These statuses are awarded to centres who have demonstrated that they have satisfactory IQA and administration procedures in place across samples of learner work. The main criteria that our EQS officers and quality assurance auditors look for from our centres are as follows:
- the centre has robust administrative procedures in place and is able to register and claim certificates for learners correctly. This includes timely registration of learners and correct rules of combination/units being selected.
- the portfolio of evidence shows appropriate assessment methods have been chosen and that the learner has met the criteria and any specific requirements set out within the specification and associated assessment strategies. The portfolio shows evidence that is valid, authentic, reliable, current and sufficient (VARCS). The evidence supplied is easy to follow and locate within the portfolio of work, for example, a tracking sheet and appropriate naming conventions are used within the work and on any folders sent electronically.
- staff involved in the delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance of the qualification are appropriately qualified, competent and knowledgeable in keeping with the criteria set out within the qualification specification. These staff can also show that they take part in continual professional development (CPD) activities.
- internal quality assurance at the centre is appropriate. A sampling strategy and a sampling plan has been created by the centre and is followed to ensure that the assessors are supported and assessment decisions are safe and standardised across the team.
- evidence that standardisation activity is in place within the centre and that this has taken place for the specific qualification within the last 12 months. (Standardisation activity should show that delivery, assessment and/or IQA activity for the qualification or units within the qualification have been discussed to ensure a standardised approach, typically taking the form of meeting minutes showing the date, attendees and the content).
- assessors support learners appropriately through the qualification by providing positive and developmental feedback throughout the duration of the qualification.
- internal quality assurance reports are available and show robust IQA practice with positive and developmental feedback to the assessor. Any actions set by the IQA are completed.
Other specific criteria may apply to individual qualifications, but you will be notified of these upon approval for the qualification and upon contact by our EQS team. Our EQS coordinators will send your centre an e-mail asking for learner work to be made available either for remote or face-to-face review and will send a reminder of the information we need from you in order to perform a review leading to the award of DCS or CMA.
Please do note that DCS and CMA will only be held by a centre who continues to meet the award criteria. Ongoing sampling will take place in order to verify this and centres will be required to keep assessment paperwork for ongoing sampling. Where centres have not claimed any learners within a 12-month period, DCS or CMA will be removed from the centre.