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Consultation on draft OIA guidance on Requests for additional consideration

The OIA is publishing for consultation a new section of the Good Practice Framework: Requests for additional consideration.

Examination desks in a hall

The draft section sets out some good practice guidance on requests for additional consideration (often called the “mitigating”, “extenuating” or “special circumstances” procedures, or “factors affecting performance”).

We have consulted with our Good Practice Framework Steering Group in preparing the section, and have drawn on the valuable feedback we received based on the discussion paper we published on this topic towards the end of last year.

Since then the impact of Covid-19 means that many higher education providers have had to adapt their approach to requests for additional consideration and we hope to see some of the learning from this reflected in the consultation responses.

We invite comments on the draft from sector bodies, higher education providers, student representative bodies, students and anyone else with an interest in this issue.

The final version of the section will be published later in 2020.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact Sarah Liddell, Head of Leadership Office, mediarelations@oiahe.org.uk, 0118 959 9813.

  1. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) is the independent student complaints ombuds for higher education in England and Wales. It is the designated operator of the student complaints’ scheme under the Higher Education Act 2004.
  2. The consultation will be published on 22 July. We are allowing an extended period for the consultation until 30 September 2020 in view of the coronavirus situation.
  3. The draft Requests for additional consideration section will be the sixth section of the Good Practice Framework, which provides operational guidance to support higher education providers in England and Wales. The Framework sets out overriding principles including accessibility, fairness and timeliness. The other sections are: Handling student complaints and academic appeals, Supporting disabled students, Delivering learning opportunities with others, Disciplinary procedures and Fitness to practise.
  4. The Good Practice Framework is one element of the OIA’s good practice work. We also provide guidance through a range of webinars, workshops and visits.