BTEC International

Quality Assurance
Handbook
2018-2019

1
Contents
Introduction 3
How to use this guide
What is quality assurance?
Which qualifications does this handbook cover?
Who is this handbook for?
What other quality assurance guidance is available?
Key dates 6
Roles and responsibilities 7
Roles at cross-centre level
Senior Managers
Quality Nominee
Examinations Officer
Roles at programme level
Programme Leader
Lead Internal Verifier (LIV)
Levels 2 and 3 LIV responsibilities from 1 September 2014
Internal Verifiers
Assessors
Support 15
Subject support
Pearson Authorised Assignment Briefs
Our Assignment Checking Service
Teachers and Heads of Department
Exam Officers
Training from Pearson
Feedback on our Assessment Associates
Face-to-face support
International Quality Managers
Regional Development Managers
Pearson Think Tank
Contact us by email
Contact us by phone
Write to us

Further BTEC Quality Assurance Handbok chapters 19

Standards verification for BTEC (QCF) Entry level to level 7
Preparing for a Standards Verifier’s visit
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Introduction
How to use this handbook

The handbook is divided into individual chapters to make it easier to

navigate and use. Please make sure you read this introduction thor-
oughly. It provides the following important information to help you
manage your BTECs:

● key dates
● roles & responsibilities
● support
● a brief explanation of each chapter and the qualification types
covered

What is quality assurance?

BTEC quality assurance is:

● at the heart of BTEC qualifications

● how we ensure the quality and standard of internal assessment
in all BTEC centres

You use quality ● ensure that your managers, Internal Verifiers

assurance to: and Assessors are standardised and
supported

● check that all centres are working to the

We use quality required standards
assurance to: ● identify and provide support where it is
needed in order to safeguard certification
● recognise and support good practice

Every year we publish an updated BTEC International Quality

Assurance Handbook to explain our quality assurance processes
for the coming academic year.

Along with your qualification specification, this handbook should

provide your Assessors and Internal Verifiers with the information they
need to ensure quality assurance is undertaken successfully.

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Which qualifications does this handbook cover?

This handbook covers the following qualifications:

BTEC ● Qualification Credit Framework (QCF)

qualifications ● BTEC (QCF) Entry to Level 3
accredited on: ● BTEC (QCF) Level 4 to 7

The guidance in this handbook relates to the quality assurance

of internally assessed qualifications and units.

This handbook does not cover the following qualifications. We have

separate quality handbooks with specific details for:

● Higher National progammes approved after 1 September 2016

on the Regulated Qualification Framework (Please refer to the
Higher National International Guide to Quality and Assessment
document on our website)
● NVQ programmes accredited on the NQF and QCF

Who is this handbook for?

This handbook is for International centres only. UK centres should

refer to the relevant UK guidance documents on our website.

The handbook contains important information for anyone managing,

delivering or assessing BTEC QCF qualifications. Please make sure
that all the relevant staff in your centre read and understand this
document.

What other quality assurance guidance is available?

For extra support, we also provide guides and template forms that
you may find useful. These guides provide essential information for
anyone involved in delivery and assessment of BTEC qualifications.
Please make sure that all the relevant staff in your centre read and
understand them.

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BTEC Centre Guides

Internal Provides important information and guidance

Assessment for the assessment requirements for all BTEC
for BTEC Firsts Firsts and Nationals.
and Nationals

We have provided subject-specific guides to

implement the assessment requirements
Subject Guides
introduced in 2014 for BTEC Firsts and Nationals.
to Internal
These contain useful advice and guidance,
Assessment
examples of forms and where to get further
support. These are published on each
qualification specification page on our website.

Assessment Overarching guide to the principles of assessment

(Entry Level to design and delivery for Entry Level to Level 3
Level 3) BTEC qualifications.

Assessment Overarching guide to the principles of assessment

(Level 4 to 7) design and delivery for Level 4 to 7 BTEC
qualifications.

RQF/SRF Provides important information about quality

Higher Nationals assurance and assessment requirements
International for Higher National programmes approved
Guide to Quality on the RQF/SRF from 1st September 2016.
and Assessment
(Approved from
1st September
2016)

Internal Advice and guidance on the management and

Verification implementation of internal verification and
standardisation in your centre.

Managing An overview of the management of internal quality

Quality assurance of BTEC programmes across your
centre, with advice and guidance on best
practice.

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Key dates
It is important to register your learners as soon as they start their
programme of learning and no later than 60 days after enrolment.
The registration on Edexcel Online alerts us that you have started
teaching. We then allocate a Standards Verifier who will be able to
give you valuable support and advice to ensure that your delivery
and assessment are to the required standard.

Please refer to the relevant chapters of this handbook for full details
of the quality assurance process.

For dates and deadlines relating to learner registration and

certification, please refer to the International Information Manual.

Roles and responsibilities

This section gives you an outline of the key roles undertaken at your
centre. The responsibilities for each role are described briefly. Where
a role has specific responsibility in relation to a quality assurance
process, this is also explained in the relevant chapter.

Roles at cross-centre level

Senior Managers

Senior Manager responsibilities

The Head of Centre is formally responsible for management and delivery of BTECs in
your centre.

The Head ● ensuring the provision of appropriate

of Centre must resources
ensure that your ● recruiting learners with integrity
centre acts ● providing full and fair access to assessment
in accordance maintaining full and accurate records
with our terms of assessment
and conditions ● complying with all our quality assurance
of approval, by: processes
● ensuring that all certificate claims are
secure and accurate

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 Day-to-day responsibility is normally delegated to the centre’s Quality Nominee.

Senior ● identify a Quality Nominee to act as a key

managers must: point of contact with us
● liaise with the Quality Nominee to ensure
that all processes are being conducted
effectively
● support the Quality Nominee to take action
to respond to reports on quality assurance

Other responsibilities:

The Head ● dealing with appeals from learners that have

of Centre or other not been resolved by the programme team
senior managers ● investigating malpractice allegations related
may need to be to learners or members of staff
directly involved ● liaising with us where any serious breach
in: of approval conditions has occurred
● any aspect of quality assurance which
relates to the overall integrity and security
of BTEC qualifications

Quality Nominee

We ask every BTEC centre to identify a member of staff as the Quality

Nominee for BTEC provision. This person is the main point of contact
for information related to quality assurance. The Quality Nominee will
receive regular information from us about all aspects of BTECs, which
they must share with the relevant staff in your centre. Therefore, it is
very important that Quality Nominee details are kept up-to-date on
Edexcel Online.

Updating Quality Nominee details on Edexcel Online

● Log into your Edexcel Online account at: edexcelonline.com

● Click on My Account
● Put a cross in the box marked, ‘Please check this box if you are
the Quality Nominee for your centre’
● Click Submit

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We recommend that your Quality Nominee is someone with responsi-
bility for your BTEC curriculum, as they will be involved in monitoring
and supporting staff in your centre. This is a curriculum role, so in
most cases it is not appropriate for the Examinations Officer to be the
Quality Nominee.

Our systems will only allow one person to be identified as the Quality
Nominee for your centre. In larger centres, we appreciate that certain
responsibilities may be delegated to a team. In this case, the Quality
Nominee remains the main point of contact for us and must
coordinate quality assurance activity undertaken by their team.

Quality Nominee responsibilities

Ensure the effective management of your BTEC programmes and actively encourage
and promote good practice your centre.

The Quality ● a key point of contact with us

Nominee is: ● the person who liaises with senior
management to ensure that all processes
are being conducted effectively
● the initial point of contact for our
Standards Verifiers, who makes sure that
they are put in touch with the relevant Lead
Internal Verifier to conduct sampling
● the person who puts actions in place to
respond to the Standards Verifiers’ reports

Liaise with the ● all programmes are approved and

appropriate registrations are accurate and up-to-date
centre and ● our approval conditions and policy
Pearson staff to requirements are being implemented
ensure that: consistently and effectively
● all staff are aware of all support and
guidance available and understand
requirements
● assessment and internal verification is
effective on all BTEC programmes
● there is a registered Lead Internal Verifier
in place for each Principal Subject
Area, where required
● standards verification is completed
successfully

Further guidance can be found in the BTEC International Centre

Guide to Managing Quality on our website.
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Examinations Officer

This is the person in your centre who takes responsibility for the
correct administration of learners with us. This may be a defined role
or, in a smaller centre, an additional duty undertaken by a Programme
Leader or teacher. The Examinations Officer normally acts as the
administrator for Edexcel Online, which provides direct access for
learner administration.

Examinations Officer responsibilities

● Liaise with programme leaders to maintain information on which

programmes are running and when they start and finish
● Register learners within 60 days of enrolment at your centre
● Higher fees are payable for late registrations (61-90 days after
enrolment the original fee x 1.25; 91 – 120 days x 1.5; 121
days+ x 2)
● The name given at registration will be printed on the certificate
● Register learners onto the correct programmes checking that
these are the specific titles and versions that learners are
following
● Check registrations carefully to ensure that all data is correct and
follow correct procedures if amendments are required
● Give Edexcel Online access to the Quality Nominee
● Give Edexcel Online basic access to all other BTEC staff as
necessary

You can find full details on BTEC registration procedures, including

deadlines and instructions for registering via EDI and Edexcel Online
from the Information Manual on our website.

To use Edexcel Online, you will need to be set up with an account in

order to obtain a username and password.

If your centre is not registered, or you are unsure who your Edexcel
Online administrator is, contact our Edexcel Online Customer
Services team on +44 (0) 844 576 0024. For additional Examinations
Officer support, contact: [email protected].

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Roles at programme level

The programme team consists of the teachers or tutors who are

responsible for the delivery, assessment and internal verification
of BTEC programmes.

BTEC programme team responsibilities

● Read and understand the programme specification and

assessment guidance
● Understand the construction of the units
● Identify opportunities to generate evidence
● Create and agree a plan of assessment activities, with timescales
● Ensure the assessment plan, assignments and assessment
decisions are internally verified and appropriate action is taken
by the team
● Read and understand the relevant chapters of this Quality
Assurance Handbook.

The appropriate minimum size of the programme team will depend on

the number of units and the number of learners. An Assessor cannot
internally verify their assessment decisions. Where there is a single
specialist practitioner delivering the programme, arrangements must
be made for their assignments and assessment decisions to be
internally verified by someone appropriately experienced.

Programme Leader

A Programme Leader or Programme Manager is a person appointed

by your centre to take overall responsibility for the effective delivery
and assessment of BTEC qualifications. The Programme Leader may
also act as the Lead Internal Verifier, if appropriate.

Programme Leader responsibilities

● Liaise with the Quality Nominee to be aware of information

updates and quality assurance requirements
● Liaise effectively with the Examinations Officer to ensure accuracy
of registration and certification of learners
● Liaise with programme team to confirm assessment and internal
verification schedules
● Liaise with relevant Pearson appointed staff undertaking quality

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 assurance
● Ensure that there are sufficient resources to deliver the
programmes and units
● Ensure that programme staff have the necessary expertise and,
where relevant, qualifications
● Review reports arising from quality assurance and ensure that
appropriate actions are taken

Lead Internal Verifier

The Regulatory arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit

Framework 2008 require us to “put in place procedures that must
ensure each centre has arrangements to identify a single named point
of accountability for the quality assurance and management for the
assessment of units and qualifications”. We also require this for all
BTEC qualifications.

A Lead Internal Verifier is a person designated by you to act as a point

of sign-off for the assessment and internal verification of programmes
in a Principal Subject Area (e.g. BTEC (QCF) Firsts and Nationals in
Business.

We use the term Lead Internal Verifier to emphasise the importance

of proper co-ordination of internal verification through a single point
of contact. This is a role that senior staff members within programme
teams have always undertaken.

We appreciate that centres deliver BTEC programmes in different

ways and have a variety of programme team and management
structures. However, the Lead Internal Verifier should be:

● the person within the centre who has responsibility for verifying
and signing off the assessment outcomes for a subject area
● a subject specialist - it is important that the Lead Internal Verifier
has an understanding of the subject that they are responsible for
● directly involved in the assessment and delivery of
a programme, with a good understanding of the units being
assessed
● the person who usually coordinates internal verification across
assessors and other internal verifiers for a subject area

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 Lead Internal Verifier responsibilities

● Oversee the internal verification activity in their subject and ensure

that it is consistently applied
Please note: the Lead Internal Verifier is not expected to
undertake all the internal verification themselves
● Ensure that there is an assessment and verification plan for your
programmes which is fit for purpose and meets requirements
● Sign off the plan and check that it is being followed at suitable
points
● Where possible, undertake some internal verification and/or
assessment for individual units within at least one of the
programmes
● Ensure that assessment plans, records of assessment and
samples of learner work are retained for standards verification if
necessary. Plan to set aside examples of work verified to different
levels and grades
● Support the development of Assessors and Internal Verifiers
● Liaise with the Standards Verifier to ensure that appropriate
sampling takes place

Levels 2 and 3 Lead Internal Verifier responsibilities

from 1 September 2014

New assessment rules have been brought in for new Level 2 and 3
learners registered after 1st September 2014. Further information can
be found on our website.

In addition to the duties above the Lead Internal Verifier will be re-
sponsible for:

● authorising resubmission of assignments for learners who are

thought to be able to achieve more without any additional
guidance
● authorising re-takes for those learners who, after
a re-submission have not yet achieved the Pass criteria on
a QCF Level 2 or 3 qualification

Internal Verifiers

Internal verification is the quality assurance system you use to monitor

assessment practice and decisions, ensuring that:

● assessment is consistent across the programme

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● assessment instruments are fit for purpose
● assessment decisions accurately match learner work to
assessment and grading criteria
● standardisation of Assessors takes place

Internal Verifiers can be anyone involved in the delivery and

assessment of the programme. You cannot internally verify your own
assessment.

Where there is a team of Assessors, it is good practice for all

Assessors to be involved in internally verifying each other. If there
is only one main person responsible for delivery and assessment,
then another person will need to be identified to undertake internal
verification.

Internal Verifier responsibilities

● Agree an assessment and verification plan for each programme

● Check the quality of assessment instruments to ensure they are fit
for purpose
● Ensure an effective system of recording learner achievement is in
place
● Keep accurate and up-to-date records of the internal verification
process
● Advise on the appropriateness of assessment evidence with
regard to level, sufficiency, authenticity, validity and consistency
● Use subject specialism to sample assessments to verify
Assessors’ judgements, ensuring that they are consistent, fair
and reliable
● Ensure your own assessment decisions are sampled when
teaching on the programme
● Ensure that appropriate corrective action is taken where
necessary
● Take part in the formal stages of any appeal

Further guidance can be found in the BTEC Centre Guide to Internal

verification on our website.

Assessors

An Assessor is anyone responsible for the assessment of learners.

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 Assessor responsibilities

● Ensure that you have read and understood the programme

specifications and the requirements of all units being assessed
● Agree an assessment and verification plan for each programme
ensuring full coverage of the required units
● Teach learners the knowledge and skills required to achieve the
qualification
● Design assessment activities which guide learners to produce
evidence that meets the targeted learning aims and assessment
criteria, using the associated assessment guidance to provide
sufficient coverage of unit content
● For learners studying at Levels 4- 7, provide formative feedback
on work in progress, identifying areas for improvement
● For learners studying at Levels 2 and 3,decide when they are
ready to complete independently an assignment for formal
assessment
● Ensure opportunities for plagiarism are minimised and that
learners’ work is authentic
● Provide summative assessment of the completed work submitted
by learners, checking authenticity and sufficiency of evidence
produced against the relevant learning aims, assessment criteria
and unit content
● Accurately record all summative assessment decisions
● Follow up any advice from your Internal Verifier

Further guidance can be found in the BTEC Centre Guides to

Assessment on our website.

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Support
There are many ways we can support you. We have dedicated teams
available for specific advice and guidance who you can contact for
help.

Subject support

Pearson Authorised Assignment Briefs

A bank of Pearson Authorised Assignment Briefs for our BTEC

qualifications is available on myBTEC: www.btec.co.uk/mybtec.
They are also available on the specification pages of our website.

These assignment briefs cover several units of BTEC Firsts and

Nationals. Please take care to check the framework of the
qualification matches the framework for your qualification.

It is not compulsory to use these assignments and we recommend

you review them to ensure that your centre devised briefs are in line
with national standards and best BTEC practice. You must apply
internal verification to the Pearson Authorised Assignment Briefs as
follows.

Programme Leader responsibilities

Use a Pearson An Internal Verifier must ensure that:

Authorised ● it meets the specific needs of your learners
Assignment Brief ● it remains current and relevant for learners
as published in your area
● the Assessor has added correct key
information including hand out dates and
submission deadlines

Adapt a Pearson The internal verification process must be

Authorised detailed and rigorous in order to ensure the
Assignment Brief assignment brief is fully fit for purpose.
to suit the needs
of your learners

The internal verification process must be detailed

Create your own
and rigorous in order to ensure the assignment
assignment briefs
brief is fully fit for purpose.
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For more guidance on internal verification, please see our BTEC
Centre Guide to Internal verification on our website.

Our Assignment Checking Service

You can also submit assignments you have written to our Assignment
Checking Service. Your assignments will be reviewed by an expert
who will check that you have understood and applied the relevant
assessment requirements and provide feedback. When using this
service always be careful to select the correct BTEC qualification from
the drop-down list.

Please note: This free service is advisory only. It is not a replacement

for internal verification, nor does it remove the need for standards
verification. You must always internally verify all assignment briefs you
have written to ensure they are fit for purpose and meet the specific
needs of your learners.

Teachers and Heads of Department

To connect you directly with our subject experts, we have 35 subject

lines just for teachers, each supported by a dedicated specialist.
During busy periods, we may ask you to leave a message. If you do,
we’ll get back to you as soon as we can - usually within 24 hours.

You may prefer to use our subject-specific email addresses, so you

can check for a response when it suits you. We aim to reply within two
days at the most, but usually within a few hours.

Exams Officers

We now have a single customer support number for exams officers.

When you call this number, you’ll be connected to your account
specialist: +44 (0) 844 463 2535.

You can email us with queries concerning registrations and entries,

certification, fees, invoice content or any general enquiry about
administering a Pearson qualification: [email protected].

Training from Pearson

Training from Pearson is our specialist training division. Training is de-

signed to fit your requirements, with an option of face-to-face, online
or customised training so you can choose where, when and how you
want to be trained. Find out more on our website.
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Feedback on our Assessment Associates

Your feedback is important to us and is used to improve our services.

We will be happy to receive feedback about our Assessment
Associates (Standards Verifiers/ External Examiners) about their
reporting, judgement, communication, responsiveness and
professionalism. The feedback will be considered as part of our
Assessment Associate monitoring process. If you would like to
provide feedback please contact the International Quality Standards
and Operations Manager - [email protected].

Face-to-face support

International Quality Managers

International Quality Managers are an important part of our quality

partnership and are full time managers within our BTEC Assessment
team. We have three International Quality Managers working in:
● India – [email protected]
● Middle East – [email protected]
● Hong Kong and China – [email protected]

Their role is to:

● offer quality assurance advice and support for BTEC
qualifications
● provide formal support and monitoring throughout our quality
assurance process of standards verification

Regional Development Managers

Our Regional Development Managers are curriculum experts who

provide information and guidance to Senior Management Teams.
They’ll support you in translating policy initiatives and curriculum
developments into practical solutions for your centre.

If you would like your Regional Development Manager to get in touch

their contact details can be found on the website. Alternatively, email
[email protected] and the team will get in touch with you.

Pearson Think Tank

The Pearson Think Tank is an independent education think tank

focussed on the provision of, and access to, high-quality education
for all. This includes an ongoing programme of policy analysis;
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practical research on best practice and education improvement,
and on inequalities in educational access and outcomes; as well as
consideration of philosophical questions around the nature of quality
in education and the principles of social justice.

We draw on research and analysis to address pressing education

policy issues and provide innovative, evidence-based advice to
support policy-makers and practitioners: thepearsonthinktank.com

Contact us by email

We have a number of dedicated email addresses which will get you

through to the relevant team straight away:

Follow the quick links below for specific support:

Contact our BTEC Business Managers [email protected]

for advice on the latest developments
and planning

Queries relating to the quality btecdelivery

assurance of BTEC programmes @pearson.com

Request email updates on the latest btecmarketing

BTEC developments @pearson.com

Queries relating to approval, registration internationaleo

and certification of BTEC qualifications @pearson.com

Contact our BTEC Quality vocationalqualitystandards

Standards team for help with
@pearson.com
issues such as late registration,
certification, special consideration
and reasonable adjustment.

Contact us by phone Write to us

Please visit our website Pearson Customer Services

for details of how to contact 190 High Holborn
us by phone. London WC1V 7BH
UK

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Further BTEC Quality Assurance
Handbook chapters
2. Standards verification for BTEC (QCF) Entry Level to Level 7

This chapter gives you information on standards verification for BTEC

(QCF). A subject specialist Standards Verifier/ External Examiner will
be allocated to verify a sample of assessed BTEC learner work and
support you in working to national standards.

3. Preparing for a Standards Verifier/ External Examiner visit

This chapter will help you put everything in place for a successful visit
from your Standards Verifier/External Examiner.

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For information about Edexcel, BTEC or LCCI qualifications visit qualifications.pearson.com

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