The purpose of internal quality assurance is multi-faceted. A quality assurance internal has to be responsible for several things, including areas that need improvement, progress of the learner, a positive relationship with assessors and employers, and compliance with the policies of awarding and centre bodies. In order to ensure quality, the learner’s journey must be the focus of all the processes. To ensure that the quality of the delivery is high, and the accuracy of the assessment is accurate, internal quality control must be performed. Talking to different candidates as well the assessors can help you do this. Also, a sample of work from a few candidates will be helpful. Internal quality control is primarily concerned with maintaining national occupational standards.
Internal quality assurance must address any problem or potential problem as soon as possible. This could be due to a weakness in the assessment team, or an emerging trend. Some of the problems that could arise include learning styles, delivery problems or candidates making too little progress. The internal quality assurer can discuss the issue with the assessor or change the agreed targets if the situation improves.
As a Quality Assurance Internal, it is my duty to ensure that all Assessors are performing assessments in a correct manner and at an appropriate level. Regularly, I will have to sample work from candidates to verify that they are passing at the required level. All assessors should understand there is an expected standard and it must be the same across all departments. I, as the internal quality control, will have to step in if I discover that an assessment is consistently submitting substandard work. I may decide to give feedback on the work of an assessor, observe them assessing and review their assessment planning.
Monitoring will vary according to the goals of an action. It could be a problem to observe candidates at work. Until it improves, we will concentrate on those observations. External quality assurance checks the consistency, reliability and validity of courses. If standards are lowered and work of substandard quality is accepted, the organisation may lose the right offer the course. Those who are involved in the assessment and course can lose their jobs.
