Qualifications Regulations and Policy Forms Appeals policy

Appeals policy

Issue 6

This document details the policy applying to the following awards that are made by the ifs School of Finance (ifs):

You will need to complete the Appeals application form under this policy

The appropriate fee must accompany your application form.

Introduction

The ifs recognises that students, and centres on behalf of their students, who have received a decision relating to an enquiry, a special consideration or a reasonable adjustment, and are not satisfied with the outcome, have a right to make an appeal if they believe that the process has not been followed properly or has been implemented to their detriment. This policy therefore applies to students, or centres, who believe that they, or their students, may have been unfairly treated during the enquiry/special consideration/reasonable adjustment, or other process and not in accordance with standard procedures set out in the appropriate ifs policy.

Furthermore this policy also applies to appeals against rejection of an application to act as an ifs assessment centre, or other matters eg additional monitoring arising from inspection.

  1. Type of Appeal
    1. The ifs has established four types of appeal that may be request against the outcome of:
      1. an enquiry with respect to an individual assessment component or unit within an award not to the award itself;
      2. a special consideration with respect to an individual assessment component or unit within an award not to the award itself;
      3. a reasonable adjustment with respect to an individual assessment component or unit within an award not to the award itself;
      4. a malpractice decision with respect to an individual assessment component or unit within an award or the award itself;

        and in addition will consider the centre appeals eg additional ifs monitoring arising from inspection.

      5. an application to act by a centre;
    2. An appeal against an enquiry outcome, either from a student or a centre, will:
      1. Investigate that procedures have been appropriately followed; it will not be concerned with making judgment about the student’s work;
      2. not involve reviewing or re-basement, but review or re-assessment can be ordered if, following consideration of an appeal, it is found that the procedures have not been adequately followed.
    3. An appeal against the outcome of a special consideration or reasonable adjustment application will:
      1. Re-consider the original evidence;
      2. Consider any additional evidence supplied by the student/centre as part of the appeal;
      3. Not seek evidence beyond that supplied by the student for that purpose.
    4. The ifs appeals process for 1.b. and 1.c. operates in two sequential stages:
      1. Stage 1: A senior member of the ifs Awards and Curriculum will investigate the case and prepare a written report on their investigation. The report, which will include the outcome of the investigation, will be communicated to the student.
      2. Stage 2: The case is considered by the ifs Awards and Curriculum Appeals Committee. The Committee will investigate the case and prepare a written report on its investigation. The report, which will include the outcome of the investigation, will be communicated to the student.

        Stage 1 must be completed before Stage 2. Each stage has an associated fee.

    5. Appeals under 1.d will be considered by the Director, Awards and Curriculum.
  2. Submitting an appeal
    1. A Stage 1 appeal, submitted with regard to an enquiry, special consideration or reasonable adjustment, must be submitted to the ifs Customer and Student Services department using the application form within 15 working days of the date of the ifs letter advising the outcome of the associated enquiry, special consideration or reasonable adjustment.
    2. A Stage 2 appeal must be submitted to the ifs Customer and Student Services department using the application form within 15 working days of the date of the ifs letter advising the outcome of the associated Stage 1 appeal.
    3. It is the responsibility of the student/centre to ensure that the appeal application form includes a clear statement of the grounds on which the appeal is based and is accompanied by all supporting evidence.
    4. No appeal application form (Stage 1 or Stage 2) will be accepted by the ifs unless the appropriate fee accompanies it.
    5. The ifs reserves the right not to consider appeals (Stage 1 or Stage 2) if received beyond the published deadlines.
    6. Each appeal (Stage 1 or Stage 2) will be acknowledged by the ifs within five working days. The acknowledgement will include the date by which the student can expect a full response to their appeal.
    7. For a Stage 1 appeal, the report, which will include the outcome of the investigation, will normally be communicated to the student/centre within 20 working days of the ifs receiving the request. However, in complex cases needing detailed investigation, additional time may be required. In such cases, the ifs will ensure that the student/centre is kept fully informed of progress.
    8. For a Stage 2 appeal, the report, which will include the outcome of the investigation, will normally be communicated to the student/centre within 30 working days of the ifs receiving the request. However, in complex cases needing detailed investigation, additional time may be required. In such cases, the ifs will ensure that the student/centre is kept fully informed of progress.
    9. Any information supplied by the student/centre in respect of an appeal (Stage 1 or Stage 2) will, as far as possible, be treated as confidential and will only be used on a need to know basis.
    10. An appeal against a refusal by the ifs for a centre to act must be made in writing to the Head of Operational Support, Awards and Curriculum.

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  3. Submitting a centre specific appeal.
    1. When choosing to submit an appeal against a specific centre issue, a Stage 1 appeal must be submitted to the ifs Customer and Student Services department using the application form within 15 working days of the date of the ifs letter advising of the issue ie rejection of application to act as a centre, or sanctions imposed following inspection.
    2. A Stage 2 appeal must be submitted to the ifs Customer and Student Services department using the application form within 15 working days of the date of the ifs letter advising the outcome of the associated Stage 1 appeal.
    3. It is the responsibility of the centre to ensure that the appeal application form includes a clear statement of the grounds on which the appeal is based and is accompanied by all supporting evidence.
    4. No appeal application form (Stage 1 or Stage 2) will be accepted by the ifs unless the appropriate fee accompanies it.
    5. The ifs reserves the right not to consider appeals (Stage 1 or Stage 2) if received beyond the published deadlines.
    6. Each appeal (Stage 1 or Stage 2) will be acknowledged by the ifs within five working days. The acknowledgement will include the date by which the centre can expect a full response to their appeal.
    7. For a Stage 1 appeal, the report, which will include the outcome of the investigation, will normally be communicated to the centre within 20 working days of the ifs receiving the request. However, in complex cases needing detailed investigation, additional time may be required. In such cases, the ifs will ensure that the centre is kept fully informed of progress.
    8. For a Stage 2 appeal, the report, which will include the outcome of the investigation, will normally be communicated to the centre within 30 working days of the ifs receiving the request. However, in complex cases needing detailed investigation, additional time may be required. In such cases, the ifs will ensure that the centre is kept fully informed of progress.
    9. Any information supplied by the centre in respect of an appeal (Stage 1 or Stage 2) will, as far as possible, be treated as confidential and will only be used on a need to know basis.
  4. Outcome of an appeal
    1. If the outcome of a Stage 1 appeal is that the appeal is not upheld, the student/centre has the right to request a Stage 2 appeal.
    2. If the outcome of a Stage 2 appeal is that the appeal is not upheld, then the ifs appeals process has been exhausted and the ifs will consider the matter closed.
    3. If at either Stage 1 or Stage 2 of the appeals process the appeal is upheld then the ifs will:
      1. Refund to the student/centre all ifs result enquiry and appeal fees associated with the appeal.
      2. Take into account the nature and severity of the case when deciding how to address the issues raised by the appeal.
      3. If an appeal is upheld consideration will be given to the impact on other candidates that may be affected by the outcome.
    4. If both Stage 1 and 2 appeals are unresolved, the ifs will appoint an appropriate independent body to review the appeal. If the independent review finds in favour of the student/centre then all appeal fees will be refunded.
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