Appeals Procedure
A student who wishes to appeal against a grading decision must do so in writing to the secretary of the Appeals Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Quality Committee not later than fourteen days after the date upon which the course team informed the student of its decision regarding his/her grade. The notice must specify precisely the decision of the course team against which the appeal is lodged and must similarly specify the ground or grounds of the appeal.
The student must lodge a statement of any evidence offered in substantiation of his/her appeal within seven days of lodging the notice of appeal.
A student who wishes to appeal against a decision to exclude him/her from a course or from the college on academic grounds must do so in writing to the Secretary of the Appeals Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Quality Committee not later than fourteen days after the date upon which the assistant principal informed the student of its decision regarding his/her grade. The notice must specify precisely the ground or grounds of the appeal.
The student must lodge a statement of any evidence offered in substantiation of his/her appeal within seven days of lodging the notice of appeal.
Any such appeal shall be heard within twenty-one days of its lodging by the Appeals Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Quality Committee which will consist of:
- vice-principal with curriculum responsibility
- assistant principal from a different site to the student
- member of staff from the same programme area but different site to the student
Not less than seven days before the meeting, the secretary of the Appeals Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Quality Committee shall send a written notice of the meeting by first-class post to the student at his/her last known address.
The student shall have the right to appear before and be heard by the Appeals Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Quality Committee accompanied by a representative of his/her choice.
No fewer than four working days prior to the appeal hearing the secretary shall circulate the following documents to the members of the Appeals Sub-Committee, the student [2 copies], and any person against whom the student has made allegations:
- the assessment regulations for the course
- the student's letter of appeal
- the student's statement of evidence
The Appeals Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Quality Committee shall have access to the relevant minutes of the course team meeting and the student's contested assignment and grade.
Assessment Grade Queries
In circumstances where a student wishes to query the grade awarded, the problem should first be discussed between student and lecturer involved, who will explain the assessment criteria for the assignment and how the grade given related to the student's achievement.
If there is no mutual satisfaction with this process, the assignment will be submitted to the course tutor who shall, if deemed necessary, arrange for the assignment to be re-marked against the stated assessment criteria by another suitably qualified lecturer. The result of this re-marking shall be referred back to the original lecturer who may wish to review his/her initial grade.
If a disagreement remains, the assignment will be reviewed by the course team which will determine the grade to be awarded. In arriving at their decision the course team may wish to refer the assignment to the Moderator/External Verifier for comments.
The student is permitted a right of appeal to the Academic Appeals Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Quality Committee if he/she feels that the assessment process has been unfairly conducted.
Certificates
Exam certificates can be collected from our student services offices. We can post your certificate to you if you like, but please provide us with a stamped, addressed envelope. Please note the college holds certificates for only one year - after that, you have to apply to the awarding body at a cost of about £25 per certificate, so it's worth making sure you collect it as soon as possible.
Examination Entry
Entry forms are available from student services. The college will pay for exam entries if you are a full-time student providing it forms part of the agreed qualification aim of your course. You will be charged for your entry if you don’t turn up for classes, or if you drop out before the exam. All autumn re-sit exams must be paid for by students. If you are a part-time student you have to pay exam fees as well as tuition fees.
Exclusion on Academic Grounds
If a student's progress and performance are such that the course tutor considers the student has no realistic expectation of success in achieving a successful outcome of the course, the situation should be reviewed by the course tutor in consultation with the course team.
The course tutor will discuss with the student the reasons for the lack of progress and will review possible options which may include:
- a remedial programme of work to improve progress in an appropriate timescale
- a transfer to another course
- the withdrawal of the student on academic grounds
If there is disagreement, the Assistant Principal will consult both the course tutor, the student and, if appropriate, the student's parents to determine the action to be taken, which could include the exclusion of the student on academic grounds.
The student has a right of appeal to the Academic Appeals Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Quality Committee if he/she considers the decision-making process has not been conducted fairly.
Your Course Tutor & Tutorial Programme
Your course will be taught by several lecturers, one of whom will be your Course Tutor. While all lecturers have a responsibility for your progress in the areas they teach, your course tutor has overall responsibility for your progress throughout the course, and is the first point of contact if you have any problems. Your course tutor might refer you on if you need specific help or information, for example he or she may suggest you see the careers adviser or a college counsellor.
The tutorial programme is designed to help you manage the change that all students undergo as part of the learning process by giving you the opportunity to:
- assess and develop your strengths
- record the experiences you already have along with the knowledge you will gain from your course
- explore and make best use of all the college facilities, including gaining other qualifications, taking part in sport, recreational activities and work experience
- make well-informed decisions about healthy lifestyle options and address issues such as drugs, relationships, safe sex, managing on a budget, etc.
- gain skills and progress on to CV writing, applying for further courses and jobs, interview techniques, etc.
These opportunities will be made available to you either as an integral part of your course, during a separate tutorial programme, through supported self-study material or through access to cross-college events. Your course tutor will provide you with details of how the programme will be delivered.