All programmes are assessed in line with the stated assessment criteria as detailed in the relevant module descriptor. These will be detailed in the learner brief provided at the commencement of the course. Should a learner wish to clarify the assessment requirements this can be achieved by either reading and understanding the learner brief, by discussing directly with the tutor,or by contacting Scoil Mhuire Adult Education @ www.clanesm.com

The tutor also acts as the internal assessor. The results are then subject to internal verification, external authentication and a results approval panel. Provisional results are communicated by the tutor to the learner after internal verification subject to external authentication process and results approval process.

Approved results are issued to learners subject to the appeals process after both external authentication and results approval panel have been completed.

All programmes are assessed in a fair and consistent manner as per Scoil Mhuire Adult Educations agreed QA procedures with FETAC.

Scoil Mhuire Adult Education will deal with any errors, omissions and/or deliberate acts by learners or tutors that may impact on the validity of the assessment process in a consistent, transparent and timely manner.

3.1 Submission policy

Scoil Mhuire Adult Education`s procedure on Feedback to Learners outlines the centre’s submission policy as follows: Information relating to assessment of the programme is provided to all learners. They are made aware of their responsibility in assessment by the tutor. Learners are informed of deadlines for assignments, examination dates etc. Submission of assessment material after advised dates is not permitted except in extenuating circumstances or grounds for compassionate consideration. Scoil Mhuire Adult Education will judge each application for compassionate consideration or extenuating circumstances on its own merit.

Examples of circumstances under which a provider may consider giving compassionate consideration include:

• Physical injury or emotional trauma

• Physical disability or chronic or disabling condition such as epilepsy, glandular fever or other incapacitating illness of the learner

• Recent bereavement of close family member or friend

• Severe accident

• Domestic Crisis

• Terminal illness of a close family member

• Other extenuating circumstances.

Learners seeking compassionate consideration will be required to provide appropriate evidence/documentation e.g. a statement from a medical practitioner.

3.2 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is addressed in the Scoil Mhuire Adult Education`s procedure on Corrective Action, and is defined as follows: “Plagiarism, to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own, to use (another's production) without crediting the source, to commit literary theft or to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source is forbidden in any assessments for programmes delivered by Scoil Mhuire Adult Education”. Where plagiarism is seen to have occurred, the learner is communicated to and provided with a mechanism to respond. If the plagiarism is validated, the learner’s assessment is deemed invalid and will not be processed for certification. All learners must submit a declaration of original work with each assessment piece.

3.3 Malpractice

Scoil Mhuire Adult Education reserves the right to investigate and deal with any form of assessment malpractice which could impact on the validity of assessment. Learners sign the originality declaration which declares that the work is wholly their own original work.

Examples of Malpractice include:

• Plagiarism as detailed above

• Impersonation of another learner

• Fabrication of evidence

• Alteration of results

• Wrongly obtaining secure assessment material e.g. examinations

• Behaving in any way such as to undermine the integrity of the Assessment Process

Allegations of malpractice will be investigated by the tutor within a timescale that does not disadvantage a learner against whom an unproven allegation is made.

3.4 Integrity of Assessment

Scoil Mhuire Adult Education will ensure the integrity of assessment process with the assessor. The role of the assessor is to evaluate learner evidence and make the assessment decision/judgement on whether the outcomes of knowledge, skill or competence, as outlined in the FETAC Module descriptor has been achieved. The assessor will determine that the evidence is valid, reliable and sufficient to make the assessment decision.

The assessor is suitably qualified and has the responsibility for the assessment of learners. They may be the teacher, trainer or instructor. It can also be a workplace supervisor, manager or team leader but will have the subject matter/technical expertise. i.e. they are proficient in the subject/technical area in which they are assessing.

In the instance of written exams the assessor will draw from a pool of questions to ensure the validity of assessment. Learners will be advised on the allocation of marks/marking criteria in the learners brief.