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Always Learning
Always Learning



Lead Internal Verifier accreditation 


Confidence in assessing to the standards

A Lead Internal Verifier is a person designated by your centre to undertake accreditation and to play a key part in the assessment and verification of BTEC programmes in a Principal Subject Area.

What is accreditation?

  • Accreditation is an opportunity for Lead Internal Verifiers to be formally recognised as competent in:
     
    - r    ecognising assessment that meets national standards

    - i    mplementing internal verification to achieve standards across a team.

  • Accreditation is available for all BTEC programmes up to Level 3. Any exceptions are identified in the UK BTEC Quality Assurance Handbook.
     
  • It gives both your centre and Edexcel confidence in your centre’s ability to maintain standards for the programmes in a Principal Subject Area.

Our online accreditation system is called OSCA. If you are not already using our online materials, please register through Edexcel Online. The Edexcel Online administrator for your centre - often the exams officer - can give you access.

    

Quick Links

 Back to Processes

 Quality assurance main page

 BTEC Standards Verification

 Quality Review and Development  

 Standards Verification for NVQ/SVQs      

 External Examination
 
 Licence centre review
 
 External tests

      

Why is it important?

  • All centres are trained and standardised directly by Edexcel.
     
  • Centres are released to claim learner certificates for subject areas that have an accredited Lead Internal Verifier in place.
     
  • The central significance of internal verification in the assessment process is formally promoted and recognised.
     
  • Internal Verifiers have access to recognition for their professional role.

When does it happen? 

  • Lead Internal Verifiers can start the process from October onwards. We are providing two standardisation windows for Lead Internal Verifiers to gain accreditation:
     
    • Window 1: 3–30 November 2011
    • Window 2: 19 January–15 February 2012
       
  • You are asked to complete as early as possible so that certification clearance for programmes can be put in place. It will also mean that you can be confident, early in the programme, that qualifications are being delivered correctly.

How does it work? 

  • Edexcel provides a free induction for every Lead Internal Verifier, available on the website. This induction will only need to be undertaken once.
     
  • Lead Internal Verifiers should be given access to Edexcel Online to register for the online system (OSCA) against the Principal Subject Area for which they are responsible.
     
  • Lead Internal Verifiers undertake a standardisation exercise online through OSCA. Practice exercises are available from October 2011. The standardisation exercise can only be taken once, during one of the two windows identified above.
     
  • An accredited Lead Internal Verifier will be given accreditation for the current academic year, plus three years.
     
  • Accredited Lead Internal Verifiers should use the information gained through induction and the practice exercises to support, guide and standardise assessors and internal verifiers in their team.
     
  • Most Lead Internal Verifiers who complete the induction and who carefully undertake both the practice and the assessment exercises will be able to achieve accreditation.
     
  • Based on the results of standardisation, Edexcel may judge that a Lead Internal Verifier would benefit from further support. We will allocate a Standards Verifier to support them in gaining accreditation, and to undertake sampling. The standardisation exercise cannot be retaken during the same academic year. If the Standards Verifier finds that assessment and verification is being conducted correctly, then the Lead Internal Verifier will gain accreditation after sampling.
     
  • Each year, a sample of programmes will be monitored through standards verification to confirm that standards are being maintained and that the accreditation of the Lead Internal Verifier can continue.

Where can I find out more?