Catch22 reserves the right to amend this policy, following consultation, where appropriate.
Date of last review: November 2025
Date of next review: November 2026
What is the policy about?
This policy outlines the procedures for learners and their parents/guardians to submit appeals against assessment decisions in a clear, consistent, and fair manner, ensuring transparency and integrity throughout the process.
Who does this policy apply to?
The policy applies to all learners enrolled in courses where assessments are conducted, including vocational qualifications, GCSEs, and other non-examination assessments, and all Catch22 staff and stakeholders involved in the assessment cycle.
Policy requirements
Aim:
- To enable the learner to enquire, question or appeal against an assessment decision.
- To attempt to reach an agreement between the learner and Catch22 Colleges at the earliest opportunity.
- To standardise and record any appeal to ensure openness and fairness.
- To facilitate a learner’s ultimate right of appeal to the awarding body, where appropriate.
- To protect the interests of all learners and the integrity of the qualification.
Catch22 Colleges’ commitment
Catch22 Colleges will:
- inform learners at induction of this Appeals Policy and Procedure.
- record, track, and validate any appeal.
- forward the appeal to the Senior Operations Manager when a learner considers that a decision continues to disadvantage them.
- ensure the Senior Operations Manager forwards appeals to the awarding body when a learner considers that a decision continues to disadvantage them after the internal appeals process has been exhausted.
- retain appeal records for inspection by awarding bodies for a minimum of 18 months.
- follow a staged appeals procedure.
- take appropriate action to protect the interests of other learners and the integrity of the qualification when the outcome of an appeal questions the validity of other results.
- monitor appeals to inform quality improvement.
Appeals procedures
Learner induction:
- Learner informed of the appeals procedure and policy at induction and at the beginning of assessment.
- Learner again reminded of appeals procedure and policy during assessment cycle.
Learner appeals procedures:
Catch22 Colleges will conduct a staged procedure to determine whether:
- Staff used procedures that are consistent with Awarding Body requirements.
- Staff applied the procedures properly and fairly when arriving at judgements.
- Assessors made a correct judgement about the learners work.
If a learner (or their parent/guardian) want to raise a concern or an appeal against any exam judgements, they should follow the Appeals procedure stages:
Stage 1 – INFORMAL: Learner consults and discusses with assessor/tutor within 14 days following the assessment decision. If unresolved, issues are documented before moving to stage 2. Lead Teacher is informed.
Stage 2 – REVIEW: Review of assessment decisions by IQA and/or Lead Teacher within 7 days. Learners notified of findings and agreed or disagrees, in writing, within a further 7 days. If unresolved, move to stage 3. Senior Operations manager informed.
Stage 3 – APPEAL HEARING: Senior Operations manager collates evidence, including learner appeal testimony. Senior management makes a judgement on the appeal and informs learner, in writing, within 14 days. If unresolved, move to stage 4.
Stage 4 – EXTERNAL APPEAL: The grounds for appeal and any supporting documentation will be submitted by the centre to Awarding Body within 14 days following awarding body guidance. Then will follow Awarding Body instruction & procedure.
Recording appeals
Each stage will be recorded, dated, and show decisions made at each stage of the appeal. Documents must be kept for a minimum of 18 months.
Monitoring of appeals
Undertaken by senior management to inform development and quality improvement.
Annual review
This policy and the appeals process will be reviewed annually by the Senior Leadership Team to ensure it remains effective, up-to-date, and in line with any regulatory changes. Updates and improvements will be made as necessary based on feedback, monitoring outcomes, and any changes to awarding body requirements.
Definitions
- Assessment Decision: The conclusion reached by an assessor regarding a learner’s performance in an assessment.
- IQA (Internal Quality Assurer): A person responsible for ensuring that assessment decisions are consistent and meet the required standards.
- Awarding Body: An organisation that sets the standards for qualifications and awards certificates to learners who meet those standards.
Related policies
- Catch22 Complaints Policy
- Assessment and IQA Policy – Catch22 Colleges
- Malpractice, Maladministration and Plagiarism Policy – Catch22 Colleges