Standardisation
Standardisation is a process to check that assessment judgements made about learners’ work are consistent.
Centres must attend an Agored Cymru standardisation event once every two years.
Agored Cymru delivers a comprehensive annual programme of standardisation events to:
- compare and confirm standards across different sector subject areas;
- compare and confirm standards across different types of centres e.g. further education institutions, schools and voluntary organisations;
- compare and confirm standards where different types of assessment are used to evidence learner achievement e.g. question and answer, oral presentation, practical observation etc;
- compare and confirm standards over time;
- identify and share good practice.
Internal standardisation
Internal standardisation is a vital component of a robust internal quality assurance system. Centres must conduct appropriate internal standardisation exercises to check the reliability of assessment decisions made by all tutors/assessors across all delivery sites. Internal standardisation exercises provide opportunities for staff to share good practice across the centre. Internal standardisation must happen throughout centres’ assessment process to improve the consistency of assessors’/tutors’ judgements.
Internal standardisation exercises must include all tutors/assessors and internal verifiers involved in Agored Cymru provision. Evidence of internal standardisation exercises must be available for external quality assurance (i.e. external verification and quality review).
Frequently asked questions
1. What is standardisation?
Standardisation is a process to check that assessment judgements made about learners’ work are valid and consistent.
2. What happens at Agored Cymru standardisation events?
Standardisation is an opportunity for centres to evaluate a sample of learners’ assessed work and discuss whether assessment decisions are valid. Attendees are able to discuss whether learners’ assessed work meets: all assessment criteria; all learning outcomes; the specified level; and the credit value for the unit(s)/qualification. Other areas for discussion include the effectiveness of the internal verification process, the quality of the assessment materials and tasks, and the feedback given to learners by tutors/assessors. Attendees have the opportunity to work with other centre representatives in order to share ideas and good practice.
3. Why must centres attend Agored Cymru standardisation events?
Attendance at standardisation events is a centre requirement. It is an excellent opportunity to meet other centres delivering similar units/qualifications and to exchange ideas and share good practice.
4. How often must centres attend Agored Cymru standardisation events?
Centres must send a representative to an Agored Cymru standardisation event once every two years. If centres are unsure whether they need to attend then contact Laura Upton (Quality Assurance Officer) at the Llanishen office: 02920 747866 or laura.upton@agored.org.uk.
5. How often must approved internal verifiers (AIVs) attend Agored Cymru standardisation events?
AIVs must attend an Agored Cymru standardisation event once every two years in order to retain their approved internal verifier status (AIVS). Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the loss of AIVS.
6. How do centres book on Agored Cymru standardisation events?
Centres can book on standardisation events using the online booking form. Click here to view more details or to book a place on upcoming events.
7. Do centres need to send anything to Agored Cymru before standardisation events?
Yes. Centres must submit (to Laura Upton at the Agored Cymru Llanishen office) a legible sample of learners’ assessed work at least 20 working days prior to the standardisation event. All samples presented must have been through the centre’s internal verification process and must include:
- copies of completed assessments and supporting evidence (where possible these should be anonymous);
- records of pre-delivery internal verification;
- records of mid-course/end-of-course internal verification;
- a copy of the relevant unit(s).
Please note: centres must not send original copies of learners’ work as samples will not be returned.
If centres have any problems providing samples, it is essential that they inform Laura Upton (Quality Assurance Officer) at least 20 working days before the standardisation event - 02920 747866 or laura.upton@agored.org.uk.
8. What must centres bring to Agored Cymru standardisation events?
Agored Cymru provides everything that is needed at standardisation events including lunch for attendees. If centre representatives have any dietary requirements, further details must be provided on the online booking form.
9. What units/qualification will be standardised?
Agored Cymru selects the units/qualification to be standardised. The range of units and/or qualification selected reflects what centres offer. The Chair of each event endeavours to select samples that will provide points for discussion including samples of good practice.
10. Why are some sector subject areas (SSAs) not being standardised this year?
Agored Cymru standardises every SSA over a two year cycle; therefore, centres must check the website regularly in order to book onto the appropriate event.
11. Can centres book bespoke standardisation events?
Yes. Centres can book a bespoke standardisation event that will be chaired by an Agored Cymru quality assurance manager. There is an additional charge for these events. Bespoke events can be arranged by contacting Richard Pugh Jones (Professional Development Manager) – 01248 670011 or richardpugh.jones@agored.org.uk.
12. How are the outcomes of Agored Cymru standardisation events communicated to centres?
The Chair completes a report recording the outcomes of standardisation highlighting any identified good practice and any shortcomings. The report is available to all centres on the Agored Cymru website. If significant shortcomings are identified, the quality assurance manager responsible for the centre is notified and this will be an area of enquiry for future external quality assurance (i.e. external verification and quality review).
13. How often must centres conduct internal standardisation exercises?
The frequency of internal standardisation exercises depends on centres’ internal quality assurance processes. This will depend on factors such as the:
- size of the centre;
- number of tutors/assessors and internal verifiers at the centre;
- quantity of units and/or qualifications delivered at the centre;
- range of units and/or qualifications delivered at the centre.
14. Who must attend internal standardisation exercises?
All tutors/assessors and internal verifiers involved in the delivery and internal quality assurance of Agored Cymru units and/or qualifications must attend internal standardisation exercises.
15. Do centres need to record the outcomes of internal standardisation exercises?
Yes. Centres must record the outcomes of all internal standardisation exercises. These records must be available for external quality assurance (i.e. external verification and quality review).
