The Standard Quality Mark may be suitable for a course that is well planned with set aims and which fulfils learner needs. It may involve discussion, practical work, presentation by key speakers, or a wide range of delivery methods which allow the learners to learn without being formally assessed.

It may be a short course of just a few hours or may cover several sessions over a period of time. Attendance may be voluntary, and sought by the learner, or may be mandatory, e.g. in-house training for staff.

The Enhanced Quality Mark may be suitable for a course that meets the criteria for the Standard Quality Mark plus will have specific aims and objectives which may be differentiated to individual learner needs if necessary. Initial assessments will be carried out to establish each learner’s starting point. The Enhanced Quality Mark will incorporate assessment activity in order to monitor learning, which may be formative or summative and will be recorded by the tutor or by the learners. Assessment methods may vary according to learner ability. Evidence of assessment will be available at the annual quality review. This may be presented in a range of forms such as tutor records, feedback to learners, multiple choice tests, witness statements relating to practical tasks etc.

Internal Quality Assurance will be evident. This may be formally or informally conducted and will check aspects of the course such as quality of teaching and learning, access arrangements, and learner feedback.

This may be suitable for a course that is planned thoroughly and based on learner need and initial assessment activity.

The course will have specific aims and objectives, the achievement of which are measured through formal, appropriately designed assessment tasks. These do not have to result in written evidence, as they will be tailored to learner capabilities, eg oral question and answer, and/or practical demonstration, rather than an essay where an essay is not suitable. The assessment tasks will be marked and learners will receive constructive feedback, in relation to the learning objectives set at the beginning and/or during the course. Evidence of the assessment and feedback activity will be available at the annual Quality Review. The course will be evaluated by learners, the results of which will inform future planning and centre self-assessment. Staff will have access to support systems to ensure that standards are maintained and that the learner experience is positive.

Internal Quality Assurance will be rigorous, checking a range of elements including those above. It will be planned, regular and recorded. Evidence of Internal Quality Assurance will be available at the annual quality review. Internal Quality Assurance will include standardisation activity, where assessors and internal verifiers aim to ensure that assessment is fair and consistent.