Malpractice, Maladministration and Plagiarism Policy

Context: Malpractice and maladministration consist of those acts which undermine the integrity
and the validity of the assessment, the certification of qualifications and/or damage the authority
of those responsible for conducting the assessment certification.
These procedures relate to malpractice and/or maladministration in any assessment and
certification context and set out the rights and responsibilities with regard to malpractice
and/or maladministration of learners and staff AYBI.
Action Youth Boxing Intervention Statement
AYBI has a commitment to the highest standards of quality, honesty, openness and
accountability. AYBI does not tolerate actions (or attempted actions) ofmalpractice
and/or maladministration by:
• Learners
• Staff in connection with any assessments and certification
AYBI is committed to investigating all cases of failure to abide by its regulations that may
constitute malpractice. Where cases of suspected malpractice and/or maladministration
are proven, AYBI is fully committed to taking appropriate action, including applying
punitive measures and report suspected malpractice and/or maladministration in order to

maintain the integrity of all qualifications.

Objective
AYBI statement is designed to enable AYBI, associates, linked institutions and/or
awarding bodies to work together in detecting any irregularities and the implementation
of appropriate sanctions as set out.

​

MALPRACTICE: Identification
For the purposes of these procedures, malpractice is defined as any deliberate action,
neglect, or other practice that compromises, or could compromise:
• the assessment process;
• the integrity of a regulated qualification;
• the validity of a result or certificate;
• the reputation and credibility of the awarding body; or,
• the qualification or the wider qualifications community.
AYBI malpractice can include:
• Inadequately secured materials (Exam storage, marking guidance, learner
evidence, assessment and IQA records).
• Misuse of assessments, inappropriate adjustments, improper assistance, and
manufacturing evidence of competence, fabricating assessment or internal
verification records.
• Deliberate falsification of records in order to claim certificates
Examples of AYBI malpractice can include:
• Failing to keep assessment mark schemes secure
• Alteration of assessment mark scheme
• Alteration of an awarding bodies assessment and grading criteria
• Assisting learners in the production of work for assessment, where the support has
the potential to influence the outcomes of assessment, for example where the
assistance involves staff producing work for the learner
• Use of falsified witness statements, for example for evidence the learner has not
generated
• Allowing evidence, which is known by the staff member not to be the learner’s own,
to be included in a learner’s assignment/task/portfolio/coursework
• Misusing the conditions for special learner requirements, for example where
learners are permitted support, this is permissible up to the point where the support
has the potential to influence the outcome of the assessment failing to keep learner
computer files secure
• Falsifying records/certificates, for example by alteration or substitution,
• Failing to keep assessment/examination/test papers secure prior to the
assessment /examination/test
• Obtaining unauthorised access to assessment /examination/test material prior to
an assessment/examination/test.
• Interfering with coursework/scripts after collection and before dispatch to awarding
body/moderator
Learner/Student Malpractice - in assessment can occur in:
• The compilation of portfolios.
• The presentation of practical work.
• The preparation and authentication of evidence.

​

• Conduct during an internal or external assessment
Examples of learner/student malpractice can include:
• Plagiarism of any nature. Plagiarism is presenting the ideas, work or words of other
people and passing off the work as the learner’s own, whether whole or part(s) of
another individuals work. This can include artwork, graphics, images, words,
computer generated work (including Internet sources), whether published or not,
with or without the originator’s permission and without acknowledging the source.
• Falsification of assessment evidence or results
• Collusion by working collaboratively with other students to produce work that is
submitted as individual work. Likewise, it is also collusion to copy someone else’s
work and submit it as though it were their own. Both students would be open to a
charge of academic malpractice. However, students should not be discouraged
from teamwork, as this is an important skill, however the use of minutes and task
allocation, etc. are a key part of team work, and this must be made clear to
students.
• Copying from another candidate (including the use of ICT to assist copying), or
allowing work to be copied
• Deliberate destruction of another’s work
• False declaration of authenticity in relation to the contents of a portfolio or
coursework
• Impersonation: pretending to be someone else in order to produce the work for
another or arranging for another to take one’s place in an assessment, test or
examination
• Failure to abide by instructions or advice given by an assessor, supervisor,
invigilator, or Awarding Body conditions in relation to an assessment, test or
examination.
• Introduction and/or use of unauthorised material or instruments in the examination
room or assessment session, e.g. study guides, notes, mobile phones, tablets or
other similar electronic devices.
• Disruptive, offensive or in appropriate behaviour.
• Misuse or attempted misuse of examination/assessment material.
AYBI retains at its discretion to identify further areas of malpractice beyond theareas
identified above.

MALADMINISTRATION: identification
For the purposes of these procedures, maladministration is defined as any activity or
practice which results in non-compliance with administrative regulations and requirements
and includes the application of persistent mistakes or poor administration. Examples of
maladministration:
• Persistent failure to adhere to our learner registration and certification procedures.
• Persistent failure to adhere to our centre recognition and/or qualification requirements
and/or associated actions assigned to the centre
• Late learner registrations (both infrequent and persistent)
• Unreasonable delays in responding to requests and/or communications from
curriculum area
• Inaccurate claim for certificates
• Failure to maintain appropriate auditable records, e.g. certification claims and/or
forgery of evidence
• Withholding of information, by deliberate act or omission, from us which is required

Implementation

AYBI will use the Further Education and/or Higher Education Learner Conduct and
Performance Policies and Procedures with students where incidents (or attempted
incidents) of malpractice, maladministration and/or plagiarism have been proven. Where
assessment malpractice is proven by awarding authorities/bodies may also impose
penalties or sanctions.
AYBI will use the disciplinary procedure with staff of the AYBI where incidents (or
attempted incidents) of malpractice and/or maladministration have been proven.
Where assessment malpractice is proven by awarding authorities/bodies may also impose
penalties or sanctions.

Process of Implementation
• AYBI will inform its students of its procedures on assessment malpracticeand
plagiarism during induction and through handbooks.
• Students will be shown the appropriate formats to record cited texts and other
materials or information sources including websites.
• AYBI staff should include assessment procedures which reduce theopportunity
for malpractice.
• Learners should be asked to declare that their work is their own when submitting
assessments.
• Incidents of learner assessment malpractice should be reported to the Assistant
Principal of the Faculty or Dean of Higher Education.

​

• Incidents of staff assessment malpractice and/or maladministration should be
reported to the Assistant Principal of the Faculty or the Dean of Higher Education
and the Head of Learning and Quality.
• When a case of alleged assessment malpractice and/or maladministration has
been reported involving staff the incident should be investigated using the
appropriate disciplinary procedure.
Identification

Malpractice may be identified:
• At course and unit level when marking relevant work
• At centre level through on-going quality assurance activity and monitoring e.g.
internal verification activity.
• At centre level through intelligence, complaints or feedback received e.g. from
centre staff, learners etc.
• Through scheduled quality assurance activity and monitoring e.g. external
verification/moderation activity
• Through internal examinations sampling
• Through intelligence, complaints or feedback received e.g. from learners, centre
staff, whistle blowers or other stakeholders.
• Through information from other organisations e.g. other awarding bodies, sector
skills councils or funding agencies etc.
• At regulator level through intelligence, complaints or feedback received.

Responsibility: Reporting Malpractice
• AYBI accepts the responsibility to report any suspicion of malpractice to the link
institutions and/or professional body and will facilitate investigation of the alleged
irregularities.
• When dealing with an incident of suspected Malpractice AYBI will:
o ensure staff leading the investigation are independent of the staff, students,
learners being investigated.
o inform those who are suspected of malpractice that they are entitled to know
the necessary details of the case and possible outcomes.
• In all cases, it will notify the regulatory authorities/awarding bodies/institutions once
malpractice has been proven. In certain cases, it will notify the regulatory
authorities/awarding bodies/institutions if malpractice is suspected, if this initial
notification is required. AYBI will also indicate the proposed action and an
estimated timescale for the investigation to the regulatory authorities of the link
institutions/professional bodies maintain confidentiality of the relevant materials
and will ensure that they are kept secure and not disclosed to any third parties.

Reporting Suspected Cases of Malpractice
In all cases where a student is suspected of malpractice during an examination or
assessment, he/she will first be warned by the invigilator that his/her actions are in breach

of regulations and therefore might constitute malpractice. The student will also be
informed that the invigilator is obliged to report his/her (the students) actions.
The student concerned has the right to provide a statement explaining his/her conduct
that will be included in the invigilator's written report. The student is however not obliged
to provide a statement before leaving the assessment venue. In such cases, the invigilator
will note this in the report. In cases where a student is discovered to be in possession of
any unauthorised materials during an examination/assessment, the invigilator will
confiscate the materials, with a record the time and point within the script at which the
discovery was made, along with a list of the confiscated materials which the student will
be asked to sign to confirm its accuracy.

Students will be allowed to continue working for the remainder of the assessment without
prejudice to the final outcome. In cases where the assessment invigilator suspects that
students may have been communicating/collaborating the invigilator will note on each
suspected student's assessment script the time and point within the script at which the
discovery was made. Any written evidence relevant to the incident, e.g. confiscated
materials, statements from other individuals involved, must accompany the report.
Suspected Malpractice by Assessment Venue Staff/Invigilators
Suspected cases of malpractice by a staff member or invigilator may be reported by
students, other assessment venue staff, other assessment invigilators or a member of the
public.
Information should be submitted to the Line Manager and Examinations Office.
Information should include location, date, title and time of the assessment. In addition
where applicable the student's name and his/her student number plus the name of the
member of staff in question should also be supplied.

Maladministration Responsibility: Reporting Maladministration
Anybody who identifies or is made aware of suspected or actual cases of at any time must
notify the Head of Centre immediately.
In doing so, details should be provided in writing, with the appropriate supporting
evidence.
All allegations must include (where possible):
• the nature of the suspected or actual maladministration and associated dates
• details of the qualification, unit or exam
• centre’s name, address and number
• candidate’s name and registration or enrolment number
• details of centre personnel (e.g. name, job role) if they are involved in the case
• details and outcome of any initial investigation carried out by Action Youth Boxing
Intervention or anybody else involved in the case, including any mitigating circumstances

​

Confidentiality
Sometimes a person making an allegation of maladministration may wish to remain
anonymous, although it is always preferable if they reveal their identity and provide us with
their contact details. However, if a whistle-blower is concerned about possible adverse
consequences that may occur should their identity be revealed to another party, they
should inform us that they do not want their identity divulged.

Action Youth Boxing Intervention will always aim to keep the identity of the person making
the allegationsconfidential where asked to do so, although we cannot guarantee this. We
may need to disclose their identity should the allegation lead to issues that need to be
taken forward byother parties such as:
• The Police (to investigate or prevent crime)
• The Courts (in connection with any court proceedings)
• Other third parties such as regulatory authorities (in connection with certification)
Once a concern has been raised we have a duty to pursue the matter.

​

Responsibility for the investigation
The Head of Action Youth Boxing Intervention must ensure that the staff involved in any
internal investigation are competent and have no personal interest in the outcome of the
investigation. The Head of Centre should be involved in all such investigations unless the
allegations relate to the Head of Centre. In which case, such investigations should be carried
out by an additionalManagement person of the centre or his/her nominee.

The nominated person will be responsible for ensuring that the investigation is carried out in
a prompt and effective manner and in accordance with the procedures in this policy. They will
allocate a relevant member of staff to lead the investigation and establish whether or not the
maladministration has occurred, and review any supporting evidence received or gathered
by the process.

At all times we will ensure that Action Youth Boxing Intervention personnel assigned to
the investigation have the appropriate level of training and competence and they have
had no previous involvement or personal interest in the matter.