BAC Handbook 0910

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AccreditationHandbookUK 2009-2010

Ce leb ra t i ng 25 yea r s o f h i ghe r s tandards f o r i ndependen t educa t i on

British Accreditation Councilfor independent further and higher education


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Accreditation HandbookUK 2009-2010

further and higher educational

institutions based in the

United Kingdom

The British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education

is registered as a charity (Charities Registration No. 326652)

and is a private company limited by guarantee (Registered in England No. 1828990)

This work is copyright 2009 by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education.

Permission granted to reproduce the entirety of this work or extracts from it for personal and educational use only.

Extracts from this work must be acknowledged. All other rights reserved.

This work is registered with the UK Copyright Service .

BACs full and short logos are recognised trade marks registered with the UK Intellectual Property Office.

Design by Alex Proudfoot and Erin Sanna

British Accreditation Council44 Bedford Row

London WC1R 4LL

Telephone: 020 7447 2584

Fax: 020 7447 2585

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.the-bac.org

BAC

BritishAccreditationCouncilforindependentfurther and higher education


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Introduction 4

Whos Who in BAC? Officers, Committee Members and Staff 5

1. Accreditation: Conditions 81.1 Introduction 8

1.2 General Requirements 8

1.3 Eligibility 9

1.4 The Award of Accreditation 9

1.5 Maintaining Accreditation 10

1.6 Suspension or Withdrawal of Accreditation 11

2. Accreditation: General Requirements 14

2.1 Inspections 14

2.2 UK Border Agency (UKBA) Requirements 14

2.3 Student Complaints 162.4 Awards and Qualifications 17

2.5 Providers of English as a Foreign Language 18

2.6 Institutions Recognised as Schools 18

3. Accreditation Processes 20

3.1 The Period of Accreditation 20

3.2 New Applications for Accreditation 20

3.3 Continuing Accreditation 24

4. Inspection Procedures: Organisation 26

5. Inspection Procedures: Assessment 28

Introduction 28

5.1 Premises and Health and Safety 30

5.2 Management, Staffing and Administration 32

5.3 Student Welfare 34

5.4 Teaching , Learning and Assessment 36

5.5 Management of Quality 38

5.6 Non-collegiate Accreditation 40

6. Supporting Documentation Required for Inspection 42

7. Accreditation Committee 44

8. Appeals Procedure 46

9. Complaints Procedure 50

10. Charges: Inspection and Accreditation Fees 54

Appendices: Advisory Documents 57

A: Prospectuses and Websites: Guidelines for Accredited Institutions 58

B: Fire Precautions and Health and Safety Arrangements 62

C: Employment Issues 66

D: Child Protection 67

E: Disability 69

F: Copyright 70G: Students Requiring Visas 71

Contents


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The British Accreditation Council (BAC) is an independent body, established in 1984 to improve and enhance

the standards o independent urther and higher educational institutions by the establishment o a system o

accreditation. It is a registered charity, whose Council members are nominated by many o the bodies concernedwith the maintenance o educational standards in the United Kingdom (UK). No ofcers or members o Council

have a commercial interest in any o the accredited institutions. The responsibility or decisions on accreditation

is delegated to BACs Accreditation Committee, which includes members o the Council, recent practitioners and

representatives o other accrediting bodies.

Accreditation by BAC is recognised by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) as a qualiying requirement or institutions

wishing to enrol visa students. Subject to meeting certain requirements, colleges accredited by BAC will be eligible

to apply or a UKBA licence, which will enable them to enrol students rom outside the European Economic Area.

This licensing system replaces the Register o Education and Training Providers maintained by the Department o

Innovation, Universities and Skills (now replaced by the Department or Business Innovation and Skills). BAC works

closely with UKBA and is itsel monitored by Osted on UKBAs behal.

BAC has a close relationship with accreditation schemes operated by Accreditation UK (in the feld o English as a

Foreign Language) and the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council. The system o accreditation established by

the three bodies was described in 1990 by the Rt. Hon. John MacGregor, then Secretary o State or Education, as

the only public guarantee o standards in independent institutions o urther and higher education in the UK.

BACs accreditation process is based on a thorough and independent system o inspections involving a team o

specialist inspectors - many o them ormer members o Her Majestys Inspectorate, others senior academics or

practitioners. Accredited institutions are subject to a ull inspection every our years, with an interim inspection

during the intervening period. During an inspection, institutions are assessed in fve areas:

premises and health and saety provision

management, staing and administration

student welare

teaching, learning and assessment

management o quality

An unsatisactory assessment in any o the fve graded areas may lead to a reusal or withdrawal o accreditation.

BAC accredits more than 400 institutions in the UK and some 25 overseas independent higher educationinstitutions. A ull list may be ound on BACs website, www.the-bac.org.

Any amendments to the terms and procedures set out in this handbook necessitated by, or example, changes in

legislation, will be clearly posted on the BAC website.

Enquiries concerning accreditation should be made to:

The Chief Eectie Telephoe: 020 7447 2584

British Accreditation Council Fa: 020 7447 2585

44 Bedord Row Email: [email protected]

London Website: www.the-bac.orgWC1R 4LL

Introduction


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Whos Who in BAC?Honorary President

The Lord Watso of Richmod CBELiberal Democrat Spokesman on Universities, House o Lords

Mr Tim Co (Chairma)

ormer Executive Secretary,

Standing Conerence o Principals

Mr Bill Gibbs (Depty Chairma)

ormer Secretary, RSA Examinations Board

Dr Clod Bai-Y

Head, UK NARIC (National Recognition

Inormation Centre)

Mrs Diae Billam (Chairma of Accreditatio

Committee)

ormer Director o Products and Quality, BTEC

Dr Daid Blad OBE (Depty Chairma of

Accreditatio Committee)

ormer Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University o Sheield

Mr Eric Gloer (Hoorary Treasrer)

ormer Secretary General, Chartered Institute oBankers

Ms Alice Hyes

Executive Secretary, Guild HE

Mr Richard Lewis

ormer President, International Network o Quality

Assurance Agencies in Higher Education

Ms Liz McLare

Manager, Accreditation Unit, British Council

Mr Graham Middletoormer Secretary, Council or National Academic

Awards

Dr Daid Morley

Chie Executive, Open and Distance Learning

Quality Council

Dr A Ridler

ormer Chie Inspector, BAC

Ms Christie Rya

Chie Inspector, Independent Schools Inspectorate

Mr Domiic Scott OBE

Chie Executive, UK Council or International

Student Aairs

Ms Michele Stto

Principal and Chie Executive, Bradord College

(nominee, Association o Colleges)

Mr Peter Williams CBE

ormer Chie Executive, Quality Assurance Agency

or Higher Education (QAA)

Mr James Witer

Head o Collaborative Partnerships Oice,

Manchester Metropolitan University

(Chairman, Council o Validating Universities)

Nominee to be conirmed

Quality Assurance Agency or Higher Education

(QAA)

Nominee to be conirmed

Universities UK

Membership o the Council

Ms Szae Bares

Policy Project Manager, Managed Migration Team,

UK Border Agency

Mr Pal Ellis

Chie Executive, Federation o Awarding Bodies

Ms Ssa Hidley

Chairman, Study UK Association

Mrs Margaret Pattiso

Team Leader with responsibility or independent

schools, Department or Children, Schools and

Families

Dr Jim SiclairDirector, Joint Council or Qualiications

Obserers


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Membership o Committees

Eectie Committee

The Council delegates responsibility or BACs

strategic direction to the Executive Committee,

who act as a Board o Directors or the

company. The Members, drawn rom the main

Council, also serve as trustees o the charity.

Mrs Diae Billam

(Chairman o Accreditation Committee)

Dr Daid Blad OBE

(Deputy Chairman o Accreditation

Committee)

Mr Tim Co

(Chairman)

Mr Bill Gibbs

(Deputy Chairman)

Mr Eric Gloer

(Honorary Treasurer)

Mr Domiic Scott OBE

Mr Peter Williams CBE

Accreditatio Committee

The Accreditation Committee has ull delegated authority

rom the Council to award or withhold accreditation.

In addition to making case-by-case decisions on the

accreditation o institutions, the Accreditation Committee also

has responsibility or keeping BACs conditions, standards and

criteria under review. For urther inormation see Sct 7.

Mrs Diae Billam (Chairma)

ormer Director o Products and Quality, BTEC

Dr Daid Blad (Depty Chairma)

ormer Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University o Sheield

Dr Kate Clarke

Director, Open University Validation Services

Mr Tim Co

ormer Executive Secretary,

Standing Conerence O Principals

Ms Jaet Elliot

ormer Director, City & Guilds and Pitman Examinations

Mr Eric Gloer

ormer Secretary General, Chartered Institute o Bankers

Dr Stephe Jackso

Director o Reviews, QAA

Mr Robi Laidlaw

ormer Chie Executive, BAC

Ms Hilary Maagh

Assistant Manager, Accreditation Unit, British Council

Dr A Ridler

ormer Chie Inspector, BAC

Mr Graham Worsdale

Vice-Chairman, Council o Validating Universities


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Accreditatio Maager

Ms Francine Koubel

Accreditatio Officer

Miss Donnett Edwards

Ispectios Officer

Miss Clare Baker

Accreditatio Assistat

Ms Claire Bott

Accreditatio Assistat

Mr William Lash

Ispectios Assistat

Ms Wilhemina Nartey

Commicatios Maager

Mr Alex Proudoot

Iteratioal ad Pblic

Affairs Officer

Miss Caroline Greves

Iformatio Officer

Mr Tom Richards

Commicatios Assistat

Miss Erin Sanna

Receptioist

Miss Kirstin OShea

Fiace Maager

Mr David ORourke

Fiace Assistat

Miss Phyu Aye

Fiace Assistat

Mr Mohammed Hisham

Nizam

Head Ofce Sta

BACs Committees and Inspectors are supported by a core team o administrative sta at our Head Oice in

London. Led by the Chie Executive, Dr Gina Hobson, the sta are responsible or the day-to-day business o BAC,

including management o inspections, oversight o our accredited colleges and communications with the public

and sector.

Senior Inspectors

BACs Senior Inspectors, along with the Head o Inspection Services and Chie Inspector, comprise the most

experienced educational specialists working or BAC.

Head of Ispectio Serices

Proessor Steve Bristow

Seior Ispector

Mr Paul Bradbury

Seior Ispector

Mr Robin Laidlaw

Chief Ispector

Ms Sheila Needham

Seior Ispector

Mr Martin Roundell Greene

Seior Ispector

Mr Ron Tuck

Chief Eectie

Dr Gina Hobson


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InTRODuCTIOn1.1

The British Accreditation Council acts1.1.1

as a national accrediting authority

or independent urther and higher

educational institutions, subject to the

conditions set out below.

Accreditation is based on an inspection1.1.2 o a ull range o an institutions

provision but also requires evidence

that the management will maintain

acceptable standards during the period

o accreditation and operate within the

requirements o United Kingdom law.

In awarding accreditation BAC has our1.1.3

main purposes:

to support and advise independent

institutions o urther or higher

education in the maintenance and

enhancement o their quality o

provision

to provide independent guidance to

students seeking to undertake urther

or higher education in an institution

outside the state sector

to provide assurance o the good

standing o an institution to governmentdepartments and other interested

bodies

to enable an institution to state

publicly that it has voluntarily accepted

independent inspection and has

satisied BAC that all relevant aspects

o its operation are maintained at a

satisactory level.

The requirements and procedures set out1.1.4

in this Handbook apply speciically toinstitutions based in the United Kingdom.

BAC produces a separate Handbook in

respect o the accreditation o overseas

institutions which oer higher education

programmes. Please contact the BAC oice

or a copy o the overseas accreditation

handbook.

GEnERAL REquIREMEnTS1.2

The award o accreditation will be subject1.2.1to an institution meeting standards

established and periodically reviewed by

BAC.

Institutions will only be eligible to receive1.2.2

accreditation i the eective control o

the institution is the responsibility o an

accountable management based in the

United Kingdom. The institution should be

led by a proprietor or designated Principal/

Director, who must be legally residentin the United Kingdom and have clear

contractual responsibilities or the running

Accreditation1.CONDITIONS

1.1 Introduction 8

1.2 General Requirements 8

1.3 Eligibility to be considered for Accreditation 9

1.4 The Award of Accreditation 9

1.5 Maintaining Accreditation 10

1.6 Suspension or Withdrawal of Accreditation 11


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o the institution and or the quality o

its work. There should be no grounds to

believe the Principal/Director to be unit

to have responsibility or the institution.

Unless BAC determines otherwise, where1.2.3

an accredited institution is a branch o

a larger organisation, accreditation will

relate only to the branch institution.

The institution must be able to provide1.2.4

evidence o its inancial stability.

Accreditation by BAC does not remove the1.2.5

obligations o the accredited institution

to comply with relevant statutory

requirements.

ELIGIBILITY TO BE1.3COnSIDERED FORACCREDITATIOn

The ollowing types o independent1.3.1

institutions are eligible to be considered

or accreditation:

institutions oering urther or higher

educational courses throughout the

year

non-collegiate institutions, oering

speciic courses at certain times o

the year or within institutions which

primarily oer courses which are not

appropriate or BAC accreditation.

The ollowing types o institution will not1.3.2

normally be eligible to be considered or

accreditation:

institutions which are wholly

publicly unded, or which are

wholly responsible to a government

department or an institution in receipt

o state grants, and thereby subject to

Osted inspection or QAA audit

institutions which are solely or

predominantly providers o English as

a Foreign Language (seeSectio 2.5below)

institutions which are solely or

predominantly providers o education

or students o compulsory school age

(i.e. 16 years and under).

THE AWARD OF1.4

ACCREDITATIOnThe authority to award or withhold1.4.1

accreditation is ully delegated to the

Councils Accreditation Committee (see

Sectio 7).

BAC awards accreditation o two kinds:1.4.2

institutional and non-collegiate.

Institutional accreditation covers the

ull range o activities provided by a

college or similar institution, and is

not restricted to specifc courses within

the total operation. Full accreditation

is awarded or a period o up to our

years, subject to a satisactory interim

inspection and the institution meeting

the requirements set out in Sectio

1.5 below. This accreditation does not

extend to activities which take place

outside the institution itsel (or instance,

ranchised programmes, satellitesummer schools or separate branches,

whether in UK or overseas) or promoted

and delivered under a dierent name

unless BAC has given specifc approval

or the inclusion o such activities within

the institutions accreditation.

Non-collegiate accreditation is

awarded in respect o a specifed

range o courses. The range must be

detailed within the application andwill be indicated on the certifcate o

accreditation. Accreditation is awarded

or a period o up to our years, subject

to a satisactory interim inspection and

observance o the requirements set out

in Sectio 1.5 below. I the organisation

wishes to apply or an extension o

the scope o the accreditation, BACs

Accreditation Committee will consider

whether a urther inspection is required

beore such an extension can begranted.


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BAC has developed speciic criteria or the1.4.3

award o accreditation as an independent

higher education institution. The award

is available to institutions which wholly

or predominantly oer programmes at

the level o higher education, normallyin partnership with an accredited

university or other HE awarding body,

and oer students a range o resources

appropriate to those studying at the level

o higher education. Independent higher

education institutions wishing to apply or

accreditation under these criteria should

contact the BAC oice.

BAC has developed speciic criteria1.4.4

or small, specialist colleges. Twoschemes have been developed which are

applicable to colleges oering creative

and perorming arts (the Small Creative

and Perorming Arts colleges scheme,

or SCAPA) or theological and religious

education (the Small Theological and

Religious Education colleges scheme, or

STARE). Providers who wish to ind out

more about these schemes and whether

they might be eligible should contactthe BAC oice. It will be necessary or

applicants to complete a questionnaire

and return this to BAC in order or their

eligibility to be determined.

Accreditation may be awarded or a period1.4.5

o up to our years, during which time

the institution will receive an interim

inspection rom BAC (see 3.3.3). Beore

the end o this period, a ull re-inspection

will take place unless the AccreditationCommittee has, exceptionally, approved

an extension o the accreditation period.

I an institution ails to respond to requests

or reapplication documents and agree

to a re-inspection beore the end o the

accreditation period, its accreditation will

be deemed to have lapsed.

BAC regards its reports on colleges1.4.6

as being conidential to itsel and to

the college. BAC does not share thesereports with external bodies without the

express permission o the college, unless

such a body has an explicit interest in

the college: e.g. the Quality Assurance

Agency (QAA), British Council, the

Open University Validation Services, is a

government regulatory agency (e.g. the

UKBA, Trading Standards), or is a UKBA-

approved accrediting body. By submittingan application or accreditation the

institution acknowledges and agrees to

these inormation-sharing protocols.

The institution may publish the inspection1.4.7

report in its entirety. Sections o the report

may not be selected and published alone.

A short report summary or publicity

purposes can be provided by the BAC

oice.

The award o accreditation allows the1.4.8

institution to display BACs Accreditation

Mark and the statement Accredited

by the British Accreditation Council

or Independent Further and Higher

Education. A variation o this statement

should be used by non-collegiate,

independent higher education institutions

and those institutions with approved

candidate or accreditation status. Further

inormation can be obtained rom the

BAC oice. Only those institutions with

accreditation are permitted to use the logo

and statement on their material. The BAC

logo and Accreditation Mark must not be

used on award certiicates unless express

permission to do so has been received.

MAInTAInInG1.5ACCREDITATIOn

Following accreditation, institutions are1.5.1

required to comply with procedures

established to monitor the maintenance o

satisactory standards (seeSectio 3.3).

The requirements include:1.5.2

submission o an annual ull-time

equivalent (FTE) orm

the submission o an annual return and

accounts (seeSectio 3.3.2)

the submission o annual student

enrolment, progression and completion


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statistics

co-operation in enabling BAC to

respond to any complaint relevant to

accreditation

ull re-inspection within the statedperiod o accreditation (normally our

years).

BAC reserves the right to inspect the1.5.3

institution and review its accreditation at

any time. Grounds may include:

change o ownership or company

registration*

change o name*

appointment o a new principal/

director*

signiicant changes in the academic

programme*

relocation or the acquiring o

additional premises*

a serious complaint or evidence to

suggest that the standards observed

during the ull inspection are not being

maintained.

*It is the institutions responsibility to inorm BAC,

in good time, when such changes occur.

Accredited institutions are also required1.5.4

to pay an annual accreditation ee (see

Sectio 10). Failure to pay the ee within

a stated period will lead BAC to assume

that the institution has withdrawn rom

accreditation. One months notice o

withdrawal is required. Withdrawal ater

the start o the accreditation year (1st

September) will render the institution

liable or pro rata payment o the annual

ee.

While BAC will assess elements o the1.5.5

institutions responsibility, it remains the

institutions responsibility to ensure it

meets all relevant statutory requirements,

along with those enorced by UKBA.

SuSPEnSIOn OR1.6WITHDRAWAL OFACCREDITATIOn

BACs Accreditation Committee may1.6.1

determine to withdraw the accreditationo an institution ollowing consideration

o an adverse inspection report, or other

evidence that the institution has ailed

to maintain the standards required or

accreditation or to meet the requirements

or continuing accreditation described in

Sectio 1.5 above.

The Chairman or Deputy Chairman1.6.2

o the Accreditation Committee may

authorise the immediate suspension othe accreditation o an institution on

the grounds o a major breach o BACs

regulations. These may include:

conviction o the owner(s) or head

o establishment on either civil or

criminal grounds relevant to the good

management o the college

bankruptcy, where the institution is

owned by individuals, or insolvency,where the institution is company

owned

ailure to provide evidence that the

college requires visa students to meet

their requirements in respect o hours

o organised daytime study and levels

o attendance

enrolling or oering to enrol visa

students onto an academic programme

which does not meet UKBAs

requirements (seeSectio 2.2)

enrolling or oering to enrol students

onto unauthorised degree programmes

in breach o the Education Reorm

Act 1988 or programmes which lead

to degrees awarded by an overseas

body which is not itsel accredited by

a recognised accrediting agency (see

Sectios 2.4.3 ad 2.4.4)

ailure to respond within reasonable

time to a request rom BAC in respect

o a complaint rom a student or


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external body

ailure to settle a debt to BAC within a

stated period o time

ailure to agree to a re-inspection

within the period o accreditation.

The Accreditation Committee at its next

meeting will receive a report o the grounds

or the suspension and the colleges

response, and then may determine to

reinstate or withdraw accreditation or to

maintain the suspension or a urther period

to allow the college to take remedial action.

The above list is not exhaustive.

Institutions will continue to appear on1.6.3

the BAC list o accredited colleges during

the period o suspension, but may be

summarily removed i the withdrawal o

accreditation is subsequently approved by

the Accreditation Committee.

Following a decision by the Accreditation1.6.4

Committee to withdraw accreditation,

institutions will have the right to make use

o BACs Appeals Procedure (seeSectio

8).

BAC, as part o its mission, maintains1.6.5

excellent relations with the relevant

government departments, including UKBA.

These are inormed o newly accredited

colleges, suspensions and withdrawals o

accreditation. Loss o accreditation may

lead to the loss o a UKBA Licence as a

sponsoring organisation.


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Accreditation2.GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Inspections 14

2.2 UK Border Agency (UKBA) Requirements 14

2.3 Student Complaints 16

2.4 Awards and Qualifications 17

2.5 Providers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) 18

2.6 Institutions recognised as schools under Section 162a regulations 18

InSPECTIOnS2.1

Institutions applying or accreditation or2.1.1

reaccreditation are required to undergo

inspection by independent inspectors

appointed by BAC. BACs inspections are

intended not only to assess whether an

institution should be accredited, but also

to provide advice and support within the

institutions own ramework o quality

management. The method o assessment

is set out in Sectios 4, 5 ad 6 o this

handbook.

Although BAC is a non-governmental2.1.2

organisation, its inspections monitor

compliance with legal requirements

in areas which include ire protection,

health and saety, employment law,

child protection, equalities and non-

discrimination, copyright licensing andobservance o visa regulations. However,

accreditation by BAC does not remove the

obligations o an accredited institution

to comply with relevant statutory

requirements and accreditation may be

reused or withdrawn i there is evidence

o non-compliance with an institutions

legal responsibilities.

BAC reserves the right to carry out a2.1.3

spot check inspection o an accreditedinstitution, with or without prior

notiication. A charge will be levied where

the reason or the inspection is either the

ailure o an institution to respond to a

request or inormation rom BAC, or the

institution having omitted to notiy BAC

o signiicant changes such as a change

o Principal or a re-location (see Sectio

10.1.5).

uK BORDER AGEnCY (uKBA)2.2

REquIREMEnTSAll education providers receiving students2.2.1

rom outside the European Economic Area

(EEA) will need a UKBA licence to act as

an immigration sponsor. This licensing

process has replaced the Department

or Innovation, Universities and Skills

(now replaced by the Department or

Business, Innovation and Skills) Register

o Education and Training Providers. To

receive a licence, independent educationproviders will need to show that they hold

valid accreditation by BAC or another

UKBA-approved accreditation body, along

with meeting other UKBA criteria. Details

o this and other important changes are set

out in ull in Appedi G, but the major

elements are summarised below.

The new process, known as the Points2.2.2

Based System (PBS) or Tier 4 visas, gives

greater protection to colleges enrollingvisa students, in that visas are tied to the

sponsoring college. It also places new


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responsibilities upon colleges to ensure

that visa requirements are met and that

UKBA is inormed when students are

ailing to meet those requirements.

Sponsoring education providers will issue2.2.3would-be students with a Confrmation

o Acceptance or Studies (CAS). A CAS

is not a guarantee o a visa, but will act

as a guarantee rom a licensed education

provider that it wishes to bring a student to

the UK, and that to the best o its knowledge

the student will meet the rules or Tier 4

and will comply with his/her conditions

o stay. It must also provide assurance that

the education provider is confdent that

the student is capable o undertaking and

completing the particular course o studies.

There are two possible entry routes or2.2.4

students:

General student visas, which enable

a student to be cleared or a period o

study or up to our years and have work

entitlements

Student visitors, who may stay or a non-extendable period o up to six months and

may not work during their stay.

In either case, the student will only be able

to enrol in a college accredited by BAC or

another body approved by UKBA.

Apart rom establishing a new process, the2.2.5

PBS system imposes new restrictions on

the level o courses which can be oered

to visa students. Please note that UKBAhas stated that in order or an individual

rom outside the European Economic Area

to be issued with a student visa they must

have been accepted onto a course leading

to an approved qualiication. An approved

qualiication is deined as:

validated by Royal Charter; or

awarded by a recognised body on the

recognised bodies list operated by DIUS

[now BIS] (see link http://www.dcsf.

go.k/recogisedkdegrees/ide.

cfm?fseactio=istittes.list); or

recognised by one or more recognised

bodies via a ormal articulation agreement

with the awarding body;

approved at level 3 or above in the

National Qualiications Framework(NQF) operated by the Qualiications &

Curriculum Authority (QCA); or

approved at an equivalent level in

the Scottish Credit & Qualiications

Framework (SCQF); or

approved at an equivalent level by the

Qualiications, Curriculum and Assessment

Authority (SQCA) or Wales; or

approved at an equivalent level by theCouncil or Curriculum, Examinations and

Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland; or

an overseas qualiication, on which UK

NARIC is able to advise with regard to its

validity, with a level equivalent to level 3

or above on the National Qualiications

Framework.

UKBA will exceptionally accept qualifcations

which sit outside o this defnition until 31

March 2010. Colleges will thus have until this

date to ensure that all their courses meet these

criteria (please see paragraphs 225 and 226

o the Gc Sps pplcts -

T 2, T 4 T 5 th Pts Bs

Sst or urther guidance).

In general terms, an institution which2.2.6

enrols visa students must satisy BACs

inspectors that it meets the UKBA

deinition o a bona ide educationprovider. In order to demonstrate this, the

institution must:

maintain satisactory records o enrolment

and attendance o students, and supply

these to UKBA when requested;

provide courses which involve a minimum

o 15 hours organised daytime study per

week, excluding breaks;

ensure a suitably qualiied tutor is presentduring the hours o study to oer teaching

and instruction to the students;


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oer courses leading to an approved

qualiication (see Sectio 2.2.5 above and

Appedi G);

employ suitably qualiied sta to provide

teaching, guidance and support to the

students;

provide adequate accommodation,

acilities, staing levels and equipment to

support the numbers o students enrolled

at the institution; and

i it oers tuition support to external

students at degree level, ensure that such

students are registered with the UK degree

awarding body.

Further details o the interpretation o these

criteria may be ound in Appedi G.

UKBA may request BAC to investigate2.2.7

and take appropriate action where there

are grounds to suspect that an accredited

institution is ailing to meet these

requirements. This will normally involve

an unannounced spot check inspection o

the institution. UKBA will be inormed o

the outcome o the inspection.

Where the ailure to meet visa2.2.8

requirements is repeated or is considered

to be the result o a deliberate attempt

to circumvent the requirements, BACs

Accreditation Committee will withdraw

accreditation, which in turn may lead to

the withdrawal o the institutions UKBA

licence.

STuDEnT COMPLAInTS2.3

It is a condition o continuing2.3.1

accreditation that an institution agrees

to co-operate promptly with BAC in an

attempt to resolve a complaint received

rom a present or ormer student. The

complaints procedure is set out in Sectio

9.

Failure to respond to BACs request or a2.3.2

response to the complaint may lead BAC

to undertake an unannounced spot check

inspection at the institutions expense

or, in the case o a serious complaint, tosuspend accreditation until the issue is

resolved.

With the agreement o both sides, BACs2.3.3

Chie Executive will oer mediation in an

attempt to resolve the issue.

Where a complaint is considered to be2.3.4

relevant to BACs accreditation criteria

and, ater due investigation, is considered

to be justiied, BAC may require theinstitution to take appropriate action

to compensate the complainant as a

condition o continuing accreditation.


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AWARDS AnD2.4quALIFICATIOnS

BAC does not validate or accredit2.4.1

qualiications. BACs policy is that

institutions should oer courses leading

to external awards granted by recognised

examining bodies. BAC does accept that

there may be instances where there is

no appropriate external awarding body.

Institutions should, however, be aware

that UKBA requires all visa students to

be studying or an approved qualiication

rom 31 March 2010 onwards (see 2.2.5).

LeveL and STaTuS of inTernaL2.4.2

awardS

BACs inspectors will consider the accuracy

o any claims made by institutions as to the

level and status o their internal awards. This

will include a requirement or evidence o

the extent to which the institutions internal

awards are accepted or the purposes

o employment or urther study. BAC

encourages institutions to involve externalmoderators in the assessment o students,

but accepts that there may be instances

where this is inappropriate. In the case o

programmes on which visa students are or

may be enrolled, the award must be at NQF

level 3 or above and, by March 2010, be

independently validated by a recognised

body (see Sectio 2.2.5 andAppedi G).

deGreeS2.4.3

It is an oence under the Education Reorm

Act 1988 (Section 214) or an institution based

in the UK to oer or grant an award which

is described as a degree unless it has had

degree-awarding powers ofcially bestowed

upon it. Beore a private institution can oer

courses leading to degrees it must enter

into a ormal partnership agreement with a

recognised UK degree awarding body or an

overseas body which has accredited degree-

awarding powers. Providers must clearly

state the awarding university on all publicity

material. Furthermore, providers should not

advertise pathways to a degree as a degree

award.

overSeaS deGreeS2.4.4

BAC will not grant accreditation to2.4.4.1

institutions or maintain the accreditation o

institutions which oer courses leading to

overseas degrees unless the awarding body is

itsel accredited by a recognised accrediting

agency. This would normally be a national

agency or, in the case o US degrees, a

body recognised by the US Council or

Higher Education Accreditation. Accredited

colleges considering entry into a partnershipenabling the oer o degree programmes

are strongly recommended to contact BAC

to ensure that the awarding body meets

BACs requirements. Institutions oering

programmes to visa students which lead to

the award o overseas qualiications should

provide evidence that UK NARIC considers

that they meet the requirements o UKBA

(seeSectio 2.2.5andAppedi G).

Institutions oering courses leading to2.4.4.2degrees awarded by an overseas body

should be aware that the Education Reorm

Act 1988 also speciies that an oence

will be committed unless it is shown that

the deendant took reasonable steps to

inorm the person to whom the award was

granted or any member o the public or

particular individual to whom the oer or

invitation was addressed that the award

was not granted or to be granted by a

United Kingdom institution (214 (4)). Thuspublicity material must state the location o

the awarding university.


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PROvIDERS OF EnGLISH AS2.5A FOREIGn LAnGuAGE (EFL)

BAC does not itsel accredit institutions2.5.1 which are solely or predominantly

providers o English as a Foreign Language

(EFL) course/programmes. This includes

any provider which, while legally a

division o a BAC-accredited institution,

is essentially a separate organisation

and is being promoted separately and

under a dierent name. BAC has taken

the view that it is more appropriate

or such providers to be accredited by

Accreditation UK (operated by the BritishCouncil in partnership with English UK).

In cases where the EFL provision has2.5.2

been accredited by Accreditation UK,

BACs inspection will be largely restricted

to items relevant to non-EFL academic

programmes (including teaching and

academic management, procedures and

resources), although the adequacy o

the relationship between EFL and other

programmes will be considered whereEFL is oered as an ancillary subject.

Institutions wishing to be considered

or inspection within these procedures

should inorm the Chie Executive at

the time o applying or accreditation or

reaccreditation.

InSTITuTIOnS2.6RECOGnISED AS SCHOOLSunDER SECTIOn 162A

REGuLATIOnSInstitutions which have received an2.6.1

inspection (normally by Osted or the

Independent Schools Inspectorate) under

the section 162a regulations (Education

Act 2003) or independent schools may be

eligible to receive a top-up inspection by

BAC.

In addition to providing the Accreditation2.6.2

Committee with current inormation on theinstitution, BACs top-up inspection will

ocus upon two major areas:

the institutions response to any

deiciencies identiied in the section 162a

report

an evaluation o elements o the

institutions provision which lie outside the

section 162a criteria. These are likely to

include:

speciic academic and pastoral

requirements o mature overseas

students

academic programmes which all

outside Oqual guidelines (such as

University Foundation Programmes or

IELTS preparation)

observance o visa requirements

advice on entry to higher education.

The extent o the inspection and the size2.6.3

o the inspection team will be dependent

on the extent to which the section 162a

criteria involve an assessment o the

institutions ull provision.


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20

THE PERIOD OF3.1ACCREDITATIOn

Accreditation will normally be awarded3.1.1

or a period o our years, during which

time institutions will receive an interiminspection. A ull re-inspection will

take place beore the end o the period,

unless the Accreditation Committee has

agreed exceptionally to an extension

o the accreditation period. This will

normally only be on the grounds o an

impending major change to premises,

management or academic programme. I

an institution ails to respond to requests

or re-application documents and to agree

to a re-inspection within the accreditationperiod, the Committee may determine that

its accreditation has lapsed.

The Committee may decide that it would3.1.2

be appropriate to award accreditation or

an initial period shorter than our years.

This will normally only occur where the

institution is anticipating or has recently

experienced a major change in its

provision or is allowed a period to address

an identiied deiciency beore a decision

is taken on accreditation or the ull our-

year period. Under these circumstances,

the Accreditation Committee will require

an early interim inspection to enable it to

determine whether accreditation should

be extended or the normal ull period or

whether it would be appropriate to require

a urther ull inspection beore the end o

the initial period o accreditation.

nEW APPLICATIOnS FOR3.2ACCREDITATIOn

Institutions considering an application3.2.1

or accreditation should download the

acctt Hb, the G tacctt and an application orm

rom the BAC website. Hard copies o

these documents are also available or ree

as a pack rom the BAC oice.

BACs initial inspection procedure or new3.2.2

applicants has two main purposes:

to allow or a thorough assessment o

applicants

to provide a iltering mechanism whichidentiies elements which might prevent

the award o accreditation, so enabling

institutions to avoid the cost o a ull

inspection until they have rectiied them.

Please note that not all deiciencies can

be identiied at this stage. An inspection is

required to assess the provision in ull.

There are three stages in the inspection3.2.3

process:

Stage 1: scrutiny o documentation

Stage 2: inspection o a new institution,

ocusing upon compliance with statutory

requirements and BACs minimum

standards. I the outcome is avourable,

an institution will become an approved

candidate or BAC accreditation or

a period o up to six months. UKBA

will accept this as qualiying the new

institution to be considered or a licence asan immigration sponsor (seeSectio 2.2),

provided that it has been operating or

ewer than 18 months.

Accreditation Processes3.3.1 The Period of Accreditation 20

3.2 New Applications for Accreditation 20

3.3 Continuing Accreditation 24


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21

Stage 3: inspection ocusing on the

educational provision and the institutions

procedures to monitor and enhance the

quality o its provision. Full accreditation

may be awarded ater this stage.

This procedure will be normal or all

newly established colleges, although

where a college is clearly well established

it may be acceptable to combine stages

2 and 3 as a single ull inspection. Please

note that BAC will make the inal decision

as to whether separate or combined stages

2 and 3 inspections will take place.

In more detail, the stages are as ollows:3.2.4

STaGe 1:

Each institution wishing to apply or

accreditation will submit an application

orm and required supporting

documentation (see Sectio 6).

A ormal evaluation process will be

undertaken by BAC sta, with urther

investigation through Companies House,bank and personal reerences, and scrutiny

o websites and other publicity material.

Institutions will be contacted i the

required documentation is incomplete, i

there are discrepancies in the inormation,

or i elements o the provision do not meet

BACs requirements.

There will be no urther progress until

these matters have been satisactorily

resolved.

A non-reundable ee is required.

Applications will remain live or up to six

months. Should the application not be

considered complete within this period a

new submission will be required.

STaGe 2

The institution will be contacted toarrange a date or an inspection. It should

be noted that BAC is required to give its

inspectors at least three weeks notice o

an inspection.

This will normally be a one-day inspection,

although this may vary according to the

size o the institution or the number o

sites at which it operates.

A deposit will be required. I the

institution cancels the inspection at a

time which results in unrecoverable costs

(such as travel tickets, hotel bookings or

compensation to inspectors), these costs

will be oset against the deposit; otherwise

the deposit will be set against the ull costs

o the inspection. Furthermore, should

less than two weeks notice be given

o cancellation or postponement, BAC

will charge 75 per inspector per day in

addition to any other unrecoverable costs.

The inspection will concentrate

on premises and health and saety,

management, staing and administration,

and student welare (see Sectios 5.1 to

5.3 below), as well as making an initial

assessment o academic resources in

the light o the institutions advertised

academic programme. It will not normally

involve classroom observation.

I the institution oers its own awards or

overseas qualiications, the inspection will

include an assessment o whether these

meet UKBAs requirements (see2.2.5 and

Appedi G).

The inspection report will be evaluated

by a sub-committee o the Accreditation

Committee. The sub-committee canmake one o three decisions: award

the approved candidate or BAC

accreditation status, deer a decision

or up to six months until a number o

requirements have been met, or reuse to

accredit. I successul, institutions will be

awarded approved candidate or BAC

accreditation status or a limited period

(normally not more than six months).

I a decision is deerred, the sub-committeewill require that, within six months, the

institution provides documentary evidence

o action taken in response to concerns


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22

expressed in the inspection report, and/

or require a supplementary inspection to

be undertaken at the institutions expense

beore approved candidate or BAC

accreditation status is awarded.

I an institution is not awarded approved

candidate or BAC accreditation status, it

will be given the reasons or the decision,

and will have the right to appeal and

require the report to be reviewed by a ull

meeting o the Accreditation Committee.

While institutions which are reused

accreditation are ree to re-apply, BAC

reserves the right to set a minimum time

period which must elapse beore a re-

application can be accepted.

An inspection ee will be charged, and

the outcome o the assessment o the

institution will not be released until the ee

has been received.

STaGe 3:

The institution will be contacted to arrange

a date or a urther inspection. Failure

on the part o the institution to agree a

date within the stated period o initial

accreditation will lead to its approved

candidate or BAC accreditation status

lapsing unless, exceptionally, the

Accreditation Committee agrees to allow

an extension.

The inspection will ocus on academic

matters and quality management (see

Sectios 5.4. ad 5.5 below), but will also

involve a spot check o statutory matters

covered in stage 2 and o any other issues

o concern expressed in the stage 2 report.

The size o the inspection team will

depend on the size and diversity o the

academic programme, but will normally

involve at least two inspectors.

The inspection report will be considered

by BACs Accreditation Committee.The Committee can make one o three

decisions: award accreditation or a

designated period, deer a decision

or up to six months until a number o

requirements have been met, or withdraw/

reuse accreditation.

I successul, accreditation will normally

be awarded or the remainder o the our-

year period.

I the Committee does not consider

it appropriate to award accreditation

or the ull period, it may extend the

institutions approved candidate or BAC

accreditation status or a shorter period

(not normally more than six months) to

allow the institution to respond to the

matters o concern expressed in the report,

and will require a urther inspection at the

institutions expense beore taking a inal

decision.

Alternatively, the Committee may

determine that accreditation should be

withdrawn. In this event, the institution

will have the right to appeal (seeSectio

8).

As stated above, while institutions which

are reused accreditation are ree to

re-apply, BAC reserves the right to set a

minimum time period which must elapse

beore a re-application can be accepted.




has been received.

ComBined STaGeS 2 and 3 inSPeCTionS:

When an institution has been operating

or 12 months or more, BAC will normally

consider it most appropriate to conduct a

combined stages 2 and 3 inspection.

A deposit will be required. I the

institution cancels the inspection at a

time which results in unrecoverable costs

(such as travel tickets, hotel bookings orcompensation to inspectors), these costs


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23

will be oset against the deposit; otherwise

the deposit will be set against the ull costs

o the inspection. Furthermore, should

less than two weeks notice be given

o cancellation or postponement, BACwill charge 75 per inspector per day in

addition to any other unrecoverable costs.

The inspection will ocus on the ive areas

detailed in Sectio 5.

The size o the inspection team will

depend on the size and diversity o the

academic programme, but will normally

involve two inspectors over two days.

The Committee can make one o threedecisions: award accreditation, deer

a decision or up to six months until a

number o requirements have been met, or

reuse accreditation.

I successul, accreditation is normally

awarded or a our-year period.

I a decision is deerred, the Committee

will require the institution to provide

documentary evidence o action taken

in response to the report requirements

and/or a supplementary inspection to be

undertaken at the institutions expense.

I accreditation is reused, the reasons

will be clearly explained in the inspection

report. The institution will have the right to

appeal against the decision (see Sectio 8).

As stated above, while institutions which

are reused accreditation are ree to

re-apply, BAC reserves the right to set aminimum time period which must elapse

beore a re-application can be accepted.




has been received.

All newly accredited institutions will3.2.5

receive an interim inspection within twelve

months o the award o accreditation,ollowing stage 3 o these procedures.

BAC also reserves the right to make

unannounced spot check inspections

to accredited colleges at any time (see

Sectio 2.1.3above). I either the interim

inspection or a spot check provides reason

to believe that the standards observed at

the ull inspection are no longer beingmaintained, the Accreditation Committee

may require a urther inspection to be

undertaken at the institutions expense and

may determine to suspend accreditation

until the inspection report has been

received.

While BAC is not able to provide any3.2.6

guarantee regarding the length o time

taken ollowing receipt o an application

to the institution receiving notiication o adecision, the ollowing should be borne in

mind:

applications will be acknowledged on

receipt. The application will normally

be reviewed within our weeks. Should

documents be missing or clariication

required the BAC oice will contact the

institution; this will cause delay

complete applications are considered by

the Chie Inspector and a decision on the

size and composition o the inspection

team made

once an application has been signed o by

the Chie Inspector, the institution will be

asked to suggest suitable inspection dates.

The inspection should be conducted on

days when the largest sample o teaching

(assuming the inspection will be stage 3 or

stages 2 and 3 combined) can be observed.

BAC is required to give its inspectors at

least three weeks notice o an inspection

ollowing the inspection, BAC expects to

receive the report within two weeks. This is

reviewed in the oice beore being sent to

the Accreditation Committee at least two

weeks prior to the next meeting

the Accreditation Committee meets at least

six times a year. An institution will receive

notiication o the Committees decision inwriting in the ive working days ollowing

the meeting.


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COnTInuInG3.3ACCREDITATIOn

As a condition o continuing accreditation,3.3.1

institutions are required to meet anumber o requirements. Failure to

meet these requirements may lead the

Accreditation Committee to order a spot

check inspection to the institution at the

institutions expense or, ater due warning,

to suspend or withdraw accreditation.

annuaL reTurn3.3.2

Accredited institutions are required to

submit an annual return by 1 Novembereach year and to alert BAC to any

signiicant changes which may aect

the standards o provision oered by the

institution. Where signiicant changes

have occurred, a BAC representative

may inspect the institution and prepare a

report or the Accreditation Committee.

The return will include the ollowing

inormation:

a declaration o inancial viability by theprincipal/director (the return should be

accompanied by the most recent statutory

accounts)

details o any signiicant changes in the

ownership, management, location or

academic programme. BAC may require a

personal reerence or a newly appointed

principal/director

details o courses oered in the previous

year, including numbers enrolled on each

course, cohort progression, numbers

completing and pass rates in any

examinations taken

a list o courses oered in the current

academic year, including the level o

the course in relation to the National

Qualiications Framework and the name o

the awarding body

an outline o planned developments

details o any litigation involving the

institution

a declaration that the institution meets

statutory requirements in respect o

students subject to visa requirements. I, at

a uture stage, the Accreditation Committee

considers there to be convincing evidence

that this was not the case, BAC may

withdraw accreditation immediately

a declaration that the institution is

happy or inormation to be shared with

regulatory bodies, QAA, Open University

Validation Services, the British Council

or any other UKBA-approved accrediting

body, in pursuit o their proper monitoring

objectives.

inTerim inSPeCTionS3.3.3

Except in the case o newly accredited

institutions, which normally receive an interim

inspection within 12 months o accreditation,

an interim inspection will be arranged during

the second year ater each ull inspection.

The Accreditation Committee may require

an earlier inspection to be made in the light

o reported concerns or signifcant changes.

The interim inspection is designed to ensure

that the standards required or accreditation

are being maintained and to provide an

opportunity to discuss any changes which

have taken place since the ull inspection

or which are in prospect, including the

institutions response to the recommendations

or requirements o the most recent inspection

report. The interim inspection will include an

examination o the institutions observance ovisa and other statutory requirements where

these are relevant. Any areas o concern will

be reported to the Accreditation Committee

and this may, in extreme cases, lead to a

urther inspection at the institutions expense

as a condition o continuing accreditation,

or to the suspension or withdrawal o

accreditation.

re-inSPeCTionS3.3.4

All institutions are subject to ull3.3.4.1

re-inspection every our years. Accreditation


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25

may be extended or a period, normally o

no more than one year, i the Accreditation

Committee believes that there are grounds

to postpone the inspection. These would

normally involve signiicant changes whichwere planned or had recently taken place.

The procedure or the inspection will be:

submission o an application orm and

required documentation

payment o a deposit. I the institution

cancels the inspection at a time which

results in unrecoverable costs (such

as travel tickets, hotel bookings or

compensation to inspectors), these

costs will be oset against the deposit;

otherwise the deposit will be set

against the ull costs o the inspection.

Furthermore, should less than two

weeks notice be given o cancellation or

postponement, BAC will charge 75 per

inspector per day in addition to any other

unrecoverable costs

a ull inspection, led by a reporting

inspector. This will normally involve

a minimum o two inspectors, but the

number o inspectors and the length o

the inspection will depend on the size

o the institution and the diversity o its

operation.

aCCrediTaTion CommiTTee3.3.4.2

Following inspections, the inspection report

will be considered by the Accreditation

Committee, which will make the decision, onbehal o the Council, on whether to award

continuing accreditation. The Chie Executive

will inorm the institution o the Committees

decision and will send the principal/

director a copy o the report, together with

an accreditation certifcate i continuing

accreditation has been awarded.

reCommendaTionS and3.3.4.3

requiremenTS

The report will normally contain a number

o recommendations or consideration by the

institution. In some cases, BAC may deer the

award o accreditation or reaccreditation,

pending confrmation rom the institution that

specifc defciencies have been rectifed ormay award accreditation or a period shorter

than the normal our years. BAC may then

require a urther inspection at the institutions

own expense beore reaccreditation or the

ull period is awarded. Accreditation would

continue during a period o deerral.

unSaTiSfaCTory GradeS3.3.4.4

Where an unsatisactory grade has been

awarded by the inspectors or any o thefve areas assessed during the inspection but

accreditation has, nevertheless, been awarded,

the Chie Executive will warn the institution

that, i the same grade is awarded at the next

inspection, reaccreditation is likely to be

deerred and possibly withdrawn.


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Inspection Procedures4.ORGANISATION

4.1 - 4.2 Inspection team 26

4.3 - 4.5 Preparing for an Inspection 26

4.6 - 4.7 Scope of the Inspection 27

InSPECTIOn TEAM

Except in the case o some institutions4.1

being considered under stage 2 o theprocedures or new applicants (see

Sectio 3.2.4 above), and some small

institutions undergoing a stages 2 and 3

combined inspection, BAC will appoint at

least two inspectors or each inspection,

one o whom will be the reporting

inspector (RI) who will be responsible or

determining the schedule o the inspection

and or producing the inal report or

consideration by the AccreditationCommittee.

BACs inspectors are required to sign4.2

a declaration identiying any potential

conlicts o interest. They are required

to observe conidentiality as to both the

process and the outcome o an inspection.

Institutions will be inormed beore the

inspection o the names o the inspectors.

PREPARInG FOR AnInSPECTIOn

Institutions are asked to inorm sta4.3

that an inspection is taking place and,

i possible, to arrange an initial meeting

with sta so that inspectors can introduce

themselves and describe what will be

taking place.

It will be the inspectors intention to4.4

avoid disruption o the institutions normal

activities as ar as possible during the

inspection. The institution is thereore

asked to provide a suggested timetable

o meetings with key personnel, together

with a ull timetable or classes taking

place during the inspection. The RI willtake these into account when allocating

the inspection teams time. However, the

RI will be responsible or producing the

inspection timetable to ensure it accords

with other commitments and meets the

needs o the inspection team.

BAC reserves the right to cancel the4.5

inspection or change the date or inspectors

prior to the commencement o the

inspection. Please note that BAC would

only make such changes once all other

options had been exhausted and where it

would be impossible or detrimental to go

ahead with the inspection as planned. I

the institution gives less than two weeks

notice o cancellation or changes to the

date o the inspection, it is liable to pay

a ixed ee o 75 per inspector, per day

to cover inspectors cancellation ees and

administration costs, as well as any urthercosts already incurred by inspectors, e.g.

travel costs, hotel bookings, etc. I the

institution gives more than two weeks

notice o cancellation or changes to

the date o the inspection, there is no

cancellation ee, but the institution is

liable or any costs already incurred by the

inspectors.


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SCOPE OF THE InSPECTIOn

The purpose o the inspection is not only4.6

to assess what can be observed during

the days o the inspection, but also

to consider evidence that satisactory

standards are likely to be maintained in

the longer term. Some o this assessment

will be based on documentation supplied

beore the inspection, enabling the

RI to identiy areas central to qualitymanagement which will be explored in

later interviews with key sta. These are

likely to include:

the quality and stability o the

academic and managerial sta

the procedures established by the

institution to monitor student progress

and attendance and to respond to

apparent underperormance

the institutions response to comments

made by external examiners or

moderators

the institutions procedures or sta

development and appraisal

any other procedures established by

the institution to monitor and enhance

its perormance.

While the exact nature o an inspection4.7

is likely to vary according to the size and

complexity o the academic programme,

there are elements which are common to

all inspections:

introductory meeting with sta (at least

members o the management team)

an initial tour o the institution

individual meetings with key academicand managerial sta

a study o a representative sample o

marked student work

a detailed survey o the library and

other academic resources

a meeting with a representative group

o students

observation o a representative sample

o classes. Where possible, inspectors

will oer their inormal comments to

sta members ater the observation

a inal meeting with the principal/

director to give an inormal report on

the indings o the inspection. This

will not indicate whether the outcome

will lead to the accreditation o the

institution, since the inal decision

on this lies entirely with BACs

Accreditation Committee.


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Inspection Procedures5.ASSESSMENT

Introduction 28

5.1 Premises and Health and Safety 30

5.2 Management, Staffing and Administration 32

5.3 Student Welfare 34

5.4 Teaching, Learning and Assessment 36

5.5 Management of Quality 38

5.6 Non-collegiate Accreditation 40

InTRODuCTIOn

This section is intended to enable institutions to

gain a clearer understanding o the likely scope o

an inspection and o the specifc items assessed

by BACs inspectors. Institutions are encouraged to

use this section as a basis or sel-evaluation ahead

o the inspection itsel. In addition to meetingBACs own requirements, accredited institutions

are required to satisy BAC inspectors that they

ully observe statutory requirements in areas

such as health and saety, employment, copyright

protection, equal opportunities, observance o visa

regulations and child protection. Accreditation will

not be awarded to institutions which ail to meet

these requirements.

The areas assessed by BACs inspectors are

grouped under fve headings, and, at the end o aninspection, the inspectors will allocate a grade to

each section:

premises and health and saety

management, staing and

administration

student welare

teaching, learning and assessment

management o quality

These grades are removed rom inspection reports

beore they are sent to colleges, but are used in

the Accreditation Committees decision-making

process.

The grades awarded are based on the ollowing

defnitions:

A: Very good level o provision

B: Good level o provision with a number o

signifcant strengths

C: Satisactory level o all-round provision

D: Provision which generally meets the

requirements or accreditation, but has

a number o weaknesses which must be

remedied in the immediate uture as a

condition o accreditation

E: Unsatisactory provision because o

signifcant weaknesses or breach o statutory

regulations

F: Unacceptable level o provision,

with serious identifed defciencies and

weaknesses

These grades are used in the Accreditation

Committees decision-making process as ollows:

As a minimum, institutions are

required to gain at least a C grade


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in each o the ive sections i they are

to receive unqualiied accreditation or

the ull period o our years. Where an

institution ails to achieve this level, the

Accreditation Committee may awardaccreditation or a period o less than the

ull our years, may deer a decision on

accreditation until the institution has had

time to address the identiied weaknesses,

may reuse to award accreditation to a

new applicant or withdraw or suspend the

accreditation o an institution which had

previously been accredited.

A college which ails to receive a C or

higher grade or any section, but stillreceives accreditation, will be warned

that accreditation is unlikely to be granted

ater the next inspection unless a C grade

(or better) is awarded or that section.

The award o an E or F grade or any

section or a D grade or management

o quality or teaching, learning and

assessment will normally lead to the

reusal or withdrawal o accreditation.

However, the Accreditation Committeemay deer a decision on accreditation

or a stated period, during which time

the institution will be required to rectiy

the speciic deiciencies identiied by

the inspectors. Should these matters

not be addressed then it is likely that

accreditation will be withdrawn or

reused.

Failure to meet the minimum requirements listed at

the beginning o each section will mean that it isvery likely that a grade o D, E or F will be awarded.

Detailed descriptions o the areas included in the fve

sections ollow.

As well as the list o minimum requirements,

each section includes a list o documents which

the inspectors will wish to see as part o their

evaluation. Some o these must be included with

the initial application orm; others should be made

available during the inspection. Sectio 6 sets out

the requirements in detail. Each section also lists thesta who should be available or interview on topics

relevant to that section, although it is accepted that

some may be unavoidably absent. I there are no sta

members with responsibility or the areas indicated,

it will be assumed that the principal/director or

nominated head o the institution ulfls the roles.

Sectios 5.1, 5.2 ad 5.3 will orm the basis o the

inspection required as stage 2 o the assessment o

new applicants or accreditation who have yet to enrol

students; sectios 5.4 ad 5.5 will orm the basis o

the stage 3 inspection, although this stage will also

involve some spot checking o items inspected at

stage 2. Detailed notes on the interpretation o the

minimum requirements can be ound in BACs G

t acctt.


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PREMISES AnD HEALTH AnD SAFETY5.1

Minimum requirements

BACs inspectors must be satisfed that:The institution has secure tenure on its premises

The premises provide a sae and clean environment or students and sta

Statutory requirements in relation to ire, health and saety are met

Classrooms provide adequate accommodation or the class sizes allocated to them

Classrooms, laboratories and any other specialised areas are equipped to a level which allows or theeicient delivery o the academic programme

There are speciic saety ru les in areas o particular hazard (in Science laboratories, or instance), and

that these are made readily available to students and sta

Documentation required(where relevant) during inspection o this section

Health and saety declaration by the

principal/director or owner

Health and saety poster in each o the

premises occupied

Health and saety policy

General and ire risk assessment and

evidence o action taken to respond to

recommendations

Certiication o irst aiders

Saety rules applicable to areas o hazard

Class registers

A loor plan o each site being inspected,

with a guide to the location o oices and

classrooms

Sta to be interviewedduring inspection o this section

Principal

Nominated saety oicer

Saety oicer or areas o hazard

First aiders

Maintenance/acilities manager


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Areas Assessed

GeneraL5.1.1

Tenure

External: location, signage,building

Security

Standard o maintenance andcleanliness

Heating and ventilation

Circulation spaceReception area

Signposting

Noticeboards

Toilets

STudenT faCiLiTieS5.1.2

Storage (lockers etc)

Common roomCaeteria

Access to IT

Recreation areas

STaff faCiLiTieS5.1.3

Sta room

Work space

Access to IT

Individual oices: seniormanagement, academic sta

Administrative oices

aCademiC faCiLiTieS5.1.4

ClassroomsIT acilities

Specialised areas (laboratories,workshops etc)

Quiet study areas

exTernaL PremiSeS5.1.5( s)

Academic

Non-academic

Transport arrangements

HeaLTH and SafeTy5.1.6SeeAppedi B

Fire precautions

Fire risk assessment

General risk assessment

First aid

Areas o particular hazard

Health and saety policy

Health and saety management(general risk assessment, H&S

committee etc.)


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MAnAGEMEnT, STAFFInG AnD ADMInISTRATIOn5.2

Minimum Requirements

BACs inspectors must be satisfed that:The institution is eectively managed

The administration o the institution is eective

Statutory requirements in relation to employment are met

Statutory duties in relation to equalities and non-discrimination are enorced across the ull range othe institutions provision

Sta have an appropriate level o experience and qualiications

Attendance and punctuality are recorded and monitored

The institution complies with UKBA requirements

Entry requirements or each course are clearly stated and institutions take reasonable steps to ensurethat students accepted or enrolment meet these requirements

There are satisactory procedures or the administration o examinations and other means oassessment

Publicity material gives a comprehensive and accurate description o the institution and its academicprogramme

There is no breach o copyright regulations

The institution complies with the requirements o the Data Protection Act 2003


Organogram or outline description o the

management structure

CVs or all senior sta

Evidence o academic sta qualiications

Timetables or all classes

Class registers

A ull list o students currently enrolled

in the institution, giving dates o birth

and identiying those subject to visa

requirements

Correspondence with students and UKBA

concerning attendance

Sample contracts or academic and non-

academic sta

Employers liability insurance certiicate

Minutes o sta meetings

Copies o prospectuses and other publicity

material

Student application orms

Course descriptions

Brieing materials or agents

CLA licence

Details o any current or pending litigation

relevant to accreditation


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Areas Assessed

Senior manaGemenT5.2.1

Role o owners, trustees, governingbody etc.

Management structure

Principal

Other senior managers

Eectiveness o management

Communication with non-senior sta

aCademiC STaff5.2.2Appointment procedures

Veriication o qualiications

Appropriateness o qualiicationsand experience in the context oprogrammes oered

Balance between ull-time and part-time

Sta turnover

aCademiC manaGemenT5.2.3

Student attendance and punctuality

Timetabling and room allocation

Visa requirements

Procedures or the acquisition oacademic resources

Subject/area management

Examination administration

adminiSTraTive STaff5.2.4

Structure, size and eectiveness oadministration

emPLoymenT5.2.5SeeAppedi C

Contracts

Disciplinary and Grievanceprocedures

Sta records

Employers Liability insurance

equaLiTieS and5.2.6non-diSCriminaTion

Equal treatment policy

Monitoring arrangements

Procedures or students, sta and

others to raise complaints about equal

treatment issues

reGiSTraTion5.2.7

Response to enquiries

Application Form

Statement o entry requirements

Veriication o student qualiications

Brieing o agents

PuBLiCiTy5.2.8See Appedi A

Prospectuses

Website

Other material

CoPyriGHT5.2.9See Appedi F

CLA licence

Observance o copyright restrictions


Principal

Academic managers

Senior administrator

Examinations oicer

Marketing manager


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STuDEnT WELFARE5.3

Minimum Requirements

BACs inspectors must be satisfed that:Students receive an appropriate level o pastoral support, taking into account actors such as theirage, abode and countries o origin

Speciically in the case o students rom overseas, the institution provides an appropriate level oadvice and assistance

Where there are students under the age o 18 or vulnerable adults, the institution meets therequirements o the Child Protection Act 1999, the Education Act 2002 and the SaeguardingVulnerable Groups Act 2006, in relation to checks on the employment o sta

Where the institution enrols students with special needs, an appropriate level o support orprovision is available, and that the institution has responded to the requirements o the Disability

Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005I the institution oers residential accommodation, it is clean, sae and open to inspection by theappropriate authorities and that a level o supervision is provided appropriate to the needs o thestudents

I the institution organises homestay accommodation or students, it is inspected beore students are

placed and is subject to regular re-inspection


Student induction packs

Criminal Records Bureau disclosure

records

Child protection policy

Rules relating to residential

accommodation

Commission or Social Care

Inspectorate/Osted report on residential

accommodation

Advice to homestay students and providers

Records o homestay inspections

Disability strategy


Accommodation and welare oicer

Residential sta

Sta responsible or any social or sporting

provision

Meeting with representative group o

students


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Areas Assessed

GeneraL:5.3.1

Qualiications and experience o stadealing with student welare

Pre- and post-arrival advice andinduction

Out-o-hours contact

Advice and counselling

overSeaS STudenTS:5.3.2

Pre-arrival inormation

Advice on living in UK

Registration or NHS treatment

Help with banking, travel cards etc.

Police registration and visa renewals

Access to speakers o their own irstlanguage

Awareness o cultural/religious issues

Policies to avoid discrimination

CHiLd ProTeCTion:5.3.3See Appedi D, 1

CRB disclosure

Child protection policy

reSidenTiaL aCCommodaTion:5.3.4SeeAppedi D, 4

Inspection by Osted or other

regulatory body

Standard o accommodation

Rules and supervision

Fire and saety

HomeSTay:5.3.5SeeAppedi D, 5

Selection o providers

Advice to providers

Advice to students

Monitoring and troubleshooting

Travel

SoCiaL ProGramme:5.3.6

Responsiveness to student needs/wishes

Costs

SPeCiaL needS:5.3.7

Academic support or dyslexia etc

DisabilitySeeAppedi E

STudenT oPinion:5.3.8

Report o meeting with representative

student group


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TEACHInG, LEARnInG AnD ASSESSMEnT5.4

Minimum requirements:

BACs inspectors must be satisfed that:

The courses are planned and delivered in ways which oer students a reasonable chance o success

Teachers have an acceptable level o subject knowledge and pedagogic skills

Teachers respond to the individual learning needs o students

Students are enabled to prepare or target examinations

Students receive quality eedback on their perormance and progress

Students have reasonable access to appropriate resources or study either within the institution orexternally

There is appropriate provision o advice or students going on to employment or higher/urther

education


Student application ormsCourse descriptions

Brieing materials or agents

Student iles

Sample placement tests

Records o student progress and completion

Records o examination results

Documents relating to external moderation

Copies o agreements with awarding bodies

Student eedback material

Sta appraisal procedures

Student Handbook

Sta Handbook

Internal quality assurance documentation

External quality assurance documentation

(ISO, IIP etc.)


PrincipalAcademic managers (e.g. Academic

Vice-Principal, Director o Studies,

Heads o Department)

Registrar/admissions secretary


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Areas Assessed

CurriCuLum:5.4.1

Planning

Coordination

Deinition/awareness o learningoutcomes

Assessment

Secondary material

Monitoring and coordination ocoursework delivery

effeCTiveneSS of TeaCHinG:5.4.2

Lesson plans

Lesson delivery

Responsiveness to lack ounderstanding on part o students

Responsiveness to needs o non-nativespeakers

Command o subject

Focus on learning outcomesDisruptive behaviour

Involvement o all students in activeparticipation

Assessment

Sta availability outside the classroom

wriTTen aSSiGnmenTS:5.4.3

Policy on setting written work

Eectiveness o marking

Feedback on written work

Plagiarism policy and procedures

LearninG maTeriaLS:5.4.4

Wallcharts or other classroom material

Audio-visual materials and handouts

in the classroom

Textbooks or course materials

Use o classroom resources

Independent study resources withininstitution

External study resources

anCiLLary ProGrammeS:5.4.5

English language

Study skills

Independent learning

HiGHer eduCaTion and CareerS5.4.6adviCe:

UCAS guidance

Speciic subject areas (e.g. medicine,

dentistry)


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MAnAGEMEnT OF quALITY5.5

Minimum Requirements:

BACs inspectors must be satisfed that:

The institution has eective systems to monitor its own standards

Students are adequately brieed on the nature and requirements o the courses or which they enrol

Student progress is eectively monitored, and that the monitoring is linked to procedures to allow orprompt intervention where appropriate

The institution has a means o assessing the views o students and clients

Students have access to a air complaints procedure

In the case o internal awards, there is a clear statement o the NQF level claimed and evidence thatstudents who received the award meet the stated requirements or that level

Students have the means o appealing against assessment marks or grades in the case o internalawards

The requirements o the Education Reorm Act 1988 in relation to the oer or award o degrees areully observed

Where programmes lead to the award o a degree, the awarding body itsel is nationally accreditedor, in the case o US degrees, accredited by a body recognised by the Council or Higher Education

Accreditation (www.chea.org)


Timetables

Course descriptions

Course plans

Lesson plans

Samples o marked student work


Teachers

Academic managers

Sta responsible or careers/UCAS advice

Librarian


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Areas Assesse

BAC Handbook 0910

Documents

Transcript of BAC Handbook 0910

Memoria 0910

Biogeochemistry 0910

Marlton 0910

Trabajos 0910

7.2.1 0910

0910 - FADE

Lectures 0910

Abridged 0910

Handbook SEC 0910

Insights 0910

Brochure 0910

RIGGING AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS · RIGGING AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 1 R_RCv04 EN ... Before rigging any BAC cooling equipment, ... Handbook or contact your local BAC Balticare

Engineering Inc 0910

HND Media Student Handbook 0910 - Staffordshire … Media Student Handbook 0910... · 1 Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology Student Handbook BTEC Higher National Diplomas

0910 00 Inciopr3pr4pfc 0910 02 Web

NjurundaBladet 0910

BAC Student Handbook

Nadales 0910

Post-Bac Pre-med Program Orientation Handbook

0910 RRI_INSJB