CMSE will strive to ensure:

• that our training courses are relevant to the current and future industry needs
• the promotion of equality for all learners and the recognition of the diversity of all learner groups
• a safe and healthy training environment for all learners
• the provision of clear and relevant information on all programmes
• all learner personal information is handled sensitively and in accordance with the Data Protection Act
• all training is completed by experienced and qualified staff who deliver well prepared and up to date lessons and training sessions using a range of learning techniques
• that all assessment is fair and consistent
• all learners have opportunities to give feedback on our services
• that all queries and complaints are dealt with in a professional, consistent and timely manner

1. General Information

FETAC – The Further Education and Training Awards Council is the national awarding body for further education and training providers in Ireland. The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 was published in July 2011. Under this, the existing awarding bodies FETAC, HETAC, NQAI and IUQB were amalgamated into a single new agency, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). (www.qqi.ie)

CMSE Training has agreed their quality assurance system with FETAC and can offer programmes leading to FETAC awards at levels 1 to 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications.

2. Assessment Information for Learners

(a) Learner assessment responsibilities

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

(b) Assessment deadlines

CMSE Training’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 Training 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 Training 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 Training 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 Training to provide reasonable accommodation to meet the needs of diverse learners. CMSE Training is committed to working hard with individuals or groups with particular needs to facilitate successful participation on all aspects of our programmes.

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 Training is responsible for their implementation and any associated costs incurred.

(e) Compassionate consideration

CMSE Training will enable learners to apply for compassionate consideration in relation to their assessment. CMSE Training 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 Training 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 Training requires the learner to provide appropriate evidence/documentation e.g. a statement from a medical practitioner.

CMSE Training 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 Training 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 acknowledged that there may be specific constraints on CMSE Training which prevent us from offering repeat assessment opportunities to learners.

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

(g) Learners appeals

CMSE Training has put in place an Appeals Process which enables learners to appeal a result based on the assessment process or the assessment result. Any learner wishing to lodge an appeal should contact the Examination Secretary for the relevant form(s).
(a) Assessment Process: a learner may appeal if they perceive there to be irregularities/inequality in the implementation of CMSE Training`s assessment process.

(b) Assessment Result: a learner may appeal a result if s/he believes the grade awarded is not representative of the quality of the work submitted for assessment purposes. The outcome of this type of appeal is either that the learner’s grade remains unchanged or is upgraded. The only evidence which may be presented is that which has already been presented by the Learner. New evidence may not be added for the appeal.

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

Delegates must inform CMSE Training of their application to appeal within two calendar weeks of receiving their approved result. A small administration fee may apply.

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 CMSE Training’s 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 CMSE Training Appeals Process
and
(b) appealing the process, not the result.

FETAC only accepts appeals from CMSE Training, 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 CMSE Training Appeals Process and all opportunities to appeal within this process have been exhausted.

FETAC’s National Appeals Process is outlined in the document ‘National Appeals Process’www.fetac.ie/nationalappealsprocess. This document sets out full details regarding

(a) the conditions under which an appeal can be made to FETAC
(b) the process
(c) the timeframe for processing the appeal.

(h) Protection for Learners

As our FETAC programmes are of less than 3 months duration, we are not subject to Section 43 of the Qualifications Act. Our current programmes vary from 1 to 11 days in duration. However in the event that a course is cancelled in advance of delivery due to low numbers, any learner fees will be fully refunded. Should a tutor be forced to exit a programme during delivery, we will endeavour to replace the tutor immediately or complete the course at the nearest available date.