POLICIES & PROCEDURES:
ASSESSMENT FRAUD & MALPRACTICE
1. WE AIM:
1.1 To identify and minimise the risk of fraud / fraud / malpractice by staff or learners.
1.2 To respond to any incident of alleged fraud / fraud / malpractice promptly and objectively.
1.3 To standardise and record any investigation of fraud / malpractice to ensure openness and fairness.
1.4 impose appropriate penalties and/or sanctions on learners or staff where incidents (or attempted incidents) of fraud / malpractice are proven.
1.5 To protect the integrity of the centre and qualifications.
2. IN ORDER TO DO THIS, THE CENTRE WILL:
2.1 Seek to avoid potential fraud / malpractice by using the induction period and the student handbook to inform learners of the centre’s policy on fraud / malpractice and the penalties for attempted and actual incidents of fraud / malpractice.
2.2 Show learners the appropriate formats to record cited texts and other materials or information sources, if relevant.
2.3 Ask learners to declare that their work is their own.
2.4 Ask learners to provide evidence that they have interpreted and synthesised appropriate information and acknowledged any sources used, if relevant.
2.5 Conduct an investigation in a form commensurate with the nature of the fraud / malpractice allegation. The Quality Assurance Manager will support such an investigation and all personnel linked to the allegation.
2.6 Make the individual fully aware at the earliest opportunity of the nature of the alleged fraud / malpractice and of the possible consequences should fraud / malpractice be proven.
2.7 Give the individual the opportunity to respond to the allegations made.
2.8 Inform the individual of the avenues for appealing against any judgment made.
2.9 Document all stages of any investigation.
Where fraud / malpractice is proven, the learner be will dismissed from the training course.
3. DEFINITION OF FRAUD/MALPRACTICE BY LEARNERS:
(This list is not exhaustive and other instances of fraud / this centre at its discretion may consider malpractice)
3.1 Plagiarism of any nature.
3.2 Collusion by working collaboratively with other learners to produce work that is submitted as individual learner work.
3.3 Copying (including the use of ICT to aid copying).
3.4 Deliberate destruction of another’s work.
3.5 Fabrication of results or evidence.
3.6 False declaration of authenticity in relation to the contents of a portfolio or coursework.
3.7 Impersonation by pretending to be someone else in order to produce the work for another or arranging for another to take one’s place in an assessment/examination/test.
3. DEFINITION OF FRAUD/MALPRACTICE BY CENTRE STAFF:
4.1 Improper assistance to candidates.
4.2 Inventing or changing marks for internally assessed work (coursework or portfolio evidence) where there is insufficient evidence of the candidates’ achievement to justify the marks given or assessment decisions made.
4.3 Failure to keep candidate coursework/portfolios of evidence secure.
4.4 Inappropriate retention of certificates.
4.5 Assisting learners in the production of work for assessment, where the support has the potential to influence the outcomes of assessment, for example where the assistance involves centre staff producing work for the learner.
4.6 Producing falsified witness statements, for example for evidence the learner has not generated.
4.7 Allowing evidence, which is known by the staff member not to be the learner’s own to be included in a learner’s assignment/task/portfolio/coursework.
4.8 Facilitating and allowing impersonation.
4.9 Misusing the conditions for special learner requirements, for example where learners are permitted support, such as an amanuensis, this is permissible up to the point where the support has the potential to influence the outcome of the assessment.
4.10 Falsifying records/certificates, for example by alteration, substitution, or by fraud.
4.11 Fraudulent certificate claims that is claiming for a certificate prior to the learner completing all the requirements of assessment.
Where fraud / malpractice is suspected the staff member will be suspended while investigations are carried out.
Policy docs : Assessment Fraud/Malpractice Policy: V2022 MP Review Jan 2026
