All students should be provided with evidenced based, objective and fair assessments of their practice and academic learning. A fair and evidenced based assessment ensures that an objective decision is made and that public protection is upheld. Students must meet the relevant requirements for safe and effective practice for an award to be made.
In order to ensure that an evidenced based, objective and fair assessment takes place, students must be provided with documentation and information needed to ensure they know what the process will be, and what outcomes they must achieve. This should provide the student with information about different methods of assessment that will be used in different practice learning environments and the support available.
How assessors are involved
All students should be assigned one academic assessor per part of the programme and one practice assessor for each placement or a series of placements. One practice assessor will work with one academic assessor to make recommendations for progression for the student from one part of the programme to the next. These individuals should be accessible to students and have an ongoing relationship with them. Students should be informed about who these individuals are, what their role is, and how they may and should communicate with them.
Other people will be part of assessment, for example practice supervisors, programme leaders, and academics in the academic environment. Students should be provided with all relevant information about the process of assessment, and all those who work within it from their education provider.
How students are involved
In order to have an evidenced based, objective and fair assessment, students must be involved and kept up to date on their performance and given the opportunity to develop. Assessment should be continuous throughout a programme of study.
Students must be empowered to play an active part in the assessment process, through self-reflection and other means.
If a student’s behaviour or practice poses an immediate risk to public safety a decision make be taken to withdraw the student from their placement while AEI’s processes for investigations take place. In serious and significant situations decisions may be taken to withdraw students from their programme. All of this is managed by the AEI and practice partners through their local student fitness to practise policy and processes. At all times the student should be informed about the process and the reasons behind it.
If a student is being supported due to them having difficulty achieving the programme outcomes, the student should be provided with relevant information and support throughout the process to enable them to understand what is expected of them and what they need to do to improve and progress.
More information can be found on what constitutes an evidenced based, objective and fair assessment in the sections on practice assessment and academic assessment.
