Appeals policy

This part of the policy covers:

• appeals relating to decisions concerning an application to offer a specific Highfield qualification
• appeals regarding the contents of a Highfield report
• appeals relating to a Highfield decision to decline a request to make reasonable adjustments or give special considerations
• appeals in relation to the application by Highfield of a sanction or action resulting from:
  • an engagement visit
  • a formal investigation, for example, into malpractice or maladministration
  • a decision to amend a learner's results following malpractice or a malpractice investigation
  • a decision made by Highfield following an investigation into a complaint
• appeals asserting that Highfield has not applied its procedures properly, consistently, or fairly
• appeals regarding learners who are not satisfied with the conduct of the assessment and believe it has disadvantaged them
• appeals regarding learners who feel that the premises or environment in which the qualification was conducted had disadvantaged them

Process for raising a full appeal to Highfield

Interested parties have 10 working days from the date they were notified of a decision you are appealing against in which to lodge an appeal. In the event that an interested party has raised an enquiry about a result or assessment decision the 10 working days will run from the date that Highfield sent its decision regarding that enquiry.

If you appeal on behalf of your learner(s), you must ensure that you have obtained the permission of the individual concerned.

Learners who wish to appeal about their assessment results or about a related decision should either be supported by their Centre and should have exhausted the Centre's own appeals process before appealing to Highfield. In the latter case, learners must provide Highfield with evidence that they have first appealed to their Centre. It is expected that learners will only appeal directly to Highfield in exceptional circumstances.

When submitting an appeal, the following supporting information where relevant is to be provided in writing:

• learner's full name and Highfield registration number
• learner's date of birth
• name of the Centre
• name of the Nominated Tutor
• date(s) Highfield's decision was made
• title of the Highfield qualification or nature of service affected (if appropriate)
• full written grounds of the appeal together with evidence to support the appeal
• contents and outcome of any relevant investigation carried out by the Centre relating to the issue
• a copy of Highfield's decision which you would like to appeal against

First review of the appeal detail

Upon receipt of any appeal, a suitably experienced Highfield representative will usually acknowledge receipt of the appeal within 1 working day.

The initial stage will be for Highfield to undertake an informal assessment to ascertain if the issue can be resolved before it goes to a formal appeal.

If the matter cannot be remedied through the informal assessment, then the matter will proceed to the First Review stage.

Highfield will aim to respond formally after the First Review within 20 working days. Please note that in some cases the First Review may take longer, for example, if a visit is required or interviews need to be undertaken. In such instances, Highfield will contact all parties concerned to inform them of the likely revised timescale.

Highfield may reject the appeal application if there is insufficient detail to support the appeal. As such, appellants are strongly advised to provide full and detailed grounds of appeal accompanied by as much supporting evidence as possible.

As far as reasonably practicable, Highfield will ensure that the person carrying out the First Review has had no prior involvement in the matter being appealed. It should, however, be noted that the person given the responsibility to undertake the First Review is likely to be a Highfield member of staff.

Following the First Review, Highfield will write to the appellant with details of the decision, which will be to either:

• amend the original decision; or
• confirm Highfield stands by the original decision

It is important to note that the person undertaking the First Review is not there to re-hear the matter in its entirety. They are there to form a view as to whether the decision that is being appealed was correct at the time that the decision was taken.

Applicants will be charged a fee of £350 plus VAT per should they wish Highfield to progress to a First Review. This fee is required before any appeal can be considered. If the appeal is upheld, the fee will be refunded in full. Please note the fee covers the administrative and personnel costs involved in dealing with appeals.

The appeal fee must be received by Highfield within 10 working days from the date we notified you of the decision you are appealing against. Highfield reserves the right not to hear your appeal in the event that the required funds are not received by Highfield within this 10 working day time limit.