What is Internal Quality Control?
Internal Quality Control, or IQA for short, is an essential process to ensure that educational and vocational assessments meet a high standard. In this blog, we’ll explore what Internal Quality Control is, why it’s essential in education, and how completing an IQA qualification can benefit your career. Whether you’re already working as an assessor or thinking about a new career path, understanding internal quality control is key to ensuring that assessments are carried out effectively.
What is Internal Quality Control?
Internal quality control is all about making sure that the assessments conducted are up to standard. Its function is to ensure the quality and consistency of assessments. This involves checking that the assessment processes are fair, reliable and in line with the required standards. By doing so, IQA helps to maintain the credibility of the qualifications awarded. This ensures that all learners are assessed fairly and their qualifications reflect that.
Role of an IQA
IQAs review how assessments are completed to ensure they are consistent and comply with industry standards. This involves checking that assessors are following the correct procedures and that assessments are both fair and unbiased.
Additionally, they provide guidance and support to assessors. Helping them understand and apply the assessment criteria correctly. They offer feedback and training to improve assessment practices and ensure assessors are well-prepared to evaluate learners accurately.
Internal quality assurers also ensure that all assessments meet the standards set by awarding bodies and regulatory bodies. They help organisations stay compliant with guidelines, which is crucial for maintaining the validity of the qualifications they offer.
Why is Internal Quality Control Important?
Internal quality control is crucial for maintaining high standards in assessments. It ensures that the process of assessing learners is fair, reliable, and consistent across the board. By regularly reviewing and monitoring assessment practices, IQA helps to prevent discrepancies and biases. This helps to make sure that all learners are assessed based on the same criteria.
This consistency upholds the integrity of qualifications, so employers and further education institutions can trust that the qualifications awarded accurately reflect a learner’s abilities and knowledge.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements
Internal quality control is essential for meeting the guidelines set by awarding bodies and regulatory frameworks, such as Ofqual. These organisations establish strict standards to ensure that educational qualifications are credible and trustworthy. By following these guidelines, IQAs help ensure that the assessment processes comply with regulatory requirements and prevent any potential issues that could arise. This not only safeguards the reputation of the educational institution but also ensures that qualifications remain valid and recognised.
Ensuring Learner Success
IQA plays a key role in supporting both assessors and learners. For assessors, it provides ongoing support and feedback, helping them to deliver high-quality assessments and improve their practice. For learners, it ensures that they receive a fair and accurate assessment of their skills and knowledge.
By maintaining high standards in teaching and assessment, IQA helps learners achieve their goals and succeed in their careers. Ultimately, this support enhances the overall quality of education and training, by benefiting everyone involved.
Benefits of Internal Quality Control
Becoming a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) can significantly boost your career prospects. With the IQA qualification, you open doors to advanced roles, such as Lead IQA or Quality Manager. Where you’ll have more responsibility and influence over the quality of assessments within an organisation.
These roles often come with increased pay and leadership opportunities, allowing you to shape the way assessments are delivered and ensure high standards across the board. An IQA qualification positions you as a key player in maintaining qualifications, which are highly valued in many sectors.
Job Security
The demand for competent IQAs is increasing across a variety of areas, including education and training, health and social care, and more. Organisations require qualified individuals to ensure that their assessment processes adhere to set standards. This means that becoming a qualified IQA can lead to long-term job security. Holding an IQA qualification makes you a valuable member of the team and provides you with a stable career path.
Enhanced Skills
Completing an IQA qualification provides you with a variety of transferable skills that are extremely useful in any career. You’ll develop a keen eye for detail, ensuring that all parts of assessments are correct and reliable. You’ll also develop leadership abilities. As part of the IQA role often involves mentoring and supporting assessors in improving their procedures.
You’ll also improve your teamwork skills, such as delivering constructive feedback and assisting others in maintaining high standards. These skills not only improve your performance as an IQA, but they’re also transferable to other sectors, making you a versatile and valuable professional in any industry.
Qualifications Needed to Become an IQA
There are two IQA qualifications you can take: the Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice and the Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice.
The Level 4 Award is the foundational qualification for anyone looking to become an Internal Quality Assurer, (IQA). This qualification gives you the skills and knowledge to ensure that assessment practices within an organisation meet the required standards. During the course, you’ll learn how to monitor and maintain the quality of assessments, provide feedback to assessors, and ensure compliance with frameworks.
To enrol, you’ll typically need to have experience as an assessor or be currently working in an assessing role.
For those aspiring to a leadership role in quality assurance, you would need to take the Level 4 Certificate. This builds on the skills gained in the Level 4 Award and prepares you to take on more responsibility, such as managing a team of assessors, overseeing assessment practices and ensuring that all assessors within the team meet standards.
Completing the IQA Course with Brooks and Kirk
At Brooks and Kirk, we offer tailored, high-quality training to help you become a qualified IQA. With over 25 years of experience in vocational education, we are well-equipped to guide you through your IQA qualification. Our courses are designed to fit around your schedule, providing flexibility with online learning. Plus, you’ll have access to everything you need, such as dedicated tutor support, assessors to assess and a qualified IQA. Ensuring you feel confident and prepared throughout your journey.
Our course materials and assessments are designed to mirror real-life situations you will encounter as an IQA, making it easier to apply what you’ve learnt once you’re qualified. This practical experience not only enhances your confidence but also gives you the skills needed to thrive in your new role.
Why not get in touch with our team today and have a chat with one of our friendly advisors? You can contact us by phone on 01205 805 155 or by email at training@brooksandkirk.ac.uk and we’d be happy to help.