1. Purpose
This policy sets out how RADD Training Limited (“RADD Training”) prevents, identifies, reports and investigates actual or suspected malpractice and maladministration.
It is designed to ensure that:
- investigations are handled consistently and fairly
- awarding organisation requirements are met
- the integrity of assessment and certification is protected
Where an awarding organisation has specific malpractice/maladministration requirements, those requirements take precedence.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
- Learners/customers registered on RADD Training courses, assessments and qualifications
- Employees, freelance trainers/assessors, Internal Quality Assurers (IQA/IV), invigilators and any other persons delivering qualifications/units on behalf of RADD Training (within or outside the UK)
- All delivery modes (classroom, on-site, blended, distance and online)
3. Responsibilities
- Head of Centre / Managing Director: overall responsibility for reporting to awarding organisations, overseeing investigations, and ensuring corrective actions are implemented.
- Trainers/Assessors/IQAs/Invigilators: duty to comply with awarding organisation rules and RADD Training procedures, and to report concerns immediately.
- All staff/contractors/learners: duty to raise concerns at the earliest opportunity.
4. Definitions
4.1 Malpractice
Malpractice is any deliberate activity, neglect, default or other practice that contravenes regulations and 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 RADD Training
- the qualification or wider qualifications community
For the purposes of this policy, malpractice also includes misconduct and unnecessary discrimination or bias towards individuals or groups of learners.
Qualifications Scotland definition:
‘Malpractice means any act, default or practice (whether deliberate or resulting from neglect or default) which is a breach of Qualifications Scotland requirements, including any act, default or practice which:
- compromises, attempts to compromise, or may compromise the process of assessment, the integrity of any Qualifications Scotland qualification, or the validity of a result or certificate; and / or
- damages the authority, reputation or credibility of Qualifications Scotland or any officer, employee or agent of Qualifications Scotland
‘Malpractice can arise for a variety of reasons:
- Some incidents are intentional and aim to give an unfair advantage or disadvantage in an examination or assessment (deliberate non-compliance).
- Some incidents arise due to ignorance of Qualifications Scotland requirements, or carelessness or neglect in applying the requirements (maladministration).’
It is necessary to investigate any suspected instances of malpractice, whether they are intentional or not, to protect the integrity of the qualification and to identify any wider lessons to be learned.
4.2 Maladministration
Maladministration is any activity or practice that results in non-compliance with administrative regulations and requirements. It includes persistent mistakes, poor administration and/or failures in centre systems (e.g., inappropriate or incomplete learner records).
5. Examples of malpractice and maladministration (non-exhaustive)
Examples may include:
- Denial of access to premises, records, information, learners and staff to authorised awarding organisation representatives and/or regulators
- Failure to carry out internal assessment and/or internal quality assurance in accordance with requirements
- Deliberate failure to adhere to awarding organisation learner registration and certification procedures
- Deliberate or persistent failure to meet centre recognition and/or qualification approval criteria, including actions assigned
- Deliberate failure to maintain appropriate auditable records (e.g., certification claims) and/or forgery of evidence
- Persistent instances of maladministration within the centre
- Fraudulent claims for certificates
- Unauthorised use of inappropriate materials/equipment in assessment settings (e.g., mobile phones)
- Intentional withholding of information critical to maintaining quality assurance and standards
- Collusion or permitting collusion in exams/assessments
- Learners continuing to work towards a qualification after certification claims have been made
- Contravention of assessment arrangements specified for the qualification
- Loss, theft of, or breach of confidentiality in assessment materials
- Plagiarism by learners and/or staff
- Copying from another candidate (including using ICT)
- Inappropriate use of AI technology as set out in the RADD Training Use of AI Policy
- Unauthorised amendment, copying or distribution of exam/assessment papers/materials
- Inappropriate assistance to learners by centre staff (e.g., unfairly helping them to pass a unit or qualification)
- Submission of false information to gain a qualification or unit
- Deliberate failure to adhere to, or attempts to circumvent, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations requirements
- Failure to fully induct staff/contractors on company policies and procedures
6. Reporting (making an allegation)
Anybody who identifies, or is made aware of, suspected or actual malpractice or maladministration must inform RADD Training management immediately. If they consider it more appropriate, they may also notify the awarding organisation directly.
Reports should be made in writing (email is acceptable) and include supporting evidence where available.
6.1 Information to include (where possible)
- Centre name, address and centre number (where applicable)
- Learner name and unique registration number (where applicable)
- Details of centre personnel involved (name and job role), if relevant
- Qualification/assessment affected (or nature of the service affected)
- Nature of the suspected or actual malpractice/maladministration and relevant dates
- Details and outcome of any initial enquiries already carried out, including any mitigating circumstances
7. Notification to the awarding organisation
In all instances of actual or suspected malpractice, the relevant awarding organisation will be notified immediately by RADD Training.
RADD Training will follow the awarding organisation’s malpractice and maladministration procedures and will cooperate fully with their quality assurance team and any regulatory authorities.
Where the awarding body is Qualifications Scotland, Candidates and Staff may report directly to Qualifications Scotland: Malpractice Team, Qualifications Scotland, Optima Building, 58 Robertson Street, Glasgow, G2 8DQ malpractice@qualifications.gov.scot although as the provider we would appreciate the opportunity to investigate and resolve the matter first.
8. Investigation approach
RADD Training will ensure investigations are carried out rigorously and effectively. Where appropriate, this may include:
- securing assessment materials and records
- interviewing relevant parties
- reviewing learner evidence, assessment decisions and audit trails
- implementing interim controls to protect the integrity of ongoing assessment
Where required by the awarding organisation, RADD Training will suspend certification claims and/or assessment activity pending outcomes.
9. Outcomes and actions
Actions may include (as applicable):
- no case to answer / allegation not upheld
- corrective actions to centre processes and documentation
- staff development, supervision, restriction of duties, or removal from delivery/assessment activity
- learner sanctions in line with awarding organisation rules (e.g., disqualification)
- reporting to awarding organisation/regulator and implementation of any required actions
If, after investigation, a staff member is found in breach of malpractice or maladministration requirements, their approval to deliver/assess may be removed.
As a condition of centre recognition, where an awarding organisation requires RADD Training to take action against a staff member, RADD Training will comply.
Where poor administration is identified, RADD Training will produce and implement a quality improvement plan to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Where an investigation of suspected malpractice is carried out, we will retain related records and documentation for three years for non-regulated qualifications and six years
for regulated qualifications. Records will include any work of the candidate, and assessment or verification records relevant to the investigation.
In the case of an appeal to Qualifications Scotland against the outcome of a malpractice investigation, assessment records will be retained for six years.
In an investigation involving a potential criminal prosecution or civil claim, records and documentation will be retained for six years after the case and any appeal has been heard.
If there is any doubt about whether criminal or civil proceedings will take place, we will keep records for the full six year period.
10. Confidentiality and protection of informants
RADD Training will protect the identity of the informant as far as reasonably possible, in line with confidentiality obligations and any legal duties.
Information will be shared only with those who need it to investigate and resolve the matter, including awarding organisations and regulators where required.
11. Review and document control
RADD Training will review this policy annually as part of self-evaluation and will revise it as necessary in response to:
- learner/customer feedback
- changes in practice
- awarding organisation/regulatory requirements
- changes in legislation
- trends identified from previous allegations
| Approved By: | Chrisy McLeod – Division Director |
| Version: | v2 |
| Issue date: | 23/02/2026 |
| Last Review: | 23/02/2026 |
| Review date: | 22/02/2027 |