1. Purpose
Equra College London (“Equra”) is committed to maintaining high academic standards, a strong student experience, and continuous improvement. This policy sets out Equra’s academic governance arrangements and quality assurance approach for all programmes, short courses and CPD provision.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
- All Equra provision (HE-ready pathways, diplomas, short courses, CPD)
- Any delivery through partner arrangements (where applicable)
- All staff involved in programme design, delivery, assessment, student support and quality processes
3. Governance principles
Equra will ensure that academic decisions and quality processes are:
- Evidence-based and recorded
- Fair, transparent and consistent
- Student-centred and inclusive
- Underpinned by academic integrity and robust assessment standards
- Capable of external scrutiny by partners and awarding/validating bodies
4. Governance structure and responsibilities
4.1 Governing Body
The Governing Body has ultimate accountability for Equra’s educational quality and standards. It:
- Approves the academic governance framework and key policies
- Reviews quality performance and risk
- Ensures appropriate resources and capability
- Appoints the Principal and approves senior academic roles
4.2 Academic Board
The Academic Board is the senior academic decision-making body. It:
- Oversees academic standards, learning quality and assessment integrity
- Approves programmes and major changes (within delegated limits)
- Receives reports on assessment, moderation, misconduct, complaints and student outcomes
- Oversees the annual quality cycle and improvement planning
4.3 Quality Committee (or Quality Lead function, until committee is formed)
The Quality Committee/Lead:
- Coordinates programme monitoring and quality reporting
- Maintains the quality calendar and compliance checklist
- Tracks action plans and confirms completion
- Ensures staff training and quality processes are implemented
4.4 Programme Leadership
Programme Leaders (or equivalent leads) are responsible for:
- Programme design coherence and delivery quality
- Assessment planning and timely feedback
- Monitoring engagement and responding to issues
- Ensuring module/course documentation is current
4.5 Student Voice and Representation
Equra will maintain structured student feedback routes. Findings will be reviewed by the Quality Committee/Lead and reported to the Academic Board with documented actions.
5. Terms of reference and decision records
Equra will maintain written terms of reference for each committee and a schedule of meetings. All academic decisions will be recorded through minutes, decision logs, and action trackers, with clear ownership and deadlines.
6. Quality assurance framework
Equra’s quality assurance operates through the following core elements:
6.1 Programme approval and design control
Before a programme or course is delivered, Equra will ensure it has:
- A documented rationale, aims and learning outcomes
- A clear curriculum structure and delivery plan
- Assessment strategy aligned to learning outcomes
- Entry requirements and admissions approach (where applicable)
- Staffing plan and capability assurance
- Learning resources and library/digital access plan (as applicable)
- Student support and accessibility considerations
- Risk assessment for delivery feasibility and compliance
Programme approval must be documented and authorised by the Academic Board (or delegated panel).
6.2 Change control
Equra will apply controlled approval for changes to programmes/courses. Changes are categorised as:
- Minor changes (clarifications, resource updates)
- Major changes (assessment design changes, delivery mode changes, significant content restructuring)
Major changes require Academic Board approval and, where relevant, partner approval prior to implementation.
6.3 Annual monitoring and review
Each programme/course will be reviewed at least annually, considering:
- Student outcomes and progression (where applicable)
- Student feedback and complaints themes
- Assessment performance patterns and moderation outcomes
- Academic integrity issues and trends
- Engagement and attendance trends
- Equality and accessibility considerations
- Staff reflections and enhancement proposals
Annual Monitoring Reports will include an improvement plan with accountable actions.
6.4 Assessment assurance and academic standards
Equra maintains academic standards through its assessment framework, including:
- Assessment design and scheduling oversight
- Marking and feedback expectations
- Internal moderation and sampling
- Secure assessment handling
- Academic integrity processes
Operational detail is set out in Equra’s Teaching, Learning and Assessment policies and procedures.
6.5 External academic input
Equra will obtain external academic scrutiny appropriate to its scale and provision, which may include:
- External academic advisers (periodic review of standards and assessment)
- Subject specialist reviewers during programme approval
- Partner university scrutiny processes (where applicable)
External feedback and responses will be documented and reviewed by Academic Board.
6.6 Staff competence and development
Equra will ensure teaching staff are appropriately qualified/experienced and supported through:
- Induction to quality processes and academic standards
- Teaching observation and developmental feedback
- CPD planning aligned to programme needs and partner expectations
7. Managing academic risk and quality incidents
Equra will monitor and respond to quality risks such as:
- Poor student outcomes or high non-completion
- Persistent student complaints themes
- Repeated assessment irregularities or misconduct spikes
- Staffing gaps impacting delivery quality
- Partner concerns or adverse external feedback
Where required, the Academic Board will mandate an improvement plan with timescales, monitoring and escalation to the Governing Body.
8. Partnership quality management
Where Equra delivers with or through a partner arrangement, Equra will ensure:
- Clear written agreements defining responsibilities
- Quality oversight and reporting aligned to partner requirements
- Access to records required for audit and scrutiny
- Controlled use of partner branding and approved marketing statements
- Compliance with partner assessment, moderation and student protection requirements where they apply
Any partner conditions or actions will be tracked through the quality action plan and reported to Academic Board.
9. Student information, transparency and consumer protection
Equra will ensure that published and pre-contract information is accurate and current, including:
- Programme/course information and key terms
- Fees and refund conditions
- Complaints and academic appeals routes
- Expected delivery arrangements and any material changes
10. Document control
Equra will maintain:
- A master policy register and version control
- Approval dates, owners and review dates for all policies
- A controlled archive of superseded versions
- Clear publication routes (website and internal staff access)
11. Review
This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner where required by partner feedback, delivery changes, quality incidents, or governance updates.