A Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) - Summer 2021 - Slindon College
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
A Guide to Teacher Assessed
Grades (TAGs)
Summer 2021
1
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public
Version Control
This document is subject to revision and maintained electronically.
Electronic copies are version controlled. Printed copies are not subject to
this control.
Version Date Summary of changes Section
Number
1.0 April N/A Original Document N/A
21
2
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: PublicContents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................4
1.1 Scope and Purpose ...........................................................................................................4
2. Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGS) - Our Approach ..................................................4
2.1 Which learners will be eligible for Teacher Assessed Grades ..........................4
2.2 Deciding if TAGs are appropriate for your learners. ...........................................5
2.3 Minimum evidence thresholds for TAG .....................................................................6
2.4 Applying for TAGS.............................................................................................................7
3. Head of Centre Declaration and Spreadsheet Guidance .......................................8
3.1 The spreadsheet ................................................................................................................8
3.2 The Head of Centre Declaration ................................................................................10
3.3 Determining TAGS ..........................................................................................................10
4. Sources of Evidence ...........................................................................................................11
5. Internal Quality Assurance of TAGs .............................................................................12
5.1 Department sign-off .......................................................................................................12
5.2 Head of Centre sign-off ................................................................................................12
6. External Quality Assurance .............................................................................................13
7. Appeals ....................................................................................................................................13
8. Malpractice and/or Maladministration .........................................................................14
3
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public1. Introduction
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a loss of education
and training since March 2020. Many Learners have experienced disruption
to, or a lack of, teaching, learning, and assessment since that date. In the
first instance centres should plan to, and wherever possible, deliver all
assessments in line with the requirements set out in Open College Network
West Midlands Qualification Guides. Where this is not possible, we are
offering possible assessment adaptations for centres delivering our
qualifications or units of our qualifications. Where adaptations are not
suitable for your learners, they may be eligible for Teacher Assessed Grades
(TAGS).
1.1 Scope and Purpose
The revised framework, the Vocational Contingency Regulatory Framework
(VCRF) is based, where possible, on the principle of fairness that all learners
taking such qualifications should receive a result that fairly reflects their
work and level of attainment which should maintain the same broad levels
of comparability with previous years. These grades should be based on a
range of evidence completed as part of the course, including evidence which
may be produced over the coming months, demonstrating the learner’s
knowledge, and understanding on subject content.
This document provides information for Heads of Centre, Heads of
Department, IQAs, Assessors and Exams Officers about how to generate
these grades and the evidence that should be considered.
2. Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGS) - Our Approach
2.1 Which learners will be eligible for Teacher Assessed Grades
Learners taking vocational or technical qualifications, or other general
qualifications from 1st August 2020 to 31st August 2021 may be eligible to
receive Teacher Assessed Grades. Centre should refer to our categorisation
spreadsheet to check for eligibility.
4
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public2.2 Deciding if TAGs are appropriate for your learners.
Before applying to Open College Network West Midlands for any TAGS,
Centres should review the process below to ensure you are eligible. We ask
our centres where possible to continue delivering and assessing in the first
instance and where this is not possible to consider the adaptations available
to you.
The minimum requirements to be eligible for a TAG are as follows:
• Exhausted all opportunities to complete assessment and reviewed all
possible adaptations
• Learners must have been taught all the elements of the course
• Learner needs a result to progress into further education or
employment
• Sufficient Completed assessment ready for External Quality
Assurance (EQA)
• Due to be assessed between 01/08/20 and 31/08/2021
• Centre has sufficient Valid evidence to support TAG
• TAG has been through the centre Internal Quality Assurance
(IQA) processes
5
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: PublicFigure 1 : Decision Making Process for deciding if you should apply for a TAG
2.3 Minimum evidence thresholds for TAG
For learners to be eligible for a TAG, they must meet the minimum evidence
threshold of completed work as outlined in Figure 2.
Please Note: Completed assessment is defined as learner work that
has been completed in the standard way, assessed by the
teacher, internally verified and ready to go through the External
Quality Assurance process (this includes adapted assessments).
6
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public1-12 credits 13-36 Credit 37+ credits
Completed assessment Minimum 75% Minimum 50% Minimum 25%
TAG Maximum 25% Maximum 50% Maximum 75%
Figure 2: Minimum Completed assessment threshold
2.4 Applying for TAGS
Eligibility for TAGS must be approved by Open College Network West
Midlands before any certification claims are made, centres must apply for
TAGS by completing this form.
You only need to complete and submit this form once for each qualification
prior to any TAG submission, but you will be unable to submit any TAG
applications unless we have a completed form on file. We will only issue the
appropriate spreadsheet template to you on receipt of a completed ‘TAG
application’ form.
Once you have submitted your request the following steps will apply:
• You will receive an automatic email confirmation of your responses.
• Within 6 working days Open College Network West Midlands will
contact you via email to either accept or reject your request.
• If accepted you will be provided with details on next steps
including Head of Centre Declaration form and a spreadsheet to
complete for claiming certification for your learners.
7
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public3. Head of Centre Declaration and Spreadsheet
Guidance
Once we have received your completed TAG application form and we
approve your eligibility we will send you a spreadsheet and a Head of Centre
Declaration form.
3.1 The spreadsheet
The spreadsheet we send you will have three sections on separate tabs:
• Tab 1: Summary of class run submitted (for information only).
• Tab 2: Learner and Unit information registered – For each learner you
must identify which units are to be awarded by selecting ‘achieved’
from the drop-down menu.
• Tab 3: TAG Supporting Information – You only complete this section
for the units which are TAG grades. For each unit awarded as TAG on
tab 2, you must list the evidence you have available to support your
decision.
The spreadsheet must be completed accurately, you will need to provide a
summary of each learner’s eligibility and the evidence you hold to support
your TAG application. Failure to complete this documentation in full may
delay the processing of your TAGs.
8
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: PublicFigure 3: Example of TAB 3 completed for approval
As you will see in the example above the page has been left blank for “Ollie
Watkins” as this centre is not claiming any TAGS for this learner.
For Jack Grealish” a Tag is only being claimed for one Unit “Interview Skills”
and the assessor has signposted the evidence that the TAG has been based
on in the column to the immediate right of this unit.
Top Tip: Ensure you sign post the evidence for each learning
outcome, only complete the evidence box for units you wish to
claim TAGs for.
9
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public3.2 The Head of Centre Declaration
The Head of Centre Declaration is where we will ask you to confirm the
steps taken to confirm learner eligibility and the IQA process you have
followed to review learner evidence to support your TAG judgements.
The Head of Centre Declaration must be provided each time you submit a
TAG application for consideration. Any false declaration will be considered
potential malpractice. Open College Network West Midlands will investigate
all such cases and take appropriate steps to protect the integrity of all
results issued.
The Head of Centre Declaration will require you to confirm:
• You have explored all avenues to continue with standard assessment
or considered all available adaptations for each learner being put
forward for a TAG.
• You are only requesting TAGs for learners who are therefore eligible
and have a valid reason with supporting evidence to show why they
cannot access a live test.
• You have supporting evidence available for each learner that
underpins a teacher judgement and supports the request for a TAG.
• You have internally quality assured all decisions made in relation to
TAGs and can evidence the approach taken.
3.3 Determining TAGS
Centres should consider the standard at which each learner has performed
over the course of study. This judgement should be based on the evidence
of a learner’s performance on the subject content which they have been
taught, whether in the classroom or via remote learning.
Assessors under the supervision of Heads of Centre must consider each
learner’s performance. In coming to this judgement, centres should seek
to make it no easier or harder for a learner to achieve a particular grade
this year compared to previous years.
Teacher assessment judgements should be based on a holistic professional
judgement, balancing the various sources of evidence.
10
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public4. Sources of Evidence
Assessors should draw on all existing records and available evidence. It is
important that the judgements are objective, and they should only take
account of the evidence about actual learner performance. This will include
the following:
Possible Evidence
Records of each learner’s performance throughout their study
Including, for example, progress review data, classwork, bookwork
and/or participation in performances in subjects. This can also include
substantial class or homework (including work that took place during
remote learning)
Performance in any assessments required for the qualification
Even if this has not been fully completed. Centres should continue
teaching for as long as possible, to cover as much of the specification
content as possible and they should aim to assess learners on as broad a
range of specification content as they can.
Prior attainment in units already completed
Where possible, assessors should seek to find relevant compensation
across units already completed by learners and cross reference / map to
other assessment criteria wherever possible.
Open College Network West Midlands will not prescribe the evidence that
centres must use. Assessors can draw on existing records and available
evidence from any point in the course. Centres must keep records of learner
work, any written reasoning and any annotated work or notes made in
reaching a teacher assessed grade for each learner.
11
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public5. Internal Quality Assurance of TAGs
For each TAG, once eligibility has been established, you must follow an
internal quality assurance process before the TAG application is submitted
which meets the requirements below.
Your Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) process must be in line with our usual
practices to demonstrate that each learner put forward has been scrutinised
carefully and all TAG judgements have been standardised before they are
submitted.
You must keep clear records of all internal processes used and decisions
taken to arrive at the TAG outcomes for each learner as we require you to
be able to demonstrate how each TAG has been quality assured, reducing
the risk of malpractice or unconscious bias. You must ensure suitable
supporting evidence is used, as outlined earlier in the ‘Sources of Evidence’
section, and kept within the centre as we may request sight of this as part
of our external quality assurance process.
Where a staff member might have a personal interest in the performance
of a candidate (for example, a relative), this must be disclosed to the Head
of Centre. The Head of Centre must make appropriate arrangements to
ensure any perceived or actual conflict of interest is appropriately
addressed.
5.1 Department sign-off
Each TAG must be determined by a teacher or assessor. This judgement
must then be internally quality assured by another staff member. This
would ideally be the Head of Department or someone who usually conducts
the role of Internal Quality Assurer.
5.2 Head of Centre sign-off
The Head of Centre will be required to confirm that the TAGs are a true
representation of learner performance. In reviewing the TAGs, the Head of
Centre should consider how the volume of learners achieving compares with
previous years. It is vital that the Head of Centre has oversight of the IQA
process as we will require a Head of Centre Declaration as part of our TAG
application process.
12
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public6. External Quality Assurance
We will need to be satisfied that your internal process is robust and leads
to fair and accurate outcomes for the learners included in any TAG
application. It is vital that you retain all evidence and clear records in case
we need to come back to you for clarification or for more detail on your
request. We may request access to:
• All or some of the evidence used to confirm learner eligibility
• All or some of the supporting evidence used to support TAG
judgements
• Records of IQA process and the learner evidence reviewed at each
stage
• Head of Centre sign-off of the outcomes
We will quality assure the process you have followed to ensure that you are
following your own processes adequately. We may extend these checks to
review a sample of the evidence used and, in extreme cases where
concerns remain, may ask to see all evidence for all learners to provide
reassurances of the validity of the TAGs produced.
We will use other evidence to decide on the nature of the checks we carry
out for each centre which may vary on a case-by-case basis. We may, for
example, choose to increase any sampling in cases where a significant
volume of learner TAGs are submitted for consideration.
7. Appeals
There may be some learners who feel that their TAGS from this period do
not accurately reflect their ability. We are focused on minimising any
disadvantage to learners as a result of these unprecedented circumstances,
including allowing appeals where appropriate.
For our qualifications, the proposed conditions set out a two-stage process:
13
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: Public1. Centre review. A review of outcomes carried out by the centre based on
a procedural or administrative error.
2. Open College Network West Midlands review. A review of outcomes
where it is felt that there has been a procedural failing by the centre or that
the outcome reflects an unreasonable judgement or exercise by the centre.
8. Malpractice and/or Maladministration
Where we identify any concerns regarding your submission, we may choose
to take further action over and above the quality assurance activities
outlined in this guide. Where serious concerns are identified we may
withhold results for any or all learners included in a certification claim
pending the outcome of further investigation.
14
Open College Network West Midlands Guide to Teacher Assessed Grades 2021
Version 1.0
Date: April 2021
Classification: PublicYou can also read
