911±¬ÁÏ

Introduction

 Special consideration can only be awarded where a learner has been fully prepared for assessments and covered the entire course but their ability to demonstrate their subject knowledge and understanding is materially affected by adverse circumstances beyond their control at the time of the assessment(s).

1.1 Regulatory requirements

 The regulatory requirements for special consideration are set out in the current version of the General Conditions of Recognition, found in the Ofqual Handbook.
 
This policy is aimed to satisfy those requirements.
 

Definitions

2.1 Throughout this guidance the Royal Horticultural Society as an Awarding Organisation is stated as 911±¬ÁÏ Qualifications
 

2.2 Special consideration

2.2.1 Special consideration are procedures implemented at the time of an assessment to allow attainment to be demonstrated by a learner that has been disadvantaged by temporary illness, injury or adverse circumstances which arose at, or near, the time of assessment.

2.2.2 Special consideration should not give the learner an unfair advantage, neither should its use cause the user of the certificate to be misled regarding a learner’s achievements. The learner’s result must reflect his or her achievement in the assessment and not necessarily his or her potential ability.

2.2.3 Special consideration may result in a small post-assessment adjustment to the learner’s mark. The size of the adjustment will depend on the circumstances during the assessment and will reflect the specific difficulty faced by the learner but will always be a minor adjustment as to do more may jeopardise the standard.

2.2.4 Special consideration will not be granted for practical assessments that require learners to demonstrate a competence standard, defined as the benchmark used to determine whether an individual possesses a specified level of ability. However, centres approved to deliver 911±¬ÁÏ Qualifications practical assessments must ensure that learners are provided with opportunities to undertake the assessment at a later date. In cases where a learner is unable to demonstrate practical competence due to temporary illness, injury, or adverse circumstances occurring at or near the time of the assessment, centres are required to offer further opportunities to complete the practical assessment within a reasonable timeframe.

Eligibility criteria

Special consideration only applies to scheduled assessments.
 
A learner who is fully prepared for an assessment may be eligible for special consideration if:

3.1 performance in an assessment is affected by circumstances beyond the control of the learner, for example-

• Temporary illness at the time of assessment

• A recent bereavement in the immediate family

• Domestic crisis (severe, problematic and unstable situation) at the time of assessment

• A serious disturbance during the assessment

• Accidental events during the assessment

• International sporting commitments on the day of the assessment

• Approved access arrangements were not in place

3.2 Alternative assessment arrangements which were agreed in advance of the assessment proved inappropriate, or inadequate.

3.3 Part of an assessment has been missed due to circumstances beyond the control of the learner provided that:

• all other parts of the assessment components have been achieved

• there is a sufficient link between the part of the assessment to which special consideration is applied and other parts of the qualification that have been achieved to infer that the learner could have performed more successfully in the assessment

• the application of special consideration would not mislead the end-user of the certificate

3.4 A learner will not be eligible for special consideration if:

• they have not attempted at least 35% of the assessment component for which special consideration is sought

• no evidence / information is supplied by the centre that the learner has been affected at the time of the assessment by a particular condition

• any part of the assessment is missed due to personal arrangements including holidays or unauthorised absence

• insufficient evidence / information is available from achievement in comparable assessment components or there is no sufficient link between the part of the assessment to which special consideration is applied and other parts of the qualification that have been achieved to infer that the learner could have performed more successfully in the assessment

• preparation for a component is affected by difficulties during the course e.g. disturbances through building work, lack of proper facilities, changes in or shortages of staff or industrial disputes

• they have a long-term illness

• a bereavement occurred more than six months before the assessment

• they had a domestic inconvenience

• there was a minor disturbance during the assessment by another learner

• it’s due to consequences of committing a crime, taking alcohol or recreational drugs

• it’s due to consequences of disobeying the centres internal regulations

• the centre has failed to prepare learners properly for the assessment

• it’s due to the quality of teaching, staff shortages, planned building work or lack of facilities

• they misread the timetable and/or failed to attend the assessment at the right time in the right place

• they misread the instructions on the question paper

• they have missed all assessments

• they have failed to cover the course because of joining the class partway through

• they have a disability or learning difficulty – a reasonable adjustment / access arrangement should have been applied for this.

Applying for special consideration

 The following information should be provided on the Special Consideration Application Form and uploaded to the 911±¬ÁÏ Qualifications portal along with any required supporting evidence / information.
 
Centre number and name.

• Learner name

• Learner number (where available)

• Date of the assessment

• Summary of adverse circumstances affecting the learner’s performance in the assessment

 Learners need to submit evidence / information in support of special consideration, if appropriate. This may include medical evidence or a statement from the invigilator or any other appropriate information.
 
The application should be signed and dated by a member of the centre staff who has formally been given delegated authority for this by the centre’s Examinations Supervisor. The signatory must declare that the information given is accurate.
 
The application for special consideration should be submitted as soon as possible after the assessment and no later than 10 working days after the assessment. The centre must keep a record of the details of the special consideration applied for.
 
In exceptional cases requests for special consideration may be accepted before the results of the assessment have been released in the following circumstance:

• medical evidence comes to light about a learner’s condition, which demonstrates that the learner must have been affected by the condition at the time of the assessment, even though the problem revealed itself only after the assessment

 If the application for special consideration is successful, the learner’s performance will be reviewed in the light of available evidence / information. It should be noted that a successful application of special consideration will not necessarily change a learner’s result.

Appeals and Malpractice

5.1 Appeals against decisions involving special considerations will be covered by the 911±¬ÁÏ Qualifications Appeals procedure.

5.2 Centres need to ensure that they have effective internal appeals procedures so that learners can query any decision taken by the centre not to allow a special consideration to the assessment. These procedures should be made available to learners and should include details of the grounds for appeal and the timescales associated with investigations of appeals.

5.3 Centres should note that failure to comply with this policy regarding special considerations has the potential to constitute malpractice and may lead 911±¬ÁÏ Qualifications to withdraw the centre approval for the centre.

5.4 Where a learner is proved to have been complicit in any failure by the centre to comply with this Guidance then any certificate issued to that learner will be invalidated.

Percentages given when special consideration has been approved

5%
This is the maximum percentage and will be reserved for the most exceptional cases, such as:
• terminal illness of the learner
• terminal illness of a parent or carer, brother or sister
• death of a member of the immediate family within three months prior to the assessment
• exceptional and disruptive crisis or incident at or near the time of the assessment, such as attempted murder against the learner
 
4%
Very serious problems, such as:
• life-threatening illness of the learner or a member of their immediate family
• major surgery at or near the time of the assessment
• severe disease (e.g. cancer)
• very recent death of a member of the extended family
• life-changing injury occurring at the time of the assessment
• serious crisis or incident at the time of the assessment, such as severe assault or a serious accident
• admission to hospital for a mental health condition or eating disorder
 
3%
A more common category (more cases will fall into this category), including:
• recent traumatic experience, such as the death of a close friend or distant relative
• recent illness or injury of a more serious nature
• flare-up of a long-term medical condition, for example Crohn’s disease
• flare-up of a psychological condition or a mental health condition
• deterioration of a learner’s disability
• broken limbs
• physical assault trauma before an assessment
• recent crisis or incident
• witnessing a distressing event on the day of the assessment
• approved access arrangement(s) not provided to the learner at the time of the assessment
• cyber attack significantly affecting the completion of a learner’s coursework or non-examination assessments
 
2%
This is the most common category (most cases will fall within this category), including:
• illness at the time of the assessment
• mild depression being treated
• broken limb on the mend
• concussion
• effects of pregnancy (not pregnancy per se)
• extreme distress on the day of the assessment (not just exam-related stress)
 
1%
Reserved for more minor problems:
• on-going noise during an assessment
• illness of another learner leading to minor disruption in the assessment room / area
• stress or anxiety for which medical advice has been sought and/or medication has been prescribed
• hay fever on the day of an assessment
• minor upset arising from administrative problems, such as the wrong question paper initially being issued