1. Document Control
Policy Owner: Head of Quality / Academic Director
Responsible Committee: Academic Board (or Academic Governance and Quality Assurance Committee)
Approval Authority: Principal / Director and Academic Board
Version: 1.0
Applies To: All programmes and modules delivered by Equra College London, including provision delivered under partner arrangements where applicable.
2. Purpose
Equra College London is committed to maintaining high academic standards and delivering an excellent student experience. This policy sets out the College’s quality assurance and enhancement framework and explains how the College:
a. Approves, monitors and reviews programmes and modules.
b. Ensures assessment standards and academic integrity.
c. Uses evidence and feedback to continuously improve quality.
d. Maintains effective academic governance and partner readiness.
e. Ensures accountability for programme management and delivery.
3. Scope
This policy applies to:
a. All taught provision delivered by Equra College London.
b. Programme design, delivery, assessment and student outcomes.
c. Quality processes across in person, blended and online delivery.
d. All academic and professional staff involved in programme delivery, assessment and quality assurance.
e. Partner delivered or validated provision where applicable, subject to partner quality frameworks.
4. Principles
Equra College London’s quality framework is based on:
a. Clear academic governance and accountability for quality.
b. Evidence-based monitoring of standards and student outcomes.
c. Transparency in assessment, moderation and academic decision making.
d. Student engagement, student voice and responsive improvement.
e. Continuous enhancement informed by data and feedback.
f. Compliance with partner requirements and sector expectations.
5. Academic Governance and Quality Responsibilities
5.1 Academic Board
The Academic Board has oversight of academic standards and quality and is responsible for:
a. Approving academic policies and regulations.
b. Receiving and reviewing programme monitoring reports and key quality indicators.
c. Overseeing assessment standards, academic integrity and academic decision making.
d. Monitoring student outcomes, complaints and appeals themes.
e. Approving quality enhancement priorities and action plans.
5.2 Head of Quality / Quality Lead
The Head of Quality is responsible for:
a. Maintaining the quality framework and quality calendar.
b. Supporting consistent implementation of quality processes.
c. Ensuring appropriate documentation, record keeping and reporting.
d. Coordinating annual programme monitoring and enhancement planning.
e. Ensuring readiness for partner quality reviews and audits.
5.3 Programme Leaders and Module Leaders
Programme and module leaders are responsible for:
a. Ensuring delivery aligns with approved programme specifications and learning outcomes.
b. Managing assessment setting, marking, moderation and feedback in line with regulations.
c. Monitoring student engagement, progression and achievement.
d. Implementing improvement actions and responding to student feedback.
e. Ensuring required programme documentation is maintained and updated.
5.4 Teaching Staff
Teaching staff are responsible for:
a. Delivering approved curriculum and learning activities.
b. Providing timely and constructive feedback.
c. Maintaining accurate assessment and engagement records where required.
d. Upholding academic integrity and complying with assessment requirements.
6. Quality Framework and Quality Cycle
Equra College London maintains an annual quality cycle to ensure programmes are monitored, reviewed and improved. The quality cycle will typically include:
a. Programme approval and validation processes (internal and partner-led where applicable).
b. Annual programme monitoring and reporting.
c. Module evaluation and student feedback review.
d. Assessment standardisation and moderation cycles.
e. Review of progression, attainment and retention data.
f. Review of academic integrity trends and outcomes.
g. Review of complaints, appeals and mitigating circumstances themes.
h. Staff development priorities linked to quality improvement.
i. Action planning and monitoring of enhancement activity.
7. Programme Approval, Development and Changes
7.1 Programme approval
All new programmes and significant changes must follow the College’s Programme Approval and Annual Monitoring Procedure, including clear documentation of:
a. Programme aims and learning outcomes.
b. Module structure and curriculum content.
c. Assessment strategy and mapping to learning outcomes.
d. Entry requirements and admissions arrangements.
e. Learning resources, staffing and delivery capacity.
f. Student support arrangements.
g. Equality and accessibility considerations.
h. Quality assurance and monitoring arrangements.
7.2 Changes to programmes and modules
Programme and module changes must be controlled and documented. Changes may be classified as minor or major depending on impact. Where a partner is involved, partner approval routes must be followed.
7.3 Communication to students
Approved programme and assessment changes must be communicated clearly to students within appropriate timescales and recorded.
8. Module Evaluation and Student Feedback
8.1 Module evaluation
The College will gather feedback on module delivery, learning resources, assessment clarity and teaching quality through module evaluation and student feedback mechanisms.
8.2 Student voice and representation
The College will ensure students have clear routes to raise feedback, including student representation where appropriate, and will respond through transparent “you said, we did” style actions where feasible.
8.3 Closing the feedback loop
Feedback themes and actions must be recorded and monitored through programme management and annual monitoring arrangements.
9. Assessment Standards, Moderation and Academic Integrity
9.1 Assessment governance
Assessment must be conducted in line with the College’s assessment regulations and policies.
9.2 Standardisation
Standardisation activity should be conducted for assessment tasks to ensure consistent understanding of marking criteria and academic standards, particularly where multiple markers are involved.
9.3 Moderation
Moderation must be applied to ensure fairness and consistency in marking. Moderation arrangements should be proportionate to cohort size, assessment type and risk. Where partner requirements specify moderation structures, these must be followed.
9.4 Academic integrity oversight
Academic integrity risks will be monitored through misconduct trends, assessment design review and staff training. Suspected misconduct must be handled under the Academic Misconduct Procedure.
10. Monitoring Student Outcomes and Risk Indicators
The College monitors student outcomes using key indicators such as:
a. Student engagement and attendance.
b. Progression and retention.
c. Attainment and achievement.
d. Module pass rates and grade distributions.
e. Complaints, appeals and mitigating circumstances rates.
f. Academic integrity cases and outcomes.
g. Student satisfaction feedback themes.
Where patterns indicate risk, the College will implement targeted action plans.
11. External Reference Points and Partner Expectations
Where Equra College London delivers under partner arrangements, the College will:
a. Comply with partner academic frameworks, reporting requirements and quality review expectations.
b. Support partner audits, visits and document requests promptly.
c. Maintain clear evidence of implementation of policies, assessment governance and student support.
d. Align programme documentation and assessment requirements with partner specifications.
The College will maintain a consistent evidence base for quality, including programme files, assessment records, moderation records, complaints and appeals outcomes, and annual monitoring reports.
12. Quality Enhancement and Continuous Improvement
Quality enhancement is focused on improving student outcomes and experience. Enhancement activity may include:
a. Improving assessment briefs, feedback quality and turnaround times.
b. Strengthening inclusive teaching practice.
c. Enhancing student academic skills support.
d. Improving learning resources and digital delivery capability.
e. Strengthening staff development linked to quality themes.
f. Improving student engagement and progression outcomes.
Enhancement activity must be recorded, monitored and reviewed through governance routes.
13. Record Keeping and Evidence
The College will maintain appropriate quality records, including:
a. Programme approval and change documentation.
b. Programme and module specifications.
c. Assessment briefs and marking criteria.
d. Marking, moderation and standardisation records.
e. Student feedback and action logs.
f. Annual monitoring reports and enhancement plans.
g. Committee minutes and governance records.
h. Partner reporting outputs where applicable.
Records must be handled in accordance with data protection and records management requirements.
14. Monitoring and Review
This policy is monitored through:
a. Annual programme monitoring reports.
b. Academic Board review of quality indicators and outcomes.
c. Partner feedback and audit outcomes where applicable.
d. Trends from complaints, appeals and misconduct outcomes.
This policy is reviewed annually or sooner if partner, regulatory or operational changes require updates.
15. Related Policies and Documents
This policy should be read alongside:
a. Academic Governance and Quality Assurance Policy
b. Programme Approval and Annual Monitoring Procedure
c. Assessment Regulations for Taught Programmes
d. Assessment and Feedback Policy
e. Learning, Teaching and Assessment Framework Policy
f. Academic Integrity, Plagiarism and AI Use Policy
g. Academic Misconduct Procedure
h. Student Complaints Procedure
i. Academic Appeals Policy and Procedure
j. Consolidated Student Appeals Procedure
k. Mitigating Circumstances and Extensions Procedure
l. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy
m. Student Engagement and Attendance Policy (UK Students)
n. Student Code of Conduct
o. Student Protection Plan
p. Data Protection Policy
q. Data Retention and Records Management Policy