Learners appeals
CMSE has put in place an Appeals Process. An Appeals Process will enable the learner to appeal

a) the Assessment Process, if they perceive there to be irregularities/inequality in its implementation
b) the assessment result.

Only approved results can be formally appealed by the learner. CMSE will inform the Learner of their approved result.

Delegates must inform CMSE of their application to appeal within one month of receiving their approved result. A nominal fee will apply.

The appeals procedures will involve a review of the Assessment Process for the specific learner concerned; including where appropriate the review of learner evidence and the assessment results. The tutor who evaluates a learner appeal will not be the tutor who made the original assessment decision.

The only evidence which may be presented by the learner at appeal is that which has already been presented for assessment. New evidence may not be added by the learner for the appeal.

The learner will be informed of the outcome of the Appeals Process within an agreed timescale.

Following the completion of the CMSEs Appeal Process, the results for the learner(s) concerned will be forwarded to FETAC as the final result. These final results are the basis on which FETAC will issue certificates.

FETAC operates a National Appeals Process. This is only on the basis of;

(a) the completion of the CMSEs Appeals Process
and
(b) appealing the process, not the result.

FETAC only accepts appeals from CMSE, on behalf of learners.

FETAC will not accept an appeal on behalf of a learner until that appeal has gone through ‘due process’ within the CMSEs Appeals Process and all opportunities to appeal within this process have been exhausted.