student handbook 2019 - ncrq.org.uk · contents resubmission effect of re-submission on grades...
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StudentHandbook 2019
January 2019
Welcome— Congratulations on
enrolling on your NCRQ qualification!
Our distance learning qualifications offer an alternative approach to traditional learning, giving you the skills to teach yourself and become a confident and independent safety practitioner.
This handbook will tell you how to access myNCRQ, how to request and submit assignments, give you tips on how best to study at your own pace and other important information about your qualification.
If you have any questions about the information in your workbook, regarding your assessments, or your grades, please contact your tutor directly.
Contact information will be emailed to you on completion of your initial assessment, but let us know if you don’t receive this.
However, if you have questions about myNCRQ or about any of the information in this handbook, please email the student support team at
Con
ten
ts
Resubmission
Effect of re-submission on grades
Mutliple re-submissions
Remarking
Validation Interview
The interview
Identification requirements
Video call requirements
Certification
Results and certification
Feedback
Equal opportunities
Complaints
Postnominals
IOSH
IIRSM
NUS
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To ensure you get the best
learning experience possible,
please ensure that you have a
computer, tablet or smart
phone that meets the minimum
IT requirements.
To access the e-learning activities,
you will need one of the following,
together with a speaker
or headphones:
Mac:
Safari 7 and later,
Google Chrome
Windows:
Internet Explorer 8 or
later, Google Chrome
(latest version), Firefox
(latest version)
Mobile:
Safari in Apple iOS 7
or later, Google Chrome
(latest version) in
Android OS 4.1 or later
IT RequirementsRoles & responsibilities
Code of Conduct
Student support forum
Tutor support - when you need it
The role of a tutor
Getting Started
Distance learning
Using myNCRQ
Accessing your first unit
How to request an assisgnment
Writing an assignment
Time management
How to submit an assignment
Grading Structure
Passing a qualification
Standards of English
Malpractice
How we recognise higher achievement
Tips for higher achievement
Grade calculations
Changes to grades
Assessment feedback
Late submissions and extensions of
assessments
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— Section 1
Code of Conduct
Student support forum
Tutor support - when you need it
The role of a tutor
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Roles & Responsibilities
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Code of Conduct
NCRQ believe in high standards of conduct in order to benefit all students and staff. This code sets out the standards of behaviour and commitment expected from both NCRQ and our students.
Accessibility
NCRQ are committed to removing barriers to quality education. Our qualifications give the freedom to study at a time and place that is flexible and suitable for you.
Innovation
Students gain knowledge, skills and competence through the detailed exploration of genuine case studies; immersed in the key concepts and developing the ability to work from key principles from the outset.
Quality
Our qualifications are developed exclusively by the leading UK experts in each area, including experienced practitioners, regulatory specialists, leading barristers and top academics.
Competence
The NCRQ suite of qualifications provides employers with the assurance that you can “do” health and safety rather than just talk about it.
Our commitment to you
01. To provide you with exceptional quality materials and support to facilitate your self-directed study in the qualification of your choice.
02. To provide you with a fair, equitable and supportive environment in accordance with our equality and diversity policy.
03. To make reasonable adjustments to materials and support, in order to support those with disabilities or additional needs.
04. To recognise that exceptional circumstances can sometimes arise, and take these into account by extending deadlines under our special consideration policy.
05. To take care to keep your personal details secure at all times, and to comply with our obligations under relevant legislation.
06. To encourage a professional and responsible learning environment.
07. To provide an online student handbook which demonstrates the processes throughout the course, a full colour workbook, and access to all necessary online activities.
08. To provide full tutor support whilst you are learning. Students can freely seek advice from their tutor via email seven days a week. Students may discuss any aspect of their assessments with their tutor without penalty, however tutors are not permitted to read drafts or sections of assignments.
09. To provide a “safe space” - we provide and encourage use of the NCRQ student support forum for students who wish to seek internal input and advice from other students.
10. To return marked work in a timely manner and according to our internal codes of practice for assessment, progression and the award of qualifications.
11. To carry out regular monitoring of the quality of learning and teaching offered by NCRQ.
12. To provide a 14-day window to allow you to assess if the course is appropriate for you, and to provide a full refund if you are not 100% satisfied.
Student Responsibilities
01. To behave in a way that promotes a cooperative, positive and productive learning environment for all students and staff at NCRQ.
02. To ensure that you participate in all activities as required by your workbook and e-learning.
03. To ensure that you do not engage in, or act as a party to, any academic misconduct or dishonest practice.
04. To ensure that you adhere to assessment deadlines and other important dates, and to inform NCRQ where a reasonable adjustment or special consideration is required.
05. To carry out your studies with diligence and seek help from our tutors and support team as and when you require it.
What we do not tolerate
01. Plagiarism, collusion, cheating or unauthorised disclosure of assessments and feedback.
02. Bullying or discrimination in any form, and especially against any person due to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.
03. Disruptive behaviour which may disrupt the learning of others.
04. All students are strongly advised to read the NCRQ malpractice policy which gives more details on what qualifies as malpractice and possible sanctions.
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Every unit has a dedicated student support forum. This is a great way to get advice and support from other students.
The forums are monitored by our student support team and tutors during office hours. Asking a question here will mean that others can also share and learn from the responses.
The student support forum can be found in myNCRQ at the top of each main unit. There is no support forum for the introductory unit.
We give you all the support you need to get where you want to be. Support is an important part of the distance learning service that we provide.
One of the main reasons why students don’t choose distance learning to achieve their goal is the fear of being alone and not receiving the support they need.
With us you will not be alone and you’ll have the reassurance of total support from our tutors to guide you through your qualification. You should not hesitate to get in touch with your tutor if you have any concerns at any point.
Every student is allocated a personal tutor when they start a qualification. The tutor is available for support on any aspect of the course, and can be contacted via the support forum, e-mail, or telephone callback.
To reflect the hours that individuals typically study, NCRQ offers full tutor support :
9am-8pm Monday - Friday
12-2pm on Saturday & Sunday
12-2pm on UK Holidays
(excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day).
“I’m so happy I took the course; it’s helped so much. The assessments were really interesting, they made me think.The tutors were amazing, the support is fantastic.”
Student support
forum
Tutor support - when you
need it
All of our tutors are either former inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive, or former director-level safety practitioners.
They are able to help explain concepts that you don’t fully understand, provide additional examples to illustrate things in context, or you can use them to help consolidate your learning.
The tutor’s role is focused on teaching and learning, not helping you to pass an assessment. To ensure all students are treated fairly, tutors are limited in the assistance they can provide once an assignment has been issued. They are not permitted to read through any draft assignments, or answer any specific questions that relate to the assessment criteria. It is therefore important to ensure that you fully understand all of the subject matter before you request an assessment.
The role of a tutor
The primary role of a tutor is to support you when working though your case studies and activities.
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1. Teaching and learning
Full support can be provided by email or telephone to ensure that concepts are fully understood. This may include additional explanation, provision of examples, and illustration with real-world applications.
2. During assessment
Limited support can be given around the development of knowledge and skills, guidance on approach, and clarification of what the assessment brief requires. Students must produce their work independently, and tutors are not permitted to “coach” students or give a list of specific actions that they need to take to meet the assessment criteria.
3. Following assessment
The assessor will give clear feedback on the assessment criteria that have been achieved, and where these have not been achieved they will explain why they have not been achieved. The tutors can provide further explanation if necessary on why the criteria have not been met, however neither the assessor nor tutor can give direct, specific instructions on how the criteria can be met or how a higher grade could be achieved.
Feedback and support stages
— Section 2
Getting Started
Distance learning
Using myNCRQ
Accessing your first unit
How to request an assisgnment
Writing an assignment
Time management
How to submit an assignment
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“I’m using the qualification to progress to gain the knowledge.The tutors are very quick to respond and pretty much available all week!”
Distance learning
Using myNCRQ
NCRQ qualifications give you the freedom to study at a time and place that’s flexible and convenient for you.
Our qualifications are delivered through self-directed learning with full tutor support. You will receive a full colour workbook for each qualification, which will guide you through the case studies.
The emphasis is on problem-based learning, giving you the skills and confidence to teach yourself. To successfully complete your qualification you will need to be self- motivated and be able to allocate time to study. However, by following the activities in your workbook, you should comfortably fall into the routine.
NCRQ has developed an online learning environment - called myNCRQ. Here, you can complete online learning activities, access the student forum, and request and submit completed assignments.
If you are unable to attend classes, distance learning is an ideal way to gain a qualification.
1.
Log in to myNCRQ by clicking on the ‘Login’ button on the top of the NCRQ homepage.
2.
Enter your username and password. You will have received this in your welcome email.
3.
The first time you log-in you will need to change your password.
4.
You will then enter the myNCRQ site. The main part of the screen shows the units available to you.
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Accessing your first
unit
New students will normally only have access to the Legal system in England and Wales. This introductory unit contains an e-learning module which covers the essential pre-requisite knowledge for the course.
It is also where you will complete your initial assessment - to ensure that the qualification is right for you. When you have passed the initial assessment will you have access to the main unit(s).
Click on the title of the unit to access it. You will see a list of all of the resources available for the unit. The introductory unit only has two items. The first of these is the mandatory e-learning module, which includes your initial assessment. The second is an optional module which looks at the legal system in Scotland.
This initial e-learning module is quite detailed, and you should allow at least one hour to complete the module and the short assessment at the end. Some of the e-learning modules, such as this one, have a commentary, and so you will need to have speakers or headphones available.
e-learning
When you click on an e-learning module, it will open in a new window.
You should click Start to begin, and move through the course in order, by clicking on the Next buttons.
Many e-learning modules are quite short, and can be re-started at any time by simply clicking on them again from the myNCRQ page.
As the Legal system in England and Wales module is lengthy, you can also jump back to previous parts of the course by using the menu on the left of the course. You cannot however, jump ahead - it is all important stuff!
These e-learning modules have been designed to be as interesting and interactive as possible (bearing in mind the nature of the subject matter!). You will often encounter exercises to get you thinking, and to consolidate your learning. These usually involve drag-and-drop or sorting activities.
With the exception of the initial assessment at the end of the Legal system in England and Wales, none of the activities in the e-learning modules are assessed, so don’t worry about getting them wrong.
When you have completed most of the introductory e-learning, you will be prompted to undertake your initial assessment. You should write a few sentences with your answers when prompted at the end of the course. The purpose of this is to ensure that you are capable of working at an appropriate level for this qualification.
Don’t worry too much about the detail of your answer - it is more about your ability to analyse the question and formulate a reasonable response.
When this is completed, it will be reviewed by a tutor. This should only take a day or two. You will then receive an email from your allocated personal tutor with their contact details, and then be given access to the main unit(s) on which you have enrolled.
Note that you may not have access to all units immediately where there are pre-requisite units; this is the case with HSD3 Further workplace hazards which will not be available until HSD1 and HSD2 have been passed.
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Please do not access the individual resources until prompted by your workbook!
The NCRQ style of learning requires you to work progressively through the workbook, thinking about each concept and undertaking activities in order. Jumping ahead will reduce the effectiveness of your learning.
If you click on your username at the top of the page, you are able to view your profile information, and updates on any of your forum posts. This allows you to change your profile. You might want to add a photograph, some more details about yourself, or make your e-mail visible to other students. You can also change your myNCRQ password here.
The navigation box allows you to jump to certain areas of the site. The Site pages option is not used. Clicking on My courses will show links to each of the units that you are currently enrolled.
When you have selected one of the main units, you will see that there is a new option available in the Administration box. Clicking on Grades will show you the assessments that you have passed. It will only ever say “pass” or “refer” in the table - you will need to click on the relevant assessment and access the assessor feedback to see your indicative grades.
Because of the way that grades are calculated, it is not possible to predict your final grade by looking at indicative grades in isolation, but this can give you an idea of your performance.
Accessing the main units
When your tutor has reviewed your initial assessment, you will be given access to the main unit(s) on which you have enrolled.
How to request an
assignment
When you reach this point, you should check that you are comfortable with what you have studied to date.
If you are unsure about any subject matter, now is a good time to re-read, ask a question on the forum, or contact your tutor. Once you have been given an assignment, your tutor will be limited in the assistance that they can give.
Read through the learning objectives that are covered in an assessment, and the time that you are allocated to complete it - typically either two or four weeks. It is important to make sure you will have sufficient time available to work on the assignment before requesting it.
When you are ready, scroll down the page of the relevant unit. The assessment request forms are available between the appropriate case studies, as they are printed in the workbook.
Click on the link to request the appropriate assignment, as shown.
You should then receive your assignment via email by the end of the next working day. If you do not receive anything by this time, please let us know and also check your spam mail.
Assignments can be undertaken at any time to suit you. You are prompted to undertake assignments as you work through the book.
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Writing an assignment
Time management
Tips
Your assignment pack will contain the following information:
� Assessment criteria - what is being assessed
� A scenario - based upon a realistic workplace situation
� A task - what you need to do
� Additional information - which you may need to review or analyse
Assessments must be completed and normally saved in any of the following formats:
.doc .docx .pdf
It is important that you work in a way which best suits you as an individual, and allows you to manage your time effectively, keep on top of your workload and meet deadlines.
Based on advice from experienced distance learning tutors and students, these tips are provided to help you get the most out of distance learning.
We do suggest that where possible, you convert your assessment to pdf format prior to submission. This ensures that the assessment is presented exactly as you intend to the assessors. The use of other file formats is still acceptable, however occasionally information such as tables and diagrams are not presented correctly (or at all!), and so the use of pdf is preferred. It is also
much more professional - in real life workplaces, reports should always be submitted as a pdf.
There is no set format to presenting your assignments, unless this is specified in the assignment task. You should use whatever approach is most comfortable for you, or you could adopt the approach used by your employer.
Paragraphs, bullet points, tables and charts are all acceptable - what is important is that the information is clear and professional.
You must clearly state your name and student number on the top of the first page.
When completing an assessment, you should ensure that you have fully completed all aspects of the task. You can then check to see if you have covered the assessment criteria fully, however note that not all aspects of an assessment criteria will be relevant to every assessment.
See the advice for achieving a higher grade.
Focus
on the end goal. Why are you working towards this qualification? For a new job, different career, or for a promotion? If you have a clear goal of what you aim to achieve through your studying, then regular reminders will keep you inspired and on the right track. .
Planning
your studying can make it easier for you to manage. To be a successful distance learner you will need to develop good study habits and manage your time efficiently from the initial stage of your qualification. Make sure that you have a quiet and comfortable space that you can study in.
Monitor
your own progress by noting where you are in the qualification, which assignments you have completed and what’s next.
Communicate
with your peers through myNCRQ student forum. Reach out when you need someone to talk to, feel frustrated or need help and remember you are not alone!
Help
Don’t forget that your tutor is available throughout the qualification for assistance.
Contribute
advice or ideas about the real-world as it applies to the subject matter you are studying by using myNCRQ student forum. Discussions can be very lively and active, and become great learning avenues.
Learn
from your mistakes. Don’t let setbacks demotivate you, learn from it and use the experience to improve your approach to studying.
Broaden
your knowledge. To keep your qualification topic fresh, you don’t just have to stick to traditional research and academic text books. Read newspaper articles and journals; follow blogs and Twitter and keep your eyes open for any free local talks or exhibitions. This will help understand real-world applications of your subject area, and will keep your knowledge up to date.
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How to submit an
assignment
“ I really like the assessments, it suits my learning style. I found the tutors really useful; I didn’t need to use them that much to be honest. But what’s good about the qualification is knowing they are there and not having to stress about it.”
When you have completed your assignment, you must upload it to myNCRQ before the appropriate deadline. The deadline will be midnight at the end of the date given.
You will find the option to submit your assignment directly below the link used to request it. Click on the icon link.
Drag your assignment file to the box, or click to manually upload the file from your computer. Unless otherwise stated, most assessments must be completed in a single file only.
Important! After the file is uploaded, it is not submitted until you select “Submit assignment”.
If you have followed the steps above correctly, your submission status should read “Submitted for grading”.
— Section 3
Passing a qualification
Standards of English
Malpractice
How we recognise higher achievement
Tips for higher achievement
Grade calculations
Changes to grades
Assessment feedback
Late submissions and extensions of assessments
Resubmission
Effect of re-submission on grades
Mutliple re-submissions
Remarking
Validation interview
The interview
Identification requirements
Video call requirements
Certification
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39Grading Structure
This is often quite appropriate for purely academic subjects, where the emphasis is on the knowledge of the student.
Where a qualification is used to demonstrate competence in a particular field, numerically marked qualifications are much less valid. Pass marks are usually set at a low level, often 40%, which means that a student can be awarded a qualification having failed to achieve most of the marks available, and perhaps not having adequate knowledge of over half of the syllabus. An employer cannot rely on these qualifications as evidence of competence.
Due to this, NCRQ qualifications have been developed under the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) (formerly the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)). Rather than using numerical marking, with arbitrary thresholds and which can reward “selective learning”, a student must demonstrate competence in every assessment criteria.
Each assignment will be used to assess one or more assessment criteria. Where a student can demonstrate adequate competence in every assessment criteria, they will be awarded the qualification.
In this way, NCRQ qualifications provide evidence that the student is competent in every area, and can provide assurance to employers that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake a particular role.
Additionally, employers and individuals consistently report that many qualified safety practitioners do not have the skills required to actually undertake their functions effectively. By using competence-based assessments, NCRQ qualifications focus on the skills and understanding, rather than the recital of knowledge required in traditional exams.
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Passing a qualification
Many qualifications, especially in higher education, use numerical marking for exams or assessments, with an arbitrary threshold set for a pass, merit, or distinction.
Standards of English
Malpractice
Note that there are exceptions to this, and some assessment criteria do relate to presentation.
Academic standards must be safeguarded, and so if spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors detract significantly from the content of the assessment work, the assessment may be referred and will require the student to revise and re-submit the assessment. If the document would not be acceptable in a working environment, then it is unlikely to meet the assessment criteria.
Where written expression is so poor that coherence and intelligibility are an issue, then an assessment may be referred without full examination of the assessment criteria. This also applies where assessments contain excessive information to the extent that the relevant information and assessment criteria can not be readily identified.
If you have a diagnosed reading or writing disorder, then you should ensure that the document is subject to proof-reading as you would in a work environment.
Spelling, grammar and punctuation are not usually included as a marking criterion and therefore students will not be penalised for minor errors that do not hinder the reader’s ability to understand the content of the assessment work.
Plagiarism
is the act of taking someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. This includes incorporating either unattributed direct quotations or substantial paraphrasing from the work of others. It is important to cite all sources whose work has been drawn upon and reference them fully.
You can of course use external sources in your assignment - but you must provide full details of your sources, and make it clear what
is not your own work. There is no set format for presenting quoted work or displaying your references - but it must be clear.
Collusion
is when two or more people combine to produce a piece of work for assessment that is passed off as the work of one student alone. It also includes attempts to collude with others, such as asking to see another student’s completed assessment.
Unauthorised disclosure
is very important to NCRQ. Disclosing assessment questions, completed assessments and marks and comments from assessors is not permitted.
Any of these are grievous academic misconduct and may result in you being suspended. Please see our malpractice policy for more information.
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01. Meet or exceed the expectations of senior management of a company and the regulator.
02. Be fully legally compliant, to the extent that the regulator is unlikely to give more than verbal advice.
03. Be highly likely that any civil claims could be fully defended.
04. Demonstrate a full appreciation of the costs of recommendations; suggested controls are proportional and do not require an organisation to expend any excessive time, effort or money. Assessments should reflect actions expected in the real world.
05. Answer tasks and questions fully, clearly, and confidently.
06. . Have a presentation, layout, and approach that are very professional and fully appropriate to the intended audience. Logical format and structure, with appropriate use of headings, bullet points, tables, illustrations and images.
07. Unless otherwise stated, be as realistic as possible, and written for the intended audience as stated in the scenario, and not for an assessor.
08. Where appropriate, use real-world examples to illustrate points and concepts.
09. Have important elements clearly prioritised, visible or emphasised, and not buried deep within paragraphs of text.
10. When referring to legal requirements or quotations from guidance, provide excerpts that are concise or paraphrased in order to retain the attention of the intended audience.
Use of information
There is a demonstration of an excellent grasp of the meaning and significance of information, which is applied fully and consistently, with outcomes that are accurate, appropriate and succinct.
Communication and presentation
The work is structured in a way that is consistently logical and fluent. Puts forward ideas that are consistently unambiguous and cogent. Taken as a whole, demonstrates an excellent response to the demands of the brief.
How we recognise
higher achievement
Tips for higher
achievement
However, many students may well perform at a level above “adequate”. To recognise this, it is possible for an NCRQ qualification to be awarded with merit or distinction.
Where a student has demonstrated adequate competence in every assessment criteria, each assessment will then also be looked at holistically to determine if there is evidence of a higher level of achievement. The outcome of this will be recorded as a pass, merit or distinction, in accordance with the defined marking scheme and grade descriptors.
Submission can be in a variety of formats unless stated otherwise in the assessment pack. However, converting your assessment to pdf format before submission is good practice, and will ensure that it displays consistently on various devices and software. Otherwise, slight changes in software versions, installations, and available fonts can mean that your assignment does not display as expected.
In order to pass an assessment, you will need to demonstrate competence in each assessment criteria by completing the tasks fully and accurately.
Each assessment has its own specific grading schemes, however the tips below can help you understand generally what is required to achieve a higher grade.
Note: not all of these will be relevant in every assessment.
Application of knowledge and skills
The work makes use of relevant facts, perspectives and concepts with both breadth and depth, with excellent levels of accuracy, consistency, confidence, insight and analysis.
The qualification will be awarded when adequate competence is demonstrated in every assessment outcome.
In real life this means that a first class assessment would:
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Unit grades
D + D + D
D + D + M
D + D + P
D + M + M
D + M + P
Qualification
Distinction
Distinction
Merit
Merit
Merit
Unit grades
M + M + M
M + M + P
P + P + D
M + P + P
P + P + P
Qualification
Merit
Merit
Pass
Pass
Pass
HSD1 = Distinction
HSD2 = Distinction
HSD3 = Merit
(D + D + M)
Grade calculations
Changes to grades
Assessment feedback
This offers a more accurate reflection of a student’s performance across the range of assessments.
There is a similar calculation of an overall grade for the diploma ,where the grades for all individual units together will determine the final grade.
Please see the table below for how units HSD1-3 grades are awarded. For example, if a student was to achieve the following unit grades:
Assessment grading usually takes about two weeks, however can sometimes take a little longer. This is nothing to worry about. When the assessment process is completed, your assignments may then be subject to verification and standardisation, to further improve the quality and validity of our qualifications. Please do not contact us unless your assessment has not been released for over three weeks.
Where you have met all of the assessment criteria for an assignment,
you will be informed of this result via e-mail, or you can review the relevant submitted assignment on myNCRQ. You will be given an indicative grade for the assignment, which is based on your performance across the
criteria under assessment. Note that the indicative grade is given in the
feedback section - the grade field will only ever state “pass” or “refer”.
Go to the feedback section on your assignment to see all the details from your assessor.
If for any reason you have not met the criteria for the assignment, the feedback will reflect this.
Please note that grades on assignments are indicative only. The final grade for the qualification can only be calculated when all of the assignments have been completed.
Where you have failed to demonstrate adequate competence in one or more of the assessment criteria, you will be told in which criteria you failed to achieve, and an explanation provided as to why this was not achieved. You will not be given feedback on indicative grading in this situation.
There will also be a link within the comments section where you can pay for the resubmission fee. Once the re-submission fee has been processed (during office hours only), the assessment will be re-opened and you will be able to upload a revised assessment.
You do not need to wait for your feedback in order to continue with the next assignments for your unit of study.
01. If an administrative error has been made
02. Or as a result of the re-marking process
This is known as ‘grade polishing’ and is not permitted. This applies to successful first submissions and to resubmissions.
The only circumstances in which grade indicators may be amended are:
The overall grade awarded for the NCRQ Diploma in Applied Health and Safety would be a Distinction.
The final grade for each unit is determined by looking at the grades of all completed assessments by the student.
In order to ensure independence and consistency, NCRQ assessments are marked by assessors, and not your tutor. You should receive an email when your feedback is released, and you can also check this on myNCRQ.
You will receive feedback on your assignment after it has been marked.
Once an assignment has been passed, you are not permitted to resubmit all or part of the assessed work in order to seek to improve or change a grade.
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Late submissions
and extensions of assessments
Multiple resubmissions
Resubmission
Effect of resubmission on
grades
If an assignment is submitted after the deadline without an extension having been granted and the work does not meet the learning outcomes, your tutor will contact you to discuss the most appropriate way forward.
You may request an extension to a submission deadline when circumstances outside your control have arisen which prevent submission or are likely to result in significant under-performance if the original deadline is enforced. Please see the reasonable adjustments and special consideration policy for more information.
Grades are not necessarily capped for a re-submitted assessment - it is still possible to acheive a higher grade.
It is however unlikely that a higher grade will be awarded for a re-submission unless the initial submission was of a very high standard and only a minor issue resulted in the assessment criteria not being met at the first attempt.
Where an assessment was unsuccessful due to poor understanding of an important concept, or would have given rise to a risk of serious injury or ill-health, then any resubmission is unlikely to achieve higher than a pass grade.
Where a second re-submission is not permitted, or where permitted but the student fails to meet the assessment criteria on the second re-submission, then the student will be deemed to have failed to achieve the unit.
Where a student fails to achieve the unit, they will need to re-start the unit. This will require payment of the appropriate enrolment fee, and completion of new assessments for every aspect of the unit, regardless of their previous performance.
At this stage, students should reflect and take advice from their tutors to see if the course of study is suitable for them.
If your assignment has been submitted after the formal deadline has passed, and no extension has been granted, the grade indicator relating to that assignment will be capped at pass.
Previous performance is taken into account when determining the grade for a second or subsequent attempt.
When a submission is unsuccessful, no credit can be awarded and it is not eligible for grading. It will be returned with a “refer” grade.
In these circumstances, you will need to revise and re-submit the assessment.
If the first attempt at an assessment does not meet all of the assessment criteria, then a student will receive a “refer” grade. Feedback will then be provided by the assessor explaining where the assessment criteria has not been met, and why the required standard was not achieved. The student is then given the chance to revise the assessment and focus their attention on the areas identified as requiring improvement.
Students may also seek support from their tutor during this period, although tutors are not permitted to give advice directly in relation to the assessment criteria, and they are not permitted to read through parts of a draft assessment.
In the event that you need to resubmit an assignment, there will be a fee to cover the costs of reassessment. You will receive a link within the feedback section where you can pay the resubmission fee.
Every student is allowed a second attempt at a referred assessment.
However, because every assessment contributes towards the final qualification grade, students are normally allowed only one re-submission for each assessment.
If your submission is not successful at the first attempt (that is, one or more of the learning outcomes for the assignment has not been achieved), the assignment is regarded as an unsuccessful submission.
Where a student fails to meet the assessment criteria on their second submission, they will only be permitted an additional attempt in the following circumstances:
� they have not previously had a second re-submission permitted in any other NCRQ assessment in that unit; and
� the tutor agrees that the second re-submission is appropriate and in the best interests of the student and organisation; and
� there have been no adverse findings of malpractice in the previous 12 months.
Student Handbook
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Remarking
You must request a remarking application no later than 10 working days after your result is released.
If you are dissatisfied with your marking or grade indicators you may ask for your assignment to be reviewed.
Application
You must request remarking application by emailing [email protected] no later than ten working days after the result for the particular assessment is e-mailed you (regardless of the date that the email was opened).
There will be a fee to cover the costs of reassessment. You will receive a link to pay this online.
Outcome
The assignment will be remarked by a new assessor, and the new result will be communicated to you within 10 working days. This may uphold the existing mark, or increase or decrease the mark. This revised mark will be the final result, even if it results in a reduction. Where a mark is changed as a result of a remarking application, any fee will be reimbursed.
Appeals
If you wish to appeal against a remarking decision, then an appeal should be made in accordance with the appeals process.
See the remarking policy and appeals policy for more details.
Validation interview
NCRQ qualifications have been designed to be assessed by assignments only so that the assessment reflects the real life skills that are being tested, and to improve the accessibility of the qualifications.
There is therefore no need for students to have to travel to an exam centre every time they want to be assessed.
The only disadvantage of this is that it is not as easy to validate the identification of our students. In order to ensure that our qualifications are properly awarded, and to prevent malpractice by students submitting work completed by someone else, every student must undertake a validation interview before being awarded a qualification.
A validation interview will take place only after all of the assessment criteria has been met - this means that a student will already have demonstrated that they have the knowledge and skills to be awarded a qualification.
The purpose of the validation interview is therefore to ensure that you have completed all of the work yourself. This will involve checking your photographic ID over a video call, and an informal discussion:
This interview is not an assessment. It is simply designed to check that the assessments you have submitted were written by you.
Examination-based qualifications are able to verify the identity of their students very easily by requiring students to bring some photographic identification to each exam, which is then checked by an invigilator.
� About the course;
� Your knowledge of key facts; and
� Questions about the assessments that you have submitted
“I thought the qualification was fantastic! The good thing about this qualification is it’s all case studies, you work at your own pace and I just thought it was absolutely brilliant! I’ve learnt so much.”
Student Handbook
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The interview
Extended validation interview
Video call requirements
Identification requirements
It is nothing to worry about, and you are not expected to be able to answer every question correctly or be able to recall details that you studied early in the course. You are not expected to do any preparation.
If you have successfully satisfied the interviewer that you have completed the work yourself, you will be notified within 24 hours. In very occasional cases, where your answers were not sufficient to prove that you have completed the course, you may be required to undertake a further extended validation interview by a senior tutor.
This can be requested for a number of reasons, and is often required for random quality assurance purposes. It does not mean that the original interviewer has highlighted a problem.
This will be undertaken in a similar manner to the standard interview, however will be conducted by a senior tutor who will explore your knowledge and understanding a little further. They may require additional information about the assessments, such as asking about your approach and justification for your decisions. You will be provided with further details where required.
Note that there is a fee for an extended validation interview where this has arisen as a result of a malpractice investigation.
If you do not have a device, you should try to borrow one from a friend or family member, or by visiting a local library. If you are really struggling, NCRQ can post a device out to you, however there will be a charge for this service.
NCRQ will call you, so you are unlikely to be charged for this call, however you should check with your operator in advance.
Calls can be made via:
You will of course also require an internet or 3G/4G connection, depending upon the device.
This does not need to be your own device. You will only need access to it for about 15 minutes at a mutually agreed date and time, once you have completed all of your assessments. Such a device may include:
If you do not have one of these documents, you will be asked to get a passport- sized photograph endorsed by your employer or a professional person.
The interview is informal, and will last about 10 minutes.
An extended validation interview may be required in some circumstances.
You will need to have access to a device capable of receiving a two-way video call.
You must provide one of the photographic identification documents listed below.
� A UK, EU, or other nationality passport
� An EU or non EU photocard driving licence
� An EU national ID card
� A police or armed services ID card
� A computer with a webcam
� A laptop with a webcam connected or built in
� A tablet, such as an iPad or similar
� A smartphone
� Skype (not from a Skype business account)
� FaceTime
Documents that have expired may still be acceptable if the photograph is still a good likeness of the student.
Certification
Results and certification
Feedback
Equal opportunities
Complaints
Postnominals
IOSH
IIRSM
NUS
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— Section 4
Student Handbook
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Results and
certification
Complaints
Postnominals
IOSH
Equal opportunities
Feedback
After you have completed all of your assessments and have had your validation interview, you will be emailed with your final grade for your unit.
Your qualification certificate will then be posted to you - and this can take up to 8 weeks to arrive.
Replacement certificates are available in the event of loss or damage, but there will be a fee payable.
We also aim to provide a supportive environment and to be responsive to concerns when they are raised.
You are encouraged and expected to raise any problems or issues with us immediately so we have an opportunity to discuss these with you at an early stage. This prevents things becoming more complex and difficult to resolve. We take seriously all problems and issues raised with us and aim to deal with them in a timely, fair and consistent way.
If you have a problem please let your tutor know as soon as possible. If you are not sure who to talk to, then let our support team know; they will be more than happy to help you.
Please see our complaints policy for more information.
Once you have been formally awarded your certificate, you may use the postnominals “CertNCRQ”.
Once you have been formally awarded your Diploma, you may use the postnominals “DipNCRQ”.
This statement applies to recruitment and admissions, the coverage of the qualification, the teaching and assessment of progress, and to the support services provided.
If you believe yourself to have been subjected to unfair treatment as described in the equality and diversity policy, please report your concern immediately to your tutor.
We hope that your experience with NCRQ will be a positive one and we will ask you for your feedback at the end of your studies.
We are also happy to hear your comments at any time through the student forum or our social media pages.
Your indicative grades for assignments will be notified to you throughout your period of study and will be displayed on your myNCRQ page.
We are committed to providing high quality qualifications to all our students.
Associate Member (AIOSH) and Technical Member (Tech IOSH)
- Status can be gained with the NCRQ Level 6 Certificate in Applied Health and Safety.
Graduate Member (Grad IOSH)
- Status can be obtained after completion of an IOSH-accredited degree level qualification,such as the NCRQ Level 6 Diploma in Applied Health and Safety.
Chartered Member (CMIOSH)
- Status can be gained by completion of a skills development portfolio. You will also havea professional peer interview and it is obligatory to undertake continuous professionaldevelopment.
The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, or IOSH, is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals.
NCRQ is committed to ensuring that everyone studying with us should be valued equally and fairly on the basis of merit regardless of age, class, disability, gender, marital status, nationality, race, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sexual orientation or social background. All students are expected to fully support this policy.
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IIRSM
NUS
The International Institute for Risk and Safety Management is an alternative route to ensure that your skills are recognised.
There is a Student Membership category which is free of charge. You will need a confirmation letter from us, please contact our student support team at [email protected] for a copy of this.
Associate Level (AIIRSM)
- You must demonstrate a clear understanding of health and safety through a nationally recognised qualification such as the NCRQ Level 6 Certificate in Applied Health and Safety.
Member (MIIRSM)
- You are required to be working in a health and safety position, and holding a higher-level health and safety qualification such as the NCRQ Level 6 Diploma in Applied Health and Safety.
As an accredited further education institution, all of our students are eligible to apply for an NUS TOTUM discount card.
Our students can apply from the myNCRQ learning portal. You will need your NCRQ student number.
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