Who are involved in Diplomas?
A number of individuals and organisations are involved in Diploma assessment. Their roles have been designed to guarantee fair, accurate and consistent assessment: Centres
These are schools, colleges, universities, training providers, employers and other organisations that offer Diplomas on behalf of Edexcel.
They are responsible for the quality of the qualification and must work within Edexcel’s policies and guidelines; appoint assessors and internal verifiers, provide appropriate study environments and perform a yearly review of the programme and candidates’ performance.
Employers
Employers play a key role in the delivery of Diplomas. They provide assessment evidence through such mechanisms as expert witness statements and observations; work with centres to define the training needs of an individual, negotiate levels, options and pathways. The agreed programme will depend upon the nature of the environment and, the sector needs as well as the needs of the individual.
Employers work with assessors to support candidates by providing training and experience opportunities during their Diploma Whether in an existing, permanent job or as a provider of work experience opportunities: permanent or temporary, paid or voluntary.
Candidates
The people who want to achieve the Diploma, e.g. employees. They need to show they can perform to national standards in order to be awarded a Diploma or unit(s).
Witnesses
These are line managers, colleagues or customers who provide evidence of a specific aspect of the candidate’s achievements. This must be authenticated by the assessor or an expert witness.
Expert witnesses
These are occupationally competent people with expertise in specific units of the Diploma, able to give a professional opinion as to the competence of a candidate. Their professional role must involve evaluating the everyday practice of staff as they are expected to contribute to the evidence of competent performance in the workplace.
Assessors
Assessors are qualified people, who assess the candidates and decide if they have met the required standard, They do this by judging a candidate’s evidence of performance, knowledge and understanding against the national standards and decide whether they have demonstrated competence.
Internal verifier (IV)
IVs are appointed by the individual centres to advise and support assessors, check that standards are applied consistently and maintain the quality of assessment in a centre. They sample assessments systematically to confirm the quality and consistency of assessment decisions.
External verifier (EV)
People appointed by Edexcel to ensure that standards are being applied uniformly and consistently across all centres offering the Diploma.
EVs are appointed by Edexcel to check that standards are being applied uniformly and consistently across all centres offering the Diploma, and the quality and consistency of assessments by systematically sampling evidence.
They make regular visits to centres to ensure that they continue to meet the approval criteria.
Edexcel
An internationally recognized and approved awarding body, Edexcel provides qualifications throughout the world. Issues candidates’ certificates so that employers can be sure the qualification has been gained after a rigorous and effective assessment process.
How are Diplomas achieved?
When you consistently meet the standards described in the elements and show that you have the required skills and knowledge, you can then claim that you are competent. You can claim certification for single units or the whole qualification. Your claim to competence is registered through your awarding body, Edexcel. The certification is claimed from Edexcel through your “centre” (e.g. college, employer or training provider)
How do I start my Diploma?
Gaining a Diploma is flexible and depends on your needs. At the beginning of the process, your assessor will review your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and identify the most suitable Diploma level. The level you start at will depend on the type and breadth of your current job role together with your past experience, qualifications, skills and any relevant prior learning. The level you start at may also depend on the skills your employer needs to support their business.
How will I achieve my Diploma?
To achieve a Diploma, or a unit of a Diploma, you must demonstrate that you meet the requirements of the performance criteria by collecting the evidence specified in the evidence requirements. This evidence is assessed against the national standards by a qualified assessor, who will be allocated to you by your centre. This may be someone who knows you, such as a manager or supervisor.