Standardisation

What is standardisation?

It is a process which ensures that all staff, for example: teachers; trainers; assessors; and quality assurers interpret and follow the requirements of the programme or qualification in the same way. The process helps to ensure that all those involved are consistent and fair to all learners throughout their time with the organisation. 

Standardisation of practice enables people to work as a team rather than on their own, and helps them to give an equitable service to learners. However, any individual learner needs should always be taken into account. This may mean differentiating some teaching, learning and assessment materials to suit the particular needs of learners. Initial assessment can be used to identify any individual needs. This should not be limited to the beginning of a programme, but be regularly checked as a learner's needs could change as they progress.

Scroll to the end of the page for resources regarding standardisation.

Support for teachers and learners

• Resources.

• CPD modules.

• Videos.

• Information.

• Reading list.

Scroll to the end of the page for downloadable standardisation resources.

Standardisation activities

Various activities can be carried out to aid the standardisation process. These could occur during meetings; as part of peer observations; or by using technology. Videos could be made of staff standardising their practice, such as completing various documents, or providing feedback to learners. This would enable other staff to view them, perhaps if they couldn't attend the meeting, or could be looked at as part of CPD for a refresher.

Standardisation activities can include:

• discussing the qualification/programme requirements to ensure everyone interprets them the same way

• preparing materials for induction and initial assessments

• creating schemes of work, session plans and course materials

• discussing how to provide a consistent delivery by different teachers delivering the same subject

• interpreting policies and procedures

• designing or revising assessment and quality assurance documents

• discussing decisions made by other assessors

• comparing how documents and records have been completed

• creating assessment materials, assignments and recommended answers

• shadowing experienced staff

• peer observations and feedback to ensure consistency of practice

• role play activities such as: assessment planning; making a decision; providing feedback; dealing with a complaint

• internal quality assurers agreeing how their practice will be consistent to support their assessors.

Standardisation meetings are different to team meetings. The latter are to discuss issues relating to the management of the programme, for example, awarding organisation updates, targets, success rates and any learner issues.

Records should be maintained of all standardisation activities and any identified actions, which should be completed by a set date. An external quality assurer will want to view the records if it’s applicable to the qualification.

Scroll to the end of the page for resources regarding standardisation.

Examples of using technology for standardisation

• holding meetings via Zoom, Team, Skype or using videoconferencing facilities to discuss the interpretation of aspects of a programme, qualification or unit

• using online webinars to enable staff to meet virtually, and to standardise delivery and assessment approaches

• creating, updating and sharing documents online (e.g. in the cloud) such as schemes of work, session plans, assessment activities, and course materials

• taking digital recordings or videos of role play activities or case studies, for example, an assessor making a decision and providing developmental feedback to a learner. Assessors could view the recordings remotely to comment on strengths and limitations of a particular method

• making visual recordings of how to complete documents, forms and reports. If a staff member is unsure how to fill in a form they could access a video to see an example

• visually recording standardisation activities and uploading them to an intranet or virtual learning environment (VLE) for later viewing or as a refresher.

Benefits of standardisation

The main benefit is that it gives a consistent experience to all learners, no matter who their teacher, trainer or assessor is. It’s also a good way of maintaining professional development. It can ensure compliance and accountability with awarding organisations' and regulatory authorities' requirements.

Standardisation resources available for immediate download

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