The (TAQA) Internal Quality Assurance Award/Certificate Part of the TAQA Suite of Units: Training Assessment & Quality Assurance

• Those who have responsibility for Internal Quality Assurance of Externally approved programmes.
• Those managing NVQ programmes.

The TAQA Quality Assurance Qualification comprises three units:

• Unit-4: Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Process and Practice (6 credits)
• Unit-5: Internally assure the Quality of Assessment (6 credits)
• Unit-8: Plan, Allocate and monitor Work in Own Area of Responsibility (6 credits)

When combined these can achieve:

• Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Process and Practice (Unit-4 – 6 credits) – For those who are new to internal quality assurance
• Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (Unit-4 and Unit-5 – 12 credits) – For practitioners who conduct internal quality assurance of the assessment process
• Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (All units – 17 Credits) – For practitioners who lead the internal quality assurance process and have a responsibility for managing the quality of the assessment process/practice and the performance of assessors

Through discussion, a tutor will advise on the most appropriate units for an interested candidate.

TAQA Internal Quality Assurance Award/Certificate – Course Objectives

On completion of the programme candidates will be able to:

• Carry out and evaluate internal assessment and quality assurance systems
• Support Assessors
• Monitor the quality of Assessors’ performance

A brief overview of requirements of each unit

401 – Level 4 Award in understanding the internal quality assurance of assessment processes and practice:

This unit has two knowledge assignments (that should be referenced in accordance with all qualifications at level 4) and a recorded professional discussion.

This unit can be undertaken as an award for those who need to know about quality assurance but who are not carrying out quality assurance themselves.  These may be experienced assessors or centre manager for example.

Course knowledge can be found from your own awarding body (or our awarding body City & Guilds), recommended text books (Completing your Training Assessment and Quality Assurance Qualifications, Anne Gravells)  and legislation knowledge.

The Performance Units are as follows: Note:  The qualifications that you assess should be registered qualifications that have to undergo quality systems (moderation or verification) – and you should be employed within a registered qualification centre as an Internal Quality Assurer (IQA).

 402  – combines with 401 above for a Level 4 Award in the internal quality assurance of assessment processes and practice

You will Support and Quality Assure two of your team’s assessors and should sample the work of two of their learners each.

For practitioners who conduct internal quality assurance of the assessment process and practice from within a centre or organisation, by sample planning, monitoring, and advising on the practice of assessors.

Evidenced by records of real work when quality assuring two of the assessment team.

403 – combines with 402 and 401 above for a Level 4 Certificate in Leading the internal quality assurance of assessment processes and practice.

You will likely manage a centre/assessment team and lead the internal quality assurance process with responsibility for managing the quality of the assessment process and practice and the performance of assessors. You will also be responsible for developing systems and lead on visits from outside agencies such as awarding organisations.

Need for Internal Quality Assurance: (IV)

Please note that many qualifications will require you to be countersigned until you have qualified (your qualification’s Assessment Strategy will advise).  The counter signatory should be a qualified Internal Quality Assurer member of your centre’s team who will confirm that your decisions meet your centre’s requirements.

TAQA Assessor Observation:  Please liaise with the tutor regarding being observed with each of the assessors you are supporting and providing them with feedback following your planed IQA activity.

Standardisation: You will also need to provide a record to show you have attended and contributed to a minimum of two standardisation meetings  (NB: not a regular team meeting).

CPD :   include a list of  your CPD over the last 18 months

TAQA Internal Quality Assurance Award/Certificate – Course Structure

• Candidates are supported by an Assessor who works closely with the candidate and assists them as they build a portfolio of evidence. The Assessor will visit the candidate in their place of work to observe them and advise on portfolio construction as appropriate
• Candidates will receive an induction onto the Award which will help them to understand how to construct their portfolio of evidence
• Further meetings will be arranged to progress the candidate through the qualification. It is expected that most candidates will achieve the qualification within 12 months. If not achieved within the agreed timescales there may be additional costs

Pre-requisite Knowledge/Qualifications

• Qualification in the occupational area they will be quality assuring (or approval from their own awarding body in writing)
• D32/33 or A1/A2 (whilst not always a pre-requisite, it is considered best practice to hold these qualifications to ensure that quality assurance is following best practice. )
• The IQA Learner will be required to quality assure the work of  two Assessors each assessing two Candidates/learners each.

Level 3 Education and Training Award (Replacement for PTTLS).