Malpractice Policy

Total Communication 4 U, as do Signature, treats any example of malpractice

with the greatest seriousness, and will take action in any case where malpractice
is confirmed.

Examples constituting malpractice might include:

• Fraudulent claims for certification;

• Non-approved assessor claiming approved status;

• Deliberate breach of examination or other regulations.

TC4U, an Approved Centre, must report any cases of suspected malpractice to

Signature immediately. Failure to do so may have implications for the issue of
certificates and the future acceptance of entries from us.

Signature will report all significant cases of malpractice to the Examinations

Regulator (Ofqual) immediately, and all other cases upon request.

Signature will investigate cases of suspected malpractice in the following

manner:

• Evidence will be collected from persons alleging malpractice;

• Counter-evidence will be collected from persons denying malpractice;

• All evidence will be examined by Signature using processes that may have
one or more stages. The process may require the involvement of any of the
following:
 - centre Co-director(s);

- Signature staff;

- other interested parties.

• If the above procedures do not resolve the issue, an independent Appeals

Panel, supplemented if necessary with a subject expert for advice only, will
be asked to adjudicate. All parties involved may make representations to
the panel. The decision of this panel is final;

• Outcome of procedure may result in:

- candidate(s) work declared invalid;

- centre approval withdrawn;

- assessor/verifier accreditation withdrawn;

- malpractice not found;

- where appropriate, information passed to other awarding

bodies/other agencies;

- other appropriate outcome.

• Outcome of procedure recorded and where necessary reported to Ofqual.

Where malpractice involves misuse of certificates, Signature will inform
Ofqual and agree appropriate action.