Non-Examination Assessments (NEA) measure subject-specific knowledge and skills that cannot be tested by timed written papers – JCQ Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure:

* That there is a systematic and consistent procedure for the management of NEA within the centre; and

* That assessment is carried out in accordance with JCQ / CAiE instructions and individual Awarding Body specifications with reference to the three assessment stages, which are:

o Task setting;

o Task taking

o Task marking

Responsibilities

Head of Centre (HoC)

• Returns an online ‘Head of Centre declaration’ at the time of the National Centre Number Register annual update to confirm awareness of and that relevant centre staff are adhering to the latest version of NEA
• Ensures the centre’s non-examination assessment policy is fit for purpose

• Ensures the centre’s internal appeals procedures clearly detail the procedure to be followed by candidates (or their parents/carers) appealing against internal assessment decisions (centre assessed marks) and requesting a review of the centre’s marking (JCQ Awarding Bodies only)
• Ensures the centre’s internal appeals procedures clearly detail the procedure to be followed by candidates (or their parents/carers) appealing against the process of internal assessment decisions (centre assessed marks) (CAiE)

Senior Management Team

• Ensure the centre-wide calendar records assessment schedules by the start of the academic year
• Responsible for working with marking staff / tutors to ensure that internal marking – where applicable – follows Awarding Body marking guidance and standardisation procedures are followed rigorously.

Examinations Officer

The Examinations Officer (EO) is responsible for ensuring and overseeing the integrity of the specification with reference to the JCQ Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments/Cambridge Handbook by:

• Ensuring that specification is permitted for Private Candidates
• Ensuring that a log is maintained of all received NEA work, and submitting NEA marks, samples, and detailed dispatch information (including evidence of posting)
• Providing candidates with the required candidate documentation annually, making sure that candidates are aware of the Internal Appeals Procedure and regulations concerning Malpractice.

Marking CoOrdinator / Staff / NEA Administrator

Are responsible for the overall monitoring, authenticating , marking (where applicable), and submission of NEA with reference to the JCQ Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments (new GCE & GCSE specifications) / CAiE specification requirements and detailed requirements of the relevant awarding body specification(s) for their subject by:

• Ensuring monitoring/authenticating/marking understand their role and responsibilities within the non-examination assessment process
• Ensuring NEA and relevant awarding body subject specific instructions are followed in relation to the conduct of non-examination assessments (including endorsements)
• Ensuring that internal centre NEA procedures and deadlines are clear and shared with all relevant staff and candidates
• Gaining informed consent of parents/carers/guardians in the event that photographs/images of minor candidates are used as part of submitted work – electronic signatures are acceptable
• Ensuring that candidates understand and are familiar with the regulations for NEA as outlined in the JCQ document Information for candidates – non-examination assessments / CAiE Information for Candidates (Coursework)
• Ensuring that all candidate work is kept in secure conditions once submitted. In the case of work stored electronically, this will include protection from corruption. If work is saved on memory sticks these should be backed up and locked away
• Supplying the examinations officer or designated NEA Administrator with details of all specification and / or unit codes where applicable
• Submitting NEA marksheets to the EO or designated NEA Administrator by the internal deadline

Marking Staff / Tutors

Whilst the CoOrdinator has overall responsibility for coursework in the centre, Marking Staff / Tutors are responsible for the marking of tasks (where applicable) relevant to their allocated candidates with reference to the JCQ publication Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments (new GCE & GCSE specifications) / CAiE handbook. Marking Staff / Tutors are responsible for:

• Understanding and complying with the general guidelines in Understanding and complying with the awarding body specification, including any subject specific instructions, teachers’ notes or additional information on the awarding body’s website
• Ensuring that candidates are fully aware of the task requirements and know the assessment criteria that they are expected to meet
• Ensuring that the required level of supervision is correctly maintained for all parts of the task and that no type of assistance which is explicitly prohibited by the individual AB specification is given, or where there is no means to record or take account of it during the marking process
• Working with the Centre Appointed Assessor to ensure the appropriate access arrangements are made for individual candidates as appropriate
• Ensuring that, where required by the AB specification, signed candidate declarations of authentication are kept on file until after the end of the Post Results period, any appeal, malpractice investigation, or other post results enquiry has been completed
• Marking and properly annotating tasks – where applicable – in line with specification requirements and to meet internal centre deadlines
• Involvement in internal standardisation as required by the Head of Department
• Advising candidates of their provisional marks, re-iterating that marks are provisional and subject to adjustment following external moderation (JCQ Awarding Bodies only)+
• Advise candidates that the Awarding Body reserves the right to retain the work of some candidates for archive and standardisation purposes

+NB Provisional marks must only be provided as raw scores and not as grades.

Centre Appointed Assessor

The Centre Appointed Assessor is responsible for:

• Informing the EO of candidates with special educational needs / access arrangements as soon as known
• Advising on the implementation of access arrangements when required

Candidates

Candidates must not:

• Submit work which is not their own
• Lend their own work to others or allow their work to be copied or allow others access to, or the use of, their own independently sourced material
• Use any books, the internet, AI, or other sources without acknowledgement or attribution
• Submit work word processed by a third party without acknowledgement

English Language GCSE Spoken Endorsement

Candidates must undertake a prepared spoken presentation of their chosen topic in front of an audience.  The audience must include the marking staff/tutor and allow for questions and feedback during the session.

The endorsement must be internally standardised via either the live performance or use of a recording of the performance where applicable.

Missed Deadlines

Where a candidate fails to submit any work by the final centre deadline, they will be marked as absent for that component.

A zero mark will only be awarded where a candidate has submitted work which is not worthy of credit or authenticity cannot be established.

Internal Marks and Appeals (JCQ Awarding Bodies only)

All candidates have a right of access to the marks awarded to them by the centre for internal assessment.  Candidates will be advised of their marks within a sufficient window in order to allow for any internal appeal to be conducted prior to submission of the mark to the Awarding Body. The centre’s Internal Appeals policy covers the NEA process where the task has been internally marked.

Retention and Return of Work

All work returned to the centre will be logged and held securely by the EO until after the end of Post Results period. After this time, work will be returned to Candidates or securely destroyed, except where there is an ongoing appeal in progress.

Candidates wishing to reclaim their work must do so in person from the centre by arrangement no later than by the 30th November.  After this date, and upon completion of the Post results period, any appeal period, malpractice investigation, or other results enquiry, all unclaimed work will be disposed of in a confidential manner by the school.

The Awarding Body reserves the right to retain the work of some candidates for archive and standardisation purposes.

Malpractice

Marking and Centre Staff / Tutors must familiarise themselves with the JCQ document Notice to Centres – Sharing NEA material and candidate’s work.

* It is the responsibility of the EO to signpost candidates to the relevant JCQ documentation for candidates;

* If irregularities in work are discovered prior to the candidate signing the declaration of authentication, this will be dealt with under the centre’s internal procedures. Any work which is not the candidate’s own will not be submitted for assessment;

* If irregularities in coursework are identified by a centre after the candidate has signed the declaration of authentication, a detailed malpractice report must be submitted at the earliest opportunity.

Internal Appeals

The school’s internal appeals procedure covers the NEA process.

Special Consideration

Applications for Special Consideration may be made (in line with the school’s Special Consideration policy) where a candidate has fully prepared for the course but is unable to fully complete coursework for an exceptional reason, and where the centre has taken all reasonable steps to try and accommodate the candidate in completing the assessment within the Awarding Body deadline.

The centre must clearly set out the reasons why an extension has not been sufficient to complete the assessment, confirm that the candidate meets the criteria for enhanced grading, and fully support the application for Special Consideration. Advice must be sought from the EO.

Management of issues and potential risks associated with non-examination assessments