Catch22 College: Marking process policy

Catch22 reserves the right to amend this policy, following consultation, where appropriate.

Date of last review: October 2025

Date of next review: August 2026

What is the policy about?

This policy outlines the marking process at Catch22 Colleges, ensuring learners receive constructive feedback that highlights their strengths, areas for development, and opportunities for stretch and challenge. By fostering reflection and aligning feedback with individual learning objectives, this process contributes to improved learner outcomes and progress. Identified improvement areas should directly inform the Individual Learning Plan (ILP).

Who does this policy apply to?

This policy applies to all Catch22 staff, external stakeholders (IQA) and Catch22 learners involved in marking and assessment process within Catch22 Colleges.

Policy requirements

Aims

The marking process aims to:

• recognise, encourage, and reward learner efforts, celebrating their successes,
• develop learner confidence in reviewing their work and setting personal targets,
• provide clear guidance on correcting or improving their work,
• help learners understand the learning outcomes needed for achievement and progression, and
• provide assessment evidence that supports and standardises learning objectives across the Study Programme provision.

Objectives

• Feedback may be verbal or written and should respond to individual learning needs.
• Indicate how learning outcomes have been met.
• Offer learners opportunities to engage with and respond to feedback.
• Encourage and motivate learners through realistic, developmental, and supportive feedback.
• Provide clear areas for stretch and challenge, tailored to the learner.
• Enable tutors and assessors to track learner progress and comprehension, using this data to inform ongoing support and implement tailored interventions.

Expectations

• All submitted work, including assessments, must be authenticated by learners, including their name and date.
• For qualification aims, both the learner and tutor must sign work to confirm assessment decisions and the criteria met.
• All subjects should address spelling, grammar, and punctuation using Marking Codes to maintain consistency across curriculum areas.
  • For Entry Level learners, specific and industry-relevant vocabulary should be recognised and corrected.

Marking guidance

• The ‘Marking & Feedback’ poster attached to this document should be displayed throughout each centre to ensure comprehension of staff and learners.
• Standardisation, quality assurance and IQA activities should assess marking conventions against those communicated in this policy.

All feedback should incorporate the following structure:

• WWW (What Went Well) – Highlight strengths relevant to the learning objectives.
• EBI (Even Better If) – Suggest ways to develop or improve the work.
• YNS (Your Next Steps) – Identify actionable steps to support learner progress.

Tips for marking learner work

• WWW: Identify at least two achievements against the success criteria.
• EBI: Select the part of the work with the most immediate scope for improvement.
• YNS: Write a concise prompt explaining what action the learner should take to improve their work.

SMART feedback and reflection

When providing next-step feedback or assessments:

• ensure targets are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART), and
• encourage learners to reflect on feedback and contribute their insights to the learning process.

Marking codes

Marking colours

Related policies

• Internal Quality Assurance Strategy Policy – Catch22 Colleges
• Assessment and IQA Policy – Catch22 Colleges
• Quality Assurance of Teaching & Learning Strategy – Catch22 Colleges