Learner Policies
Appeals Policy
An appeal asks ATC to review a decision because the assessment process may not have been followed, relevant evidence may not have been considered, or an unfairness may have affected the outcome. It is different from a complaint about service and from simply disagreeing with academic judgement without grounds.
Website draft — legal and operational review required.
This document is a substantial working draft for ATC. Confirm the bracketed or course-specific details and obtain appropriate legal and operational review before relying on or publishing it as an approved policy.
Effective
Draft for ATC confirmation before publication
Last updated
[Policy date: To be confirmed by ATC before publication]
Review
Review at least annually and sooner if legislation, awarding requirements, services or delivery arrangements change.
Owner
Achievers Training College Ltd (ATC)
Version
0.1 draft
Purpose and scope
Purpose
Give learners a fair route to challenge an academic, assessment, support or quality decision on defined grounds.
Scope
ATC assessment and academic decisions, including decisions affected by process, evidence, approved support or relevant awarding organisation rules.
Responsibilities
ATC
Preserve evidence, appoint an impartial reviewer and explain whether the decision belongs to ATC or Highfield.
Learner
Raise clarification first where appropriate and state the decision, grounds, evidence, impact and outcome requested.
Reviewer
Review the relevant records independently, avoid academic conflicts and give a reasoned outcome.
How the policy works
Ask for clarification from the assessor or tutor and review the criteria, feedback and evidence.
Submit a formal appeal through the ATC contact route within the confirmed deadline, identifying a valid ground.
ATC will acknowledge, appoint a suitable reviewer, examine records and communicate the decision and next steps.
Where Highfield controls the final decision, ATC will explain the applicable awarding organisation route and deadline.
What can be appealed
You may appeal an assessment decision, feedback or resubmission decision; a decision about assessment evidence or authenticity; a reasonable adjustment or special consideration decision; an internal academic progression or certification decision; or a quality process that materially affected your result. Where Highfield makes the final awarding decision, ATC will explain the appropriate route to Highfield or the relevant process.
Stage 1: clarification
First ask your assessor or tutor to explain the assessment decision and criteria. Review the brief, feedback and evidence together. This stage can correct a misunderstanding without changing the formal decision. You should not be penalised for asking for clarification in good faith.
Stage 2: formal appeal
If the concern remains, write to info@achieverstrainingcollege.co.uk with “Appeal” in the subject line. State the decision, date, grounds, evidence, impact and outcome requested. Grounds may include procedural error, inconsistent application of criteria, conflict of interest, failure to consider approved support, new evidence that could not reasonably be supplied earlier, or an outcome that is not supported by the evidence.
Review and decision
ATC will appoint an impartial reviewer with appropriate competence. The reviewer may examine assessment records, feedback, communications, evidence, adjustment or special consideration records and quality checks. The decision may confirm, overturn or require reconsideration of the original outcome. ATC will give reasons and explain any next action, such as reassessment, correction or referral.
Quality and awarding organisation escalation
Where an appeal concerns internal quality assurance, the reviewer should consider whether the assessment was fair, valid, reliable, authentic and sufficient. Where Highfield’s rules apply, the learner will be told about any awarding organisation appeal or enquiry route and relevant deadline. ATC cannot promise to change a decision that belongs to Highfield.
Protection while an appeal is open
ATC will take reasonable steps to prevent an appeal from disadvantaging the learner, including recording deadlines, preserving evidence and considering whether certification or progression should wait. An appeal does not automatically suspend fees or all learning requirements unless ATC confirms this in writing.